independence day

independence from what?

an honest assessment of cultural trends
over the last 200 yrs would suggest
that americans are by and large
hyper-dependent on an ecomomic slavery
far more insidious than what british
control might have created

with no recourse to social heirarchical standards
americans invent heroes and examplars
who are either subject to assassination
or displayed in terms and forms which
are nothing short of ludicrous

the swarm
the westward movement of the people
is often justified with
"it just had to happen that way"
and of course even i must acknowledge
that i am where i am today because
of some historical impetus which
brought a form of civilization to the midwest
and the mountain west
i inherited the geocultural platform
onto which i was cast as a child

yet i do not bow down today with a spirit
of pride and gratitude
i do not share in the presupposition
that USA is the greatest nation on earth
the wealthiest - sure
the free-est - this could be contested
the strongest - the limits are making themselves painfully known

one cannot help but be impressed
with the rise of cultural attributes
which are revealed in every corner
of the land
but one would be remiss
to ignore the troubling flaws
the gaps
the outrageous excess
and ultimately the vast network
of socio-psychological enslavement
required of just about everyone

the toll is great and getting greater

if i could change one thing in this country
i would impose restrictions or qualifications
on the right to free speech
there is a noisy and persistent
babble in the land

instead of blaring within the circus
of verbal mediocrity -- indeed crass stupidity --
the voices of strong intellectual insight
and the voices of the true poets could be heard
as sounds which could guide a people
on the verge of widespread chaos
to some sort of honesty and coherence

the progress has been great
i will acknowledge that --
the human devestations
historical and present
are the true indications of the price paid

i do not pledge allegiance
i cry out for more justice
and a reconciliation
only faith in god can bring