The Half-Dead Poet Review – Why Politics?

Your life is the sum result of all the choices you make, both consciously and unconsciously. If you can control the process of choosing, you can take control of all aspects of your life. You can find the freedom that comes from being in charge of yourself.

So.

Why politics?

This seems to be the most recent question on the minds most likely of many of my friends and even has been the main question which I have silently been asking myself lately as to why I am suddenly drawn to obvious amounts of conflict or to even create an event or take a stand against Donald Trump our next President elect of these United States of America. Why? Again the question is always there. Because I have never seen myself as a political person and have been off the radar for several years now. My life is simple and I like it that way. Work, write, spend quiet evenings reading with my wife or spending nights renovating our home.

So why?

By choice over the last decade or so I have continued to write and publish poetry but have had very little interest in political events. In fact I even dislike watching the news because it bothers me. Terrorism, death and even the over exaggerated announcements of the whether by the local tv station weather man tend to stress me out and annoy me. Years ago I used to be a part of events and also created events, benefits and was much more involved in helping out others. And with the help of other poets we raised money to fight AIDS, cancer, helped out the homeless, cats and hurricane survivors and honestly it felt pretty damn good to be a part of something bigger that mattered and made a difference in the lives of others. In fact it was very addictive to know that you could really make the world a better place even if it was just in your own city or small corner of the universe. Poets & musicians would throw in side by side and donate their time to making a local event successful and draw a crowd. Local food pantries received more donations. It was human kindness at it’s best. But while I’ve been off on my own personal sabbatical for the last few years living and growing, getting older as we all do from the outside looking in I started noticing something slowly. I started catching glimpses of many more things growing that were hard to believe. I started to see all the things that since 911 I hoped would vanish but never did. And there was no way that I could really avoid it. The headlines and arguing, the killing and the lack of decent human beings who are still working to turn our planet into shit. Malevolent, ruthless assholes with no ethics and no concern for the lives of others.

So I turned off the news. Continued to believe that all is, will be well and then? It happened.

One of the world’s worst living monsters ran for president … and he won.

What?!

That was the sound of disbelief and the election response. There must be some kind of mistake. What idiots would ever vote for this obvious elitist/racist fraud with a narcissism problem and a bad comb over ? Then the sad realization set in.

Yes, Some people did vote. And like me they didn’t like either choice they were given in 2016. And yet the masses (along of course with some Russian hacker help) elected the great and powerful Trump. The reality TV parasite. A con artist, and if you really do the research you will find out a criminal who made illegal dealings as well. But where was I? I was on the sidelines. And since that election day? It’s been eating away at me slowly and telling me. “You no longer have a choice, but to fight” This man is going to destroy what’s left of our principles, our future, our world.

[su_quote cite=”Edmund Burke “]The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.[/su_quote]

So did I happen to mention that I’m an independent? Maybe even in Ben Franklin’s view a “Mug-Whump?” Did I also mention that I’m not a protester or a liberal? A leftist or a commie? No. I’m a poet. And poets should of all people see the writing on the wall. Well I did and now I’m convinced it’s time to do the only thing that I know how to do. Gather people and oppose Trump and people like him. Help out those who need help through poetry and music, events and benefits. This has all been an unwanted lesson; that try as we might that sometimes you have to accept that these things in life will never cease. Poverty never ceases, hunger never ceases and generation after generation you must accept that men like Hitler, Stalin and Trump will always exist. Hopefully? Trump will trip over his own ego and get kicked out of office but that may not happen. Edmund Burke once said “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” And if you have a conscience then it’s almost impossible to ignore what’s happening around you.

So?

Why Politics?

Because in times like this you are out of choices. You have to fight the only way as a writer or a poet you know how to. Through your voice and through your words.

So I hope that you will all join me at O’Brien’s in Troy this Thursday night December 29th at 7:30pm for “Stand Against Trump” An Open Mic For Poets Sponsored By The Troy Poetry Mission. Our featured poet will be Karen Fabiane. Bring your poems. We look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Stop sitting on the sidelines.

Thank you.