ED,

 

i'm very "blue" at this time.   

profoundly disappointed in the nation, 

and the ideals of the nation, 

as they were taught to me

by the pink teachers 

in white shirts 

in white* government  

in white civics courses 

by upright and certain 

white young men and 

old white women

driving white cars

and living in white houses.      

 

indians of all colors 

were taught 

that there 

was something 

worthwhile  outside 

and 

that we should want it.

 

now, 

 

it seems that salaried government workers 

(with full medical plan and retirements)

cynically and endlessly  complain

about the value of government!

 

while  private sector 

envies and demeans 

government security 

and salaries

and plots to steal the ideal 

from their own employees

in the name of productivity. 

 

economists concur and enable. 

 

private sector promises plentiful jobs 

(in return for lower taxes) 

but at the first hint of stress

sheds workers like 

like snot in the owner's nose

on the first sneeze.

 

oh dear!

 

did i catch the "predator" bug from the swiss 

or is it a virus endemic to this chat** room 

that when one is dumped,

attaches itself epigonically to another? 

 

are we all in danger, 

even the english?

 

REH  (2010)

 

*"white"  their word not mine.   Anything

considered desirable or good was called

"white" at that time and taught to 

impressionable young Indians.

 

**"Chat" is the term on the reserve

for piles of slag waste products from 

lead and zinc mines.   The largest pile

was four hundred feet high and 

covered 80 acres.    Although crushed

gravel it is worthless because of the 

lead and chemicals found on the surface

of the rock from smelting.   When it 

rains it bleeds lead and heavy metals 

into the water.   If you've never seen

them Google Earth " Picher, Oklahoma"

and look at the piles of the stuff.

The American government declared it 

a disaster, bought the white people out

and walked away leaving it for the 

Quapaw (Indians) to clean up and be 

liable when it pollutes the streams upriver

from Tulsa and the Oklahoma lakes.   

Just like Haiti and the French.    Is it 

a virus or an epigone? 

 

It's terrible when you have to explain

the joke.  Makes me feel like a painter.

:?))

 

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