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Evil, Guns, Cowardice, Stupidity, and Fear

Evil, Guns, Cowardice, Stupidity, and Fear

is anybody out there?
does anyone really care?

seventeen innocent souls departed this earth
unexpectedly and tragically so whilst leaving
grieving loved ones, classmates, and friends
to wade through another mass-murder event

is anybody out there?
does anyone really care?

many clownish and dud politicians in Washington, DC
including the vacuous person parading there as president
cleave themselves to a vaunted aura of self-righteousness
whilst singling out mental illness as the only true cause

is anybody out there?
does anyone really care?

the evil intentions and actions of a deranged person played 
their horrific roles in sending these innocents through death’s 
door at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on that fatal day
as did guns, political cowardice, stupidity, and fear of the NRA 

is anybody out there?
does anyone really care?

and so, it is: guns, guns, guns, guns, and even more guns
proliferate American society today as many in Congress
oppose common-sense gun legislation and more stringent
background checks whilst lapping up money from the NRA

is anybody out there?
does anyone really care?

standing with those families who are aggrieved in such tragedies
and embracing the memories of those who have so sadly perished
requires compassion, moral consciousness, love, and political courage
to do the right thing and not to succumb to greed and abject stupidity 

is anybody out there?
does anyone really care?

yes, many good people are out there
and many of them do really care 

it is now time for Congress and this president to wake up,
to grow some backbone, and to do the right thing to ensure
that tragedies like this one never occur again!

I am out there
and I do really care—do you?

enough is enough!
this madness must stop now!
support and stand by the students!

amen . . . amen . . . amen

Gary Bateman, Copyright © All Rights Reserved
February 18, 2018 (Political Verse)


Author’s Note: This poem is dedicated to all the students,
faculty, and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
in memory of those brave students and faculty members who
perished on that tragic day of February 14, 2018.

Copyright © Gary Bateman | Year Posted 2018

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Freddie Robinson Jr. Date: 3/12/2018 10:49:00 AM I concur wholeheartedly w/Mr. D ... human idiocy is infinite. A marvelous poem of righteous indignation, Gary. Keep up the good fight, my dear friend. Your voice speaks w/authority and compassion boundless. Aurora bright write. Love and peace always. Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 3/12/2018 3:57:00 PM Hello Freddie, Thanks very much for your read of my political verse and for your voice of support for what I tried to very carefully articulate. Yes, for sure, "human stupidity is infinite!" Dr. Einstein was right on target with his summation of this never-ending reality. I did send a copy of my poem here, with a special condolence letter, to the Principal's Office at Stoneman Douglas HS over two weeks ago. And I've called my representatives also about this entire stain on the sanity of American culture. I will always stand with the students in this struggle!! Love and Peace . . . Gary

Demetrios Trifiatis Date: 2/19/2018 2:55:00 AM Mein freund Gary, what a moral roar of consciousness have you raised with your superb writing! Unfortunately, as Einstein has stated, human stupidity is infinite. Fortunately, people like you are out there and care and write and shout for justice and love! God bless you for your concern. All my life have I shared your concerns. Let us put up a galant fight for the innocent to protect! Congratulations for your poem and for your moral integrity! Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 2/19/2018 5:58:00 AM Hallo Herr Professor!! Ich bedanke mich sehr fuer deinen Kommentar hier auf meinem Gedicht!! Yes, for sure Demetrios, I agree with you wholeheartedly. Einstein was spot-on with his observation. I have no problem carrying the fight on this subject -- innocent people's lives are at stake. Justice, Compassion, and Love all the way -- and never surrender!! American politicians who support the current mantra of "doing nothing" are on notice!! The teenagers in Parkland are speaking truth to power now!! The winds of change are in the offing!! Best Always, Gary

Liam Mcdaid Date: 2/18/2018 8:47:00 AM guns i lived in a time where they leave scars on many innocent families every bullet supplied to take a human life should be taken from the makers account as they sell the ammo of death excellent piece pal fires it straight to the target problem Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 2/18/2018 1:52:00 PM Hello Liam Mate!! Yes, my good friend, your words here are spot-on in every respect. (We've talked about this before, of course.) Big Money + All-Powerful Political Lobbies = the common citizens in any society being put at a Big Risk. In this case, the innocents lose their lives for one big nothing!! Enough is Enough!! Cheers and Best, Gary

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 2/18/2018 8:37:00 AM - A high current writing - No control in this world - It's cruel and ugly - Excellent poem, Gary :) - Best wishes and hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 2/18/2018 1:47:00 PM Thanks Dear Anne-Lise and Amen to what you say!! Unfortunately, with all of the nasty politics and big money surrounding this issue, I'm afraid American society is doomed for the present, and will see this same thing happen again in the future. As you've probably noticed, the "Pied Piper" has been unusually quite on this issue. In reality, he could care less. He got his $30M campaign contribution from the NRA. All very terrible indeed. Corruption and the greed of Big Money among many politicians provide a fertile ground for the killing of innocent people. Enough is Enough!! Cheers and Best, Gary

Arturo Michael Date: 2/18/2018 7:22:00 AM Lovely...You said your peace...And I stand beside you...The senseless killing must stop... Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 2/18/2018 1:38:00 PM Hello Arturo!! Thanks for your note here and your read!! Yes, I'm very passionate about this topic for sure as you can see from my other comments below. Unfortunately, this is a tremendously difficult problem courtesy of all of the politicians in Washington and some at the state levels who don't have the guts and forethought to do the right thing here. The big lobbies talk with their money and cash in hand -- everything else is mere background noise. So much for caring for all of the innocent people who've lost their lives to all of this senseless butchery and slaughter. Yes, my friend, this senseless killing must stop!! Best Always, Gary

Vijay Pandit Date: 2/18/2018 7:19:00 AM You tackled a very important topic in my country today..your adjectives are all relevant. While the issue is complicated as Silent says, there is blatant inaction motivated and funded by powerful lobbies. We hear the same answer after each tragedy.."now is not the time to talk about it". It's long been overdue! Kudos to you Gary for writing about this. Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 2/18/2018 1:31:00 PM Thanks Vijay!! I really appreciate your comments here very much as I did those by Silent One. Yes, the NRA lobby (and others) in Washington, DC are all-powerful, and it's always about big business and big money. It really sickens me to see all of this. The lives of many innocents have been taken because of these many situations. (I'm a retired U.S. Army Officer and a former military commander, and I've handled my share of weapons for sure. In retirement now here in Germany, I have NO weapons at all!!) Regardless of what Trump and his cronies say, "it is most certainly the time to talk about this and to meet this issue head-on." AR-15s are the civilian equivalent of the U.S. Army M-16 weapon. Both are manufactured by Colt, and are most deadly in all instances. Enough is Enough!! Best Wishes, Gary

Silent One Date: 2/18/2018 7:00:00 AM Excellent poem on this controvesial subject Gary.. I feel that there is no simple solution, obviously it would be to ban guns, but can they ban guns in a country where they have more guns than people? Some blame it on mental health, but there are so much more people who suffer from mental health who do not do this, then you have the NRA that is very infulential in politics.. Then you have a president who has not even mentioned the word GUN as yet... Sad times... Login to Reply Gary Bateman Date: 2/24/2018 7:38:00 AM I love this word too Silent! It tells it like it really is! Cheers, Gary Silent One Date: 2/18/2018 2:46:00 PM Bastardise! Love it! Lol. Gary Bateman Date: 2/18/2018 1:19:00 PM Hello Silent One, Thank you very much for your time and quality read of my political verse, and the extended discussion information you've generously provided, both above and below, my reply here. I certainly agree with all you've mentioned. A failure of the whole system for sure, and the way that the NRA has ritualistically bastardized (and expanded upon) the Second Amendment to support big money and selling all sorts of weapons that go far beyond traditional sports hunting. It's one big mess for sure!! And with Trump at the helm, things are even worse. The NRA donated 30 million dollars to his presidential campaign. Think about that. That speaks volumes for itself!! Best Always, Gary Silent One Date: 2/18/2018 7:03:00 AM For me this was a failure of the whole system, he was attending mental health classes, but had not been for a while.. He should have been monitored. He even predicted that he was going to be the greatest school shooter, all the kids knew what he was like.. So the system is to blame, not just the FBI, not just the person who sold him the gun, not just the school, not just mental health institute.. I am surprised how some are sympathsing with the killer, what an insult to the innocent victims.. sigh.. think I will stop there my friend.