Gershon Wolf Poet Couplet

Notes About The Poem

Thoughts on the Kyle Rittenhouse case, in Kenosha WI...

Innocent No More

17-year-old school-kid shoots and kills two
  What else is there on a weeknight to do
Cross the border into Wisconsin from Illinois
  Then commit an act, separates a man from a boy

Just an 'ordinary citizen,' this kid
  Doing what fellow adults did
Taking to the streets to halt the trashing of their town
  Targeting rioters screaming, 'Police - Defund!'

Found innocent today, the kid breathes a sigh of relief
  'Just defending himself,' per Wisconsin law's briefs
One question I've got, seems no one will ask
  ~ Why weren't Kyle's parents up to their task?

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Caren Krutsinger November 21, 2021 at 4:23 PM His mother drove him knowing he had the assault rifle. WHAT? Come on! P.S. Awtry November 22, 2021 at 9:53 AM This is what I understand: Kyle’s father lives in Kenosha. Kyle has a job in Kenosha. Kyle’s gun is kept in a safe at his friend’s house in Kenosha. Kyle’s mom lives in Antioch just over the state line. Kyle drove himself to work in Kenosha that morning. (This may not be correct. But it is what I understand the facts to be.)

Debra L Brown November 20, 2021 at 4:55 PM Hi Gershon, You certainly made a point where were the parents. Did he sneak off without their permission? I was certainly glad they didn't convicted him. Good Read ~ Debra Gershon Wolf November 20, 2021 at 6:26 PM The whole episode is sad, sad, sad. Even sadder: Kyle's been made into a cult-hero by certain elements of the populace and has even been offered Congressional-type positions by fool politicians. Ugh! Celebrity is everything these days, I guess. Megan Markle will probably be our next President... Double Ugh!! :) gw

P.S. Awtry November 19, 2021 at 3:00 PM I have a son the same age. He would not have my permission to go. I have so many questions: where were the police? where were the grown ups? where is the restitution for the lost property and livelihoods? Where are the indictments for assaults, vandalism, arson? How can the media be held accountable for its false reports? What made this young man decide to defend property rather than grab all he could like so many did? Where are the other trials? Gershon Wolf November 20, 2021 at 6:13 PM The whole episode was, indeed, a tragedy, from the trashing of the city, to the under-performance by the police, to the strange case of Mr. Rittenhouse, to the media's stoking of the flames. (btw: My father was born in raised in Kenosha, WI. His whole family is buried there. I visit once a year to inspect the graves in the cemetary. It's about 50 miles away from where I live in Chicago).

John Lawless November 19, 2021 at 1:06 PM Well, a jury under tremendous pressure from the press and media, not to mention peaceful "thugs" in the courtroom rendered their verdict based on what was presented within the confines of the law. Gershon Wolf November 20, 2021 at 6:57 PM Please check your sources, Chetta. Kyle Rittenhouse lives and has been living with his mother in Antioch, IL. Prior to the infamous night that he traveled to Kenosha, he had been a student at Antioch High School. The question in my poem stands... :) gw Chetta Achara November 19, 2021 at 2:06 PM Gershon, Kyle did not travel with a rifle in tow, his father lived in Kenosha, other family lived there also. Kyle worked in Kenosha, he went to help clean graffiti from buildings and to render first aid to those who might need it. It seems to me his parents raised a responsible young man. Gershon Wolf November 19, 2021 at 1:26 PM Yes, Kyle was innocent under the law. And we're supposed to be a nation of laws. (Except in Seattle, Portland, NY City, San Francisco, etc....). 100%. In fact, my money was on an innocent verdict from the start. That said, what about the parents? What's a 17-year old high-school junior doing driving from Antioch IL to Kenosha, WI on a weekday night with an assault rifle in tow?! To me, anyway, they're responsible for him, aren't they?! ~ Just sayin'

Jan Allison November 19, 2021 at 12:31 PM lets just say GW.. after the verdict there may be trouble ahead:-( hugs jan xx Gershon Wolf November 19, 2021 at 1:30 PM You're right, Jan. There just might be trouble. On the other hand, I should think that the mayor of Kenosha, WI and the police will not 'look the other way this time.' They ought to be doubling down on stopping any trouble that starts. The mood of the nation has changed abtuptly as well. People have tired of the looters, the thugs, Antifa and BLM getting off scot-free... We'll see what happens, surely. Have a great weekend! :) gw Gershon Wolf November 19, 2021 at 1:29 PM You're right, Jan. There just might be trouble. On the other hand, I should think that the mayor of Kenosha, WI and the police will not 'look the other way this time.' They ought to be doubling down on stopping any trouble that starts. The mood of the nation has changed abtuptly as well. People have tired of the looters, the thugs, Antifa and BLM getting off scot-free... We'll see what happens, surely. Have a great weekend! :) gw