What I Deserve
The personal is political and I take the political quite personal
and please do not get me wrong because I am not one to moan
for only those taking responsibility themselves should be allowed
to criticize what the holders of power decree how they govern
Empathy
They can be wrong might do their best and I believe them to be
human after all has been said and done in the public’s name so that
is why I do not wish them to hide in ivory towers and posh mansions
Transparency
Governments have to make difficult decisions and balance judgements
determine chose accord walk a tightrope of compromise and verdicts
may struggle not to corrupt themselves when they have to arbitrate for
us the people who need to be governed for pure anarchy is an utopia
and yet their bubble of influence must have a valve for close inspection
Accountability
I want them to be trustworthy virtuous fair even handed and outspoken
abide by a moral code their declarations mission statements and the blurb
which is documented in manifestos shiny brochures and election promises
stick to what they commit to and oblige by rules of engagement and truth
whatever ideology they prescribe to and follow covenants and vows
Honesty
Within and outside international boundaries I expect them to pledge and
act upon the principle of life and freedom self-determination and the right
for love and amity and the refusal to call for arms destruction and warfare
Humanity must not end in senseless annihilation for some dubious gain
for there are no victories on battle fields to be had only weak cowardice
when combat and slaughter erupt in belligerent carnage and hostility
Peace
This calls for ethos and values that cannot be had in the name of crusades
bloodshed havoc fighting and conflict for the sake of religion or dogma
I reserve the licence to refuse when right becomes wrong and will resist
in the event of abuse of governance and will scrap any false allegiance
burn flags statues statutes that imprison my dignity and besmirch my kin
family fellows so called foes and opponents who in truth are my friends
in the just struggle for humans of all colours in the rainbow of nations
to exist mix mingle join together and determine the personal and political
and therefore when Integrity falls in self-righteous misdeed and arrogance
I simply request Empathy Transparency Accountability Honesty Peace
and will make sure that the rulers’ children are the first to be sent into War
that they reside in homeless shelters and feed themselves in food banks
and experience at first-hand what it means to live on marginal trash heaps
Some will say that it is not my place to seek revenge and give them a dose
of their own unsavoury medicine that spin doctors know best for us all
but maybe just maybe the threat of reaping what they sow and dispense
might remind the purveyors of politics that there is a sword to fall upon
to be exposed for the ignorance and bedlam they often wield in contempt
14th March 2021
‘The personal is political’ – attributed to Carol Hanish
Copyright © Kai Michael Neumann | Year Posted 2021
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