This Poem was Submitted By: Mark D. Kilburn On Date: 2004-11-08 10:48:55 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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FRACTURED FREEDOM

                Uniformity, isolation, false faith, and suppressed individualism are all breeders  of compassionless attitudes, dangerous selfishness, apathy and fascism. Truth  can be easily shadowed by ceaseless flag waving or Biblical misinterpretation.  Freedoms rapidly disappear when obscured by obduracy.   Only oppression can be reaped when seeds of religious rhetoric are planted, just as ignorant bliss is born of narrow mindedness. Truth is eternally veiled and  to be uncovered it has to be sought. Unquestioned authority can only spawn  submission and has always been the paradigm for slavery.   Refusal of scientific evidence is the nourishment of communistic, militaristic  and fascist societies, opiated by denials of truth. Without options all civilizations  become selfishly stunted and inevitably silenced by the slow progression of  self-serving and destructive inequality.   Freedom is merely the tolerant embrace of alternative thought, while singular  thought closes the door to learning and advancement and is the producer of  repression. Only open minds can enforce liberty. Fractious minds are  conquered by selfless sharing.   To believe God has a chosen few is to reprove that very belief in God.  To believe heavenly rewards are earned and not learned is to be blind to  all of nature. When Communal relationships with God become more  important than our personal ones, are we not misguiding ourselves?   The road to peace on earth is constructed by communication among those  we disagree with, while the closed mind and insensitive heart are the parents  of fascism and insidious killers of freedom…           

Copyright © November 2004 Mark D. Kilburn


This Poem was Critiqued By: Carolyn Minsker On Date: 2004-12-07 07:18:39
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 1.00000
Amen.


This Poem was Critiqued By: charles r pitts On Date: 2004-12-07 06:46:35
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Get out of my head Mark! You have submitted a very thoughtful, confrontational, and important piece of literature here. Not afraid to call a spade a spade, you deliver a very blatant message about the blindness and the fallacy of conformity. I love how you state the ridiculousness of outdated religious theologies, and their implications on society's progress. I grew up in an "always been this way" environment, and many times, feel exiled cooking my kill over an open fire as I watch my brethren gnawing on raw meat. How sad that the powers that be have not read your work. Perhaps if they had, we wouldn't have an idiot in the White House, a rascist nation teetering on the brink, and a planet in danger of global conflict. If more people embraced the ideas you presented, how great would our nation be? How great our world? Thanks for saying what needed to be said.
This Poem was Critiqued By: DeniMari Z. On Date: 2004-11-20 01:40:01
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Dear Mark, This is a very thought inspiring poem. You have crafted each verse well, stating opinions that can be believable to some and to others not. I particularly enjoyed the last three verses - feeling and agreeing with what you have written. We all have to conform to something - otherwise I believe we would walk the earth in a complete unaware state of mind. To me this was the most powerful line in your poem: To believe heavenly rewards are earned and not learned is to be blind to all of nature. I think you have done a great job on this piece. Sincerely, DeniMari
This Poem was Critiqued By: Dellena Rovito On Date: 2004-11-10 18:12:49
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Mark, Wow you just said a mouthful! And more! Truth has to be sought. What we think is true, usually isn't. And the accepted thought isn't questioned. [who cares enough/who'll listen when you know different?] noone... Most people keep too busy being busy to have time to actually think. Thinking's boring. Thinking can be upsetting as making change is most difficult and uncomfortable. Habit's are calming and easier. Besides it easier to control the masses when we all follow blindly like beef to the slaughter. Individualism could prove chaotic. And people wonder why their depressed and use tranquilizers. That's why our worlds a mess. Hopefully you won't mind my ravings. Your Selfless sharing is TERRIFIC! Dellena
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