They’ve put it down continuously,
downplayed its role significantly,
criticized its shortcomings
and when they can't, they lie;
they refuse to acknowledge the hope
that it still bears the standard of
to desperate people living
in the desperate world outside…
Idealism nearly ruining it,
the media trivializing it,
pacifists declawing it
to the glee of would-be tyrants
and their megalomaniac designs…
but somewhere in the heartland
where simpler folk pledge allegiance
unaware of urban snobbery
claiming citizenry of the world,
springs the source of all this hope,
and yes, a source of pride,
the source of all the strength
that saves the world time after time,
where can still be felt in heartbeats
where can still be seen in smiles
where can still be held in friendly greetings
within an apple pie.
In a list
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 17 of 17
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i love this piece. there is so much wrong with the citizens of this country. I'm not a big political guru, but where did my generation drop the ball? Most people my age don't even know the pledge of allegiance. It was something they quoted once in grade school.
What happened to us standing up for what was right? OUr parents did in Vietnam. Something fell short with this generation of instant gratification. I hate it.
However, as always, i am enjoying your words. Not many people can coax me to bring out the soapbox anymore.
Much enjoyed, friend!
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awe, thanks, yes, it is difficult to write an apple pie piece today; what went wrong with your generation? I know the answer to that- there hasn't been a good rendition of the Star Spangled Banner in decades... (and I'm going to personally remedy that...
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Why do you think it's called the "Heart"land... because we are raised to have a heart. I like this piece I really do, cut me a piece of that apple pie it tastes good!
laurie
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no...
I.... uh.... hold on...
I love the United States of America...
the heartland is great.
There is hope there... but I don't think it will stop anywhere short of bloodshed. The hands of the few are binding the hands of the many, taking every facet of private life into public hands. Government and big business are one for all intents and purposes. The law exists for them and theirs. It's time for a revolution, but an unbloody revolution has become all but impossible, and as soon as bloodshed begins, our myriad enemies will swoop down like vultures to pick the bones clean. I like this poem. It makes me sad. I still get goosebumps when I hear the National Anthem, although I think the founding fathers (and often underappreciated mothers) would hang their heads in shame at the state of things today in the U.S. Thanks for making me think, lol. What did you think of Kim Jong Il and his 7 missiles on the fourth, eh?
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You, my dear young lion, is why the French Revolution failed! (their leaders were mostly in their late 20's mid 30's, young nihilistic idealists, who ended up chopping one another's heads off... until Napoleon pronounced, "The Revolution is Over!" and picked up the crown he found in the gutter)...
as for that 'hands of the few' misconception, a Soviet Rusky came over here and observed that the strength of America is in the individual wealth of the citizenry... (which for me debunks any Marxist notions applying to this country)...
Kim Jong 'Mentally' Ill? He is playing with sticks and stones... the US could flatten N. Korea in a day all by itself (providing the US's misguided socialist allies didn't stab it in the back, which they would)...
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What "wealth of the citizenry"? The wealth distribution of the United states is extremely lopsided. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. I believe we live in the new aristocracy foretold by Toqueville. Or are you speaking of a wealth of spirit? Because to me, that's laughable, no offense. The American people, on the whole, especially my generation, are apathetic couch potatoes that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to international affairs.
I am far from bloodthirsty, I prefer peaceful means. I don't give a crap about North Korea, but what nations have been supporting them? He fired off some SCUDS and two mid-range. I realize that, it's chump change in the way of weaponry. On the other hand it's a real statement that we live in an era where a pantywaste like him can spit in our faces and get away eith it at all. We are no longer the economic leader of the world and fading fast. What do you think would happen if a leader rose up among the people? He would be killed immediately. All of our top leaders here come from a cookie cutter palate, and we need people from outside the system to cut away the crap and loopholes from legislation. I think the "misguided socialist allies" are just waiting for the U.S to step in a pile... to turn on US. It would fit in with history well I feel. The young nation beats it's chest and falls, as sad as that story is. Our military is overstretched as it is in wars that are going nowhere. -
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5 stars for you rant, rants are good! but I think it is filled with common misconceptions... for even the poorest Americans live like kings compared to 89.5% of the rest of the world (words from the mouths of my immigrant neighbors AND inlaws...) I'm not worried about your generation- only 1% of each generation actually does anything, the rest are simply along for the ride...
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I am aware of the relative wealth of the American poor... but I wasn't talking about that. I was talking about wealth distribution within the U.S.
"the rest are along for the ride"... unless they metaphorically get told to eat cake... and I think it's coming to that. Anyway, I think you know that I respect you. Please, point out some of these misconceptions. I am always up for new ideas. I think you may be giving me the brushoff on this too hastily. I believe in the power of words and intelligent debate and discussion. I don't want to take this to I.M, because I think these ideas should be in the open. It's up to you though, of course.
I gotta go pick up a buddy from work. I'll be back in twenty minutes.
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and I gotta get my beauty sleep... how else are we going to conquer the world with 'image'...? lol as to the wealth distribution, it is getting better, always better, don't let the Marxist fool you... my house is literally stuffed with things I don't need...
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lmao.... yes, much of our wealth is comprised of things we don't need. We live in a waste and churn economy.
My friend's father used to work the stock and money markets. When I was 14 years old I used to sit and watch the accounts on his multiple computer screens that tracked his holdings fluctuate more in one hour than I will likely make in a lifetime. Even still, his wealth was meager in comparison to the American elite. My friend figured out how to siphon thousands of dollars before the screen shot was taken once every twenty seconds. I don't think there are that many Americans, statistically speaking, that can claim that such an invasive acts would go unnoticed, but his father never noticed, and had no way to.
We are in new territory here historically. There are many factors we haven't ever encountered before. We are all in the dark, it's a crap shoot. We'll see how the cookie continues to crumble. Only time will tell.
Numbers mean little, and can be manipulated in nearly endless ways to support or debunk a theory.
It would be great if the people of the apple pie would save our nation from destruction, but I think it's a realistic idea, not a nihilistic one, that it's a highly unlikely outcome. Once again, good write. -
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when you say "compared to the American Elite" you know what you are being sucked into? Merely a mindset of jealousy (and Marxist wannabe tyranny)... but back to the jealousy- when the human condition improves, EVERYONE wins- yes, even the elite. Do I care if the elite get richer... WHEN I'M GETTING RICHER TOO? (the little detail Marxists leave out) Hell No! When I am economically secure enough to sit around pondering life in an artistic way (as I do on this site), I don't care HOW many mansions a turd like John Kerry has accumulated, he's STILL a turd! So don't give me that 'American Elite' crap any more lol... (besides, just take those Marxist glasses off- how many American peasants do you see every rush hour driving their own non-government-issued (as in a communist state) cars? Even the poorest of the poor in this country have refrigerators, microwaves, TV's, etc. etc. etc... you've been so brainwashed, but then I thought exactly like you back in my wild-oats days... lol so I can't really fault you... I just never had a 'me' to jar me out of it... and know, you are at a disadvantage- I wrote on politics just before I came to AP... (so if you find me persuading you, it is because I've thought long and hard on many issues, and not because of your shortcomings, so cheer up there...) so, my challenge is, 'just look around and open your eyes, don't live in some abstract Marxist mentality that never applied to this country... the American Elite? Again, that is such a phony, errant argument... do you know how many times those ranks change? Daily... the poorest of the poor can attain that status within one lifetime here... and the elitest of the elite can squander it (remember 'a fool and his money'? It usually happens to second generations who hated their parents)... so I don't buy that 'elite/masses crap for one second, not in these times, and not in this country... it is a 19th century European frame of mind... (and note how badly communism has already repeatedly failed, and all in the same way- a tyrant and his thugs take the helm...)
My 'apple pie' piece- it was a boost to the heartland, yes, and a jab at the urban elite, but even with those two terms I'm overgeneralizing as far as reality is concerned, there are many types of people in both (which is another reason for you to question your mindframe- 'overgeneralizations' and 'stereotyping', two fatal flaws in Marxist theory)...
and know, that I consider our heated political discussions only a small part of our total relationship, and I will endeavor not to let one little part ruin the whole thing... (as often happens to the unwary...) (after all, my wife is quite liberal... and you know how long I've suffered through THAT!)
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oh I like
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thanks you much (and you must be hungry to have clicked on this one!) 'tis quite difficult to write 'patriotism' without camp... (me? I just put on my sneering face...)
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yes but I am an expat living in Canada so
I have no camp, well I do have a camp camp, no political one at the moment except for a dizzyibg awe as I watch the world spin in circles, and I really like pie! -
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hey, I grew up in Detroit... Canada was 'right over there'...! and several of our TV and radio stations wore Canadian hats... (and gloves in the winter...)
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you can no bbeat a toque!!!
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I'll give you THAT one... lol
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