“Change the channel.” A general quotes
to the suffering Iraqi people
weeping at the images of death
paraded each day across their screens,
crying at the mutilated children
and innocent mothers torn apart;
as if this is something to be ignored.
“One hundred twenty-five rebels killed.”
A nonchalant headline reads,
as if the men were stock options
or football players suffering from a loss.
Meanwhile their comrades call them patriots
and mourn their deaths with vengeful thoughts
and oaths to drive the Americans from their homes.
“There can be no excuse for war.” My ideology describes,
but many are the reasons for which men kill.
“Death breeds death.” I wrote, I believe when seventeen.
“Hate breeds hate.” I also quote.
I do not recall why I scrawled these lines,
but in the light of passing time,
I have come to understand myself.
For every soldier/insurgent/rebel/patriot’s death,
there is a young mind formed in the belief
that it is okay to kill;
to make war, hate and contemplate
the murder of one’s self
for the benefit of a cause,
be it vengeance, freedom
or the American way.
