The American Way

The Islamic Extremist laments,
“The American imposes himself on everyone.”

No, No. This is our World too.
Get used to it, its the American way.

The Global Justice Protester laments,
“multinationals are trampling the worker and ruining the environment.”

No, No. Freedom means having free markets.
Get used to it, its the American way.

The French Farmer laments,
“Mass-produced wines are destroying our rural way of life.”

No, No. You could be more efficient and competitive.
Get used to it, its the American way.

The Conservative Politician laments,
“Decadent Hollywood movies are ruining our value system.”

No, No. We’re free to profit from free expression.
Get used to it, its the American way.

The Main Street Market Owner laments,
“The Big Box store on the edge of town will be the end of Main Street.”

No, No. Consumers want more choice, and lower prices.
Get used to it, its the American way.

The Fayetteville, North Carolina man laments,
“The last military action caused 20% of the mom-and-pop businesses to go under.”

No, No. Economics 101 says weak businesses naturally exit the market.
Get used to it, its the American way.

The Poet laments,
“Its hard to get used to the American way.”

No, No. You’re free.
You can change the American way.

The Pragmatist laments,
"Good luck trying to 'change the American way' "

No, No. Freedom implies a responsibility to try.
Get used to it, its the American way.

- James George September, 2001
.

The American Way

My dreams are only dreams
And my thoughts are forced up stream

The television has warped my mind
The real me, I don’t care to find.

It’s the American way…….

My only nourishment comes from fast food
Daily worshiping at the drive thru.

I always make things as simple as they can be
Even without these blinders, I am too blind to see.

It’s the American way…….

My days consist of falling prisoner to reality shows
Then I make fun of people I don’t even know.

Big corporations are allowed into my pockets
I witness chaos run rapid, but who am I to stop it.

Hell, it’s the American way……

I never think about the danger of taking a tree
Or the destruction of everything that helps me
breathe.

Block out the sun, its power threatens the oil
I will be buried in a box and never enrich the soil.

Ah, the American way…..

I have lots of money and have always been greedy
I take lots of zenidrine, it helps keep me speedy

I am scared to death of the legalization of weed
But go to bars and drink way past my need.

The American Way…….

I vote for a president that keeps me hidden from the truth

I believe everything I hear, with gossip, who needs proof

I was for a war I truly knew nothing about
I always attend the church I don’t dare to doubt.

Fuck the American Way……

I am the sheep that follows the herd
I define the most main stream of words
I am the American who simply exists
In this world, I feel no need to resist.

- Jesslyn Jenkens
.

The American Way

on
special
planes
in
the
middle
of
the
night
we
send
people
away
to
other
countries
to
be
tortured
by
others

- Randolph Nesbitt
.

Is This The American Way

Making our mark in other people's land
Letting everyone know where we stand
America
We stand on a landscape foreign to our eyes
Yet we act like we have some loyal right to take others lives
We send our men one by one
Arming them each with their very own gun
For every American lost, we must take 100 of yours
Every second gone by makes our "leader" sweat out his pores
Telling our men to fight for what's right:
But when their number is drawn they can't put up a fight
Protesters are stomped on and a window cries
There is no reason we should here all these sighs
The more we fight, the more this country is spreading hate
But Bush has a plan: a growing death rate
We as two seperate nations will soon come to war
Exchanging blood for blood
Receiving a world that's now tore

- Samantha Stroede

Found on Poets Against War