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I asked the question on my mind
to Mom and Dad long ago.
How did you not know
the Germans were rounding up Jews,
and Gypsies and dissidents who cared
that their nation was being overtaken
by Nazis who sowed despair
in Poland, Austria and France?
How could America divert her glance
from war looming on the horizon?
I did not understand then.
I do not understand now
why until Pearl Harbor
Americans shrugged a brow.
Not Dad, he enlisted long before Pearl.
He saw that war knocked on our door
as he escorted ships full
of lend-lease goods to Britain’s shores.
Like Ukrainians, we hoped Britains
could forestall a world-wide war
that Americans must fight.
Out of mind, out of sight
seems to be not only a universal dodge
but an eternal one as well,
lasting across generations
with shallow memories.
As then, now, we have fascists here at home
with white supremacy guiding their views
and politicians pleading their cause
as the nation’s own, ignoring American principles
of freedom and equality
as they burn books and block votes
and bind women to their side
that they may attack children
and threaten life with weapons
of war in schools, churches, synagogues
and even grocery stores.
Are such threats truly unseen?
Are such threats overcome by entertainment T.V.?
Americans know the score
on Dancing with the Stars and Housewives
from too many cities to keep count.
And, yet, have no time to explore
candidates and policies before they vote,
if they do vote with raised brows
at a ballots’ surprise of choices to be made.
So, they stay away, and let war descend
without raising a hue or cry.
Soon to be come a nation occupied
by foreign notions from foreign nations
who did not even need to raise a gun
to destroy democracy for every American.
It need not be this way.
Get to work and learn the truth.
for once, put aside your play.
Then go vote on election day.
It is the least, the very least
you can do.
The world is counting on you.
annarino writes 