This past Independence Day,
I couldn't garner any meaning for it.
Just what are we supposedly independent from now?
Our tradition has supposedly been that of the underdog for other underdogs.
We occupy two countries, one of which never attacked us.
The other, a vast sparsely populated land
that's never had democracy, or much central authority,
except the warlords we put in place.
Their government, at least,
never attacked us.
We have new masters now:
The oil companies, the energy companies, the military-industrial complex, the media,
the millionaire farmers, the medical association.
It seemed a good idea, our country.
But it was established in such a way that the powerful would always rule.
The aristocratic minority would always hold more sway in the government.
Our trade agreements take advantage of smaller countries,
flooding their markets with our agricultural products, for instance,
which our government subsidizes,
driving their local farmers into bankruptcy.
They call that the "Free Market."
It's surprising their governments accepted these deals.
But they're in the same position
ruled by powerful minorities --
our powerful minority protects their powerful minority protects our powerful minority.
Like some kind of global good ole boy network.
We sponsor the Chinese Communist Party
but pillory Iran for supposedly not having fair elections,
nor a free press.
We enrich the Saudi monarchy a trillion fold
while they continue their misogynistic legal traditions.
We empower Israel to oppress Palestinians into an apartheid system.
Mexico's Republicans stole their presidential election,
but it's not news-worthy here.
In Iran, Vietnam, Chile, Guatemala and Indonesia,
we denied the people self-rule;
our so-called "inalienable" right.
That's the short list
of the ones we know.
We hold our right to bear arms as sacrosanct,
but have made it illegal for foreigners to defend themselves
in their home country against our invasions.
We try them as criminals
and execute their leaders.
It's not called "assassination."
Our war criminals roam freely
and our un-controversial president enriches himself
on university speeches.
Behold, the great hypocrite,
the U.S.A.,
the master of slavery.
(I apologize that your editor won't publish things the way I've presented them and that repeated editions don't make them look the way I intend.)
