Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 58 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing Summarizing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
Life Arts   
  

IMPEDIMENTA (or Buried Alive)

By       (Page 2 of 3 pages) Become a premium member to see this article and all articles as one long page.   1 comment

Vi Ransel
Message Vi Ransel

And since mothers now work to make up
increasing profit taken from wages of fathers,
children are often left alone and unguarded
to sit alienated, anxious and wanting

getting much of their nurture by nursing
at the ubiquitous TV tit,
which disperses only the addictive milk
of corporate ejaculate,

driving small children back
to the sacred, sacrificial mall altar
where they give up the rest of their selves
to the holy corporate Uber Father

self silenced

in the quest for eternal youth,
to gain the illusion of status,
for the refuge of sedatives or stimulants
to create an artificial happiness

to get what they're told they deserve
to relieve the quiet desperation,
to find love in the acquisition of goods,
for the reward of instant gratification

for the waxen mask of faux beauty,
to transfer loyalty to brands,
to compete in the search for identity,
to amass enough feel like a man

for products as opposed to friendships,
for the feeling of being included,
to keep them amused as they're being abused
making sure curiosity is neutered.

Thus market needs supplant personality
by strip mining children of all that is personal,
implanting needs created by advertising
making them vassals of all things commercial,

clamoring to be filled with what the market purveys,
but these false needs can never be satisfied.
The constant effort to do so creates profit,
and that's the whole point of the enterprise.

There are more TV drug-delivery systems
in American homes than there are residents.
Hundreds of channels inject it 24/7
promoting non-existent TV characters as friends

to be imprinted on, bonded with and emulated
in the purchase/pursuit of the American Dream,
prompted by longings both real and created,
but both of which fulfill corporate needs.

Children are sitting ducks for the sale of junk
sold as a way off the island of solitary confinement
on which the perfect consumer, cut from the community,
lives a faux life that he is resigned to,
built on maximum conformity via pre-selected choices
of identical products that ensure profitable uniformity,
since mass production creates massive profits
in the futile struggle to buy style and identity.

And rather than educate, schooling trains children
to take their place in the assembly line of those seeking
the elusive and non-negotiable American lifestyle
as if it were worthy of achievement.

Children are schooled to
sit down
shut up
ask permission
and pledge an unquestioning oath
to xenophobia and imperialist aggression

in service to the enrichment of the already rich
disguised as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
as they provide the fodder,
both consumer and cannon,
which makes possible empire,
both military and financial.

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

Vi Ransel Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Vi's works appear widely both in print and online. She conducts Poetry Workshops and gives readings in Central New York. Her latest chapbook is "Sine Qua Non Antiques (an Arcanum of History, Geography and Treachery).
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter

Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Superior Force

Class War in America, the Ongoing Assault

pro invidia

The Rape Room

Worship of Eostre

Where the Wild Things Are

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend