Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 54 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing Summarizing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
OpEdNews Op Eds   
  

Where the Wild Things Are

By       (Page 4 of 8 pages) Become a premium member to see this article and all articles as one long page.   No comments

Vi Ransel
Message Vi Ransel

and the choices that children have left,
if that's what they could be called,
are all of them pre-arrayed and made
in the safe, sacred space of the mall.

And like the unwanted excrescences
of too-long tails and ears on "purebred" dogs,
extraneous on purebred, bio-engineered consumers
are the interconnections of human bonds
which are then prevented from reforming
by the application of cultural shock collars
which let children know they're straying from convention
and prompts shopping in which to find solace.

Children are taught to speak
by mimicking animals sounds,
"What does the cow say?" and to read
by rattling off their names.  "C is for cow."

They're given pets with whom they bond,
but learn love and promises can be exchanged.
Should a more pleasing specimen come along,
the original is easily replaced.

Children also bond with animals in Farm Programs,
then sell them for slaughter, betraying them,
and take comfort in the profit they earn,
learning money trumps loyalty and friends.

Some children are sent out into the woods,
armed with high-powered weapons
with which they then hunt down and kill
their essentially defenseless animal friends.

This template for the eradication of feelings
via the extermination of beloved animals
is covered with the bandage of denial
and purges children of much of their humanity.

And this cold, cruel, callous psychology
is the epitome of American masculinity.
Love, friendship, fair play and promises,
gratitude and empathy are strictly for sissies.

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.

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8

(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