Poets against war and militarism

http://judithpordon.tripod.com/poetry/id147.html ^ | ?? | Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

[noyce]

Anthem for Doomed Youth

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries for them; no prayers nor bells, Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, -- - The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

[noyce]

There is no reason - in my opinion - to glorify any promilitaric politics...

[zygoat]

Not even high intensity electric lightning bolts hurled with great precision by a person named MOD?

[JoJo Gunn]

An early morning ZOT awaits!

[NicknamedBob]

High principles are admirable. Post a sign in your window,

"I am a pacifist. There are no guns in this household."

We'll see you later. If you survive.

There are people who want what you want, and there are people who want what you have. They will take your property, your children, your life. They have no attachment to what you think it is worth, and will use any of it to their own purpose, and then cast it aside like a used tissue. You have a duty, to yourself and your children, to prevent this from happening.

Not everyone is like that. There are also people who are willing to defend you, and prevent others from taking what is not theirs to take. We call them neighbors, policemen, and soldiers.

The best way to prevent the need for war, or theft, is to see to it that your neighbors, and those in neighboring countries, have access to the things they want, at a price lower than that which they would have to pay to take it from you.

The next best way is to make sure that the price they would have to pay for stealing, or invading, is very, very high. You may not think that anyone would invade your country, and take things from you that you hold dear, but it has happened many times before, and it is happening even as we speak.

[hellinahandcart]

Your opinion matters less to me than my neighbor's cat's.

[MacDorcha]

well the obvious answers arise here. tell that to holocaust survivors, tell that to rebels of oppresive governmants all over the world. tell that to our Founding Fathers who formed AND protected our way of life through their blood!

ever heard of a "Warrior-Poet"? they see the honour and duty of protecting one's lifestyle and freedoms as a GOOD thing. your poem suggests that we are all apparently evil, and only put up with peace so that we can endure the horrors of war.

"Do not go gently into that good night." i think that is more well placed than your garbage you just posted.

and before it gets away from me, yes, i noticed you signed up TODAY to share your piece of "wisdom." you DO realize that nothing gets accomplished in time of peace as well, right? you like your computer, your canned food, your way of life as you know it? thank the Cold War, thank World War I, thank The Revolutionary War. major change and improvement only comes in time of need.

so you may be a "poet" all you wish, but as for myself, im going to try using logic and living in the real world until my time is up, instead of sitting in my room writing things that my girlfriend tells me is good but i cant believe her because she likes Carrot Top.

[MacDorcha]

his uhm personal page. check it out.

[JoJo Gunn]

Yeah, ain't it interesting how all of a sudden it's Germany Week at the Freep?

[MacDorcha]

and before you go and cry about how we're "not even listening to you" think of this, we are all here and talking because we all have an opinion. we formed these opinions through observation and the real world. as for some of us digging into you, keep in mind you DO have a right to say what you wish, but that does NOT mean we will listen to it, or even take you seriously.

[MacDorcha]

Germany has kudos from me for two reasons. one, they invented a language that is derived from the idea of spitting at people in common interaction, and two, i was born there (US military brat)

other than that, meh.

[hellinahandcart]

It's because a few of us freeped that online Spiegel poll. They are now showing us the sort of impotent fury you'd see at a rained-out Gay Pride parade.

This is not our first German invasion, this is actually the third wave since I've been here. First was when one of Schroeder's ministers compared Bush to Hitler (they all came over here defending her), second was after France and Germany stabbed us in the back (they all came over here attacking us), now it's the prank on Spiegel. Real touchy, thin-skinned types.

[hellinahandcart]

It will all be over soon, if history is any indication. Meanwhile we get to insult the hell out of them. LOL

[KangarooJacqui]

Since March 9th, huh?

From Germany. (und ya ich sprechen Deutsch, I just prefer NOT TO!)

And your "about page".... that should have an anti-emetic alert posted to it, as I nearly barfed over my keyboard!)

If you'e not a trol to Free Republic, then welcome. If you are, prepare to see us bare our teeth... and ZOT you before I awake again. (It's 10.30 Tuedsay night in my part of Australia, I'm tired, and I need sleep... can someone alert the Viking Kitties for me if they are needed? Thanks...)

[USMARINE6]

Are you quoting a Hanoi John speech? Here is some quotes to ponder:
The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." - George Washington

“Experience proves that the man who obstructs a war in which his nation is engaged, no matter whether right or wrong, occupied no enviable place in life or history. Better for him, individually, to advocate 'war, pestilence, and famine,' than to act as obstructionist to a war already begun." Ulysses S. Grant


"A nation can survive its fools and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and he carries his banners openly against the city. But the traitor moves among those within the gates freely, his sly whispers rustling through all alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears no traitor; he speaks in the accents familiar to his victim, and he wears their face and their garments and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation; he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city; he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared. The traitor is the plague." Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Orator - 106-43 B.C

[Celtjew Libertarian]

This poem of mine was originally on Poetsforthewar.org last year. Somewhat ironically, the style I used -- the ghazal -- has its origins in what is now Iran.

Earth Could Have Been Fifty Worlds

Earth could have been fifty worlds, as easy as one, in those days,
When the speed of news was how fast a horse could run in those days.

Nations would rise and then fall, heroes live and die, all unknown,
Except for the wildest tall tales that ever were spun in those days.

Cables were laid undersea and the mighty rails crossed the land.
Word of the world faster went, racing ’gainst the sun, in those days.

The Earth became smaller. Still oceans kept people divided.
Doughboys were shipped “Over There” to fight WW1, in those days.

Airplanes crossed seas. Radios blared there would be “peace in our time,”
But Poland and Pearl Harbor showed there would be none in those days.

News of the world was broadcast from space to place by satellite,
But Earth was split in two by a Curtain of Iron in those days.

Copper and glass were woven into net to make fast the world.
Pulling front porch to door-post, strong the web is spun in these days.

We can buy, trade, talk, and make love around the world quick as thought.
9-1-1 found quick terror likewise could be done in these days.

There’s no “over there“ and we cannot go back, so we must choose:
A life filled with terror or freedom again won, in these days.

Celtjew loves the liberty and the high-tech vibe that it brings,
Despite the tough choices they bring for everyone, in these days.

[JoJo Gunn]

I can't wait for the TOADS to saunter by. Clothespin for the nose is on standby. (Dang! Did he just say that? ).

[trussell]

Go Away Troll

[MeekOneGOP]

Looking for the Dead Poets Society ?? ...

Viking Kittens - Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song

[TheBigB]

Your opinion does not matter in the slightest. To anyone. See ya.

[Grampa Dave]

Well, will this peace loving German be posting day and night like a few hired posters from Germany have done in the past?

How did non Nazi Poets do under the Nazis in Germany and Europe during the late 1930's and 1940's until we killed most of the Nazis with guns and bombs?