The American way

[Randy Johnson]

People try to tell me how to talk and it's damn irritating.
They cram political correctness down my throat and it's aggravating.
Even preachers are getting politically correct when they preach.
I guess people have forgot that we have freedom of speech.
I'll talk the way I want because that's supposed to be the American way.
I know for a fact that the world has seen better days.
I don't say Native American or African American; I say Indian and black.
I will have freedom of speech so people better cut me some slack.
Talk any way you want and don't worry what people have to say.
You have the freedom of speech because it's the American way.

[jon1jt]

Yeah I hear ya, just don't lose your head like the political man.

[JBI]

Yeah, this is America, and we play hardball the American way!

[andave_ya]

Nice

[firefangled]

People try to tell me how to talk and it's damn irritating.
They cram political correctness down my throat and it's aggravating.
Even preachers are getting politically correct when they preach.
I guess people have forgot that we have freedom of speech.
I'll talk the way I want because that's supposed to be the American way.
I know for a fact that the world has seen better days.
I don't say Native American or African American; I say Indian and black.
I will have freedom of speech so people better cut me some slack.
Talk any way you want and don't worry what people have to say.
You have the freedom of speech because it's the American way.

Don't do drive-bys with your words,
cut some slack across the track jack
disillusioned words like bullets bark...saith the lord

[Delta40]

Cultural Perspective (with due respect)


Tick tock tick tock
blue steel cool trigger glock
jamming your free speech
blocking our ears as you preach
about all that youse eva fought
to be in a land of nought
tick tock tick tock
Bang goes another glock
say whatever you like
bout freedom as you hold your knife
violent way
American way
Giving it for free

Your concept of Freedom? - Man it ain't for me

[Silas Thorne]

I like the rhythm, Randy. Here in NZ we get PC'd to hell too, though I think some of it makes sense. We also get state sponsored propaganda here too, telling us smoking is bad and uncool, that the world is dying but we should support the timber industry, that we shouldn't get drunk and fry up chips because we'll burn down our houses. I get annoyed too because the state treats us all like irresponsible children, but find some of it quite funny

Little bit shocked too, Delta. 'With due respect' is a code word for 'get stuffed'. But hell, not every word from the hip is from the heart, though. And whose heart? Who reads the poems and who speaks them? I don't know, and who 'I' am 'I' sure as hell don't know either.

[qimissung]

I seem to be in the minority (ahem), but I like Delta's poem. I don't see it as an insult, but a comment on the violence that is pervasive in our society. I liked it artistically. In fact I don't really see (but I suppose someone will tell me) how it pertains to the first poem.

As to Randy's poem, it's O.K. Sometimes I get tired of political correctness, too. I have to admit that when I first started reading it, I was worried that he was going to go off on a rant, but it was fairly restrained and polite. I work in an inner city school and my students are largely hispanic and black, so in the long run I think it's better to be careful-and respectful. The racial divide is larger than we would like to think.

[NickAdams]

Though there is something to be said about Delta's poem, this thread was created for the benefit of Randy Johnson and I think we should return it to him. It seems to be very unflattering for a poet to be out shined in a thread they posted.

Poetry of this variety wants its content to be addressed rather than its form.
My only criticism would be that for a poem the celebrates the freedom of speech, I don't think that the freedom was exercised. I know that poetry is quite different from essays, but I think using the structure of an essay (introduction, three examples and conclusion) would better get your point across. I'm interested in the preacher; how are they politically correct?

I do find that being politically correct prevents accuracy and in Harold Blooms case, forces relevance. I find Native American to be as inaccurate as Indian and African American implies immigration to me. Black seems the closet description, because it suggest the identity developed in the US. Blacks lost their traditional African identity after generations of slavery. Their identity begins in the US. I'm still amazed that native born citizens of the US aren't referred to as Americans. There is a difference in description and enforcement of an identity.

[Virgil]

Though there is something to be said about Delta's poem, this thread was created for the benefit of Randy Johnson and I think we should return it to him.

Exactly. As a response to Randy the Delta's poem was an insult.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Exactly. As a response to Randy the Delta's poem was an insult.

Come on! Give her a break. Notice that she is new on here, hasn't had the chance to learn the protocol.

[Virgil]

Come on! Give her a break. Notice that she is new on here, hasn't had the chance to learn the protocol.

Ok, I'll give her a break. I made my point. I guess she doesn't go back and check her comments.

[Silas Thorne]

Yes, exactly.

Two Buddhist Monks were on a journey, one was a senior monk, the other a junior monk. During their journey they approached a raging river and on the river bank stood a young lady. She was clearly concerned about how she would get to the other side of the river without drowning.

The junior monk walked straight past her without giving it a thought and he crossed the river. The senior monk picked up the woman and carried her across the river. He placed her down, they parted ways with woman and on they went with the journey.

As the journey went on, the senior monk could see some concern on the junior monk's mind, he asked what was wrong. The junior monk replied, "how could you carry her like that? You know we can't touch women, it's against our way of life". The senior monk answered, "I left the woman at the rivers edge a long way back, why are you still carrying her?"

from http://www.endlesshumanpotential.com...onk-story.html

[NickAdams]

Exactly. As a response to Randy the Delta's poem was an insult.

[Delta40]

I have read the insulting responses to my reaction and I wish to apologise to the author only. His poem incited my response, an ironic compliment, if you will, especially in this political climate in which we live. If the author requires further explanation, they can pm me.

I was struck by the passionate belief in one's own culture. I will remember that poetry is after all just an expression its content is not open for discussion