Nola

I wrote this not long ago while dwelling on someone I know who was driving me absolutely mad. As far as she's concerned, anyone should be able to say anything they want... as long as it's not a white person or, god forbid, a Christian. I'm not Christian, but I am white (the irony here being that she is, too), so needless to say we get into some rather heated arguments. It's festive

---------------------------------------------------------

Come one, come all,
Whether you like it or not,
I'm here to monitor
Both your deed and your thought.

I have no patience
For honest expression...
It's for your own good
The joys of repression.

Bite your tongue if you must
*I hear it tastes just like chicken*
If that's what it takes
Be you Christian or Wiccan.

Free speech is a concept
Makes me break out in hives
Unless you're a minority
Or have seven wives.

Don't talk without thinking
Of whom might take offense
And if you follow my lead
You won't need common sense.

I've made a huge list
Of things you can't say
Take the burden of thinking
Right out of your way.

Just say to yourself
'Ass kissing's an art!'
Soon you'll be just like me,
A parrot at heart!

Parrots don't strain
With speaking their minds
They say what they're told
And leave shit on the blinds.

Simply turn off your brain
*It's just taking up space*
Glue a brown noser grin
On your new PC face.

Now you're part of the club!
Wear your name tag with pride!
Freedom of Speech? Someone asks...
Tell them it died.

__________________
If my answers frighten you, then you should cease asking scary questions.

www.onlynola.com
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it, uh-huh uh-huh...

Searching Neverland

Hi Nola,

I do see your point, cause I tend to have the same argument with people. However I usually have the opinion of that girl who made you mad. But let's see it seperately and start with the style:

I love the end (which is the most important thing anyway!), it has a finishing note, irony and just... it stings and that's great!

However some of the rhythm is off. In my own opinion one should try to perfect metre and rhyme when you go for such a style - however I know by self experience how hard that is, especially when you have something important to say...

All in all the style is pretty good! Good job, really.


Now to the opinon expressed in it (I can't help myself...)
I probably have such a strong opinion there because I'm german, and we are not exactly proud of our past... (even though american damage of late, perversely, makes us all feel a little better... )

I do agree with you in the sense that some of the poitical correctness is just silly. (And I am white too, but my boyfriend is black.. coloured... whatever!) I think to that the N-word is highly offending... but I see no offense in saying black or coloured - but now you have to say afro-american... but my boyfriend is a brit! So... afro-brit? Damn his parents are caribbean! What makes him an afro-carib-brit?
And anyway - you don't call white people euro-americans, do you?
Anyway that is what i find silly...

But in general I think that words and expressions have histories that have to be considered. For example I saw my brother using a computergame called "Rome - total war" lately. And well that made me wince, because that is just what hitler declared...

Or, again my brother, used the word "lefty" for "looser" (wherever he got that from!) And I tried to explain to him that the only way that would make any sense it if he was right winged and making fun of socialists or communists, which is totally not his intention...

I think political correctness, can be overdone... it really is about thinking before you say something that puts you into a place you don't want to be, or hurts someone... *shrugs*


luv
Laila

__________________
"... And I wrote the first faint line,
faint, without substance, pure
nonsense, pure wisdom,
of someone, who knows nothing..."

from: Pablo Nerdua, "Poetry"

Tyson

I enjoyed this, I liked the humorus aspect you added to it. It's a serious matter, with a humor twisted to it. If this is what you're like when you're angry... wow I wish I were like that . Well there wasn't much left for me to say, except my personal suggestion. I tend to stay away from absent minded profanity, and the language you used is, in my oppinion, somehow less intelligent sounding. Now, don't get me wrong, by the rest of your writing you're intelligent, but the profanity is not necesarily needed. Like I said previously it is only my oppinion, don't take it to heart if you don't want to change it. Thanks for the read, keep up the good work.
Tyson

ms. vodka

i thought this was excellently written, but call me a dolt, i was a bit confused about your POV.

vodka

galt

I like your poem! How long did it take to make?

Nola

ms. vodka, you're not at all in the 'dolt' category. Using rhyme, which I almost never do, threw me off so that I almost confused myself a time or two . The point of view the poem represents is someone who holds political correctness to be the most valuable behavior, with the exception of certain groups of people who are exempt from that expectation. I'd appreciate it if you could point out any places, specifically, that threw you off because I've wanted to correct the problem but can never quite put my finger on where it's coming from. Thanks for the compliment on the writing

Galt, I'm almost embarrassed beyond words to say it took me about 20 minutes... . I was trying to think of something to post on my website one night, since I was long overdue for an update, and the idea came to me about the fifth time I smacked my forehead into the monitor. Glad you liked it.

When I'm angry, my husband and the cats all hide under the bed. *laughs* No, I'm kidding. That only happens approximately 7 to 10 days a month . As for the profanity issue, well, I understand that profanity is offputting for some people, and I hope the few words I used don't send the majority of people running screaming into the night, but in this particular instance I think it works with the tone I was trying to establish. I'd be interested to hear if others feel the same way, Tyson. I'm willing to consider all opinions. Who knows, changing the language might be more effective.


Thanks, all, for the kind words and encouragement.

__________________
If my answers frighten you, then you should cease asking scary questions.

www.onlynola.com
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it, uh-huh uh-huh...

Nola

Crap, accidentally hit enter on the above post before I'd finished. Don't you hate it when that happens?


Okay, to continue... Laila, the ryhyming thing is hard for me, since I use it so rarely, but my hope is that it hits the mark more often than it misses it, making the errors forgivable. Nice to know you enjoyed it, even though it is, as you said, a tough subject. The thing for me is, I suppose, that as it stands now there's not much you can say without someone, somewhere, becoming offended. It's a bit crippling to the concept of free speech. Sure, no one should want to hurt anyone's feelings, but the fact is that if free speech is really going to exist, it means freedom to say things even if they hurt someone's feelings. Being 'offended' these days doesn't take much, and the term is being used to absolute death.

*pant pant*

Whew. I now return you to your regular reading

__________________
If my answers frighten you, then you should cease asking scary questions.

www.onlynola.com
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it, uh-huh uh-huh...

mammamaia

hilarious!... and too sadly true... loved the parrot bit... brava!!!

love and hugs, maia

__________________
For 100% free writing help/mentoring:
www.saysmom.com

"You must BE the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi