Collateral Damage (poem) by Ronald W. Hull on AuthorsDen

Collateral Damage
by Ronald W. Hull → (All Poetry by Ronald W. Hull)
Friday, April 26, 2024 Rated "G" by the Author.

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A protest song about the ongoing ridiculous cycle of war.

Students Protest Gazan Genocide Courtesy New York Times Collateral Damage Down through history lessons unlearned, rulers wanting to preserve brutally earned. Millions have died with no hand in the cause, because of the stupid, "all or nothing," clause. Graveyards filled with the gallant few, those in mass graves lost from view. Soon forgotten as though never lived. Their part in the melee never forgived. [Refrain] Students protesting nationwide, collateral innocents nowhere to hide. Fascist order required to abide, while righteous commit genocide. In every generation, revenge abides. Rising from the ashes where it hides. Forgetting what happened in the past, whatever truth there was never to last. Once the fuse is lit by a small injustice, innocents are thrust into, "just trust us." Fuel and fodder for the cannons of war, collateral damage begins once more. Students protesting nationwide, collateral innocents nowhere to hide. Fascist order required to abide, while righteous commit genocide. Copyright 2024 © Ronald W. Hull 4/15/24 You can read and print this poem at my website here.
Ron's Place

Reviewed by Jon Willey

Reviewed on May 8, 2024

Interesting to note the misinformed responses to your writing Ron. Those that follow the far left propaganda and those that preach the untruths to our students are the proponents of the architects of human destruction. Always good to read your work. Our peer group age wise is quickly diminishing.
Jon Michael

Reviewed by Alan Cook

Reviewed on April 29, 2024

"Can't we all just get along?" A well-known quote from the Los Angeles past, and certainly applicable to this situation. I have a friend who, along with her family, suffered under both Hitler and Stalin before finding peace in France and later the United States. Man's inhumanity to man continues, and apparently never stops. Ron, thanks for pointing this out in an artful way.

Reviewed by Kay P Devenish

Reviewed on April 28, 2024

You are amazing...10 out of 10 mate!

Reviewed by John Herlihy

Reviewed on April 27, 2024

It is such a complicated political (and global) issue that has gone on since the inception of Israel after WWII. Yes, one can mention the tit-for-tat, the Oct 7 invasion of Israel by Hamas, the resulting war and destruction of Gaza and the collateral damage of over 30,000 Gazan civilians, the majority being women and children. But again, we need now to talk about solutions and not just retribution which indeed inspires further violence. The two-state is the only reasonable, and forward-thinking solution to this perennial problem, a solution that Israel needs to begin to take seriously.

Reviewed by JoAnne Cromp (Reader)

Reviewed on April 26, 2024

Wars and rumors of wars. Prophesied thousands of years ago coming to pass

Reviewed by Rebecca McKeehan

Ulysses Grant said, "War is hell." For him there was no glory, only a need to get a job done. Was the murder, pillaging, and general mayhem worth it? Depends upon who you ask, I suppose.

What makes a just cause for war? Is there a just cause for it? Again, it depends upon who you ask.

I have a more pragmatic view of war. No, it's not acceptable when its purpose is greed and oppression (i.e. Putin). But it is acceptable, I think, to fight back when you are the target of that purpose (i.e. Ukraine). I would love to live in a world where peace, justice, and sanity prevail, but this is humanity we're dealing with. The species with no natural enemies that must fight itself for all the reasons other species fight their natural enemies. I think believing world peace is possible is hopelessly idealistic. It's nice to dream but reality will prevail.

Rebecca

Reviewed by Odin odin@aflx.com

So much collateral damage around the globe. Perhaps of greatest concern is unknown numbers associated with "denial" mindsets. It doesn't take an Einstein to surmise that denial breeds false safety. That, together with what you've cited in this social-conscious wordsmithing makes one sit back and thank "whatever" that for those of us conscious, collateral damage is deeper than most perceive.