In the Land of the Free

In the land of the free
the police are free
to steal from the citizens
as long as they call it asset forfeiture.
The citizens are free to complain
but not too loudly
because the police are free to shoot them
dead.

In the land of the free
the politicians are free
to take bribes
because bribery is legal
as long as it’s called lobbying
or donations
or campaign funds
or benefits
but not
greed fuel.

In the land of the free
the media is free to lie
disinform
promote gossip
exploit sensations
foster addiction to sports, fashion and consumption
worship money and power
and
hide truth
in the name of news
and information.

In the land of the free
pharmaceutical companies are free
to poison citizens
food companies are free
to fill them with junk
beverage companies are free
to make them obese
agricultural companies are free
to torture animals, pestify crops and deplete the soil
in the name of profits.

In the land of the free
the military is free
to destroy cities, towns, villages and homes
kill and maim lovers and kids
as long as they say
they are helping
or fighting terror
or protecting themselves from threats.

In the land of the free
the wealthiest people are free
to increase their wealth
while everyone else is free
to complain, hate and blame everyone else
and praise the shiny free facade
on the house of rusty chains.

*

”The word free has its roots in a pre-historic Proto-Indo European word *pri- meaning ‘to love’.”
Dartwill Aquila

*

The West Bank is now the Judea-Samaria area.