Insert indignation here

Speak to me as though I am ignorant

of the names and faces of the people

whose blood flows in me significantly.

As though your words are sufficient

to tell me what, you believe, I am missing

out on - on the history of a people

that you say has nothing to do with me.

Preach to me as though I know no gods -

or their sons - who once set foot on this forsaken earth

through what appears to me to be a holy birth,

for the sake of every murderous, thieving, conniving bastard

on this planet.

Glare at me as I stand incredulous,

shaking my head as I hear the poison

spill out of your mouth like a faucet left open

and flooding the house.

Do all these things to me and act as though

I know nothing other than my own ignorance –

that you are entitled to enlighten me to a greater understanding…

But I know that you know nothing.

You tell me to put myself in your shoes.

In your shoes! As if that would change the impression

that has been stamped onto my mind –

of the blind leading the blind.

Thank you for being seemingly kind

when it’s obvious that this is not for my benefit

but yours.

Let me be the better man.

I’ll put myself in your shoes and tell you what I’d do –

I will stand and speak when I can

about a people I know you understand,

with words that don’t demean or demand

for attention to myself - with words that spew out

of my unsanctioned mouth.

I will preach the Word of a God

whose nature is Love and therefore selfless –

who sent a Son who wasn’t careless in His actions

or words. I will understand that you’ve known these since birth

or at least close to it.

Search me and find that what I say

and how I say it makes no demands as to your intellect.

I don’t make assumptions.

I know that you know.

Hypocritical as it may sound, it’s nonetheless true:

I know that you think that I know nothing.

And really, I know nothing.

Add that to your general knowledge because that

- that is the difference between me and you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10-10-10

How do you feel when you read this? I certainly feel all sorts of things when I read this: confusion, exasperation, doubt, and so on. Let me know what you think.