Wednesday, October 18, 2017

day TWO HUNDRED and SEVENTY TWO

Veterans on #takeaknee

I'm mostly tired of non-veterans
using us as a way to throw shade
on someone exercising their right.

I speak for three generations.
It is precisely for men like him
that we were willing to serve.

Nobody is talking about inequality
right now. This football player,
he put the spotlight on himself.

The entitled crowd want him
to apologize to vets.
And why?

He's blessed. He should 
do more. But he has every 
right to #take a knee.

He wasn't being violent.
He didn't walk round with a gun.
He kneeled and stayed quiet.

If people cared they should storm 
the Capitol, demand answers
about the vets committing suicides.

The flag's value is our ability
to be truly just, fair and free
otherwise it's just thread and dye.

--Emma Lee

Emma Lee
Emma Lee's most recent collection is "Ghosts in the Desert" (IDP, UK, 2015). She co-edited "Over Land, Over Sea: poems for those seeking refuge" (Five Leaves, UK, 2015). She blogs at http://emmalee1.wordpress.com and reviews for four poetry journals.

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