Hail to the unsung hero
The one who steadfastly adheres to an idea
Of right and wrong[1]
He knows the rules – and sees if you are breaking them.
Sure the “leaders”, (until now the tallest whitest men),
Will disparage this ‘specialist’ class,
As naive and without nuance.
It is easy to cast dispersion, when you are in a place of power, and want to protect your ranking.
Speaking in this case of a toll collector,
Mr. E.T. Rice who wore his simple black uniform-
He straightened his tie in the morning and set on his cap before he left his home in the morning.
His mission was to stop “chiselers” from crossing a bridge without paying.
That is, the cheater who avoids paying tolls
Increasing the cost for others.
No doubt he had his missus,
Who was equally solemn?
I wonder if I could ask him,
Is there a part of life he would have preferred be different?
Was it worth it to have a job so thankless?
Thank you too, Mr. IRS man, for hunting tax evaders.
Those folks who live in a world with infrastructure
That is not made of moth’s wings-
Rubbing off at the first touch of conflict.
I mean,
We all use roads,
Have fires, and
Occasionally need ‘grown-ups’[2]to anchor us-
Such are hallmarks of an empowered and constructive society that supports its members as well as the collective.
How are we breeding entitlement?
Has it been there all along?
Or is it in the polarizing messages of our “democracy”
That I don’t sense in Europe.
True,
the war budget is absurd, and
Being based on polarized separation,
Is an artificial “necessity[3]”.
No matter what monies are spent,
Those walls will eventually fall.
It would be better to have hand-to-hand combat (without armor)
And get rid of the Olympics.
Lastly, I want to thank the detectives
Who let facts and data lead them
Wherever the trail goes,
To it’s sometimes macabre ending.
Even when they must expose a “hero”
Protected in his limelight,
They besmirch those who would
Question them.
A spotlight[4]so brilliant,
There’s little possibility
For shadows to lighten
Until they’re near their endings.
May you have receive a blessing-
When the truth is discovered in the end.
And no doubt you will one day,
Bring justice to JonBenet Ramsey.
[1]This is usually around the age of four when an action is clearly seen as being for or against “love”. Values and judgments follow from there.
[2]Sometimes during the ‘heat’ of our disagreements, we forget basic principles and need a friendly police officer to help us sort out. At least until we reengage with our elders who’ve been through worse and can reassure.
[3]War serves those who wage it- the producers especially.
[4]The media and paparazzi are tools of power. Those who stand out, are shined on with such scrutiny, there is no place for (human) weakness. Which once discovered, then is derided. This is such a shame- only the foolish stand up.
