No one wants to hear it
but the attacks
are simply blow back.
Do you really think
the radicalized
would set their eyes
on Europe, Great Britain
and the US of A
if back in the day
there hadn’t been
invasions and colonizations
and rationalizations,
Semites and Arabs to foil
and land to grab and
confiscating the oil?
Hundreds of thousands
to millions were sacrificed
to the sacred violence of Empire.
What more does it
require
to help us see,
why the guerilla terrorists will
kill a dozen innocents here and
a dozen there?
Of course, it seems unfair,
and I’m not justifying,
but look at it from the
angle that they do share
as they stare Empire in the face.
They have to save face
or face disgrace
for allowing Empire to
slaughter their families
with impunity
so they scare every Western
community
with crude and suicide bombs
knowing mobs
will freak out
and they will get incredible
media coverage
for what they see is
justified carnage.
When will we give it up
and reject Empire fear, power and greed
and subsequent need
for unholy, state, sanctioned, sacred
violence and,
excuse me for this
as I know I am now
an anachronism,
but follow Jesus’
pacifism,
say please forgive
for the damage
we have done
and look for
ways that we are one?
Political and cultural
sophistication or
its opposite — rabid
patriotism —
may view my thoughts
as naiveté,
but I won’t apologize
for what I believe
the Prince of Peace
has to say
about the universal,
inclusive love of God
for all —
this and every day
in eternity.