Comment from billyboy123

Excellent

I have thought about tribal groups of people all over the world. Your poem reminds me of the thoughts that I have had. I don't understand what happenstance has to do with belonging somewhere on this earth. Yet patriotism is based just on that. We are born somewhere or another, in some group or another, and it takes off from there. Maybe things will change with a new generation. I liked your poem and it brought out a lot of good points. I hate the idea of pushing people out and making them feel like outsiders. I have been the victim of that. I think you are smarter than I am. I hope I haven't missed the point.

billyboy123

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 Comment Written 10-Nov-2010

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reply by the author on 10-Nov-2010

You didn't miss the point because the poem's point is to make people think about various aspects of this. Perhaps the thinking of generations change, but human nature doesn't and even with wisdom and knowledge, we fall into the same patterns. To me, patriotism is a positive thing, such as the type that plays out in this country, provided we don't take things too far. I feel that everyone needs an afirmation and identy, yet that doesn't mean to always stand with a group or allow that group to mire you down. Especially in regards to right and wrong or the basic respect that all should be initially afforded.

How tribalism applies to terrorism, writing groups and sites, even in regards to elections. Of course nationally, but also locally because in Maryland, only California is left of us these days. Tribalism extending to the presidency, how the house switched yet those in charge continue to be tribal. In Maryland, how the republican canidate tried not to be tribal, which is I believe, on of the reasons they lost. He even hired on a person, a minority how through the years painted the republicans out to be racists. That in turn caused that person to send out robo-calls that made the republicans appear racist and willing to break election law. I will say the smarter man did win. Also in regards to turf in the city, that I have to navigate through as an army of one. It doesn't matter if this has a racial or drug related make-up. While I rarely get bothered, it isn't aggressiveness that wins out, but the lack of fear and a mutual respect in regards to trouble that seems to win out.

I thank you very much for this review, sharing your thoughts and the compliments too. Mike

Comment from CodyJack

Excellent

Wow! This is a tough one to comment upon except to say that you wrote it very well with a lot of imagery and thought pondering. I enjoyed reading this and it made me think about things. Sometimes we are the jailer who holds the key to our prison we are in. Sometimes not. Cody

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 Comment Written 10-Nov-2010

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reply by the author on 10-Nov-2010

While I consider myself a Christian, for what ever reason, I have an identity with shamanism, sort of the roots of religion and studied a lot about those cultures. Again for what ever reason, I love the imagery that can be found with the Native Americans as my primitive living experiences and living out there doing nature photography, afforded me that identity in a way that fit into my life. I thank you very much for your compliments and this review. Mike