Comment from Soulester

Excellent

Hello, Mike K2, What an interesting, thought-provoking poem you've shared here. Thank you for the author's notes, which clarified some points for me. I think you made your point very well.

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2009

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reply by the author on 27-Apr-2009

Thank you very much for the compliments and this review. Mike K2

Comment from fictionwriter

Excellent

I love the poem. It is that way in alot of the middle eastern countries. The terrorist are not the people that we are trying to help. I know that it is a hard thing. Those terrorist will use any excuse to do what they do. Great poem.

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2009

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reply by the author on 27-Apr-2009

I enjoyed this review and thank you for it and the compliments. Mike K2

Comment from adewpearl

Excellent

Mike, thank you for your thoughtful explanatory author's notes that offer excellent background information. Your poem certainly expresses your beliefs with clarity and impassioned conviction. You provoke thought, which is always a huge plus
in poetry. And yes, I agree that terrorists of all types throughout the ages have used the guise of religion or philosophy to cloak more ulterior motives for despicable behavior. This is as true of the Christian Crusades as it is of the situation you focus on here. Brooke

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2009

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reply by the author on 27-Apr-2009

That is true and I thank you for the compliments and this review. To be honest, I would rather not have penned this one, but considering not too many people have this line of thought; my conscience decidedly bothered and compelled me to sumon up the courage and take my say. I want a nice peace, but it has to be a lasting one for everybody.

Comment from mmichelle97219

Excellent

I have always said: No true peace can ever come from violent acts. the loser just waits for an opportunity to redeem themselves.

I thought this was a very good politically and socially charged poem, Mike. Well done.
Michelle

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2009

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reply by the author on 27-Apr-2009

It may take violence to secure a peace, but violence won't maintain it. I think about WWII, there was a certain point that we shifted gears and aided the enemy. The world was much better for it. I thank you very much for the compliments and this review. Mike

Comment from PUPA

Excellent

Hi Mike,
This poem is very interesting, as I read, sitting in the middle between you and Pakistan! LOL, I mean looking at things from a totally different view and place, but peace is peace everywhere, and I do agree with your point of views about giving money that will be used in another direction or even against the giver. Mentalities are so different in other parts of the world, when Bush said he came to Iraq to give them dimocracy!!!Did he ever think that this does not work in such countries?? Well, a never ending story, only goes round in a vicious circle.
Most impressive writing my friend, I surely enjoyed reading it, as well as the author notes.
Love
Pupa

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2009

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reply by the author on 27-Apr-2009

Beleive me, this is the one review that I have been waiting for. Egypt did cross my mind as we hear very little in regards to violence. I say this lightly, that the government has a good policy and I believe, even quietly has helped Isreal.

Some of the neatest conversation that I had was with an oilman who loves working there. He loves how he got in good with the Muslim woman as he was the entrusted escort at guiding them around the Biazare and how there was a work stoppage due to a venomous snake. The workers told him that he hired the wrong Muslims and it took a while to find out that what they meant is that they had to hire a couple from a certain area who weren't afraid of the poisonous snakes. One that made everybody laugh was when he inquired about courting a Muslim woman, how is it done. The man first said that you asked the religious leader and let him know that you like her and if that doesn't work you FAX her. This lead to a back and forth of, "What do you fax her?..." "You just fax her!" Which lead to an argument until it was rephrased, "What do you write in your fax to her." The gentleman busted out laughing and said, "NO! You face her! Just like we're doing and talk with her..."

I wondered about places like Egypt and I believe it is because of the amount of trading that occures with each other and in addition to a mutual need, there becomes a mutual respect and trust. There are areas where the Muslims, who were very stringent in their practices and beliefs scared him, but in other areas they were welcoming and though they knew he wasn't an Islamic believe, they felt it very important to explain what they do and why. Much as in my case, one developes a deeper appreciation for their own religion and a reasurence that God indeed exists.

The scariest muslim for me is a Palestian one who lives a few blocks away. Imagine me coldly knocking on his door in an attempt to get advice on Halal cooking. He must have thought I was an authority. I learned how to talk his language. He defended the missle attacks on Isreal so to make my point, I said that I knew he was going to say that and that I build model rocket which travel 2,5000 ft and ranged his house at 825. He assured me that he would call the police and I used that to compare them to the United Nations. I hate to say it, they are exactly alike. I told him it would be best to send me a message by getting a few of his friends together and beat me up. Another time, he was in bare feet picking up a broken beer bottle that sailed to him from a bar. He was quite irrate and felt it was because he was Muslim, I let him know that I am nowhere around a bar and I still have to pick two or three of them up every year. We both cursed the trespassers. He then shouted that it is obivious that God's law doesn't exist any more. I was shocked and reminded him that God's law, is God's law and it is up to us to learn it and follow it. He was amazed that a non-Muslim would say something like that. I stated that the first part of my religion actually starts with, "I believe in one God, the father, the almighty." I then slipped in a little humor of, in order to adhere to that belief, I do have to accept the he came to all people and provided them with practices that would lead best to their sucess. I said I found it refreshing that the various religions essentially say the same thing in regards to God's law. He was impressed.

Iraq like many other countries are always in thought and prayer. I honestly think that we had to do what we did. Not sure if the reasons that we were told were actually accurate. Sadam himself threatened terrorism and attacks on New York and formally declared war on us. I still feel that eventually, something would be happening. One reason that many countries of the world has a dislike for us is not that we help out, but we go in and then when things change, we pull out and leave them in a lurch. Look at Afganistan, we helped them with the soviets then left. The Taliban filled that vacum. As a nation, we need not only look at the immediate obligation, but get a sense for future history in how to best apply it.

Pupa, I loved this review and thank you for it very much. Your compliments hold a tremendious amount of weight with me. With love, Mike

Comment from Jewell McChesney

Excellent

Wow, what a poem! Even more so your author's notes should be another post. Go for it.

I give you praise for your honesty and for sharing such great work.

God bless!
Jewell

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2009

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reply by the author on 27-Apr-2009

Eventually I may cololect the various posts and turn them into a book with a few chapters based on the notes. I hate to say how horribly behind I am with my projects. I thank you very much for theis review and the compliments.
With love, Mike

Comment from galaxysagar

Exceptional

Your work is more than perfect.However,people regardless of their ancestry,or faith all over the world were perfectly nice prior to usage of creed by evil politicians.Pakistan was established on base of fundamental leaders that were holding the the keys to the innocent hearts of the real rural believers.Since then most of their rulers are self installed through military coups.People in Pakistan are excellent,most of their governments were and still are involve in prompting terror by extremist.It is obvious that peace appearance is the prove of love and existence of God,while violence is the clear indication of Evil and Chaos.
Thanks,Galaxysagar

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2009

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reply by the author on 27-Apr-2009

I hate to say it, I think there are times in that country where that type of instalation was necessary. Luckily somewhat benevolent and tempory as of late. I think a part of the people's problems stem from these tyranists walking in on them. In a lot of that area, control still rests with a somewhat feutal system and individual warlords who admire the group with the sweetest talk and better strength. I really appreciate what you say in this review and thank you for it and the compliments. Mike

Comment from mtngalofnc

Excellent

Hi Mike,
For you can't stop bullets
by throwing at them, money.
Beating woman and for their cause, recruiting children
With our own olive branch they beat us back

An interesting view and a well written poem. A vicious cycle that isn't getting anyone anywhere. And you right, throwing money to them isn't going to stop them. As for me, I find it hard to conceive of the idea of recruiting those children. I know they do it, but it seems so horrendous. What could be worse than teaching a child to hate? And yes, they use our olive branch against us. Your poem touches on a reality that is hard to face. I appreciate your author notes and feel you have done an excellent job with your poem. Thank you for sharing and God bless and best wishes!
mtngalofnc

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2009

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reply by the author on 27-Apr-2009

Wow! What a review and I thank you for it and the compliments. I never expected the site to light up like this with something of this nature. A lot of this poem was harshly personally learned. I tried to buy peace within my marriage and in one respect it really pushed up the expectations and slid it into absurdity. With authorietes in the other, I was told that I have to set the exapmle and be the better person. This caused things to go completely out of control and invited basically the exact same behavior that terrorism does within countries. I have a fairly poor view of female police officers, my situation didn't help that any. The badge tempered my tongue and got a certain respect. But my favorite police officer was a woman, I called her my chubby little blond bitch. I even said that I intend to figure out her secret. It turn out to be simple, her dad was a city police officer. Working with her was great as we filled each other in. Behind the scenes, she always put in a good word. Well the day came, when she said, "Do you realize what you are planning, could get you killed or put in jail."

I laughed and said, "Either one would be better then what I have to live with. If I make it to jail, think of my story getting out. Besides, do you think they are ready for me dealing with the inside." That got an O'Shit look and after that, the authorities backed off and let me get done what needed to. The problem was solved. I blame my father because he wanted me to take up his mantle of Juvenile Justice and I declined. He said that he will talk to God. Well, it came to me....... When I was a punk kid, no adult gave me quarter and my romanticism of being bad was cut way short. It has served me in my adulthood.

In regards to children, I am saving up for a top post with a poem. That is a wild one that will really churn one's feelings. It is based on what incites and facinates an angry adsolent. Ironically it is black approved and in the discourse prompted a stand up comedy routine and the request that I split the poem of to help with the urban situation here. Stay tuned. The photograph alone is a humdinger with a symbology that will be understood with the finish of the poem.

Comment from Perp Ihebom

Excellent

This is a nice and passionate poem. Because of the strong feeling behind the poem, you seem to have sacrificed the artistic side of the work. The message is strong, but the poem sounds prosaic. kudos

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2009

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reply by the author on 27-Apr-2009

I wanted a visual aspect of what is occuring in the poem. My problem is that I don't have a complete commercial photography set up.

When it comes to poetry, I try to let the poem establish it's own form. With this type of work, it tend's to be a freer style with rhyme and (within stanza meter) to maintain a certain cohesiveness. It helps me to string together a variety of ideas and emotions. It is alsy convienant to time constraints.

With this poem, I really didn't want to write it and actually held back for a period of time. Unfortunately, it really wanted to come out as I am the hardest person that I have to live with. LOL Thank you so very much for the compliments and this review. Mike

Comment from laurelp

Excellent

Very nicely written, I found the Author's Notes to be even more interesting. Your life there is a fascinating story. I was so interested, I didn't even look for errors. Very nicely written.

 Comment Written 27-Apr-2009

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reply by the author on 27-Apr-2009

Luckily, most of the errors have been found. I really appreciate the review and thank you for it and the compliments. Mike