A cartoon has lived more than I have,
my watered down image worth more than my flesh.
I need spirits burning through me
as I go into a long night of headlights.
I miss the flash and volume,
the images blurring as we take up speed.
Because another restless night in screaming silence
is killing me while every one lives on.
No more adventure, just breathe in and breathe out,
I stay in, learning a quiet existence.
I need to go with heels and godlessness,
and know everyone and do everything again.
I need to plunge into the black,
no longer caring where I end up.
I need to pick up speed and live again.
Sometimes I just have to go.

I would like to address something that I found irritating this morning. A friend of mine forwarded something about discrediting Obama. ( I don't care who you vote for friend, as long as you vote. I appreciate the freedom of your opinion, as I hope you appreciate mine. We're both in life together just wanting the best. And furthermore, you didn't write the article. The author is where my frustration is aimed.) Obama said that if things got ugly, he would stick up for Muslims. Then the message said that he could get out of the country and go rule a Muslim nation. Are you saying that someone who truly understands the meaning of Islam should turn their back on all the Muslims that live here in the US that are a benefit to society? USA was founded on the freedom of religion. And now we have one of the most diverse countries, but unfortunately also an extremely intolerant one.

I'm not a fucking hippie. If you blow up my treehouse, I'm going to blow up yours. I don't promote idleness if there is someone who requires dispatchment from the earth. I don't promote Islamic extremists. But I do promote the Muslims who practice their religion as a tolerant and loving one. Just as much as I promote Christians who are well intentioned and caring. I won't promote the extremist Christians who feel that anyone who isn't a Christian isn't a "true American". If McCain wants us all under one God, I'm certainly not going to tell him to live on Televangelist Island.

As an anthropology major, I have had the opportunity to learn about the Middle East and Islam. They are not what the media tells you. They are not what is on the news. There are plenty of people who hate what the extremists have done to their countries. Please remember that there are two sides to everything and not everything is "us vs. them". There is also a "them vs themselves".

You are doing yourself a disservice if you put faith in a book with a dubious bibliography. While I tip my hat to people who have the gift of persuading people by getting them worked up and emotional, I feel that they are insulting in that they have to rely on oversensationalized phrases or words that are warped to mean something foul.

Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and others are founded on tolerance, acceptance, and good will towards ALL. None of these should be warped to be something foul.

Nobody in the US should feel less American for standing up for their beliefs. We need to understand that if there is no harm, there is no foul when it comes to somebody else's religion or gods. Do unto others what you would have done unto yourself? An it harm none, do what ye will?

The fact of the matter is that we are founded on religious freedom. We were created on the hope to abolish discrimination. We were founded on the hope that one day, we won't turn out like the assholes that made us leave England in the first damn place.

Over two hundred years we touted ourselves as the melting pot, the country of freedom, the country of choices, the country of opportunity! Whites, blacks, yellows, browns, (reds were already here), Christians, Muslims, Jews, Pagans, liberals, radicals, and all the other beautiful people who were different that had something to learn and something to teach in life came here. To the USA. Hundreds upon thousands flocked here for hope of a better life for themselves, a better life for their little ones.

And now look at some of you. The fact that you perpetuate discrimination makes us look disgusting.

How unAmerican you are in your prejudices.

I would apologize if I hopped up anybody but this an election year, you should be hopped up. We have come into our ages where we need to make choices on the kind of world that we want to raise our kids in. I would fight for your right and their rights to have an opinion, even if it was completely opposed to mine. Remember that you ought to do the same.

While cords are cut
and the silence settles in
the shadow in my chest darkens.
Fighting for its banishment
without resolution becomes futility.
What could be said
when four hands are tied?
The notion that silence heals
will only tear at me in these walls.
With words and ways at disposal
the lack of will cuts sharply.
Another dawn without a whisper
may see my heart buried for the last time
with twilight bringing a creature
that had forsaken all her warmth
to forget the eyes that brought her here.

Despite its abhorrence of you, the sun rose today
overjoyed that it was this day that it would see you leave.

Your sisters came to wave but not out of love
but from the obligation of all the years.

Trying so hard to look down over everything
you became a blight on the graceful earth.

In all your quests to dominate the weak
the strong came to view your presence irrelevant.

After long hours of trial and futility
even your gods washed themselves of you.

And you still cannot fathom that you gain nothing
by disdainfully turning from all that you ever needed:

All that was given freely.

I can still feel your fingers between mine
like it was only moments ago.
Before your hands dropped to your side in fear
and you disappeared in the moving shadows.
Now I'm caressed by a phantom
and a memory that echoes of being close.
It's been too long since I've hung off your lips,
eyes clouded by the single taste of you.

Slowly and quietly you withdrew;
Weapons down like there was ever a fight.
I was so used to seeing you walking away,
and watch you come back steady.
I never thought us so weak,
never thought you so vain,
as to leave when I tore my eyes away.
You saw all the answers in them
but chose to leave me there.
Didn't you know I was behind you
while you were searching for my gaze?
But it was my mistake to think you needed support
rather than insipid flattering
by throwing myself just a little more.
I bought you and lost you
as quickly as gold will leave hands.

They beat the shit out of Connie's husband because she was family and he was hurting her.

When he kept beating her, did they spare his life just because Connie loved him?

No. They did not.

Think about that.

Maybe next time I'll say maybe
This time my yes allowed
a granted taking of the fact
that I'll be here
when here is where you return.

Sleep will come
when the sickness fades
where the faded hurting
will allow the unnoticing
of your absence noted.

No matter how much I feel I've given,
There is more desire for me to bend.
Every drop of patience,
every ounce of love,
cannot fill your need for my submission.
I will not break, only harden.
Then you'll know that my force
should have never been played with.

I don't want to be the forgiving one.
I want to be remembered when it's time.
I no longer want to do the right thing
and understand that you need a million chances.
If not by now then never will you learn.
Who's the one who has to numb?
Rearrange to suit your time
you'll be the next to bend.
If it's all the same to you
you can jump the extra hoops.
And while to some it's a title of honor
in my eyes it's more of a chokehold
and I no longer want this burden
to be called your friend.