Parker's Pad - Page 2

Parker · 03-04-2012, 07:24 AM

Here's where I start my own thread to toss out anything from stories to blog entries to spoken word pieces to thoughts that roll around in my head and maybe even a video or two.

---

I think I'll start off with something I love - I wrote it a couple of years ago when I was working on the Vet Art Project Seattle, which was a project for Vets to get together with artists who would help them with spoken word, music, dance, etc to explore their feelings about war, the military etc.

We performed our pieces in March 2010 and originally, I met with the organizer to stage manage the production, but as we talked through lunch, she decided I had too much to say not to perform. After a lot of agonizing over standing up in front of actual people and performing something, she convinced me.

Coincidentally (well, not really, I dont believe in coincidence), I had just written a rant in my private blog a day or so before she called me and when she and I had lunch, I spoke about it. She liked it, so I developed it a little and it became a spoken word piece.

What follows is a video a friend took of my performance of the piece, as well as the text - hopefully, sharing this will give me the kick in the ass that I need to do some more writing.

---

Patriotism

Written & Performed by Parker Wolf
March 2010

I, Parker Wolf, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

When I first took that oath in January 1992, I was a few months shy of 21 years old and not thinking about god and country; I was thinking about college and the GI Bill.

Then later, as I spent more time in the Navy, training the men who would be shipped off to parts unknown, it became about the women and men around me.

I was an airman in the United States Navy and my first duty station was called a "rag squadron." It was comprised of about 98% women who trained men from other squadrons as they prepared to be deployed on aircraft carriers.

At that time, women were not stationed on ships, save for hospital ships, and the feminist in me was outraged at the idea that women were not allowed on certain ships and careers in the Navy, that a woman's physical testing was easier than a man's, that women were treated differently.

Later, as I looked back on that time and compared it to today, I started to realize that in certain situations, one human life is more valuable than another.

There was a time, when it came to combat in the military, that a woman's life was placed above that of a man's. It was always men that the US would send off to war; men who would come back shattered physically and emotionally or in body bags; men who were drafted.

Similarly, when it comes to the death of a human being, a soldier's death is placed above that of a civilian. Hell, we even have parades and motorcades for fallen soldiers.

A soldier from my hometown died in a roadside bomb a while back. The town had a parade for him; a 7 minute motorcade complete with police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and dozens of motorcycles both leading and following his casket, family, and friends.

But where is the parade for the single mother of 3 who worked 2 jobs just to survive and put her kids through the best schools she could possibly afford, only to die of cancer from the factory that housed one of the many jobs she held over the years?

Where is the parade for the parents who were killed in a car accident by a drunk driver while taking their kids to Disneyland?

Where is the parade for the convenience store clerk shot to death by a mentally unstable man who was turned down for treatment - during a robbery of the store the clerk didn’t own; and at which he only made minimum wage?

When watching the videos on YouTube and seeing all of the tributes for that fallen soldier from my hometown, I asked myself: why is a soldier's death more important than an ordinary citizen's death?

The answer that we invariably get from those who consider themselves "patriots" around the country is that this soldier and thousands like him died for our freedom; that "freedom isn’t free" and he paid the ultimate price so I could stand before you now and denounce the war.

To those "patriots," I say bullshit!

Our freedom isn’t at stake here, our wallets are!

A country has not occupied the US, causing us to fight for our freedom and our very lives, these are countries that have resources that we want; and countries that we feel should be just like us, damn their own belief systems and traditions!

So we invade and we occupy these countries and we are then surprised and dismayed when our soldiers die from their resistance of our occupation.

Why?

For money.

Our soldiers are dying for money.

And instead of calling the President out and reminding him that he promised this shit would stop, we celebrate their deaths with motorcades and parades.

Because, and let's be honest here, to some, to denounce this occupation publicly means we are traitors .. that we are NOT patriots.

But unless you took that oath, unless you signed on that dotted line, unless you promised with all that you are that you would support and defend the Constitution of the United States, don’t speak to me about patriotism - and frankly, kiss my ass!

Now that I am older and have seen more than I needed to, I think back on that oath - an oath that I took twice - and I consider it a lifetime oath.

So I will support the Constitution of the United States - against ALL enemies, foreign AND domestic. I will protect it from the bigots who believe only certain people should have rights while others are left behind and treated as second-class citizens. I will stand up and support it against members of our government who would change it as they see fit. I will not stand by and watch anyone in a position of authority abuse that authority while ignoring the rights of the individual.

I will exercise my rights to speak against an occupation that we know is wrong, but cannot seem to get past our own fears and egos to end.

Because if these women and men are so goddamned important to us that their deaths deserve a parade, then why aren't they important enough to us to BRING THEM THE FUCK HOME??

Now, THAT'S a parade I would attend!

03-04-2012, 07:24 AM	#1
Parker Timed Out - Permanent How Do You Identify?: Butch. Lesbian. Dyke. Woman. Female. Preferred Pronoun?: She, of course! Relationship Status: Content Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Small Town Life Posts: 2,880 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 7,858 Thanked 11,730 Times in 2,432 Posts Rep Power: 0	Parker's Pad Here's where I start my own thread to toss out anything from stories to blog entries to spoken word pieces to thoughts that roll around in my head and maybe even a video or two. --- I think I'll start off with something I love - I wrote it a couple of years ago when I was working on the Vet Art Project Seattle, which was a project for Vets to get together with artists who would help them with spoken word, music, dance, etc to explore their feelings about war, the military etc. We performed our pieces in March 2010 and originally, I met with the organizer to stage manage the production, but as we talked through lunch, she decided I had too much to say not to perform. After a lot of agonizing over standing up in front of actual people and performing something, she convinced me. Coincidentally (well, not really, I dont believe in coincidence), I had just written a rant in my private blog a day or so before she called me and when she and I had lunch, I spoke about it. She liked it, so I developed it a little and it became a spoken word piece. What follows is a video a friend took of my performance of the piece, as well as the text - hopefully, sharing this will give me the kick in the ass that I need to do some more writing. --- Patriotism Written & Performed by Parker Wolf March 2010 I, Parker Wolf, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. When I first took that oath in January 1992, I was a few months shy of 21 years old and not thinking about god and country; I was thinking about college and the GI Bill. Then later, as I spent more time in the Navy, training the men who would be shipped off to parts unknown, it became about the women and men around me. I was an airman in the United States Navy and my first duty station was called a "rag squadron." It was comprised of about 98% women who trained men from other squadrons as they prepared to be deployed on aircraft carriers. At that time, women were not stationed on ships, save for hospital ships, and the feminist in me was outraged at the idea that women were not allowed on certain ships and careers in the Navy, that a woman's physical testing was easier than a man's, that women were treated differently. Later, as I looked back on that time and compared it to today, I started to realize that in certain situations, one human life is more valuable than another. There was a time, when it came to combat in the military, that a woman's life was placed above that of a man's. It was always men that the US would send off to war; men who would come back shattered physically and emotionally or in body bags; men who were drafted. Similarly, when it comes to the death of a human being, a soldier's death is placed above that of a civilian. Hell, we even have parades and motorcades for fallen soldiers. A soldier from my hometown died in a roadside bomb a while back. The town had a parade for him; a 7 minute motorcade complete with police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and dozens of motorcycles both leading and following his casket, family, and friends. But where is the parade for the single mother of 3 who worked 2 jobs just to survive and put her kids through the best schools she could possibly afford, only to die of cancer from the factory that housed one of the many jobs she held over the years? Where is the parade for the parents who were killed in a car accident by a drunk driver while taking their kids to Disneyland? Where is the parade for the convenience store clerk shot to death by a mentally unstable man who was turned down for treatment - during a robbery of the store the clerk didn’t own; and at which he only made minimum wage? When watching the videos on YouTube and seeing all of the tributes for that fallen soldier from my hometown, I asked myself: why is a soldier's death more important than an ordinary citizen's death? The answer that we invariably get from those who consider themselves "patriots" around the country is that this soldier and thousands like him died for our freedom; that "freedom isn’t free" and he paid the ultimate price so I could stand before you now and denounce the war. To those "patriots," I say bullshit! Our freedom isn’t at stake here, our wallets are! A country has not occupied the US, causing us to fight for our freedom and our very lives, these are countries that have resources that we want; and countries that we feel should be just like us, damn their own belief systems and traditions! So we invade and we occupy these countries and we are then surprised and dismayed when our soldiers die from their resistance of our occupation. Why? For money. Our soldiers are dying for money. And instead of calling the President out and reminding him that he promised this shit would stop, we celebrate their deaths with motorcades and parades. Because, and let's be honest here, to some, to denounce this occupation publicly means we are traitors .. that we are NOT patriots. But unless you took that oath, unless you signed on that dotted line, unless you promised with all that you are that you would support and defend the Constitution of the United States, don’t speak to me about patriotism - and frankly, kiss my ass! Now that I am older and have seen more than I needed to, I think back on that oath - an oath that I took twice - and I consider it a lifetime oath. So I will support the Constitution of the United States - against ALL enemies, foreign AND domestic. I will protect it from the bigots who believe only certain people should have rights while others are left behind and treated as second-class citizens. I will stand up and support it against members of our government who would change it as they see fit. I will not stand by and watch anyone in a position of authority abuse that authority while ignoring the rights of the individual. I will exercise my rights to speak against an occupation that we know is wrong, but cannot seem to get past our own fears and egos to end. Because if these women and men are so goddamned important to us that their deaths deserve a parade, then why aren't they important enough to us to BRING THEM THE FUCK HOME?? Now, THAT'S a parade I would attend!