I had to block you today,
You said your politics was the only way.
We’d been friends in real life for countless years and days,
From silly games like hide and seek,
And playing war games in the creek.
Even on facebook, we’d kept our rebellious ways.
I thought about it long and hard,
Why today you looked at me in total disregard.
I always thought you to be a kind kindred soul,
But I was wrong….s’pose that’s part of growing old.
The reason for my actions may come across as silly,
It often does for this Arkansas hillbilly.
But it was very real, almost a texture of granite or stone,
My independence from bullies, now that I’m grown.
Pointed out to me by mentors, friends, and therapists I had known,
“Never Rick, never do you have to cower to them again”,
You’re not in the wrong, the bully is,
It’s such an ugly sin.
He thinks he’s right he’ll fight and fight,
Everything must come to a head for him.
But that’s simply part of his disease,
To him the world’s quite grim.
November is coming and tempers begin to flair,
Politics no longer confined to the Beltway but traveling in the air.
I made a mention of whom I may favor in the ballot box,
But not to you, I was in a conversation with several delegates,
I did not share it for your approval or distaste,
I didn’t see you there. But if I had and you’d done that, you’d wish I hadn’t cared.
I shared it because I’m an American, and part of the human race.
To tell me that I am wrong to think and vote as I do,
Is frightening to be honest and true.
Peer pressure is how parties controlled/behaved in Communist Russia…and Nazis to the Jews.
They used peer pressure/bullying tactics so you’d see it their way,
Goebbels hired his media pundits to create “the demon-du-jour” each day.
Your action was a total disregard of my humanity, soul, and voice.
I know for whom you wish elected,
And if that person is selected,
I’d back him with all the force within my being.
On the other hand if my candidate of choice wins the race,
You said you’ll do what it takes to undermine his life until distress.
So I bid you farewell old friend, based on your major arrogance that shows,
I love so much being American and the difference that it shows.
I salute you for voting for the man of your choice,
But demanding I vote for him too is to treat me as a little boy.
So misinformed, yet I research well. I don’t need a surrogate father,
But if I did, I’ll tell you this, you’d not be the one I’d care to bother.
I’m not a member of a political party, I vote as an independent every time,
I know by now parties are a sham, and it’s choices are a crime at best.
But do not fear, I am sincere, even if I’ve chosen the loser,
Because of the liberties we so enjoy,
I’ll support your winning candidate and lay politics to rest.
I have so many friends voting same as you,
But their humility and compassion doesn’t tell me what to do.
They take it to the voting booth as that’s where our power needs to be,
To spout it to me on facebook, truly makes you quite a freak.
I urge everyone to vote. I don’t care for whom you vote. Please take advantage of this beautiful American system. Look around the world and see how many countries are in the middle of chaos, death and confusion simply trying to set up a voting precinct. Don’t let that happen in America. Encourage everyone to vote and if they have problems or don’t understand how, help them learn how. If you have an elderly or disabled neighbor, help them get there or show them how to write in. Don’t let ANYone intimidate you into thinking you cannot vote. You can and should. To not vote brings us that much closer to countries like Iran, Syria, etc. Thank you.
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Rick London is a songwriter, author, cartoonist and designer. He founded LTCartoons in 1997. Londons Times Cartons (LTCartoons.com) has been Google & Bing’s #1 Offbeat Cartoons & funny gifts since 2005. He is married to nature photographer Lee Hiller-London who has the popular blog Hike Our Planet.
Rick London Syndication 