Diatribes by Joah

Quarter-century confidence

From an early age, I knew that I could be it

When I was four, my grandmother told me that I could see it

Blinders on while still able to see so long

Write my way to right, disregarding the wrong

Scale came with age, wisdom came with words

Lessons from those around me, in the line I was third

Mapped out my arc, sent ships to sail

Value discovered and nurtured for a long tail

Widening the arena, stadium-like view

Proof of concepts in whatever I chose to do

A path unlike others, vision all my own

Driven off naysayers, refusing to condone

Options and opportunity, clearly within sight

Far greater than a possible, maybe or might

What I saw then is well-lit today

What my grandmother told me, it's still that way

25 years ago, I remember it all

Dedicated my life then to a task this tall

 

Another thing wrong with our education system...

Yes, this needs to be said...and said again.

Oh, the Republicans

I am deeply troubled that Texas Gov. Rick Perry is polling so high in the latest round of results matching up the current crop of GOP presidential hopefuls. Not only does he not represent the values that make a city like Austin so wonderful, IMHO, but he also fails to reflect the core values that have made the Republican Party a stalwart in American politics since before Abe Lincoln's time. To him and his supporters, I give you this ode: Oh, the Republicans...

 

Oh, the Republicans

How I long to join you

But you make it impossible

To ever be proud of you

 

With your pandering ways

Your revolving door candidacies

Lack of historical perspective

And short-sighted policies

 

Oh, the Republicans

The party I long to affiliate

So little concern for democracy, it seems

Yet a keen desire to dictate

 

We don’t need your religion

Nor do we want your tea

We just want real solutions

Not just for you, but for we

 

Oh, the Republicans

I was once a card holder

But while America’s cities get younger

Your legislative concepts get older

 

Waiting for you to wake up

It looks like it’ll be awhile

Before we get a legit sex-ed plan

You’d rather put Roe v. Wade on trial

 

Oh, the Republicans

People are jobless and poorly schooled

Your focus on the wealthy and privately learned

Leads to our public education system’s ridicule

 

Wasted opportunities aplenty

Immigration, Wall Street regulation and such

Us brown people and paycheck to paycheck types

Realize you don’t really care for us much

 

Oh, the Republicans

You use the Bible and union bashing as shields

Although neither is a primary source

By which sound federal policy yields

 

Wicked games you often play

Going using social issues to incite hate

So much time passed being controversial

Diplomacy and open minds show up too late

 

Oh, the Republicans

I believe you know Lincoln and Teddy

Are today’s voices in politics for the right reasons

Or just opinionated and camera-ready?

 

Work on something meaningful

I’m talking about lasting and valued endeavors

You may have a solid base of supporters

But you don’t have your shit together

 

Oh, the Republicans

Fiscal restraint with little environmental concern

Education reform with faulty judicial prudence

Issues you should be leading at every political turn

 

Why must you insist on this path

Of minimal dialogue and talking head sensations

When the history of the party

Is one of political prowess and innovation

 

Oh, the Republicans

From Lincoln’s Proclamation and Teddy’s Yellowstone

To Senator Dirksen’s leadership and Mayor Guiliani’s tone

 

Wondrous accomplishments to build upon

If only the sincere and true focus were there

Your candidates say they want to be President

But can they show us why we should care?

What is it?

It's a regret, the first of its kind

It's a memory, distant in due time

It's a lie, lived long enough

It's a fact, the going was rough

It's a lesson, learned once before

It's a test, never no more

It's a bluff, called once again

It's a scheme, not trusted by friends

It's a game, played with vigor

It's a shot, in the heart for pleasure

It's a gamble, dealt with a price

It's a chance, seldom given twice

It's a ruse, not to be trusted

It's a risk, to mistake love for what lust is.

The Rules of Evidence by Lee Robinson

Sent to me by a very good friend who knows me all too well...

What you want to say most
is inadmissible.
Say it anyway.
Say it again.
What they tell you is irrelevant
can't be denied and will
eventually be heard.
Every question
is a leading question.
Ask it anyway, then expect
what you won't get.
There is no such thing
as the original
so you'll have to make do
with a reasonable facsimile.

The history of the world
is hearsay. Hear it.
The whole truth
is unspeakable
and nothing but the truth
is a lie.
I swear this.
My oath is a kiss.
I swear
by everything
incredible.