Sunday, June 23, 2019

Broken Glass, Shattered Dreams

[Author's Note: The following poem was written yesterday morning in response to the news of the proposed ICE raids to take place today. The President subsequently announced a two-week delay in those raids. Thankfully, there are groups protesting (see below) yet our country remains on a course that can only be described as evil and inhumane in its treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers along our southern border.]


“ICE set to begin immigration raids in 10 cities on Sunday”


Broken Glass, Shattered Dreams

Kristallnacht, “the night of broken glass,”
When paramilitary forces  enforced a pogrom against the Jews
Confirming the moral blight upon the regime
Of a civilized nation.

No one spoke out.
The white Christian majority
Dared not question the authorities.
Whether in fear
Or in tacit approval,
Unspeakable atrocities
Were unleashed.

Today
In the land of the free
Paramilitary forces are set in place
To enforce a pogrom against immigrants of color.
We wanted those Hispanic immigrants to tend out yards,
Clean out hotels,
Pick our crops,
And to do those jobs that are beneath our lot.
Yet how many will speak out?
Who will affirm “freedom and justice for all?”

Keeping silent is easier –
Less trouble on the part of the comfortable majority.
We already tipped our hand
By allowing concentration camps
Where children are taken from their parents
To face fear
Abuse,
And death.

But we tipped our hand before
With the Indian Removal Act
And the Dred Scott Decision.
We speak noble words
While plotting evil deeds.
Whether in fear
Or in tacit approval,
Unspeakable atrocities 
Were unleashed.

Our progress comes
By stepping over broken glass
And trampling upon shattered dreams.
We could be better than this.

                                                             ~ CK


Photo by Grace Carson)

Denver immigrant groups blast Sunday ICE raids as ‘terror’ tactic”
(Headline from The Colorado Independent)

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