Pledge of Allegiance

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by Jack Jones

Q1 2024 | 3/6/2024

Your Freedom Isn’t Free

Yesterday—
My country ‘tis of thee
You expected me to be your warrior.

A soldier in your army—
Of the U.S. government
Fighting self-determination.

Imperialism’s cause—
For democratic freedom
Led by the U.S.

Its military-industrial complex—
White House
Democratic or Republican Party controlled government.

No matter the servants—
My generation’s war was waged because Ho Chi Minh
Declared Vietnam one-country and communist.

The U.S. feared the USSR—
The U.S. feared communism
The U.S. feared communists.

The U.S. demanded gentilism—
Understanding ethnic cleansing
For a greater United States of America.

Calling it Manifest Destiny—
The divine calling of the white race
The inherent superiority of white Americans and institutions.

A war of attrition between colonialists and indigenous ensured—
Reservations created in victory for American Indians
Subsistence dependent on the U.S. government.

Calling that model sovereignty not occupation—
In the aftermath of the U.S.-American Indian Wars
A genocide of Native Americans was inflicted.

Creation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs—
Tribal American Indian police replacing chiefs and warriors
Working as a part of the U.S. criminal justice system.

Collaborators—
Working with the FBI and State Police forces
U.S. government law enforcement agents.

The Birth of a Nation—
Institution of slavery North and South
The U.S. economy built by slaves.

The U.S. Founding Fathers ideolog—
Third President of the United States of America
Of the continent colonialists called the New World.

A Virginia plantation and slave owner—
Thomas Jefferson
Reapped the benefits.

As a young white skinned male—
I was often schooled to become
Athletic.

Educated—
Elitist
Refined.

Patriotic—
Skilled
Unquestioning.

Have balls—
But be smart about it
Be only amused by what you learn.

You live in the best country in the world—
Cruel
Exploitative.

Imperialist—
Inhuman
Murderess.

Racist—
Sexist
Unequal.

History aside—
Be non-violent at home
With wife and children.

Lower your whip arm—
Be intolerant of the lashes
The skin you’ve torn.

Man—
Woman
Child.

Gook—
Baby
Killer.

Blown-up—
Buried-alive
Gunned-down.

Identify—
Annihilate the Viet Cong operative
CIA Phoenix Program Vietnam.

Murder—
Assassinate
Imprison.

Overwhelming force—
Saturation bombing
Shock and awe.

Forever—
Unable to ignore
Created by U.S. history.

Your duty is to do or die—
U.S. imperialism has no middle ground
Rape earth’s mineral resources for profits.

Exploit the planet—
No matter if sustainable
As necessary exterminate life.

You expected me to become one of your captains—
I have proven you dead wrong with the facts of my life
I studied history.

I understand what you taught me growing up was a lie—
I understand racism does not allow for equality
I understand the role of the U.S. in world affairs.

Your freedom isn’t free