photo alicia mason
Poets and politicians are most often antagonistic since the poet thrives on truth while the politician is the master of lies, thus their relationship is symbiotic at best unless he becomes the politician's sycophant for a few crumbs to enjoy an ephemeral state of elitism, which lasts until the politician is defeated or jailed for corruption, at which time the poet stands around with his dick in his hand and heart racing. Thus it is best for the poet, i.e., artist, to keep a psychic and physical distance from the politician.
While lies and deception are the life blood of the politician, the poet thrives on beauty and truth. Dr. Julia Hare said,"I know of no politician that has truth at the top of their agenda." Around the world, poets, writers, artists are often killed, jailed or exiled for telling the truth, especially about politicians, rarely are they accused of lying. Usually, it is the politicians, in league with their sycophants, who lie
about the poets, especially when poetic truth exposes their lies to the people.
Of former President Obama, Dr. Cornel West said,"We must respect him, but we must check him!" Politicians, in their arrogance and delusional sense of power, hate to be put in check, thus they will try to isolate the poet from the people. The poet need only stand on the truth and he shall win in the end. As Francis Bacon said"Truth will not make you rich, but it will make you free!"
--Marvin X
Marvin X's fictional interview with Prez Obama
Marvin X, Thank you Mr. President for agreeing to meet with me.
Prez, The pleasure is all mine. I've been reading your blogs and find them quite interesting.
MX, I hope you don't say what Minister Farrakhan said about my comments on him.
Prez, What did he say?
MX, He said I raked him over the coals.
Prez, I agree with Minister Farrakhan. You can be quite hard hitting.
MX, They call me the sledgehammer.
Prez, Indeed you are.
MX, Call it tough love.
Prez, OK.
MX, Furthermore, I supported you wholeheartedly from the beginning. You obviously haven't seen my book Pull Yo Pants Up fada Black Prez and Yoself.
Prez, No I haven't.
MX, But I must agree with our mutual friend Dr. Cornell West. I'm sure you are aware that he said we must protect you, respect you, but check you.
Prez, Yes, I heard his remarks. And you know what I said, "You brothers need to cut me some slack."
MX, Prez, you don't need slack. You need us riding your back like Roy Rogers on Trigger.
Prez, Don't you think I have enough pressure on me?
MX, Well, I once forced the resignation of the president of Fresno State University. Well, actually he said he was pressured from above (Gov. Ronald Reagan) and below (student protests after the college refused to hire me). So we see you are the type of guy who must be pressured from above and below, from the right and the left.
Prez, How much pressure you think a person in my position can take?
MX, You got Mechelle to chill you out!
Prez, You're right about that.
MX, But I wrote about her putting a foot in your ass when you get weak.
Prez, I don't think that's necessary
MX, Well, you seem to capitulate at every turn. You call it the nature of politics, of course.
Prez, Well, I certainly don't call it capitulation. That's a bit harsh. I try to negotiate and compromise with my opposition.
MX, Prez, It seems to me you give in too quickly, sometimes when it ain't even necessary.
Prez, Marvin, it's the nature of the beast I'm dealing with.
MX, Ever heard of playing hardball? I mean I was happy you got the health insurance plan through but at what price, selling out to the insurance lobby?
Prez, I don't call it selling out, it was compromise, the best we could do under the circumstances.
MX, Prez, why have you not created a jobs program? You bailed out the banks and corporations but not the people, why?
Prez, Marv, you know I have a most difficult job and we tried a stimulus package, and it worked to some extent.
MX, But, Prez, there are still millions of unemployed. Yet at the same time you are promising terrorist jobs in Iraq and Afghanistan if they lay down their arms. Should the American unemployed take up arms to get your attention?
Prez, Marv, please, what are you suggesting, revolution?
MX, If that's what it takes to get you to consider the consent of the governed. Is not the first priority of this nation the people, not corporations and banks?
Prez, Well, corporations are people now.
MX, Prez, you know what I mean.
Prez, Of course.
MX, How can you provide funds for educating, housing and employing terrorists abroad but not at home? It just doesn't make sense, Mr. Prez.
Prez, You're right, Marv.
MX, Now you're getting ready to raise one billion dollars to keep your job, but you can't find a few billion for the millions of unemployed
Prez, You're right, Marv. I can do better. Let me regroup with my advisers and think about it.
MX, Yeah, Prez, I want to support you reelection but I find it most difficult. And the brothers on the street as well. They were happy when you won, they said it was great to know they could look up to someone besides a rapper. But lately they are saying fuck you, Mr. Prez.
Prez, I'm sorry to hear that.
MX, You should know this is what they're saying, Fuck you!
Prez, I often wonder about the mood in the hood.
MX, You should wonder before something terrible happens to your country because of your neglect and misplaced priorities. Can I ask you something personal?
Prez, Go for it!
MX, Do you feel like a white man or black man?
Prez, Well, when I'm with Mechelle, I feel black. When I'm with my Secretary of State, Hilliary, I feel white.
MX, I thought Hillary was black, along with her husband, Dirty Bill.
Prez, Marv, let's not name call, please.
MX, OK. On a more serious matter, how long did you know Osama bin Laden was in Pakistan?
Prez, We had him under surveillance for some time.
MX, Years, months?
Prez, a long time.
MX, Should I congratulate you for slaying the dragon?
Prez, That's up to you.
MX, Well, you probably deserve a feather in your cap. A couple of Brownie points.
Prez, Marv, thanks.
MX, But, Prez, where's the body?
Prez, We threw it in the ocean.
MX, C'mon, Prez, do I look like Willie Foofoo?
Prez, Marv, we did, trust me.
MX, Prez, I'm an ex-dope fiend. I know how people lie.
Prez, Marv, are you calling me a liar?
MX, I didn't say that, Prez, but my elder, Dr. Nathan Hare, taught the fictive theory. Everything the white man (and black man or white/black man) says is fiction until proven to be a fact. Where are the facts, Prez?
Prez, Marv, trust me. We thought it best to dispose of the body in the ocean.
MX, But who's going for this, Prez, it sounds shaky.
Prez, We concluded that was the best way to end the matter of a man who murdered three thousand Americans.
MX, Prez, how many Muslims have you murdered since you became President?
Prez, I can't answer that.
MX, Between Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, how many, especially with the collateral damage?
Prez, Can't answer that. It was all in defense of America.
MX, Is a few ignorant men living in mountain caves really a threat to America?
Prez, They can be.
MX, C'mon, Prez. Let's change the channel. What happened with the closing of Gitmo?
Prez, We tried but couldn't pull it off.
MX, What about the secret prisons in America?
Prez, I'm not aware of them.
MX, Maybe you should check with homeland security?
Prez, Our priority is the safety of Americans.
MX, Does this include murdering American citizens rather than bringing them to trial?
Prez, Not necessarily.
MX, What about the man in Yemen you are trying to kill who is an American citizen?
Prez, He's a special case.
MX, But he's an American.
Prez, Marv, don't press the issue.
MX, That's exactly what I'm doing.
Prez, Don't press it, Marv.
MX, Let's discuss the Middle East for a moment. I've written about your speech in Cairo and Indonesia. I've imagined what you will say about Muslims tomorrow, May 19. You know as long as you occupy one inch of Muslim land there shall be Muslims who view you as a Crusader and they will vow to fight you to the death.
Prez, Marv, I'm aware how Muslims feel about us occupying their lands. And we plan to vacate all Muslim lands at the earliest possible date.
MX, Does this include having your friends in Israel do the same?
Prez, Well, that's a matter for the Israelis, not us.
MX, But you are their very best friend. You support them right or wrong, true?
Prez, I wouldn't say that. But we have an enduring relationship.
MX, Don't you see the day is rapidly arriving when they cannot claim to be the only democracy in the area, that they will bow down to the God of Justice, not peace but justice?
Prez, Events are rapidly changing in North Africa and the Middle East. Therefore we must all make a paradigm shift in our thinking and behavior, including Israel.
MX, What about your friends in Saudi Arabia?
Prez, They will need to make substantial changes as well.
MX, And Bahrain?
Prez, It's a special case. We have strategic interests there.
MX, You seem to be saying America practices selective suffering. You now support the Egyptian revolution, the Tunisian, Yemen, but not in Saudi Arabia or Israel, Jordan, Bahrain.
Prez, Marv, we have our interests that must be secured first.
MX, What if and when these nations explode in your face, overnight, as is happening as we speak. Seems like you'll be running after the football or playing catchup?
Prez, We'll do what we must when we must.
MX, Thank you, Mr. Prez.
--Marvin X
5/18/11
Parable of the Parrot
The king wanted parrots around him. He wants all his ministers to wear parrot masks. He said he had to do the same for the previous king. He only said what the king wanted to hear, nothing more, so he advised his ministers to do the same. In fact, they must encourage the people to become parrots.
Yes, he wanted a nation of parrots. Don't say anything the kings does not want to hear. Everything said should be music to his ears. And don't worry, he will tell you exactly what he wants to hear in his regular meetings and public addresses to the nation. Everyone will be kept informed what parrot song to sing. No one must be allowed to disagree with the king. This would be sacrilegious and punishable by death.
The king must be allowed to carry out the dreams that come to his head. No one else should dream, only the king. In this manner, according to the king, the people can make real progress. There shall always be ups and downs, but have faith in the king and everything will be all right. Now everyone sing the national anthem, the king told the people.
There must be a chorus of parrots, a choir, mass choir singing in perfect unity. Let there be parrots on every corner of the kingdom, in every branch and tree. Let all the boys sing like parrots in the beer halls. Let the preacher lead the congregation in parrot songs. Let the teachers train students to sound like parrots. Let the university professors give good grades to those who best imitate parrot sounds. Let the journalists allow no stories over the airwaves and in print if they do not have the parrot sound.
The king was happy when the entire nation put on their parrot masks. Those who refused suffered greatly until they agreed to join in. The state academics and intellectuals joined loudly in parroting the king's every wish. Thank God the masses do not hear them pontificate or read their books. After all, these intellectual and academic parrots are well paid, tenured and eat much parrot seed.
Their magic song impresses the bourgeoisie who have a vested interest in keeping the song of the parrot alive. Deep down in the hood, in the bush, the parrot song is seldom heard, only the sound of the hawk gliding through the air in stone silence looking for a parrot to eat.
5 April 2010
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