Andrea’s Response, LER #4

Conversations

One day, Money said to World,
“I own you. Here is my proof:
People worship me. They abandon
brotherhood and sisterhood to grasp me.
I have divided you, World.
I have filled the head of Corporate America
and there will always be more of me than you.
World, you are my puppet.”
World looked at Money, stupefied, hoping
it wasn’t true.

Adult once said to Child,
“Put down your toy, rainbow, and song.
Child, I know your teeth are small,
your limbs are not get grown,
and your mind is limited. Regardless,
I must introduce you to Violence.
In case of danger, Violence will lead you
to be the first in line.”
Child looked at Adult, stupefied, hoping
it wasn’t true.

Bus said to Factory Woman,
“Go on, climb in. Here’s how it works:
You aren’t going home. Yes, I know you’ve
finished a long day of work. Your back is aching
and your children need you. Regardless,
we are headed for the Desert.
You see, I don’t drive passengers
named Dignity, Value, or Protected. No, I drive
Mutilated, Discarded, and Unimportant.”
Woman stared at Bus, stupefied, hoping it wasn’t true.

People often shouts at Planet:
“Give, give, give,
your Sun, Moon, and Stars are all mine.
The Environment is my slave and I demand top performance.
Yes, I could pay attention to your signs:
depleting Forest, polluted Air, and drowning Water
but I have it all figured out:
Today is all that matters; right now is my utmost care.
Later I will care for you instead of crush you in my hands.”
Planet looked down at People, very sad, knowing it was true.

“Conversations” is a reflection of some of the themes which have touched me most in this course. Thank you for all your posts and presentations. I am walking away from this course with many challenges and purposes to be a better citizen. Also, I have such a greater understanding of people’s value, cultural uniqueness, and education’s capability to shape an entire child. Thanks to each of the speakers from this course, I have a wider focus, a more universal perspective of seeing the world and people in it: every human being is of unequivocal value. Also, to reference Bill Ayers, I am ready to do something.