Entry 29 in the Mondo Awards end-of-year Inspire-us contest was read aloud by the author (left) at the celebration of International Day of Peace on September 21, 2010 at the Peace and Social Justice Center of South Central Kansas (photo by Nathan Patrick).
What do you do
if you are a Jew
who doesn’t believe in a Jewish state
A Christian state, nor a Muslim state,
not even a Buddhist or Hindu state.
Zionism says what you must support
is a nationalist scheme of the colonial sort
…………
What do you do
if you are a Jew
who thinks about the Palestinians.
In the West Bank and Gaza they are occupied
In Israel proper – second class citizens.
…………..
What do you do if you are Jew
who thinks Zionism is a trap
set by those who should be taking the rap
Europe and the US refused Jews a haven
and used them then in a craven manner
against the Arab liberation banner
What do you do if you are Jew
who is proud of our history,
Tragic yes, but glorious too.
Before the Holocaust only a few liked Zionism.
We were a lot more interested in socialism.
What did Hitler hate about the Jews?
I will tell you, I hope this is not news:
We were people that could see clearly
that prejudice and exclusion cost a society dearly.
So now we have Israel, which we are supposed to love,
but it meant giving the Palestinians a terrible shove
………..
The US pays three billion a year
To keep up a policy that costs us dear.
Some say aid to Egypt is just as big,
but listen to me and then dig:
that is our bribe to keep them on the side
Of our client Israel and its politicide.
………..
What do you do
if you are a Jew
whose ancestors came from Poland and Russia?
When you say Israel is my homeland
I want to shush ya.
………
I’m 65
born in 45
This is the only time I can make that rhyme.
I graduated college in 67
I don’t believe in God and I don’t believe in heaven
But I used to be proud
of my Jewish background
Not much of a Jew you might say
But I just buried my Dad in the Jewish way
……….
If you speak out loud you’re called a self-hater
I think I’m just a good cogitator.
I was taught to tell the truth
So I am speaking to the youth
Mine’s a story you never hear
But I am not the only one.
John Lennon was a hero of mine
and I think you can guess which tune I mean
Let’s imagine no countries
and wash our bloody histories clean.
…………
What do you do
if you are a Jew
whose sympathies lie with Palestinians
and those Israeli humanitarians
They are marching now
So tell me how
it makes sense to beat them,
jail them and send them into exile
It does no good to keep up the denial
…………………..
This policy was born in the colonial mind
And now we are caught in a logical bind.
If we want to be fair
Then the answer is share
Two peoples – one fate
I hope it’s not too late.
