They are wrong. He is wrong. She is wrong. I am wrong. You are wrong. It is wrong.
We are wronged.
It came from discussions, conversations,
tangled monologues, challenges, squabbles,
crossed swords,
that alienating platform
tangled monologues, challenges, squabbles,
crossed swords,
that alienating platform
and
ended in
feelings of hurt
and
hard words.
feelings of hurt
and
hard words.
We are right.
It is written.
Striving for moral high ground we crash
Icarus wings flaming
to Stygian mire.
Icarus wings flaming
to Stygian mire.
Nobody is listening.
Nobody knows.
Nobody cares.
We feel bad.
We think, and we think, and we think, and we think, and we think and we are lost to our thoughts.
We can not think freedom.
We feel bad.
“ if I do not love the world if I do not love life if I do not love people I cannot enter into dialogue.”
― Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Does freedom lie in love?
“The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant.”
― Maximilien de Robespierre
Does freedom lie in dialogue?
“To defend the oppressed against their oppressors, to plead the cause of the weak against the strong who exploit and crush them, this is the duty of all hearts that have not been spoiled by egoism and corruption… It is so sweet to devote oneself to one’s fellows that I do not know how there can be so many unfortunates still without support or defenders. As for me, my life’s task will be to help those who suffer and to pursue through my avenging speech those who take pleasure in the pain of others. How happy I will be if my feeble efforts are crowned with success and if, at the price of my devotion and sacrifices, my reputation is not tarnished by the crimes of the oppressors I will fight.”
― Maximilien de Robespierre
Who are our oppressors?
Is there justice in vengeance?
“This, then, is the great humanistic and historical task of the oppressed: to liberate themselves and their oppressors as well.”
― Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Does liberation lie in forgiveness?
“To punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency; to forgive them is cruelty.”
― Maximilien de Robespierre
Oppression lies in terror.
“[T]he more radical the person is, the more fully he or she enters into reality so that, knowing it better, he or she can transform it. This individual is not afraid to confront, to listen, to see the world unveiled. This person is not afraid to meet the people or to enter into a dialogue with them. This person does not consider himself or herself the proprietor of history or of all people, or the liberator of the oppressed; but he or she does commit himself or herself, within history, to fight at their side.”
― Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed
I steal words of others.
Others remain silent.
Am I oppressor?
Am I oppressed?
Who will name me?
Who will love?
Who will listen?
Who will forgive?
