OUT OF RESPECT
Out of respect for the children let us not speak of gun control.
Let us grieve in silent outrage lest one of those small figures
carrying memories of fearful moments, cupboard cuddled,
waiting with a teacher for an end to either deadly shootings
or themselves think this horror might have been averted
had we all been willing, even once to dream beyond heroic violence
to the far more challenging, more courageous, more inspiring vision
of heroic peace.
Out of respect for the victims let us not speak of mental health
but rather, soothe the conscience of a country with simplistic categories,
good guys, bad guys, innocent and guilty, lest we lose to shades of gray
our mindfulness that a culture closed to those who most need help,
who least are able to afford much- needed meds, who cry and stamp and tantrum, is not to blame, but only those who once cast out and told they can’t be saved return in blazing rage inhabit shadow and all the rest the pious light.
Out of respect for the soldiers let us not speak of peace.
For if a world of diplomatic, thoughtful problem solving is a possibility,
why then how dare we send our loved ones out to die, to strive in terror and privation,
to sacrifice their bodies and their minds, their limbs and senses
to explosive conflict far away, outside the rules of civil conduct
where to kill is just as much a job as filing, cleaning rooms or sliding cans past bar-code scanners.
Out of respect for our history, speak not of genocides committed,
of infected blankets given out, of trails of tears and wounded knees,
of treaties broken, promises abandoned, reservations cordoned off
and redefined as minerals emerged and unexpected resources came to light
and seemed more valuable than earth or sky or human beings.
Out of respect for tradition let us not speak of change.
Out of respect for the dead let us all still our tongues.
Out of respect for the past let us never speak of the future.
Out of respect for the wealthy let us not speak of the poor.
Out of respect for the poor let us not speak of the economy.
Out of respect for the worker let us not speak of unions. I am out of respect.
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Let us now observe not a single moment of silence.