I’ve Never Worried About This Country, Until Now

Sal Salasin collage, October 1969 Protests, University of Chicago

“I simply cannot accept that there are, on every story, two equal and logical sides to an argument.”

Edward R. Murrow

Held Without Bail on Probable Cause

By. T. A. Fry

This…is America. 

My Mother said, “I just had a heart attack, don’t tell me anything bad.Personally, I think most Americans are pro-choice; we choose to be difficult. In the immortal words of Sal Salasin; “there are endless benefits to bad poetry.”

“We are not descended from fearful men.”  Thank you for your submission but your work does not fit the style of what we are looking for at this time.  The customer is always right, unless it decreases shareholder value. A satellite has no conscience.”

We help the world grow the food it needs. “Our major obligation is to not mistake slogans for solutions.” Business has only one social responsibility; use its resources to increase profits.

Mitochondrial DNA suggests all humans are genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or God started his career working as an intern for Monsanto.  “Speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue.” What is the price of profit?

“The obscure we see eventually, the completely obvious takes a little longer.” Capitalism and Freedom are fundamentally subversive doctrines. I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.

“The speed of communications is wondrous to behold.” Guns don’t kill people. Your next door neighbor’s son with an AR-15 assault rifle kills people. The decision to eliminate your position was in no way influenced by your performance.

“American traditions and ethics require us to be truthful…because truth is the best propaganda and lies the worst.” We invaded Iraq to protect America from weapons of mass destruction. Everyone at pay grade 15 and above has a mandatory teleconference on Monday at 10 am.

“If we deny the right of the individual to be wrong, unpopular, eccentric or unorthodox.…we undermine the faith of those that believe in America.” …… Everywhere I go, people come up to me, and they say,… I’ve never worried about this country, up to now.  Make America….. Again!

“Do not confuse dissent with disloyalty.” We will treat every employee with respect during this difficult time and assist them with outplacement services. What’s the difference between  a penis, a prick and a big swinging dick?  About 2 inches.

“We’re all clowns and freaks in the big show.”
“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.”
“Good night… And good luck.”

 


Hey Kids!

by Sal Salasin

Hey Kids!
Let’s create a system
that impoverishes at the same time
it creates wealth!
Bless the birds and
bless the bees and
bless the corpses
in the trees.
Welcome to the
Wonderful World of Whipping Boys,
boys. 

Oh, she’s just
recovering from a
postmodernist noseflap,
Cap.
How about some excedrine-and-
corned-beef hashish?
From lust to dust it’s the
meticulous to the slime.
My meaning is that I’m here.
What’s yours?
Who was the thirty-second president of
the United States?
What’s the capitol of El Salvador?
Just stick in your head
and turn on the gas jets, sweetheart.
It’s like when the
nurse comes in, she
always says “And
how are we today?”

Published by

A Sonnet Obsession

I am a life-long Minnesotan who resides in Minneapolis. I hope you enjoy my curated selection of sonnets, short poems and nerdy ruminations. I am pleased to offer Fourteenlines as an ad and cookie free poetry resource, to allow the poetry to be presented on its own without distractions. Fourteenlines is a testament to the power of the written word, for anyone wanting a little more poetry in their life.

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