U. S. SOUL

U. S. SOUL


O US! Why do you think
That you are the greatest
Country destined by the Lord
To rule whole of the world?

You are rich and powerful.
Let’s forget why you are.
Let’s assume it’s all honest.
But why be arrogant?

Enjoy your wealth and power
I do not grudge all that.
In your heart you have much pride,
To that you’re entitled.

But, why toxic arrogance?
Why try to change the world,
Toppling stable governments,
Planting your pet regimes?

O Champion of man’s freedom!
Why don’t you let others
Defend the country that’s theirs,
And choose their own rulers?

Why commit wild aggression
On countries so distant?
You want their oil hence you don’t
Want them independent!

O US, have some remorse
That your bright, young soldiers
Have no morals or scruples
While torturing prisoners?

They seem to have no conscience.
They kill their dignity,
Piling naked pyramids,
Jeered upon by females?

O US, am I angry
That you have crossed limits?
Or, should I just pray to God
That He may bless your soul?


• Written in 7-6-7-6 syllabic format
• The pyramids refer to the violent orgies in Abu Ghraib, Iraq, apparently a favourite pastime of US soldiers.
• Initially written as item no. 848423, deleted on 26 March 2005, to be replaced by entry no. 337084 in WAR POETRY, "WAR POETRY--award winner" . At time of deletion, it had been rated 4 by 3 viewers. Posted as the present static item on 14 April 2008.

M C Gupta
12 May 2004

NOTE:

The above poem was rated as 1 by an anonymous reviewer on November 10, 2004, in private mail, in the following words:
"This sounds very UnAmerican and I do not apperciate flaming propganda at my country. I served my country very well I love what we stand for. I cannot and will not say anything good or bad because I understand the petty jealously of the ignorant of the world. I hope someday you don't need a American Soldier to pull you out of danger because I won't".
The response sent by me is given below:


"If at all this reply reaches you, of which I am not sure because you prefer to crib behind a veil of anonymity rather than come out with a straight face of a gentleman or a lady on the public review page, my advice to you would be to throw away your blinkers that prevent you from looking at the world from a point of view other than the American one and that conditions you to believe that what is un-American is evil or wrong or incorrect or uninformed or is written out of petty jealousy of your great country which considers itself to be the saviour of the world, as is clear from your notion that I or the rest of the world would be desperate for the favours of an American soldier to be pulled out of morass, the same American soldiers who unashamedly make human pyramids of naked civilians kept under illegal confinement; the same American soldiers who were too afraid of putting foot on Afghan soil, having outsourced the war there to others [only 40 or so US soldiers were put on ground there]; who are too afraid of even Iraq [one third of US soldiers in Iraq are non-US citizens]. if it is any solace to you, I might tell you that not only India does not need US soldiers, rather we do not need US civilians also. One third of NASA comprises of Indian experts; same is true of IT professionals in the silicon valley; the story repeats itself with Indian doctors. And, mind you, we are in no need of US space scientists, IT professionals or doctors. We have pretty well managed to live as an independent country with dignity, without violating international law, without dropping bombs on lands half a world away, making steady progress in all fields, maintaining our own democracy, WITHOUT toppling democracies or propping puppet dictatorial regimes elsewhere.

I hope one day you learn to regard yourself as more than a US citizen--something like a world citizen.

Peace be to you.

M C Gupta"