Idealism As A Dirty Word

by Barry Drogin

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Idealism As A Dirty Word
(there are no more dirty words)

As things get better and better,
Why do we insist that they are getting worse and worse?

In the sixties when we were headed towards that
Great American Dream that could never be reached,
Our idealism helped us see through the holes,
We fought against some serious wrongs,
And redefined our goals
Radically.

To sell out,
To play the game,
We knew what they meant.

Suddenly, we want it again,
We need it,
We're worried because the idealists of today are destructive,
They die for causes (a stupid thing to do
quite opposite to our sixties idealism
when we protested against death);
We're worried.

Is anything worth dying for?
Worth sacrificing the existence we now lead?
The existence we love so dearly?

One man holds three jobs,
His wife works, too,
(why not, you male chauvinist pig?!)
Another man cannot find work;
Do you know him?

No one drops out anymore.

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Last Updated: August 4, 2007