a poem.

Here is a poem that I chose to write as my personal reflection for my time spent in El Salvador. Birthed from growing frustration and confusion over the actions and philosophies of my country, this "manifesto" is something that I wish I could read to every United States citizen; just some food for thought:


The Mad American's Manifesto

Embrace slow.

Realize that not everything

should be pre-packaged and ready

in 90 seconds.

If all moves so fast, memories

and feelings will fail to

catch the train at the station.

Redlights only seem like

their taunting time if you think

the world stops for you.

Accept being average.

Our buildings do not need

to exceed the clouds,

our defense department does not

need to bully all the weak kids

in this global classroom.

Didn’t you see the movies?

The jock always peaks in

high school.

Seek the necessary.

Neighborhoods do not need to sprawl

like cancer cells.

Three cars ARE too many, and

your dog doesn’t care to watch

the Weather Channel at all hours.

Cross-breeze makes for a great A/C unit.

A balanced diet goes beyond

your belly.

Question everything.

There’s no need to raise your

hand anymore, the world will

show you its answer. When what

you witness and what you’re told

don’t equalize, you’re

solving to find the Truth. Living

in a daze of treated information

will only clog the arteries of

knowledge.

Challenge your default settings.

If you’ve sworn allegiance to

your own flag, your thoughts will

live in a dictatorship. Fear the

weight of reality, but be surprised by

your soul’s strength.

Let judgments be followed by curiosity

and child-like optimism. This earth’s

people are not one-size-fits-all.

Welcome responsibility.

Knowledge enjoys permanent residence here; let it.

Do not ignore your own Truths; do not quarantine the past.

Plant trees, sit with suffering’s citizens,

avoid those who enforce the status quo.

Care for water. (I cannot emphasize this enough). 

Practice consciousness, practice humanity.