Poem for MCA2006

[bwisok]

Military Commissions Act of 2006, a poem

Around the world, American agents first came for the Afghani sheepherders,
who were routinely tortured (yet could not explain themselves in English),
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't an Afghani sheepherder.

Then the Americans sent a Mauritanian to Gitmo who said he hated Jews,
and he was routinely tortured (but only on a waterboard),
and I didn't speak up because one of my best friends is a Jew.

Then they kidnapped a couple of trade unionists out of Egypt,
who were routinely tortured (but offered detailed information on the Pyramids),
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist from Egypt.

Then they did a forced, secret transfer to Syria of an Italian winemaker,
who was routinely tortured (and died behind bars protesting something or other)
and I didn't speak up because I?m a teetotaler from the Bible Belt.

Then they came for me, a born-again Christian who dissed the Busheviks,
and they were going to torture me, too, until I swore I?d vote Republican,
but by that time no one was left to speak up.

The Prophet Brian
New Pilgrim Chronicles