The Sunday Whirl gave us words that appear in bold. All I could think of was parents scouring the Norwegian countryside in search of their children.
Also posted at Poets United, my home away from home. Peace, Amy
Twisted Youth
(In Memory of Victims and Honor of Survivors of the Massacre in Norway)
How does a young man’s mind twist this
marvel of humankind
into reprehensible ideologies?
Not in the blink of an IPod spewing neo-Nazi music.
More likely, scattered, parentally unsupervised viewings
of YouTube videos, which cast people into castes:
Good and Evil.
It clouds his judgment…
and soon the blast of a bomb and
whirr of bullets rain down on Norway.
Desperate residents search for the living,
but first, they must scan the dead.
Americans pull their curtains closed
and say it can’t happen here.
But it already has:
Racial violence, rendered legal by racist politicians.
Hatred of immigrants, shots flying at the southern border.
Brutalized or murdered gays, lesbians, transgender people,
some hanging from trees, some trailing from bumpers of trucks.
Timothy McVeigh, the coward who chose death over apology.
Columbine.
Young minds raised in racist, ignorant homes.
It’s here, not just in Norway or the Middle East.
Can’t gild this fetid ditch lily:
Face the shame of homegrown terror.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
christine
My 17 yr old son was very disturbed by what happened in Norway, even had a back and forth argument over it on facebook with a friend (she thought Amy W. death had more impact on the world). It just makes me sick how some people think, I’m trembling just thinking about it.
Sharp Little Pencil
Amy Winehouse was a manic-depressive, just like me. Let your son know that the difference is, she refused, REFUSED, to take her prescribed medication. It was not about drug addiction – it was about self-medication, trying to avoid managing the chemical imbalance in her brain. I function because I take my meds PLUS go to counseling (one is no good without the other; neither is worth it if you’re not prepared to be open and honest).
Perhaps his friend simply felt more of a kinship with A.W. than with the greater world. It speaks well for your son, and for you, that his priorities are such that he cares about people he never met, who never serenaded him on a CD, more than a troubled, much-too-sheltered girl who would not cooperate with her doctors and whose dad was making a mint off her career. Bless you, Christine. Amy
Mike Patrick
Sometimes we get a twisted prospective on what is going on in the world. That’s because we are focused on the happenings in our tiny personal circles. That applies to all of us.
Reading your reply to Cristine brought that home to me. I had a long career as a cop. In all those years, I answered many calls to the Amy Winehouses of the world. It was exactly as you said, they chose to not take their meds and self medicated until their behavior required an intervention. Unfortunately, the first line of intervention is often the police. The only solution the police (at least in Missouri) has, only kicks in if the individual threatens to harm his/herself or someone else. Then we can sign them in for an involuntary three-day observation. Short of that, all we can do is stand by while the family tries to coerce him/her into voluntarily signing themselves into a facility for treatment. On more than one occasion, I’ve returned to a house after the individual discovered the tragic Winehouse solution.
Until today, I never thought about all of those tens (hundreds) of thousands of people who choose to take their meds and get counseling. They didn’t exist to me because I never knowingly met them or had contact with them. They didn’t enter my circle of reality—just like those people from Norway aren’t real to the friend of Cristine’s son.
I’m sorry, Amy. I didn’t mean to ramble like this. It’s just that your reply not only opened some unpleasant memories, but it opened my eyes to the existence of a huge block of the population I hadn’t considered before. I find myself surprising proud of your and your multitude of brothers and sisters who do the right thing.
It’s nice to have a new friend to discuss things with, but this ramble is too long and probably inappropriate for your blog; a click on the “trash” button will fix it.
Mike
Sharp Little Pencil
Trash an eloquent, informative, salient comment like this? Are you off your meds? (ha ha, manic depressive humor)
Your perspective is unique, Mike, for two reasons: One, you are frank about being on the front lines when people who need to be medicated refuse their treatment. And I know, having many active and former police and corrections officers in my life, that being on the receiving end of somebody on PCP, knowing cameras are on and if you don’t pepper spray them or subdue them someone’s life is in danger – and if you do, some jerk is going to sue for “police brutality.” I applaud our police force – unfortunately, all you read about in the so-called “liberal media” are the cops on the take or who are abusive, but my hat is off to you, sir.
Second, you shared your revelation that there are indeed so many folks who ARE toeing that fine line (sometimes like razor wire) between keeping with the program and simply “missing the high” or needing to hear voices again or whatever, tired of feeling “controlled” by the doctors and the meds, when in reality, I know I am in control when I DO take the meds and do the self-care.
This was a most enlightening share of sentiments, Mike. God bless you for telling your tale, and again, thank you for your service to our community, this grand experiment called America. Peace, Amy
wordsandthoughtspjs
Amy, such true words for such a sad and dark act. I am astonished by the amount of hatred people have for one another. Disrespect goes all the way to the White House treating the President shamefully, because of skin colour. Will all of this madness ever cease?
Pamela
Sharp Little Pencil
Pamela, once people realize we were generally all born with two eyes, one nose – and the important ratio of one mouth to TWO ears (listen more than talk), we might stand a chance. My heart aches for all in Norway, where even the police don’t carry guns.
vivienne Blake
We need a not like button – I’m not saying that in denigration of your writing, which as ever is spot on, but in the horrendous events of Friday. The racism in the US seems much more exaggerated than in Europe, if the events you describe there are anything to go by.
Sharp Little Pencil
I don’t know if my previous reply “took,” so I’ll say it again: Until we realize how much we have in common, we will always have racism. Until we stop judging others by the color of their skin – or the price of their clothes – or their hygiene, we won’t really know one another. This is when I think to myself, “And I’M mentally ill?” Thanks, Viv. Amy
Susannah
Strong and very powerful! I can see that the wordle words were perfect to express this horror.
Nice writing, you made the point really well and poetically too!,
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you for this, Susannah. The Wordle seemed to make fun poems spring out of practically everyone else, but the moment I saw the words, I knew what my subject matter would be. It was all so fresh in my mind and on my heart… Amy
Daydreamertoo
Yes hatred is everywhere and, it is learned.
Many years ago during the 1970’s they put about 30 young kids all together on a trip for a week … these kids were about 4/5 years old. Hadn’t learned yet what religion means. They were Irish Catholic and Protestant kids and for the time they were away, they made friends they had fun, they shared.Which proved they are taught to hate by their adult influencers.
They become what we teach them to become, and if their teachers fill them full of hatred for this or for that and they never learn any different, then, (as Jesus once said) ‘Forgive them for, the know not what they do. There are so many walking the streets now with a grudge against society, against a work place, against anything they feel like and sadly, what happened in Norway is going to keep being repeated simply because just because, it can be by anyone who is allowed to freely by weapons and stockpile ammunition and gain knowlege on the web of how to make a bomb using fertiliser.
Sharp Little Pencil
The Net can be heaven or hell, because the info is out there. Also the websites on white supremacy (as if we didn’t all come from Africa – well, we call it The Middle East, but that’s a distinction made up by cartographers), on the “glory days” of Hitler (bile rising in my throat). The Tea Party in this country is filled with anti-Mexican racists, as well as anti-anyone brown or black (including our own president).
There was a documentary similar to what you mentioned. Israeli and Palestinian youth got to hang for a couple of weeks, and they made friends eventually. Some hung back, possibly afraid of family disapproval, but for the most part, they don’t see the wisdom of the clerics and the Zionists. But then again, George Bush was a Christian extremist who mixed politics with religion, and Osama bin Laden was a Muslim extremist who mixed politics with religion. I wish we had just found bin Laden, and Saddam, and put each in a boxing ring with Bush, let THEM have it out. What a world! Amy
Traci B
Excellent use of the wordle, Amy, and a timely poem for our culture. It’s part of fallen human nature that we dislike the different, and if we nurture that instead of striving to overcome it, the result is just what you’ve described.
Sharp Little Pencil
Traci, thank you for this comment. The Wordle called to me with the word “reprehensible.” I knew right away my subject matter would be Norway.
We have to WAGE PEACE. To love unconditionally. This poor soul is a sick, sick young man. There are so many youth being indoctrinated into hatred. Why not indoctrinate them into love, helping others, and making the world a better place? Amy
Buddah Moskowitz
I don’t know if there is a technical word for the “fear of mirrors” but that’s what this culture has. Well done, Ameleh!
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, you mean eisoptrophobia? (Yeah, like I knew that – I googled it!!) You’re right. All cultures have it. The white supremacy movement is all around us, as is the palpable anger of anyone who doesn’t “measure up.” I’ve often wondered why no one said anything about Hitler having dark hair and a Jewish grandma… Love you, bruddah mine!
Mr. Walker
Amy, thank you for this. Such a tragedy. And you make good points about our lack of responsibility. We wear blinders at our peril. My wife told me that when she heard about what was going on in Norway, a friend told her that CNN was covering the heat wave across our country. So, your message is timely and important. And thank you for reaching out to other forms of discrimination and hatred that plague us. As always, you see sharply and craft powerful, honest poems.
Richard
Sharp Little Pencil
Richard, I do thank you for this well-thought-out comment. It’s true, with a 24-hour news cycle, we can get through an entire day without hearing about Darfur, the crises in countries in the Middle East demanding a government by and for the people (democracy and an established republic must come from a cry within a people, not by imposition, which Pres. Obama is just not getting). And as far as the heat wave goes, if it sweats, it gets. The real heat wave is on the southern border with vigilantes shooting Mexicans, in cities where black youth are assumed to be “unteachable,” and in churches all over the country where our gay brothers and sisters are being condemned as “barbarians” by people who say they’re all about love. I LOVE WHEN YOU VISIT. Coming your way now… Peace, Amy
Mike Patrick
What can one say to this, Amy? You just said it all in a poem ripped from the headlines. A poem describing everything that is wrong with an intolerant people. A poem which explains the growth of ambient hatred, spooned up to children in houses around the world, fostered upon weak minds by those without logic or a conscience, and preached in churches that should know better.
Excuse me. I’ll get off my soapbox now, but this is something that really angers me.
Sharp Little Pencil
Mike, that’s not a soapbox, even if you’re preaching to the choir. I’ve not had a single comment that was not in agreement.
Of course, no crackers are going to bother to denigrate my concerns and voice their thoughts here, right? Your anger is righteous indignation. As I’ve often said, my only prejudice is against bigots! The rest of it, well, it’s already in the poem. Coming to see you now… Peace, Amy
brian
we certainly look for things to blame when the incomprehensible happens…was it the music, was it the parents, i think in many ways it is many touches along the way…like that last comment a fear of mirrors indeed…
Sharp Little Pencil
Brian, it’s human nature to blame someone or something. I was hoping to get us all thinking about even the subtlest ways in which we might be sowing seeds of hatred in our youth… and it’s never too late for adults to come around to unconditional love. I used to blame my parents until I realized that, hell, I’ve been in therapy for years and they are dead and buried, so time to “woman up” and take my own responsibility. Thanks for a thoughtful comment, Amy
Wings over waters
A powerful write, full of feelings many of us can relate to. So much hatred in the world today…it’s easy to lose sight of the good things there are..
Sharp Little Pencil
True, and I try to get those in as well… I’ll send a lighter one when I reply. But sad truth: Hate lives. It only grows stronger when fertilized by FOX BS. Amy
Sheila Moore
face the shame of home grown terror – what a powerful line! yes, you are right – it is everywhere and no country is safe from it.
Sharp Little Pencil
Amen, sister. And like I said before, hatred only grows stronger with FOX BS. I’m coming by your blog now… PEACE. Amy
Mark Kerstetter
I admire the compassion in you that turned to such thoughts on viewing a more or less random list of words. I have to say though I don’t personally know any of my fellow Americans who say “It couldn’t happen here.” We’re wounded and ashamed of our Jared Loughners and Timothy Mcveighs. And we’re actually surprised it happened in Norway.
Sharp Little Pencil
Mark, I have friends covering a broad spectrum, from evangelicals to Tea Party to lefties to hippies – I only reject anarchists from my circle, because I’m a pacifist and believe Dr. King, Jesus, and Gandhi all made a good point on this approach. So there are many in my acquaintance who deny it could happen here, even as they are stockpiling guns on their property “just in case.” (The radical right are also in my family!!!)
Norway, were even the police don’t carry guns. Now THAT’S unthinkable. So it can happen anywhere. Their solution is exactly the opposite of America’s reaction to 9/11. Norway wants to open their borders. They plan to bring the man to trial. They refuse to have their life changed by one – or even a group – of radical haters of Islam. To that, I say, Bravo!
kez
great poem …makes you think live for the day !
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Kez. Live for today – but love like you’ll be around for the next thousand years, you know? Wage peace! Amy
contemplativemoorings
We put too much emphasis on the individual when it comes to this kind of evil…bad behavior is an individual exercise but this kind of mass killing needs a social environment in which to gestate…Hate is a group phenomenon…Those that hate bear part of the responsibility for this tragedy…
Sharp Little Pencil
I agree. What parents say to their kids, what governments do in the name of “protection” (racial profiling, etc.) is all a part of it. My idea is to keep this conversation going. Also: Remember HISTORY. Genocide in Rwanda, when Belgians decided to divide people into Hutus and Tutsis. Of course, Germany – the Jews, Catholics, gays and lesbians, Roma (“gypsies”), and many other sects and types. Plus I’m reading another book on the Armenian genocide at the hands of the Turks, culminating in many family trees bearing multiple relatives dying in 1915. Usually it’s about power, but there is also religion mixed in. The current American climate of “You ain’t a good American if you ain’t my kind of Christian” is too scary to think about, but I write about it all the time. I’m in people’s faces about this stuff, and someday it will probably get me in big trouble. That’s the advantage of being a well-managed manic depressive – I’ve seen so much scary shit in my life, I really don’t care what happens to me. Amy