Friday, November 4, 2016

The power of a meme

With the joys of this election years, I have succumbed to the What fresh hell is this poetry challenge by "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads".  We've all avoided politics this year. I've read many a fine piece of rubbish on Facebook against both candidates. 


My favorite are the people who have posted maybe ten or eleven memes a day for their candidate. Then offer a personal essay of how they have weighed the choices and came to that conclusion, why just that day. So this sonnet is dedicated to them. 




What a novel idea.
Toss out lightly the depth of your choice
Intone a bit of fear
In honor of God you share your voice

A quick apology for offending a few
But the cause is so great
A little annoyance is due
I just can’t take the bait

These ideas you share
With great care
Like a repetitive nightmare
Sung loudly from a zealot’s lair

Oh yay the boo hag will ride
And no one switches side

As much acrimony that has occurred during this election campaign, methinks we are all tired of the politics and politicians will understand the folly of their ways. Well in an alternate universe this could happen. But on planet Earth, in particular the United States, we will always have four or five heated opinions in a room of two. 

32 comments:

  1. I love the poem, the reflections and, especially, that lovely happy dog who fortunately isnt aware of the political maelstrom his humans are enduring.There is a lot to be said for lying, grinning in the grass, and Letting the World Turn. LOL.

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    1. The dog is all that. That's my little BoDuke.
      I'll be ready for the election to be over. However, I do get a perverse pleasure in reading some of the meme's. Many of them are funny in their ridiculousness. But my favorites are people's own protestation of not talking politics and then their diatribe. We are all human, eh.

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  2. Good poem! What is sad about this present election is how divided it has made people be; people unfriending people on Facebook, etc. I don't do much with the politics on Facebook or my blog but made it a point for people to get out to vote, to be informed, and to pray beforehand. November 8th can't come quick enough for me.

    betty

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    1. It is sad that some give up something so precious as friendship or kinship over politics. I care and vote. But beyond that, I live my life. The people I know are much more important than an idea. I'll be glad for the election to be over; but, for some where I live, it's politics, more politics all the time. I think fundraising is behind a lot of it.

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  3. my main excitement with the elections will be when they are over.Great verse!

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    1. Well said. You have a hobby which makes you sane. I think some of the nonstop meme spewers need more in their life. Frankly, I had the urge too. But thankfully I know it makes you a pest to talk politics. What's surprising is I enjoy them all whether I agree with them or not. I get a laugh at the wild ones.

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  4. i i don't like politics and election either yet i enjoy the excited environment raised by people who like all this

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    1. It goes on all the time here. Even in off election years, it is what people talk about. We all need hobbies in the United States. I guess it is part of our national character.

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  5. Oh yay the boo hag will ride
    And no one switches side

    Much as the voters prefer, it seems changing sides may prove to be rampant. Many may stake their gamble on DT as HC is losing steam by the day. But worse if they bother to vote at all. This can happen if both candidates are not to their liking - clearly apparent now!

    Hank

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    1. I have to say, I am a Hillary Clinton fan. I don't always agree with her politics. But I do like her iron will and ability to stand up to naysayers. All that said, the United States is a very conservative country. Women have rights here that they may not have in other countries. But, society tolerance is low with a woman being in charge. Much of the hatred for her may be mysogyny. She and her husband are very bright and self made people. This gets overlooked in the political persuasion politics.

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  6. I'm not even American and will be glad when the damn thing is over. Captured them perfectly as everyone goes on a FAcebook spree.

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    1. Canucks bear the brunt of our insanity spilling over their borders and then American's usually can't name more than one or two provinces. This is why things get so stupid here. We have a yahoo culture that does not recognize it would not hurt to read a history, geography or science book and skip some of the gaming, beer drinking, or Facebook posting.
      I will say this election has become international. I've noticed many are commenting beyond North America.

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    2. You got it, the race to the idiotic yahoo bottom is just soooo depressing. It's absolutely disheartening. It's not like all of this is happening TO us, we have created this situation. ARGH

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    3. Marian, I agree with you. Our politicians are reflecting us which is not a pretty view.

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  7. This line is priceless: "Oh yay the boo hag will ride"

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    1. Politics and boo hags seem to go together, eh? Thanks for the complement.

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  8. I think the last lines nails it... and there lies my biggest concern... afterwards neither part will truly accept what has happened.

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    1. Historically, the United States have had hot politics. I would like to say it has to do with fund raising. But I know from being an American, it is something about our culture. We foster all these hot opinions; but come Monday morning, we all go to work and life goes on as usual.

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  9. Enjoyed this poem. The social media and meme thing has been hard to handle at times, for me. I'm not really enjoying our poetry group entering this arena but whew, I made it though all the poems. Thanks for this one.

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    1. The memes have been a bit like looking at car wrecks. You know you might not like what you see; but, you do it anyway. When I saw the topic, I thought oh my. But then, I noticed so many on both sides declaring they had considered the other side and you know they did not. At least the election will be over and we'll get a different view of how the "sky is falling" in the nightly news.

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  10. I don't think either candidate honors God. Love your poem!

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    1. Thank you Diane. I think at that level of politics, it is hard to be centered. But there is a bit of God in all of us.

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  11. Is your dog running for president? I'd vote for him.

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    1. The worst part of this election is how few people really like either candidate. It reminds me of the turmoil in the late 60's. I'm a military brat and my dad shared at that time that the military was preparing for civil unrest it was getting so bad. I don't think it will get that bad now because the young people aren't the loud players. It is my generation.

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  12. I don't know about the younger generation being quiet - Mine are quite vocal - but they are artists as well -so the might have something to do with their passion (which doesn't always agree with mine:) Makes things interesting and keeps one honest, I guess. What I find funny is how quick one side is willing to call the other a "zealot" - because of opposing views. Well penned!

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    1. I'm just going by people's facebook posts. It's a rough political patch and been so for awhile. Perhaps it will get better.

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  13. "Boo hag" made me laugh! But the verse is so on point for these days. I too, can't wait for the election to be over. Though I fear it may look somewhat like a cross between Independence Day and War of the Worlds on Wednesday. I envy your dog's relaxation - he's even smiling!

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    1. I think every one will be so relieved when it is over, they will care less. I have vowed to never discuss politics ever. Burned out is an understatement.

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  14. I think the thing that bothers me the most about recent years in any social discourse, is that people are not permitted their own opinions. So many people believe if someone disagrees with them, they're racist or homophobic or sexist or ignorant or evil. Freedom of speech is only for some people. I can't wait for the election to end but I dread the aftermath also.

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    1. It is a hot mess. This my way or the highway approach is not good. I remember my dad used to talk about you needed to have "float" which really meant you needed to have patience and tolerance for differences in how people thought or did things.

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  15. Love this--I agree on all the sentiments so well-expressed here--I finally had to (mostly) withdraw from the meme-show and the do my best to hide the ubiquitous, cliched ranting--everyone seems to think they are so original, shouting out the same talking points. Glad at least the hoopla leading up to the insanity we must deal with for four years is almost over.

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  16. sorry for taking so long to visit - thanks for adding your pen to the prompt ~ M

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