The Chomsky Poem
POETRY FORMAT, 29 Jul 2019
Stefan Schindler – TRANSCEND Media Service
On the Occasion of Noam Chomsky Receiving the Peace Abbey Foundation Courage of Conscience Award–9 Dec 2016
Philosopher, author, teacher, linguist, activist,
Noam Chomsky rings the bell of truth
for those who seek to go beyond the veil drawn
by the corporate, political and military captains
who prevent the dawn of understanding
in those they seek to rule.
We who read, and listen closely, to Chomsky’s words
are refreshed by the nectar of his wisdom,
his common sense, his courage of conscience,
and his persistent call for equality for all
in a brave new world lit by a passion for compassion;
where the military-industrial beast is tamed, tethered
and replaced by commitment to planetary peace.
From Little Rock to Standing Rock;
from Vietnam to the hydrogen bomb;
from the lies that launched the Iraq attack,
to the Baltimore slaying of those who are black …
Chomsky’s critique of the power elite
helps us see the paradox of living
in a country supposedly free,
where educate means ignorate
students into stupefied confusion,
so they later vote for more chains of illusion,
while the media cheers the slaughter of innocents
and politicians pretend to preserve our innocence.
In support of Palestinian rights and the Sandinista revolution,
Chomsky points the way to enlightened evolution.
Dark times indeed, though, and darker ahead;
so many children unnecessarily dead. What can we say?
What can we do? Only this: Follow through with courage,
conscience and kindly deeds, keeping faith and planting seeds
for a better tomorrow; showing that love heals the sorrow
and leads to the light of Chomsky’s message, so lucid and bright:
Take a stance, do the dance, and give peace a chance.
__________________________________________________
Stefan Schindler taught philosophy, psychology, education, and religion for 40 years at institutions of higher learning, including The University of Pennsylvania, La Salle University, Berkley College of Music, The Boston Conservatory of Music, Dance and Theater, and the Boston and Brookline Centers for Adult Education. Co-founder of The National Registry for Conscientious Objection, a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, a recipient of The Boston Baha’i Peace Award, and a Trustee of The Life Experience School and Peace Abbey, Dr. Schindler received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Boston College (on Freud, Sartre, Hegel, and Jung). He wrote The Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Awards for Howard Zinn and John Lennon. His books include The Tao of Socrates and America’s Indochina Holocaust. His forthcoming book is titled Buddha’s Political Philosophy.
Tags: Noam Chomsky, Poetry
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 29 Jul 2019.
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