Shoutbox - 73 comments
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Travis Morgan says:
Let me kick this off with a few questions that may jumpstart the group into wider participation.
What does freedom mean to you?
What is your dream?
How do you want to change yourself?
How do you want to change the world?
What does "discrimination" mean to you?
How does one "keep it real?"
posted May 17
Comment replies (8)
jo says:
Freedom~
A time where no person is judged solely on the basis of the color of their skin or their economic background
but instead the content of their character.
A time where all may be secure in their religious beliefs...no matter what they are.
A time where we strive to choose peaceful resolution to conflict rather than wars generated by greed.
A time where we may speak those truths that we hold dear...without fear of harassment or repercussion.
While this may seem, to some, a bit utopian...we can move toward this for mankind...one step at a time.
posted May 17
The Major says:
Freedom means: A time when people are judged not according to their appearance but purely on theiir ability to make witty comments.
My dream: Is to outlaw rap music and the wearing of baseball caps
I would like to change: into a slightly nattier waistcoat
I would like to change the world: by making politeness compulsory on pain of death (or failing that, a small fine payable in easy instalments)
Hmmm, mine seem to be somewhat different...
posted May 17
Travis Morgan says:
" i'm not in the business of giving webster type definitions to words such as these." - good thing, because I am asking what it means to you, not webster. :)
"staying sane" - sane, yet another slippery one to define.
posted May 23
~M@r!~ says:
My Dream is to live a stress free life....like that will ever happen huh....
posted May 23
Myxomatosis says:
The last time i felt truly free was back when i was 16 years old in high school and an intelligent person ran this country and didn't wire tap our phones and invade our homes on spectulation.
My dream is to soon return to a state that is close to that feeling of freedom, but minus all the high school bull shit.
I am constantly changing myself, but one day when this transformation is complete, hopefully, i will just be happy.
I will change the world by making it a better place to look at, I know i don't need to go into the whole global warming schpeel, but i want to become an activist for what is left of this precious rock.
and i keep it real, by rockin out to Guitar Hero II on 360!
posted May 23
Danielle says:
Freedom is being free of the bondage of financial burden, prejudice between races, cultures and classes of people, working at a job I truly love, having all the time I want for my family and friends, and the end of judgment on others by man.
My dreams are too many to post here.
I seek to change my mind about the situations of life, to see things in a clearer view with the perspective and clarity it truly deserves. Not to make every downfall seem like a big drama, every hardship not a soul-ripping burden. To see things as they truly are and to learn to make the right choices in life using wisdom and true foresight.
I don't have any drive to change the world as the world will change without my assistance. People who love to kill will eventually be killed by others who love to kill, big fish will continue to swallow little fish, I just want to be the flower floating gracefully on the pond.
Discrimination is a word for physical ignorance. Someone who refuses to understand that everyone is different and they seek to force their own ideas on others. A form of rape that manifests in unemployment, inability to get loans, to be unable to board a plane without everyone staring, incarceration due to "fitting the profile,..."
"Keeping it real" is no matter what circumstances you find yourself in, maintain the same thought pattern, focus and ideas you had about yourself and the situation even when it's not the popular idea for the crowd you're in. Stop worrying about fitting in, start worrying about your acceptance of self.
posted May 29
Scott says:
I write stupid little haiku style poems on bits of paper, magazines, anything I can find around my house, I will start actually doing something constructive with them and post them here! Most of them usually end up in the rubbish bin, it's not so much the end result that I like but writing them can be somewhat therapeutic.
They must be civil
Give them the western disease
Inflict your culture
(written after watching a documentary on the destruction of amazonian tribes)
posted May 16
Comment replies (4)
Travis Morgan says:
technically, I believe this would be a senryu, but I could be wrong. :)
posted May 16
The Major says:
I don't know what it is but I like it! Sometimes I wish I could write serious verse but I was dipped into a vat of Byron at an early age...
posted May 17
Scott says:
Yes I think you are right, it is a Senryu as it has no mention of nature...
posted May 23
Danielle says:
I don't see that poem as "stupid." If you're not listening, it may seem to be, but it is in fact a very forceful poem. At first, I dismissed it until I realized the depth of what was said. That same mindset has destroyed the cultures of countless peoples worldwide. Not just those native to the Amazon, even further back than that. Think of the Inquisition, which was like a plague. The muslims had their run in a similar theory. That way of thinking (though I know you don't think it, you're making a statement) eventually leads to, since you can't make savages civil, destroy them. The Holocaust, Bosnia, Tutsie vs Hutu, it could go on for as long as man has been on earth. The Ghanaians have a symbol called the Sankofa bird. It symbolizes "Go back and get (fetch) it." The lesson to be learned is that one must look to the past to prevent from repeating mistakes in the future.
Great poem.
posted May 29
The Major says:
Poetic versification,
Fills me with elation,
But my inbuilt desire to rhyme,
Doesn't always come as naturally as I might have hoped.
Thank-you.
posted May 16
Comment replies (4)
Travis Morgan says:
You're last line is quite revealing
through its intended difference dealing.
Oh, and the humor of it too,
how it did tell me something secret about you.
posted May 16
The Major says:
Having overcome the fetters of poetical paralysis,
It would appear I've stumbled into some psychoanalysis!
posted May 17
theophilus says:
thanks for the invite. i'll be posting something on my blog tonight, which will be linked to virb....call it fiction, just something I wrote a few years back. cheers.
posted May 16
Travis Morgan says:
Some of you may be holding back, but I urge you not too. By joining this group, you have acknowledged that you have a dream, you have a deep burning passion inside of you. You want to unleash, you want to change the world, you want to be free.
So step forward, share your stories of struggle, success, pain, frustration, happiness, courage... You're words need not be poetic nor revolutionary, they need be nothing other then accurate and true. You are family here, and this is your place to open up, speak your voice, and tell your story.
posted May 16
benjamin young says:
i'm not really going to write, write, write, im too tired.
they keep me pinned down all day, all these televisions.
posted May 14
Comment replies (2)
Travis Morgan says:
Let go of the rabbit ears
and satellite dishes,
cable transports of terrorist militias.
Let go of this
polluting encyclopedia,
this box of brain rotting media.
Changing channels, reflect a violence,
of a world where politicians roar
and the honest are silenced.
Signals of hostility are hypnotizing our heads,
In turn,
turning our couches into brainwashing beds.
A murderer is set free
and an innocent accused.
"Watch today, on your local six o'clock news."
...and couch potato fools,
Eating popcorn in the comfort of your rooms,
sitting there watching the massacre of schools,
you're consumed
by the tubes countless costumes.
So please, let go of
television's buzz,
and release your right mind,
remove that static filled fuzz.
posted May 16
Derrick Engoy says:
a work in progress...
words.
wonderful oscillating ramblings drive sanity.
we, oblivious, rightfully devour sayings.
wishing over ridiculous draining slang.
when on route, define status.
weird obnoxious
words outlive religion. destiny. salvation.
posted May 14
Comment replies (1)
The Major says:
Wonderful oscillating ramblings - what a splendid phrase! I've been known to indulge in them myself.
posted May 17
Travis Morgan says:
Invitation
You spotlight my color
and underline my race,
you disrespect my beliefs
because the features of my face?
You criticize my size
and turn double blind ears,
you don't listen to my voice
when I cry, "we share the same tears."
You know what your doing,
and that your doings are amiss,
so make a change to do right,
and feel the love of my kiss.
Look past yourself and see,
that our differences are one flame,
put your hand on my chest
You feel that... our hearts beat the same.
Rise above social rubble,
and cease this infectious discrimination,
you DO have a choice,
Here... this is your invitation.
posted May 14
Comment replies (1)
Sa!nt says:
Hey, I'm new to this group but I've written some stuff I thought you might want to check out. It's a short story called The Afflicted and deals with some race/class related issues surrounding police torture in Russia. Anyway, you can check it out at www.virb.com/criesofthepast. Tell me what you think, whether you like it or if you think it's crap.....I just want some feedback....thanks alot!
posted May 18