Intolerance
By Brandon Astor Jones
"When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses, for art establishes the basic human truths which must serve as the touchstone of our judgment." — John Fitzgerald Kennedy, address at Amherst College, October 26, 1963
The late president's words are painfully poignant, in that while they are profound they are meaningless to his latter-day political colleagues on the right. My poetry will be equally meaningless to them and their kind. If I could wish them anything, it would be spiritual illumination to guide them out of the darkness of their intolerance.
It is a good thing that there is a law written into what is left of the United States Constitution that separates the so-called house of God from the courthouse, schoolhouse and jailhouse. It is a bad thing that the religious right's political disciples are trying to tear down that law. They would have us believe, like them, that their god is better than anyone else's.
ALL GOOD INTENTIONS
preach in the corridors of religion's passage
with hands raised high seeking alms to spend,
building pious-houses, with their selfish kin
rendering "The Word" our enemy, not a friend
changing "The Commandments" so that they defend
only racism's and sexism's need to damage
ALL GOOD INTENTIONS
[The writer is a prisoner on death row in the United States. He welcomes letters commenting on his columns (include your name and full return address on the envelope, or prison authorities may refuse to deliver it). He can be written to at: Brandon Astor Jones, EF-122216, G3-77, Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison, PO Box 3877, Jackson, GA 30233, USA.]