Hazem Kira USA On Wednesday, January 10, 2007 President George W. Bush in a speech to the nation, called on the country to take up the "burdens of freedom" to justify his expansion of just over 20,000 soldiers into the Iraqi occupation. The phrase smacked of a similar call by British novelist and poet Rudyard Kipling, in his 1899 poem "The White Man's Burden," urging the West to take up the burden of freeing and civilizing the savage East. The following is what the great literary altruist would of wrote to George W. Bush if he was alive today. --------- The White House’s Burden Take Up the White House's Burden-- Drag forth America's finest! En route of a golden pledge To be the very kindest. An altruistic empire's claim, Harnessing new-caught feral folk For the "Burden of Freedom's" aim. So Go Make Believe that we are the best And come back naught Until they are possessed!" Ride Feverishly On midnight horseback, Masking yourself as Paul Revere Crying out aloud for all to Hear The White House's message of Eternal Fear "The Muslims Are Coming, The Muslims Are Coming,Moorish East So Unlike Our Moral West!” And with policy in hand, Soldiers take a stand, With guns and pens alike. Dark stains cover desert plains To civilize brown evil and wild 'Half-devil and half-child'. Take Up the White House's Burden-- So rich an advantage Stromboli can vow In patience to abide, To exacerbate the threat of terror And have a show of pride; By open speech and simple, An hundred times made plain To seek Haliburton's profit, And work another’s gain. Take Up the White House's Burden-- The savage wars for power letting blind hatred and terror tower. As men, women and children howl insane "Freedom without sovereignty is but inane" And when your goal is nearest The end for dominion sought, Watch sloth and heathen Folly Bring all your hopes to naught. Take Up the White House's Burden-- Employ pretexts of tawdry rule of kings, The hard toil of serf and sweeper-- The tale of common things. Open ports to corporate gain Pave roads for soldiers' fame and tame with missionary and lifeless pain. Take Up the White House's Burden-- And reap the White House's reward: The blame of those you better, The hate of those you confine-- The cry of hosts you humor (Ah, slowly!) toward the burrow: "Why brought he us to bondage, Our unloved Egyptian Pharaoh?
Copyright, Hazem Kira .
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