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The Debate
5 August, 2003
Author: Justus Isaiah Richardson

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If you have an opinion,
With which some disagree,
And if you want to make your point,
Then you'd best listen to me.

If your point is honest,
And you never throw low blows,
They'll take cheap shots at your character,
If your point they can't oppose.

If they can cast aspersions,
And make you seem an ass,
They'll do it though it isn't true,
To refrain they'd need some class.

They'll leave behind the issue,
And focus just on you.
If it helps their point look stronger
They'll say things that aren't true.

I was called a bigot,
Though Mom is white and Dad is black.
To get more people on their side,
Is why they chose this attack.

They tell me as a parent,
That I might be unfit.
Implying I'm a tyrant,
They just don't want to admit,

Though they strongly disagree,
With the issues they disjoint,
They can't present a stronger argument,
To defeat my valid point.

So they attack my character,
Then try to wipe away the slate.
They push to silence my opinion,
When they can't win the debate.

But the thing that I find funny,
That should help my point to teach.
My opponent was the one who argued,
For the right to freedom of speech.

Yet my voice he tried to silence,
And in part, he did succeed.
Because my point had gained too much support,
And too many folks agreed.

Welcome to America,
You have the right to speak your mind.
But if they don't agree with you,
You'll be silenced and maligned.

So look at this example,
Before you state your case.
If they can't win the argument,
They'll just have it all erased.

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Comments on this poem/writing:

Terrie* (65.150.175.94) -- Sunday, September 7 2003, 08:55 pm

excellent...

Justus, your point was very well illustrated..it has been heard....it takes more than one person to silence ones opinion...keep your poetry alive and posted..this was a great poem, you did an excellent job w/it..i found it quite interesting .....Terrie
 
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