Teach me what to think,

For I donโ€™t even suspect that I have a mind.

Fill me with information

And call it education.

Program me with your doctrines,

And call it enlightenment.

Show me whom to hate,

For since I canโ€™t think for myself,

I will be as warm steel moldable and for good use.

Take as I will the magnificence of others,

Calling it my own and defacing it for bloated purposes.

Consume as I wish propaganda ideally suited,

To making me mimic thoughts spun by others.

Beat my chest, I will, with zest and conviction,

As though I thought of the revolution myself.

It is us against them, who think they are beautiful.

How dare they? Is our rally cry!

How dare they place themselves above us, or any of our kind?

How dare they think formative thought and maturity of mind

Are substitutes for platitudes and posters.

Names are what we will call them, should they be onto us,

Thatโ€™ll do it!

For it is they who scare us the most:

The ones who see right through us.

Itโ€™s as if they have a faculty weโ€™ve missed,

Though weโ€™d best rush to deny it to ourselves.

How dare they not bow to our immediate wishes;

How dare they not quickly cave to our frenzied demands,

Why, it proves their insolence, the very fact,

Their free thought, their singular stand, their resistance,

It shows their elitism for what it is,

So call them names, lest we stop,

And hear the whispers our selves,

That the masterpieces we today trample,

Could never have been created by any but them.

Off with their heads!

Now whatโ€™s that you say?

Itโ€™s broken and wonโ€™t run?

The clocks donโ€™t work, the planes wonโ€™t fly,

The building fall down out of the sky?

Find someone, find someone, find someone quick,

Who knows, who has knowledge, who creates, who builds,

Find someone to fix, to repair, and prop up,

The hour is late, the crumbling severe,

This isnโ€™t much fun anymore, bring one of them here.

How dare they, how dare they, leave us like this!

Did they know this would happen?

Itโ€™s their fault.

It always was.

 

 @Copyright Chris Brady 2010

 

 

 

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12 responses to “Teach Me What to Think”

  1. @nextnewnexus Avatar
    @nextnewnexus

    Uh… I’m not usually a big fan of poetry, but this just perfectly lays out the heart of the matter.
    It’s so in touch with an entitlement mindset that’s sinking us as a society — and fast.
    Thanks for this.

    Like

  2. Jason Avatar
    Jason

    You are coming up with some great writing lately Chris! Keep it up!!!

    Like

  3. Buffafly Avatar
    Buffafly

    This is fantastic! You amaze me! – your wife:)

    Like

  4. Ryan McNair Avatar

    This pretty much sums up the entire theme of Atlas Shrugged. Very good, Mr. Brady.

    Like

  5. Phyllis Hoff Avatar
    Phyllis Hoff

    Wow! You have always written very insightful and informative articles, but oh my, poetry too.
    Very meaningful poetry with very clear messages.
    Look out, Chris Brady will be writing a poetry book next.
    Go for it. It will be fantastic.

    Like

  6. Ben Grab Avatar
    Ben Grab

    Wow! I have goose bumps and chills! Fantastic!

    Like

  7. Dave Nelson Avatar
    Dave Nelson

    Hey Chris Brady,
    I’m pickin up what your puttin down.
    Imagine people saying violence never solved anything. Was our country founded by peaceful negotiations?
    Was Napolean beaten on the chess board?
    Was Hitler pushed back by a wind?
    Did GOD kill all the people on the land he gave to the Israelites?
    NO ! Violence- fighting for dreams and beliefs got those things.
    A police officer might say it is okay to kill someone breaking into your house to steal what you have.
    Should it be any different when a company ( a corp is a person) or a government takes what you have.
    Passion- so much you will take on your country and the world for your beliefs.
    Dave in Florida

    Like

  8. Lucas and Chrystal Moldenhauer Avatar
    Lucas and Chrystal Moldenhauer

    Thanks Chris,
    feeling a little convicted. “Callihng them names” is such an easy game to play, and I’m guilty.
    Thanks for empowering formative thought and maturity of mind so we learn to rise about the platitudes that have gotten us into this mess.
    Let this be our finest hour, the rediscovery of backbone and virtue.

    Like

  9. Otilia and Miguel Arias Avatar
    Otilia and Miguel Arias

    Wow Chris that was deeeeep!!!!!Thanks for all you information. ๐Ÿ˜‰
    Otilia anfd Miguel

    Like

  10. Skipper Avatar

    For 40 years I saw other people’s mistakes, but not my own. The last 20 have been a Blessing. Now Christ’s shows me MY mistakes and not only forgives me, but teaches me a BETTER way.
    Skipper

    Like

  11. mjr Avatar
    mjr

    Wow!

    Like

  12. Jen Korte Avatar
    Jen Korte

    Chris,
    I really enjoyed this. I am a big poetry fan. These past few weeks have inspired a few of my own re: media, politics. Not on the same level as yours, but you might get a chuckle.
    The talking heads are spinning now
    webs of unknown accuracy
    capturing tiny morsels of veracity
    and with venomous tenacity
    liquefying, transforming the integrity
    with vertiginous proclivity
    so the ensuing web enigmatically
    eludes even Wilbur.
    –jk
    The dividing line
    was drawn
    some time ago,
    but back then
    we could cross the line
    to extend a handshake.
    Then somehow it happened
    that the mud-slinging began
    and we used it is mortar,
    so now there is a wall
    too high to cross
    and I can’t find a way
    to shake hands
    with the other side.

    Like

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