department

                                 The Department

          Duty calls; Service to the Community;
          Laws of the Land; Innocent 'til proven guilty;
          Lay down our lives; Deparment; God; Family.
         We are the best of the best in our vested blue.

                "I got a stick for your head, Jesus Freak.
                Get down! Get Down! And be annointed."
                      (I swear to uphold the Constitution of the...)
                 "I got a kick for your balls, Faggot,
                 Take the blow like a man."

          We lay down our mortality before the Block.
          Give us this day and a secure homecoming.
          Our cause radiates with our Hero's deeds.
          We are the best of the best in our vested blue.

                 "I got a punch for your rib, Kike.
                 Let blood leaven your lungs."
                       (A more perfect union, conceived...)
                 "I got a stomp for your ankle, Dego
                 Try this boot for size."

           The poles of rightousness are our markers.
           Citizens take refuge under our Watch.
           As we mount our Units and head for the Zone.
           We are the best of the best in our vested blue.

                "I got mace for your eyes, Gorilla.
                Deal with this mist."
                      (I had a dream...)
                "I got a knee for your kidney, Gook.
                Piss red for a week."

          We are drawn to battle, a Tribe of Retribution.
           Let the vermin bring forth foul dealings.
          Our badges shine brightest when the Light is Dim
          We are the best of the best in our vested blue.

                "I got a gun butt for your ear, Wetback.
                Swim back to consciousness."
                      (...with liberty and justice for all...)
                "I got a jab for your windpipe, Homeless Scum.
                Now beg for air."

           Our path is narrowed by voluminous Rule
           When daylight gives a better view.
           We are the Bench for society's corruption; whatever works.
           We are the best of the best in our vested blue.

                 "I got teargas for your lungs, Crack Head.
                 ...."

          Turn off that VideoCam! That evil Snitch.
          Don't prejudice our Just Endeavors.
          Don't believe the sham images or the twisted commentary
          Because we are the best of the best in our vested blue.
          And tonight was just another fluke.


           Posted 12/27/01

   My poem was inspired by an incident a few years back where police brutality was captured on film by an ordinary citizen who happened to have a camcorder. Up until then most citizens refused to believe that such behavior took place, and some still don't. I also have friends who have also been subjected to such unprovoked behavior. However, it would not be just to condemn all for the actions of a few.    Witness the heroism of 9/11.

Yet, this poem is more relevent today than ever because of 9/11 and the reactions it is generating in our judicial systems and in our institutions of leadership.   Ironically, the attempt by terrorists to undermine our American Freedoms is taking place because our leaders want to abridge our Rights in order to combat terrorism.   It's an ongoing struggle between those who enact and administer the law and those of us who must live under a heavier yoke. It seems that every time our country is victimized by foriegn (or domestic) criminals, our Bill of Rights takes a beating.   You may think that the laws created to combat the crimes of notorious criminals will protect our society, but much of this legislation has put cracks in our Freedoms that will only get bigger as time goes on. The general consensus is that "if something doesn't affect me now, why worry about it?" But there will be a time when it will be too late to do anything about it. They will have your guns and your freedom; then you will be subject to a different kind of terrorism.