American way

[checo456]

The American way could be considered something gay
While all of the homophobes and homosexuals argue
About “what is right?” the slaves in 3rd world countries
Proceed to take flight to the heavens, at least that’s what they wish,
Or want, or need, who knows with the way we see things.
Who cares if a child starves, or if his mother is taken away?
The Americans don’t, because that is the American way.

[billy]

the trouble with playing on thing off another is the fact you'll probably be comparing apples and oranges. which i think is the case here. i'd say make it about starvation without the gay thing, many gay people give to such causes, as do many governments that discuss the gay questions.

as to the writing; the first line has redundancy in it and would read better as;
hi checo

The American way could be considered gay
or simply
The American way is gay

still it doesn't really lend anything to the crux of the poem.

The American way could be considered something gay
While all of the homophobes and homosexuals argue
About “what is right?” the slaves in 3rd world countries
Proceed to take flight to the heavens, at least that’s what they wish,
Or want, or need, who knows with the way we see things.
Who cares if a child starves, or if his mother is taken away?
The Americans don’t, because that is the American way.

[checo456]

I appreciate the criticism, this is the first poem I've written.

[Truerenigma]

I don't understand this poem. What does homophobic people arguing over "what is right" for Americans have to do with the problems in the rest of the world?

Saying the american way could be considered gay and then mentioning homosexuals in the next line makes it confusing as to what the author means by "gay".

The poem implies that the author has an aversion to homosexuals, as well as homophobic people, which can be construed as hypocritical.

The poem generally suggests in an abstract way that all Americans ( especially the homosexuals and homophobic people) are directly responsible for the state of third world living, and wish everyone in every third world county would just die already, or (maybe) that it's the slaves who are wishing for death, again, confusing.

The "we" in line 5 suggests that the author is either one of these awful Americans and has the same wrong way of thinking that is being criticized, again hypocritical, or is one of the third world slaves (and the reader has no idea which one).

It really just seams like generalized hate (or even self loathing) of America, without any real justification. There is no (specific) mentioning of any crimes that the Americans are committing against these third world countries, or which Americans are responsible (unless maybe it's the homosexuals and homophobic people) aside from just not caring, but it's a bit general, implying that not a single American cares at all, which is presumptuous, and quite frankly, ridiculous.

Or perhaps this is a poem by an American, celebrating America's aloofness? Either way...confusing..

[serge gurkski]

I understand this poem and that is why I follow Billy's understanding of this poem because from my understanding of this poem it neccessarily follows logically that I can't but follow Billy's understanding of this poem.

I mean: that goes without saying, does it not?

If you understand what I am saying.

Besides this hardly disputable matter of fact, I appreciate the mentioning of gay people because they definitely need suppport.

I also want to save the world but in order to start saving it I would have to start saving money that I usually use to save for Rum 54 because imbibing aforementioned golden-brown liquid makes me feel safe. Or at least a teeny-weeny li'l bit safer.