This poem, no it’s not a poem. It is more like a rendering of word. It is about Saddam’s killing fields of 1992. He rained hell upon his own kind as a weight of revenge against the Shia. George HW Bush called upon the Shia majority, to rise up and rid themselves of this “brutal dictator”. (So, that’s where little Georgie jr got that!). The Shia rose up, and the price they paid was horrific! He dammed the Euphradies, and poisoned the water. The tanks rolled into Kurbulah. The United States chose not to enter Iraq after the Kuwait, Desert Storm! After Desert Storm,
The death toll of Saddam’s killing fields stood at 300,000, or more. Our innocent deaths stand at between 100,000 (our Pentagon estimate), to 600,000 (Amnesty International’s estimate). Most collateral deaths are children, who die from diarrhea and lack of water. 175,00 children died from Desert Storm as a result of bombing and sanctions.
Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Colin Powell all opposed going into Iraq. In 1993, what they said then is, eerily, accurate to what is happening today in Iraq! Only now, it is our war, it is our massacre, it is our killing field.

so low my song, so high my heart.

Amongst the buried brain cells, falls the note
with lonely hand I remember

would I cry for Jesus, I would.
will I weep for the people, I will.
do I shame for my nation, I do

inside Kurbulah, after our leave,
blood rinses with tears in the streets
the holy places reap with revenge
as the unholy come to bury all life

even dead imams die again
great learning centers fall
they had stood for thousands
all died in one horrible day
in a rumble of holocaust’s guns

I live in my brain, I am a soul, I am a man
who does not understand the use of war
why do men do this?
what purpose does it serve?
are we so callous, so unmatched, that we kill?
will war ever die? will this ever cease?

the cause of love is no match for one death
Nazzaria dies with the poisoned water
people end from the dams of Eufradies
what water there was, dried to snad
the water that still ran, was deadly
so, to some, what we do is blessed
to others, what we do is evil

our name is written in blood and bombs
the hope that death ceases, ceases
for we have killed the very people we meant to save
from the evil Qual et Sahli is destroyed
the man who walks the ‘garden’, peels his skin
rakes his head of bone and skin
drills holes in the skull
and brings the air to a bone-melting shame

the killing fields still are,
the poor can not get out of the way,
the lie is still alive, in the eyes of the people
they will not last this last day!
would I cry for the loving, and peaceful Rabbi, yes I would
will I weep for the sad-eyed people, yes I will
do I mourn the shame of my nation, yes I do
for I see the chemicals fall upon them, once again
this time, it is us who do this

a woman is welded to the baby in her arms
a silent cry from the days of death
the concrete in Fallujah falls, dust blows away,
water turns black with bones from the Ox
nothing can mince the harm from our eyes
yet there is no possible road to block the reign
friends break the trust to line the purse
the war machine rebuilds, in a cynical buy
for the poor of the marshes mean nothing
to a world bent on the making of wealth

I admit to being old, hey it’s a rite of passage! But where’s my car damn it? Well, as it turned out, it was there! I went out to get in my car and go to work at the VFW. No car, anywhere! I called all of my children, they didn’t have it. I called my wife, nope! She said we’d better report it stolen. I didn’t want to do that until I had exhausted all notions of its possible whereabouts.
At three o’clock that afternoon, we called the police and reported it missing in action. The police were quite polite when I referred to my brain as “somewhat scattered” (I even wiggled my fingers over my head!). I think they knew what they were dealing with anyway. I was wearing yesterday’s tee shirt, a pair of shabby jeans shorts, and slipper moccasins. All I was missing were the obligatory, Disneyland, black socks! They took down all the pertinent information and began their search for the missing 2000 Toyota Camry, with a Doobie Brothers bumper sticker. That alone, should have warned them that they were dealing with a dubious Doobie Brother. Five minutes later (5 minutes!) They called and said they thought they had found my car at the Hy-Vee Food Store parking lot. I knew immediately, that I had let a humongous brain fart! There it was, right where I had parked it. I had forgotten I drove it, and walked the block and a half home, leaving my baby alone, to spend the night in the cold cruel parking lot. Man, was she pissed (the car, not my wife!).
I won’t be calling the police in the near future, even if my family are held hostage by some neo-fascist goons! They don’t like my politics, or my moccasin slippers! (I am regarded as a revolutionary rebel at the Senior Center!). Last night my Toyota was missing again. My wife informed me that my son used to go to Gulfport (Sin City) to watch the lap-dancers perform. Sure son, don’t take your Father! Take my car, and leave me the hell home, damn it!
Getting old is not “golden”; it’s confusing, and tiresome! So you young people, don’t do it!

I was going to try humor on this. But, the more I got into what has endangered our nation since 1913, I found humor lacking. The Federal reserve was created in 1913, appropriately, on Jeckyl Island, off the coast of New York. There is no “Federal” in the Federal Reserve. It is own by big, powerful, private bankers, and designed to shovel profit into their pockets. What they’re shoveling is our money! As President Wilson said : “I have, unwittingly, destroyed my country”. He was speaking of the creation of the Federal Reserve, in 1913.
I am sorry for this terrible seriousness, but I am serious, almost! Hey, I’m just a country cluck from Iowa! So, let’s begin.
-“Quit throwing the Constitution at me! It’s a goddamn piece of paper!”-George W. Bush, discussing The Patriot Act with congressional leaders.

The independent, minimal man’s manifesto-Joseph H. Coleman

We are Americans! We, as citizens of this country, are the Power! We are not separated by any
color, sex, religion, or crime. (Hey, prisoners are people too!) We are not put away because of wealth. We are humans of this world, separated by a imaged boundary, but replete with a responsibility to do no harm to another.
But the Power has been jerked from our hands by a few greedy, money-changers; we have been bilked by the politicians, who do more holding their hand out, than giving us a hand! During her worst hours, my nation has been, continually, harmed by the “Powers”. And since I will do anything in my power to save her, I have decided to cover all possible bases, on my way home, and run for the highest office in this land! I do this, not for notoriety, for I seek none. I do this not for the Power of the office, for I want none. I do it not do this for the money, for I have none, and need none.
“How much, Benny? $400,000.00! No shit?” I ponder the real implications of this act. “God, I don’t need that much money to live. I’ll just take oh, $75,000. Put the rest back in the coffee can! Heck, I can put in a deck now!”

I, as an independent, have no political party. I do not need one penny of contribution, from any person, to express the love I have for the people of this great land. I AM my party, and that’s the way I think everyone should be! My people are not royalty, nor are they any longer slaves. My people are not fit for an Angel’s wings, nor are they corrupted. They go to work every day, they grumble about the world coming apart. They have done this since Adam! They may anger at the futility of their government, but they would lay on a razor for every person, and every moral instinct that anyone dares try to take away from them. They are that visionary, vast, man, whose love for his family, the American people, goes far beyond mere taxation, he suffers. He will object, but you’d better give him reason not to, he may complain because you’ve taken from him, but he will hold silent if it means his nation, and her people, are safe, and sane!

My people are “the people”. They are minimal people, who may be poor, may be uncomfortable at times, may be wise, they might be a bit feeble like me, they are morally spiritual, but seek to hold their religion close to their own secret soul. They never invade the space of another without invitation. They confront none without evidence, and none may ever crime them without loud interference! My people are independent! This is independent, a verb, not a noun! This independence allows a person space, to judge those who seek to represent him, and he is never shackled by a grievance of loyalty to any such parties. Parties are for people who want to raise a little hell! They want to drink a little beer, dance their ass off! Politically, I am a free man, I am this vast man, this minimal man!

So what would I do, as an independent, about the moral crash of my country’s hard drive?

Even more important than number 1, I would institute a “man on the Moon” effort to find viable energy sources, to get this country away from Petroleum. This would be an everyday, massive, nationwide effort! It would not terminate every four years; it stays until Petroleum is dead!

1. There is no law, in America, that says people have to pay income taxes! “Your income is your property,” as Aaron Russo says! I would initiate a law suit on behalf of the American people, to do away with the income tax, and the IRS! There would be no call, for the government, to reimburse the people. The result would take affect January 1, the following year.
“Nothing will help you!” said one person to an IRS defendant, about the income tax!
“Profits of gain and not on wages earned for their labor”-Supreme Court ruling against the income tax. Your wages are your property! Period! The profit is gained by the Company (Power), and not your labor. You earn it, you keep it!

2. I would reinstate Posse Comitatus”. The local civilian population will be secured, only, by its own police force. All local, military-type forces will be abandoned from the citizen streets of America! Since every state already has a “well-regulated militia”, those entities will handle all local disputes, or emergencies.

3. The country’s administrative, or congressional, representation will be voluntary. Government will give subsistence, food, and shelter to all congressional representatives. They will be paid a symbolic sum for their love, and dedication. This way, perhaps, the more enlightened electorate, instead of some lobbying machine, will choose a man, or woman, for their own dedicated merit, and not those prejudices that color the palette of an election with the chrome of the wealthy. A very nominal sum will be granted, by the individual state, to each representative’s monthly, social security benefit. Representatives will reside in their own states, by and large. Washington DC will be for major votes, meetings, and conferences. (The notion to move the Capitol to Kansas City, Missouri will be expressed by me.)

4. The individual states will be granted all voices concerning their own people’s well-being. The states will decide on all issues concerning its citizens, not the federal government. The state will, through proper election, decide which moral and political rights it grants to its citizens.

5. Bring all military soldiers home from foreign lands. As soon as treaties, and previous motives are completed, they will come to their homes. On an entry month basis, they will be assigned, as soon as construction, and administrative processes are fulfilled, to man, and patrol, the exposed borders of the United States. Each States’ National Guard will be manned by regular military personnel.

6. I will sign a presidential directive ( Hell, Bush did it; so can I!) legalizing prostitution, and marijuana products.
A. This will allow police forces to concentrated on real evil in the land.
B. These new businesses will be constantly-monitored for medical, and business reasons, and will be taxed for any profit, accordingly.

7. Business Taxes will be lowered, by a percentage granted by the government. However to qualify, they must hire American workers. That means any business entity will be freed of a portion of their federal taxes as long as they hire Americans only, for any, and all, of their purposes-no foreign employees in marketing, sales, producing product, and corporate offices!

8. ALL issues of State and security, directly affecting the lives and well-being of the people, will be decided by the electorate. Example: If the president wants to wire-tap Americans, they vote on it because they are giving up valuable individual rights! If a president seeks to go to war, the electorate will vote on it! However, if a state of war is elected, and if the individual states have passed such a provision as to give the soldier a choice to recruit, they may be exempt from any war.
A. If there is ever a necessity for a draft, NO ELIGIBLE AMERICAN WILL BE EXEMPT!

9. Election of the president will be an eight week process. During this eight week time, no political ads will be allowed on television. The country will be divided into six regions. During the first week, one candidate from each state will be selected to run for the highest office in the land. A state may abstain from electing a candidate. During the second week, one candidate from each region will be selected. The last four weeks, the six candidates will participate in a series of practical debates. Television networks will be required to provide either the time, or the money, to operate four free time debates. They will cover social issues, foreign policy, direction, and vison of the future.

The Federal government will be this small, non-intrusive, manageable entity, dedicated to the hope and security of its citizens.
I do this for the vast independents of America, the minimal men, women, who have seen their treasure, and voices severely silenced.

I know I’ll be elected. On the second day, I’ll be assassinated! Oh well, it was worth a try!