2024 won’t be 1984

Neoliberal Australia Not familiar with the term? Neoliberalism is where the drive of capitalism, to enhance profits, is not just for private businesses to achieve. It is where politicians are motivated to help businesses enhance profits and also where people are motivated to view themselves as profit enhancers to private business. With this worldview, makingContinue reading “2024 won’t be 1984”

Basic Mathematics

1 + 1 = 2Me plus youThis is nothing newWe knew But something’s missingFor you to forceThe issueWhat’s true? You don’t love meWhen I don’t let youHave your way You hate meWhen IHave my say By the way, I’ve been thinkingOf what happenedYesterday I was downDrowningCrying and frowning Never lashed outOrCast you in doubt ButContinue reading “Basic Mathematics”

Contempt

While I wasn’t lookingI learned a new word todayIt popped up in a most unexpected way Still trying to discern the originOf such an unpleasant toneUnawares since I was a child it’s grown ‘We cannot know before we know’I often taught my studentsAnd I now I have the sense Of contemptBrutalColdDetached ContemptMaternalFamilialSocial Still puzzled atContinue reading “Contempt”

Punitive Pedagogy

What is writing? Pedagogically, it is output, a physical expression of analysis and creativity in word. What is creativity? Pedagogically, this depends on how creative the teacher is to whom you pose this question. It also depends upon who asks them, their level of educational integrity, self-awareness, and etc and etc. If you ask me,Continue reading “Punitive Pedagogy”

Whiteout at Te Papa Tongarewa

‘He protected the settlers from the Maori’SettlersInvading Maori landsShowing no respectKeeping no wordBreaking loreBetraying all ‘You see your new homeland for the first time’Which is someone else’s homeWhich you were not invited to visitWhich your government took with lies and violenceYou step ashore ecstatic to be aliveIgnorant of who stepped ashore before ‘The inter-tribal fightingContinue reading “Whiteout at Te Papa Tongarewa”

City

The towers are short and somewhat stubbyThey haven’t the money to build like JapanTowers fingering at the cloudsClouds flowing about the tips of buildings Look out the window!Not gray concrete and icy windowsGreen parks wet with rainAnd the clouds – the sky! – flows by close by. Mount the bike and peddle up the hillWhat’sContinue reading “City”

The Ethics of Silence

What you’re finding with all this side-liningis a dangerous repression ofrealityso stop your crying and just beminding your own business No one likes a cry baby and heywe all got our problems Shut your mouth and play by the rulesthe rulesthe rulesand say nothing scary Climbing outta the gravebeing bravemonsters lurking in your caveterrifyingyou back inContinue reading “The Ethics of Silence”

What’s something most people don’t understand? Themselves