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Like Father, like SonBy Rob Diaz-MarinoAs the father passes along his feeling of hatred toward other nationalities, The young son smiles and laughs. In time, he is able to add on A couple of criticisms of his own, No matter how simple and ill-thought they may be. As the son grows older, He continues to laugh about his father's generalizations, But gradually, perhaps, this laughter becomes more out of embarrassment Than out of true hatred toward these people. He begins to acknowledge That there is something terribly wrong with his father's reasoning. The father continues his cursing, Enjoying the mutual enemy that he has created For him and his son. It gives them A certain camaraderie, As do all people feel when united against a foe. But these people who are discriminated against Are not the antagonists. All they want to do is live Without being criticized or judged By their skin color, Or any other petty, yet visible difference That make bigots hate and fear them, Or form a negative opinion of them before the racist Even knows who they are. And one day, when the son is grown up, And the father, searching for a scapegoat Attacks, physically or verbally, one of these innocent people, Either the son is there To stay his hand Or to lend him one. We can only pray the boy has chosen sensibly, And escaped the potentially dangerous cycle: "Like Father, like Son". |
© 2000 Rob Diaz-Marino. All rights reserved. |