Are You Listening?

Intern
St. Pauls School of YouTheology
June 10, 2011

Are you listening now? Do we have your attention?
The blood of nations is being spilled at your feet,
But all you see is the danger to your expensive Italian shoes.
No more blindness. Lift the veil.
Take out the earplugs, lords and ladies,
Because we will no longer be silent.
We, your children, the products of many great nations,
We’ve seen the oppression, the injustice,
The constant daily violence, and we’ve heard
Your response. The silence.
We refuse to be pushed aside because of our youth.
We refuse to step back and let the adults handle it.
We refuse to remain silent.
We demand the right to be heard, to make a change.
There are babies without mothers, families going hungry
Innocent people being shot down simply for walking down the wrong sidewalk
Those institutions set up to help, help only themselves.
Those in positions of power do nothing, because they’re
Comfortable inside their solid-gold blinders.
We can change this. We must change this.
We are youth and we know injustice when we see it.
We know violence.
Are you listening now?
Because we won’t be silent anymore.