Modern Day Racist

Racists hate people who have
A different shade of skin
They access the part of their brain
That says, “He’s not your kin”

This selfish, egotistical
Small corner of their mind
Exists in every one of us
It’s part of all mankind

Only ego can access
This hateful, fearful place
The part that won’t accept someone
Who’s from a different race

“Different” is the key word here
The root of this issue
And it goes much deeper than
Just one’s outer tissue

This same dark corner of the mind
Is accessed when one sees
Someone with a different thought
Someone who disagrees

“I do not like that person ‘cause
They think different from me
They wear a different style of clothes
Or maybe they’re artsy

They use a different way of speech
Or like a different brand
Of music, movies or reading
That I just cannot stand

They work for competition of
The place that pays my bills
Or work for my same company
But they have different skills

I’m in this department here
And they are over there
Their division is one for
Which I just do not care

And then there’s people on my team
Who are too different too
I don’t like them because they don’t
Do things the way I do

I cheer a different sporting team
Than one that they cheer for
Neither of us play the game
But I still feel at war

I can’t believe you voted for
Someone that I don’t back
Anything that’s different is
A personal attack!”

If you’ve been perplexed by one
Who thought different from you
Be aware the area
That you’re wandering to

It’s the same place in your mind
That Klan members have gone
To terrorize the black people
And let their hatred spawn

It’s the same place where Nazis
Wandered when they did kill
Millions of people who weren’t
Able to fit their bill

And it’s the same place that’s accessed
Today as soldiers die
‘Cause the one pulling the trigger
Can’t turn a blind eye

Think about it just a bit
Next time your ego takes
The rest of you to that dark place
For different people’s sakes

                                  Miro