it's an old story
at first
they seem ridiculous
the big egos
the bad ideas
some of them seem almost comical
not here the people say
yet men like these find their following
because they know how to use hate and
fear
fear of foreigners
immigrants and minorities
of jews muslims christians
they dismiss the experts
demonize the press
promise they alone can deliver better
lives and brighter futures
if they could only be rid of the
obstacles to that power
eventually
enough people buy it
they hand the fate of their nations over
to mad men
but then suddenly
it's not so funny
the military deploys on the streets to
protect the leader
names appear on enemy lists
opposition voices are silenced or
imprisoned
the leader promises the right bloodlines
will survive and the wrong ones
will be purged
it's an old story
one that could never happen here
the very idea is ridiculous
almost comical there's no one dividing
us no one telling us who to hate who to
put in cages no one demonizing the press
dismissing the experts
no would-be savior claiming he alone can
fix our problems if only the obstacles to power
are removed
no one singling out the other telling us
what should become of them
no enemy lists no threats of imprisonment
no one lashing out when their ego is threatened
demanding absolute loyalty and using the
military to control the streets
no
it can't happen
not here
we know too well how it begins
and it's always been up to us
how it ends
