The pen is mightier than the Sword!

The pen is mightier than the sword!

The attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo, was an attack on freedom of speech, and freedom of expression, cried the French; and rightly so as the hypocrisy of the extremists was on full display.

They happily spread their propaganda of violence and hate, as politicians of so called democracies around the world, and the odd (and I do mean ODD    ) media mogul jump on the “outrage” bandwagon to suit their own agendas.   😯

However, the biggest hypocrisy, IMHO, is when in a country like Australia – that joined the chorus of outrage – at the start of a state election campaign, a man can be arrested for wearing a Tee shirt sporting the slogan “I’m with Stupid”?   WTF?   😯

Then there’s Murdoch screaming “Freedom of the press” every time someone talks of “Media reform”, yet the freedom he speaks of is not freedom of speech, or freedom of expression, but rather the freedom of his press to mislead, outright lie, and to push his own right wing political and ideological agenda, based solely on his own self interests of money and power!   😈

There was though one truism that rang loud and clear as the rallies across France and the world took place, and prompted me to write this somewhat cautionary tale in verse.

And that truism is;

The pen is mightier than the sword!

 

The pen is mightier than the sword?

Scoffed the warrior to the scribe

You really must be joking

Was the warriors friendly jibe

The sword is such a weapon

With its edges sharp and clean

It can separate the boys from men

And you can see just where it’s been

😯

But the pen’s also a weapon

Said the scribe with some disdain

For the underlying violence

That is the warriors game

On fitness you’re a specimen

Of strength you’re unsurpassed

Yet when it comes to diplomacy

You’re stone cold, motherless last

😉

You can hack and slash, and amputate

You can threaten and cajole

You can beat into submission

And be a right arsehole

You can wave your sword around your head

And fight until you’re silly

But the truth is that your sword is just

An extension of your willy

😯

But the pen is so much mightier

With the stories it can tell

Of heroes and of heroines

Of heaven and of hell

It can stir up such emotion

It can play on peoples fears

It can bring us fits of laughter

Or reduce us all to tears

😥

It can tell of glorious battles

And the hopelessness of war

It can write an epic quite sublime

And still do so much more

It can change the very fabric

Of societies that we share

It can stir up hate or sell a lie

When the writer doesn’t care

😯

It can paint a pretty picture

Stir up passions for a cause

It can draw cartoons of satire

That can give our thoughts some pause

It can write romantic love songs

Warm a heart that’s far from home

It can lead you to some treasure

And it can guide you when you roam

😉

So you see the pen is mightier

And mightier by far

Than the greatest sword of legend

Wielded by a warrior star

The sword might win a battle

And the warrior great praise

But they’re both the tools of the powers that be

That started the malaise

👿

So there’s great responsibility

On those that wield the pen

Cos the propaganda merchants

Can turn the heads of men

Convince them that their lies are true

And tell them what to think

Leading them to poisoned wells

And making sure they drink

😥

And you think you have the power

And one on one you might

But the warrior is just a tool

To fight another’s fight

And the sword is just a weapon

And a fighting metaphor

But a pen can sign a peace treaty

Or start… a blood war!

😦