The Rhymes of History: A Poem to Protect Section 504 by Opal Besaw скачать в хорошем качестве

The Rhymes of History: A Poem to Protect Section 504 by Opal Besaw

To those that say the past is past To those that say we're living in brand new times I'll caution you: History doesn't repeat itself But it very often rhymes You are a kindergartner With a very bright future ahead of you You like school So much that you want to become a teacher But one day, you are physically barred from entering the building How do you feel? Disappointed, outraged, downtrodden, and confused Your 5 year old self does not know those words But you do know know it makes you feel sick When the principal calls you a fire hazard You are a young businessman Proud to be earning a living and contributing to your society You are proud of your corner office And your handsome paycheck Every day you have to crawl up 83 stairs on your hands and knees To reach that corner office and earn that handsome paycheck How do you feel? Humiliated, exhausted, sore and angry But you still go to work Because your job feels important How do you feel when you learn that these stories are true? Disgusted, sickened, ambivalent, unbothered, or confused How do you feel when you learn that the protagonists Are members of the largest minority in the world… People with disabilities Does your opinion change? How do you feel now? What will you do? Will you fight? Throughout history people with disabilities have fought every day Living through times when our mere existence was resistance And then, in 1973, there came a glimmer of hope, called Section 504 A single sentence Which told us our oppression was illegal But such sentences can be tricky And the truth can turn into lies They say an unjust law is no law at all The same is true of a righteous law which goes unenforced For four years our people waited to be shown that we mattered And then we said we would wait no more And there came a kind of peace And there came a kind of unity When 200 people of all races, abilities, religions and sexualities Entered a federal building And did not come out for 26 days And there came a different kind of hope Not one built of false promises Burning bright and fading like the tail of a comet But one built of power and advocacy For advocacy is an eternal flame, Just when you think the light has died There is always a small spark A spark that kept them going as they signed out the window Asking for supplies and support A spark that kept them going as they woke up to check for bed sores From too many nights of having slept on the floor A spark that kept them going as the hunger strike entered its 23rd day Because this cause was more important than food A spark that kept them going as they sat in the back of a darkened moving van On their way to Washington DC And sang Amazing Grace with one united voice A spark that kept them going as they sat in a hearing And with quaking voices made the following demand, “We want the law enforced. We want no more segregation. We will accept no more discussion of segregation.” A spark that ignited into a joyous blaze On April 28th, 1977 When they secured the rights of people with disabilities For generations to come Nearly 50 years later we continue carrying the torch of those original 200 activists But there are those who wish to douse the light of 504 Because it is too brilliant So once again we gather Because now is the time To get involved, to join the fight, to stop history's terrible rhyme