Resisting Apathy

It's odd what happens, when shocking images are paraded before us

Don't get me wrong, initially there's no way they bore us
We feel all the emotions a human should feel

We are shocked and mortified, our sadness is real

Life is depressing, we lose faith in humanity

Questions rise regarding our planet's sanity

Even though we know the validity of these horrors to be correct

We push them to one side and build a disconnect

We don't let ourselves dwell, and move subtly on

Forgetting these kids were all daughters and sons

It would traumatise us, if we were to constantly dwell

On one of those times humanity turned Earth into Hell

And yet, we find the world still spins

We've paid our dues and move on with things

"It's not right, but what do you want us to do?

They've already lost their lives should we lose our minds too?"

We've forgotten, moved on, ready to be shocked the next time

We decide to relearn of humanity's crimes

Relearn how the world became bitter and frayed

Relearn of the sacrifice so many had made

But a similar struggle exists for many today

Even if we stop watching, atrocities don't go away

We still find ourselves far from a united Earth

We've still committing atrocities over resources and turf

It's tough, but you can't let the reaction of apathy tie you down

You can't just walk away, even if you walk wearing a frown

You see, though you walk away, there's millions who were unable

So you ahve to remember this as more than a fable

Avoid hyperbole - remember the trauma that was actually there

It's your duty to do more than briefly show you care

Be aware of what happened, hold it close in your heart as

motivation for those who became unwilling martyrs

Live a life stronger, as a voice for the voiceless

You can make decisions, fate is not choiceless

There is more than just the façade humanity likes to portray

We are not yet at peace, we can fight for that day

History books of the future will tell the present's tale

About how we reacted, and on what scale

Did we take heed? Did we try to learn?

Did we step back to help the world burn?

Or did we take steps we haven't taken before

And say that, finally, we will take this no more

We are more the same than different, all human this day

Let's finally change, and not walk away.

***

This was an old poem I found, reflecting on how we all seem to care about to Holocaust for a couple choice days a year and then forget things. Since it wasn't on here, I wanted to make sure I recorded it (with some very light editing). So, here it is for posterity.