Corruption Marched

spoken word, cinematic documentary, lo-fi dub

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The irony both books whisper is that nobody escaped.

Not the churches.
Not the mosques.
Not the kings.
Not the rebels.
Not the liberals.
Not the conservatives.
Not the nations.
Not the righteous who forgot humility.

Everybody points across the street.

Nobody points at the mirror.

The Bible said:

"Let no corrupt communication proceed from your mouth, but only what builds up."

The Qur'an said:

"Speak to people good words."

Yet the tongues became swords.

Christians cursed Muslims.
Muslims cursed Christians.
Liberals cursed patriots.
Patriots cursed liberals.
The rich cursed the poor.
The poor cursed the rich.

And everyone called it justice.

Proverbs said:

"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger."

The Qur'an answered:

"When the ignorant address them harshly, they say, Peace."

But nobody wanted peace.

Everyone wanted victory.

Everyone wanted to be right.

And pride sat quietly in the middle,
smiling.

Not rainbow pride.

Not nationalist pride.

Not religious pride.

The old pride.

The first pride.

The voice that said:

"I am better."

The voice that destroyed kingdoms.

The voice that split churches.

The voice that radicalized mosques.

The voice that made politicians kings
and kings into fools.

The voice that convinced men
that cruelty was righteousness.

Isaiah warned:

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil."

The Qur'an warned:

"When they are told, 'Do not spread corruption,' they say, 'We are only reformers.' Surely they are the corrupters, though they perceive it not."

And so corruption marched,
wearing the clothes of compassion.

Corruption marched,
wearing the clothes of patriotism.

Corruption marched,
wearing the clothes of religion.

Corruption marched,
wearing the clothes of progress.

And nobody recognized it,
because corruption never introduces itself as corruption.

It always calls itself virtue.

The churches forgot.

The mosques forgot.

The universities forgot.

The governments forgot.

Families forgot.

Men forgot.

Women forgot.

Nations forgot.

And then they forgot that they forgot.

The Bible said:

"By their fruits you shall know them."

The Qur'an said:

"Walk humbly upon the earth, and when the ignorant speak harshly, answer with peace."

But the fruits became bitterness.

Every sentence became an insult.

Every disagreement became hatred.

Every neighbor became an enemy.

And still everyone asked:

"Who ruined the world?"

The prophets answered long ago.

Not them.

Us.

Not the strangers.

Not the tribes.

Not the parties.

Not the flags.

Not the colors.

The disease was older than Rome.

Older than Jerusalem.

Older than Mecca.

The disease was pride.

And pride always speaks the same words.

"I am right."

"I am better."

"They deserve it."

"God is on my side."

Yet both books whisper the same warning:

Be careful.

Because the man screaming in the street
and the man thanking God he isn't like him
may both be kneeling before the same idol.

And history watches.

Patient.

Silent.

Waiting for men to forget again.

Because there is nothing new under the sun.

And there never was.

3116/7500

The irony both books whisper is that nobody escaped. Not the churches. Not the mosques. Not the kings. Not the rebels. Not the liberals. Not the conservatives. Not the nations. Not the righteous who forgot humility. Everybody points across the street. Nobody points at the mirror. The Bible said: "Let no corrupt communication proceed from your mouth, but only what builds up." The Qur'an said: "Speak to people good words." Yet the tongues became swords. Christians cursed Muslims. Muslims cursed Christians. Liberals cursed patriots. Patriots cursed liberals. The rich cursed the poor. The poor cursed the rich. And everyone called it justice. Proverbs said: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger." The Qur'an answered: "When the ignorant address them harshly, they say, Peace." But nobody wanted peace. Everyone wanted victory. Everyone wanted to be right. And pride sat quietly in the middle, smiling. Not rainbow pride. Not nationalist pride. Not religious pride. The old pride. The first pride. The voice that said: "I am better." The voice that destroyed kingdoms. The voice that split churches. The voice that radicalized mosques. The voice that made politicians kings and kings into fools. The voice that convinced men that cruelty was righteousness. Isaiah warned: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil." The Qur'an warned: "When they are told, 'Do not spread corruption,' they say, 'We are only reformers.' Surely they are the corrupters, though they perceive it not." And so corruption marched, wearing the clothes of compassion. Corruption marched, wearing the clothes of patriotism. Corruption marched, wearing the clothes of religion. Corruption marched, wearing the clothes of progress. And nobody recognized it, because corruption never introduces itself as corruption. It always calls itself virtue. The churches forgot. The mosques forgot. The universities forgot. The governments forgot. Families forgot. Men forgot. Women forgot. Nations forgot. And then they forgot that they forgot. The Bible said: "By their fruits you shall know them." The Qur'an said: "Walk humbly upon the earth, and when the ignorant speak harshly, answer with peace." But the fruits became bitterness. Every sentence became an insult. Every disagreement became hatred. Every neighbor became an enemy. And still everyone asked: "Who ruined the world?" The prophets answered long ago. Not them. Us. Not the strangers. Not the tribes. Not the parties. Not the flags. Not the colors. The disease was older than Rome. Older than Jerusalem. Older than Mecca. The disease was pride. And pride always speaks the same words. "I am right." "I am better." "They deserve it." "God is on my side." Yet both books whisper the same warning: Be careful. Because the man screaming in the street and the man thanking God he isn't like him may both be kneeling before the same idol. And history watches. Patient. Silent. Waiting for men to forget again. Because there is nothing new under the sun. And there never was.

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