Adam Rabinowitz

Safe Space

by Adam Rabinowitz

Monday 26th August 2019 2:23 am

Words have power

this is what we need

I say words have power

this is what we need

we need

remeaning microaffections to fight

demeaning microaggressions

attention not detention

inclusion not confusion

acceptance at the school dance

because whomever you are

you are a star

with a seat at the table

you will go far

I can't find hate on the flip side of any coin…

just in God we Trust... humm

and E Pluribis Unum…

faith and plurality

should be a loving duality

not a vitriolic tragedy

of ignorance and parody

so to make sure that I

for you have safe space

regardless of label gender creed or race

it won't matter what I say when you leave

just so when you show my hearts on my sleeve

so you know that my room is where truth is spoke

no need to hide faces in hoodie or cloak

no need to pretend one normal is all

no need to shrink in halls gainst the wall

cause who you are, how you feel

who you love, is a really big deal

but not so others can judge or shame

just so you can proudly proclaim...

that your truth and your heart

speaks and beats just the same

as everyone else's

no matter their name

no matter their "popularity" or "fame"

and definitely no matter whatever bias they claim...

that your truth and your heart

speaks and beats just the same

Words have power

this is what we need

I say words have power

this is what we need.

🌷 (5)

◄ Sound of Rain

If Pessimistically Hopeful ►

Comments

Ken

Tue 27th Aug 2019 00:25

Fight the good fight...nice arrangement of words!

afishamongmany

Mon 26th Aug 2019 16:29

Adam- thanks for your fulsome reply. Nothing in what you have said there that I disagree with. Which, of course, doesn't mean that there isn't any more to be said. But hey back to the poetry ? ><>

Adam Rabinowitz

Mon 26th Aug 2019 16:25

Thank you Mae for your encouragement. You reference fractions again. I have to challenge that belief ?

Our truths and words speak and breathe just the same....only in different times and places and ages and cultures and ...but there is no comparison only compassion

Adam

Mae Foreman

Mon 26th Aug 2019 16:19

Wow! Formidable! Rolls off the tongue so pleasurably! Loved the repetition of the first quatrain in the end. Love love love repetitions! And your response to the commentators reinforces the might of the poem and makes it even more inspiring. You are a teacher from what I gather? Well, I agree you must be a brilliant one. I only aspire to be half as good as you! Kudos?
Mae

Adam Rabinowitz

Mon 26th Aug 2019 15:58

Thank you all for reading and replying. That is a great question you're asking Afish. Typically I am more an asker of questions than I am a challenger of beliefs. There are a great number of beliefs, probably all, which should be challenged. But the way that they should be challenged, there an entire universe of respect and compassion comes into play, especially if these are beliefs an adolescent holds about themselves. I also always have to examine my own agenda in challenging someone's beliefs. If they believe that one adds denominator when multiplying fractions...then it is easy...my agenda is to increase the depth of their understanding of taking a part of a part. If their belief is that they are unworthy or stupid or ugly or....my agenda would be to comfort and build esteem. If their truth were that they were better than someone else based upon an implicit or explicit bias than I would challenge that based upon my beliefs of no one being better than anyone else (obviously there are talents that people have that others do not to the same extent but not referring to that really). So, yes...not all truths are equal but to a young person the truths they have about their identity should not be truths which are used against them by anyone or any institution. I think this is what I think and I tank you for challenging me so that I could attempt to clarify and in so doing realize again how complex is truth and belief.

afishamongmany

Mon 26th Aug 2019 15:36

An impassioned, poetic declaration Adam. Yes too true, words have power.
But ? are all - truths - equally valid? Is a person's -truth- never to be challenged? With young people specially, when their -truths- are still being formed, how important that they are give guidance in how to tell the difference between truth and lie.
Bon courage as you get back onto the front-line.
><>

<Deleted User> (17847)

Mon 26th Aug 2019 13:44

I,m assuming Adam, that in your particular profession, the best way to tackle any Teacher to pupil misunderstandings is along the lines of what you are more or less saying, connect to their wavelengths while not forgetting to inject a reasonable amount of humour into the proceedings, methinks?

I enjoyed the long poetic ride. Cheers!

<Deleted User> (22444)

Mon 26th Aug 2019 11:31

Wonderful Adam, I'll bet you are an awesome teacher.

Devon Brock

Mon 26th Aug 2019 11:16

America's future is in your hands once again, Adam. Now that is activism. Shaping minds in their formative years to love, respect, include and accept is challenging work against the barrage of cultural dysfunction. Godspeed.

D

Adam Rabinowitz

Mon 26th Aug 2019 02:25

Getting ready for school to start again and after about 30 years of teaching...most with adolescents...i know that my only hope for success is to demonstrate that I am indeed an Ally, no matter what.

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