Collection of artistic expressions of discontent

[Grinkle]

I want to post this poem, and I don't see a good spot for it. Its not really enough for a thread, but maybe folks would like a place to link or post non-humorous protest art, sort a companion thread to @phinds humoristic thread.

We Lived Happily During the War

And when they bombed other people’s houses, we protested but not enough, we opposed them but not enough. I was in my bed, around my bed America was falling: invisible house by invisible house by invisible house. I took a chair outside and watched the sun. In the sixth month of a…

www.poetryfoundation.org

 

[fresh_42]

I hesitate a bit quoting people I hate. Nevertheless, I found quotations that summarize and illustrate the dilemma we live in in our Western societies, and which has to be resolved day by day. Did you have things like this in mind?

The more prohibitions and restrictions the empire has, the more impoverished the people become.

Laotse, ca. 600 BC

Where they burn books, they will eventually burn people as well.

Heinrich Heine, 1823

This will always remain one of the best jokes of democracy: that it provided its mortal enemies with the very means by which it was destroyed. The persecuted leaders of the Nazi Party, as members of parliament, enjoyed immunity, allowances, and free travel. This protected them from police scrutiny, allowed them to say more than ordinary citizens, and, moreover, had their expenses paid by the enemy. Democratic stupidity proved to be an excellent opportunity for profit.

Goebbels, 1935

 

[Klystron]

I hesitate a bit quoting people I hate.

I know whereof you speak. Now in retirement I have been enjoying modern Russian literature in English translations.

"Don't you find those authors antisemitic?", a friend asks.

"Well,", I respond, "I already said Russian!".

Cynical perhaps, but in these times I could say Irish or Korean or American with equal effect. If I had not taken a vow abjuring violence after serving in the Vietnam War, I might wish to throttle the next person who asks "Are you Jewish?" or "Is that a Jewish name?".

 

[OmCheeto]

Does this count?

20260131 Labor Union Protest against ICE

Explore this photo album by Robert Swider on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[Greg Bernhardt]