November 31st

I watched a docu-something on the telly with my wife;
First part at least, but it was bad, though not the worst in life;
They tried to give portrayal of “mankind” throughout the years,
And speculated, from accepted truth quite often veered.

Their privilege, I guess, but I see now just how it looks,
When I play fast-and-loose with “given truth” here in my books;
Folks get upset and toss it out, ticked off with what I say;
I think that is quite typical in books put out today.

The question which I ask myself – “What bias do they show?”
I listen for accepted truth in parts of it I know,
To see just how they handle it within a given range,
Of platitudes – of far-out stuff – of stuff that’s really strange.

If once or twice they push the truth I ask, “Are both the same?”
“Agenda do they press throughout, not giving it a name?”
“On looking back, how do I feel about their history?”
“Are they in range, or out to lunch, as far as I can see?”

It always helps if it is known ahead, “They biased are”,
That I can factor all that in, and then they do not jar
My sense of, “That is not quite right”; “That’s wrong”; “They’re out to lunch”,
Which lets the film or book speak on, delivering its punch.

What I don’t like is bias, unacknowledged when it’s known;
That’s propaganda masquerading as historic tome;
There is a range which is allowed (for humans varied are);
That’s not the same as twisting truth – which goes a bit too far.

The TR’s have a point – that one can say ’bout anything,
So long as it’s back-up-able, as evidence we bring;
A spin on truth is fine, but truth that’s known must lie as well
Alongside what we also see as storied-facts we tell.

In docu-dramas of today, the flavor of the day
Has cameo appearances of aspects which are gay;
And God as myth of bygone age before our science ways;
And Bible as just all made up while in the exile days.

There’s other stuff of course, but in the film we saw last night,
It was the third of these they shared as if they’d seen the light;
Not sure as yet just who they are, and what they stand to gain,
To have their views accepted, or slipped by us in the main.

For if they’re out to strut their smarts, “See, we’re not into faith;
Just facts, that is enough for one to live in any case”,
They fail to see (or state at least), that is a faith as well;
For no-one knows – it’s mystery – the place from which we tell –

Our stories of the past; our spin; what makes most sense to us;
It gives a structure to our thought, reduces inner fuss;
But it’s still faith, not knowledge, 50-50, don’t you see?
The parts of life we do not know are held as one’s belief.

But that’s not what concerns me here – the flag that’s up for me
Is attitudes towards the Jews, slipped in as “history”;
For that’s a ploy quite ancient in the annals of mankind –
“Predate your outlook; state as fact; to shift the modern mind”.

Take squabble in the Middle East twix Arabs and the Jews:
It’s flared in Gaza once again, as we see in the news;
Some Arabs like to set aside past gift of Promise Land,
By God to Jews – discount it with, “It’s myth, you understand”.

To me, that’s “special pleading” said to sell a point of view;
It’s hidden from the rest of us, passed off as if it’s a new;
When all it is, is argument spilled over to our lives,
For purpose other than is given – to me that counts as lies.

To me that’s like what bosses say when staff have been let go –
The rhetoric flows fast and free, but truth they will not show;
A spin on life which phony is, just like “three dollar bill”,
Which we all know cannot be used – a sugar-coated pill.

So I’ve decided, on my own, to drop December first,
And add it to the month before, as marker for the worst
Which we all think, and say, and do, to spin such fantasies –
“November thirty-first” it is – stand-in for such as these.

Same day it is, just label’s changed – why not? For that’s my spin;
It has no bearing on the truth, except a point to win,
That bosses’ stories are just yarns, and nation-state’s are too;
Let’s laugh about what’s going on, and state, “We are not fooled”.

Thus, once a year, just as we shift to colder winter days,
When things are tough, and tempers short, we have a date which says,
“It’s all baloney, but we’ll let you call it as you like;
To me November thirty-first’s for truth that’s out of sight.

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