It’s in the Charter, article one,
afforded to all or else its undone
To Self-Determine is a human right.
For it we struggle, for it, we fight.
The use of the name is not a cheap utility
It’s A badge of honor, brings much responsibility
In defending rights, there’s no pick and choose,
rights are for all, so let’s stop the ruse
For seventy years you’ve carried our sign
claiming our values but not Palestine
You’ve watched and stood frozen while so many died,
Your silence complicit in true genocide
You’ve screamed to the rooftops about worldly oppression
and in one mighty voice denounced all repression
All the while still carrying our sign
claiming our values but not Palestine
You’ve Abetted ethnic cleansing of an indigenous people,
robbed a land sacred to temple, mosque, and steeple
The Spoken TRUTH serves to refute your claim
If Palestine’s omitted please don’t use our name
A Human Rights Defender must walk a straight line,
claiming our values and yes Palestine
– Rev. Stephens Brackens Brinkley is a San Diego-based advocate and human rights activist for unarmed civilians living under armed conflict. He contributed this poem to The Palestine Chronicle.
