WHITEWASH

Some say it is whitewashing

“speaketh no ill of the dead”

niceifying history, preserving nationalist prejudices and delusions;

perpetuating a conditional repertoire, 

obliterating personal accountability

brain-bending  new generations

and keeping tribal records pure.

Others say bring it on, bring up the filth

explore the collective psyche

excavate every individual horror 

or private tragedy that stains the Past.

For we each belong to each 

- are super-interconnected;

and learn from it -  teach us truth!

Even if it is the stuff to make stories out of:

salutary classroom material to make money out of:

entertaining drama, projected thrills

or feeding self-righteous judgement.

And yet others sit on the fence,

turn the cheek - whose to speak?

Don’t want to know uncomfortable facts 

or hear second hand tales,

Indulge in gossip or bias, 

preferring  to stay innocent - called ignorant.

They maintain we are all tainted: 

there but for God's Grace go I

and that, mercifully we may evolve

or somehow be forgiven, balance things out.

The existential point - work/fun - being

to be present, Now.

Thus, by some cosmic anomaly

we can freely choose any of the above, each minute as it comes 

- and therefore their consequences.

Some say.