A Train Going The Wrong Way

A Train Going The Wrong Way
By Al Staggs, Chaplain and Performing Artist

"If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction."

Like a train going the wrong way
Is our war on Iraq.
We Americans are all passengers
On this murderous and maddening journey.
Nothing we can say can change the truth about our ghastly folly.
And there is nothing we can do to change the fact that we are invaders
Who are pillaging a land of its resources
And bringing immeasurable suffering to the citizens of that nation
Who do not want us there.

We are passengers on this train bound for Hell
Yet we delude ourselves that we are combating terrorism,
That we are removing WMDs,
That we are spreading democracy and freedom,
That we are, as Americans, invincible to defeat,
That we will not be judged by history,
That God is on our side,
That if we can just pour enough money and munitions
And send enough of our bravest and finest
We are certain to win, to prevail.

It is the delusion of a passenger who rises from his seat
And walks in a direction opposite from that of the train-
That this gesture will make everything right.

The train began its awful journey in March of 2003
And there is nothing we can do or say
To change or make right what we have done
And what we are continuing to do to Iraq
While squandering our precious resources
That could have been used to bring justice and equality
To citizens of our own land.

And we all bear responsibility for dealing Death
To those who continue to give their lives
For this spurious cause
As well as to those who continue to experience
The horrific effects of our military might.

We are all passengers on the Train to Hell

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