Poetry

Proper Protocol

Daddy
Yes?

Why are you so angry is the show scary?
No, I’m upset because that country on the news there, has our oil.

Oh. What ‘s wrong with that?
They are threatening to bum the oil fields.

Well if it’s our oil why is it not here where it belongs, where nobody can hurt it?
It’s not as simple as that, dear. But don’t you worry, we’ll get our oil.

How is it our oil if it is in their country?
Because we need it more than they do, sweetie. We have a large economy, and if prices in gas go up, it will take from our hoarding and entertainment funds. We also do not want to lose our reputation for being the richest country, do we?

I guess not, but how will we get the oil?
See all those brave men on TV? They will sabotage the country until they have eliminated the situation.

In other words, kill the bad guy. Won’t others get hurt?
Risks are involved in everything, honey. Sometimes obtaining what you want requires physical force. Giving off a sense of dominance will send a better message that we are not going to lay off until we get things our way.

What if the other country has the same plan, Daddy?
This is the only way to solve the dispute Michelle. You’re asking too many questions now when I’m trying to catch this.Go play with your brother.

Okay.

5 minutes later is a loud scream. The Dad hurries to investigate the commotion.

Michelle! Stop pounding your little brother over the head with that stick, this instant! Go take a time out while you’re at it!

But I had the cookie first!
Well you can share it! What have I told you about fighting with each other? It’s not the way to solve things.

But Daddy, I did exactly what you said! I was obtaining what I wanted through physical force!
-Kim Markham

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