One of my favorite publications is a little, indy magazine called Adbusters. It is also the name of the alt.org that campaigns against consumerism, capitalism, pro-Americanism, war, poverty, globalization, environmental destruction, and other issues it sees as destroying our world and society. Sure it’s got a lefty, crunchy, hippie, alt, disestablishmentarian feel to it, but I like that. Especially since I am generally not these things, especially the hippie part!
As a follower of Jesus who longs to see the world and people restored to the way they were originally intended to be, I can appreciate anyone or any organization who desires the same. Even though we may not see eye-to-eye on the means to that restoration, I can certainly appreciate truth where ever it is found. And Adbusters does have a truthful understanding on the state of our screwed up world. They might use a more colorful word in place of “screwed up”, but we both agree it is and long to see that “screwed up-ness” dealt with.
Enough prologue, now to the point of my post.
I bought the latest issue today, “The Fake Issue” as they named it. Upon quick flip, a poem (I guess that’s what you’d call it, though correct form is not really something this mag is all about…) caught my eye. It is about authenticity. It is a brilliant commentary on our cultural condition and offers a postmodern answer to the desperation and horror of life: honesty and truthfulness from those at the top and in power of our society about the desperate and horrific lives of those out of power at the bottom.
My favorite line may sound familiar to those who follow the teachings of a certain Nazarene Jew: “It’s the two coins donated by a woman on welfare, versus the piles of bills offered by the rich.” Brilliant, brilliant piece; read it below:
Technorati Tags: adbusters, al gore, emily wierenga
Authenticity is
Found in the ironic laugh
Dripping from Al Gore’s patented shoes
Leaking from the diesel tank of David Suzuki’s bus
Oozing from Edward Burtynsky’s photography equipment as he snaps shot after shot
of our manufactured landscape.
Authenticity is
Found in the salty tear
Dripping from a Chinese worker’s eye as she sews together Al Gore‘s shoes
Leaking from the pores of Bangladesh laborers, shipping off diesel for Suzuki’s bus
Oozing from a hungry African girl, crouched in a diamond field, watching Burtynsky
eat a sandwich and photograph her landscape.
Authenticity is the silence that falls on a casket after the final eulogy has been spoken.
It’s a child’s gasp of horror, wonder or surprise as the world unfolds its mysteries, one gasp after another.
It’s the two coins donated by a woman on welfare, versus the piles of bills offered by the rich.
It’s the quiet heartbeat of humanity being dulled by
layer upon later of fast food and greed.
It’s the groan of creation watching itself be stripped bare, unable to be heard.
Authenticity is a word whose definition we no longer understand.
-Emily Wierenga
(from “The Fake Issue” July/August 2007, #72, volume 15, number 4; © 2006 Adbusters)
