I already submitted response for this weeks blog prompt but I didn’t fully go in to the intricacy of the poem Enemies. This is going to be a bit informal and just me generally discussing the poem and it’s meaning.

For those of you who didn’t read it, you definitely should, it’s a banger. It’s message is as relevant as ever. Essentially, it speaks on having those that oppose you, those you view as the ‘other’ and how you truly do not know them. You call them evil, trifling and things worst than that but by doing so, you become the same thing. Instead of trying to heal, you hurt, thus creating a larger rift between you and them. 

Enemies can’t be spelled without in and me’s. You have to look inward before you can judge others. Do you even know what you truly believe in. I’m talking about your thoughts when you separate yourself from peer thinking and those who think like you. What happens when you get new, different information? Me’s being in the word enemies is truly big to me. (I do poetry myself so digging into words is kinda my thing.) In a world built on dividing people, we have more in common then we like to admit. Even on a genetic level, the difference between us all is minute, despite race or ethnicity (race is socially built).  Instead of quickly calling someone an enemy or the other, context is something that has to be thought about. Additionally, we as people are faceted in many fronts, one topic can’t define anyone.  Another way to look at the me’s is to think of your role in a situation. What are somethings that I’m doing wrong? How can I make a situation better?

All in all the poem made me think about cancel culture and the thin line it’s crossed. Don’t get me wrong, some people need to be addressed for the wrongs they’ve done but just putting them away isn’t always granted. Additionally, no one is really learning from what goes on. Person x and be grouped with people Y and Z. Mob mentality can takeover and people don’t even do their own research. It’s a complicated situation that has been treated rather simply. We can teach people to be better and hold them accountable for their actions. Questions are out and about with cancel culture. How long someone should be cancelled? Who deserves to be cancelled? How can we ensure this act can’t occur again? Can a person be redeemed in any manner? People speak generally but don’t think about the situation objectively. What if it was you? Someone you cared about? Would you give them a chance? Would you want a chance? Just things to think about. Not every situation can be treated the same way. Thanks for reading!