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i knew from a young age
never to trust the american government.

blame it on an idealistic father
poking holes in a capitalist system
to which he brought me,
only to be made to feel shame for needing to assimilate.

blame it on witnessing the blowback
effects of a failed coup in 1953
on the streets of tehran, at the age of four.

blame it on knowing who to be
in the games of cowboys and indians,
blacks and whites
haves and have nots.

in third grade,
i refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance
because under god felt like a threat.

i knew from a young age
never to trust the american government.
and it has not done one thing since
to change my mind.