THE AMERICAN WAY
     Athletes using women and children to practice their "hits,"
The better to be able to concuss an opponent's brain?
     Deflated pigskin, not enough to kick New England out of Super Bowl 49,
Why do fans stand for this and not show disdain? 

     Because the NFL, our most popular sport, represents "who we are,"
Violence used to assert power and achieve cultural bliss,
     Betting the reward outweighs the risk, do "whatever," knowing if caught,
Any penalties, if incurred, will be sealed with a kiss. 

     Campus rapes, sexual assault in the military, hush-hush, consequences comic,
Unarmed Black males killed by white cops, the "rule of law" allows to go free,
     The Federal Government bails out institutions "too big to fail," but their imprudence continues,
Fines for infractions regarded as a mere "cost of doing business" fee. 

     Iraq. EITs. Bush 43 & Company convinced with convoluted cognition,
No wonder this behavior persists, it's top down and exists as a matter of course,
     Accepted everywhere like AMEX, viewed as the VISA to success,
No sustained outrage...no one with the balls to stand up for integrity to enforce. 

     The aptly named Patriots got to Phoenix the American Way,
Relanguaged cheating has no consequences and no blame,
     What's that old saying that must be turning over in its grave?
'It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."

Karen Ann DeLuca