Disability Act Cooper

Almost 125,000 businesses across the Midlands have received

a letter asking them to rethink

how they cater for disabled people

sent by the Department for Work and Pensions

and written by the minister for disabled people, in order to

remind companies about their legal responsibilities

under the Disability Act.

“…all too often, disabled people come up against

businesses that haven’t considered their needs, and so

they take their custom elsewhere.”

Businesses need to recognize that it’s not just about doing the right thing

it’s about being profitable too

it’s about disability discrimination and a profit-oriented health care system

some find it galling.

People think it kind to grant the wish of a severely disabled person who asks us to help them die.

Disability so 'bad' that no 'reasonable' person would want to endure it

aching hands that struggle with the simple, uncontrollable

laughter, babbling soliloquies on the bus, a janitor

government funded idiot or disappearing pain trick

hospital dope for accidents, people who need a prayer line

call into the miracle network

and is it wrong

to lump disability rights’ opposition of assisted death

with that of the Christian right?

They’ve got there own reasons, excuses for missing-

what if nothing can be done about the undignified lives of people with disabilities except to help them die

but God gets in the way; made even the cripples and losers in his liking and now

a Staffordshire church could be closed because of the cost of upgrading to meet the Disability Discrimination Act.
They couldn’t keep carrying a little girl in a wheelchair

up and down the steps

skinny, icky Jackie 5 with the red lips and crooked legs

tears in her smudged eyes when she’d ask

to get out.

Some Staffordshire children teased they’d throw her in the river-

if she survived we’d know she’s faking it.

Godzilla Vs. Jesus Christ

On the last day

Jesus descends on Tokyo

spread arm with rectifying angels

heavenly bound, grace above downtown lights-

Jesus Christ glows fierce with glory

his holy halo is awe-inspired and growing in the

life-size portrait of unconditional love.

But the police got scared

and called in the reserves to fight off

the angels and the blessings of doom-day’s judgment

and they brought in the tanks and flame

throwers and snipers and Jesus Christ grew

into his epitome of forgiveness, love out of hatred and

was soon big enough to step on buildings

so he awakens Godzilla of ancient race,

mutant of atomic science gone wrong

and all the Tokyo citizens watch

as the big lizard impales Jesus Christ and

drags the bloody angels back with him to the sea.

fear is not irrational

question everything

fear is not irrational

it is a natural exploit of your needs, desires
if a tiger walked onto the set

would you not interrupt me?

you see, i am afraid
i've been waiting since 1994 for someone to tell me
that the incarceration of the population has nothing to do with government discord.
i can't get a job in that factory, they work for free but we don't call it slavery
unless i fuck for the guns, kill cops for fun, do what must be done
in those presumptive, perhaps primitive situations
i thought i might die
or cry
which is really just a few steps down

my guts wrench at the thought of collecting numbers and paying for bombs
glorified regimens propagating salvation
god bless america
i am afraid
that some day i may not be able to pay
and then they'll just lock me away
collecting bodies in jails like piggybanks
we are the commodity
forget the gold standard, have you seen these lips
speak words of truth and kiss
these hips giving an essence of an ethereal, eternal, life-giving bliss

all, we've got to prove to them
is that you can't buy everything
so let me show you how i sing
it too can be a little frightening

dissatisfaction could be the greatest asset
for the fact that i want to prove that i can improve
move through growths and inspiration
so i hold my fear dear
and complacency is so very dull.

Dear Mother,

Your women's liberation has failed. As you sit at home
smoking your food stamp cigarettes and eating
government cheese, I keep reminiscing about all
the free-thought you taught me shortly after the 70's.

You taught me about free-love, and then showed me
a life with the state as my father, and a life with unruly
children. You taught me about women making their own
decisions only to be shown the sweetheart who pushes
abortion instead of being responsible for his own
sexuality.

Independence is not drug use,
liberation is not negligence.

Now I stand before the world so changed by reckless
generations and see these opportunities you have
provided as a burden on my womanhood.

Equal rights is a human issue - not a gender.
We should be respected
for who and what we are, not expected
to be standardized, de-gendered.

Now I must negotiate my right
to educate my perspective children
outside of this standardization in order
to give then a structure beyond glorified feudalism.

I must re-prove the value
of feminine gentleness and fortitude.

Why is it that you doubted your own
skills and ability? What is so distasteful
to you about providing a happy home?
Is there really anything more important?
I refuse to be a women without regard
to my given attributes. I will relish in the fact
that I am able to practice the home arts - I will
feed my friends and family with butter-crust love
and heal wounds with kisses. Empowerment
comes from being - and appreciated - for being
who you are.

I do not want to transcend my natural assets -
I want to be loved for being the barer of all
human civilization. That is what I call respect.

Let's face it. The pants suit will never
get you as far as the little red dress.
Your sex should be dignified,
your love should be won.

I have been suppressed by all your political correctness.
Now let me show you how it's really done.

Yours truly,
daughter