It is so yawningly familiar and so predictably
amusing whenever headlines gravely report that
some third-world tyrant in Africa or Eastern Europe
or Asia congratulates his loyally discerning public
for their democratically-cast ballots expressing
confidence in his rule to allow him continuance of
his lifelong grip on power for a 92 percent agreement
persuades him to stay on and if there is dissent warning
of an uprising why then, in step the generals in grim
concordance with the benevolence they know so well.
An inner chord of satisfaction in reflection of how
civilized nations comport themselves forms a stark
contrast to the benighted parts of the world wistfully
hoping that one day they too will live in a democracy
reflects our smug certainty that those distant scenarios
are a blemish on the developing world. So when reality
barges its raucous presence into our consciousness it
is with incredulity that we look to our near-abroad
where generals assure the public they will not intervene
in the chaos of an uber-partisan campaign of slurs and
condemnations as two parties armoured in sanctimonious
fervour to represent the best interests of a nation in a
state of violent confrontation with itself, the incumbent
claims electoral victory as does his challenger while the
social climate heats toward riots, looting and violence
capturing the indomitable spirit of democratic America.
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