Nostalgia

Nostalgia

when you look back at us
in 100
200
or
500 years
please don't
whitewash us
it won't do us
or you
any good

extol our virtues
sure
but don't ignore
our vices
our idiocy
our pettiness
and shortsightedness
either

because in 500 years
we can hope
you'll be better than us
but you probably won't
so don't look back
and whitewash us
in the same way
you're probably trying
to whitewash yourselves

extol our technology
extol our spread
of information
and entertainment
if you like
extol its wonders
but don't forget
don't ignore
how it's fucked us up
by confusing
alienating
and making us dumb
too

and
extol the virtues of our democracy
maybe simpler
maybe better
than your
system of governance
but don't forget
how ours
so deeply flawed
has so utterly
fucked us up
too

extol our work ethic
if you like
but don't forget
how others
have worked much harder
and much longer
than us
too

extol our economy
extol our prosperity
but don't forget
just how much 
we've fucked one another over
with money
and don't ignore
just how much 
we've squandered
too

extol our time of plenty
if you like
when necessities
came easy
and cheap
but don't forget
just how much 
we've hated one another
and
how much we've taken for granted
in our time of plenty
too

extol our advances in medicine
and how long they've helped us live
but don't forget
how many extra years
we've utterly wasted
too

extol all our new ways 
of understanding ourselves
but don't forget
with all the pills
for cleaning our minds
don't forget
just how utterly fucked up
we still are
too

extol
our progress
in inclusion
and diversity
if you like
but don't forget
don't ignore
just how corrupt
and gross
most of our leaders
in politics
spirit
and culture
are
too

don't forget
because in 500 years
we can hope
you'll be better than us
but you probably won't
so don't look back
and whitewash us
with the sickness
of nostalgia 
in the same way
you're probably trying
to whitewash yourselves
too