GIVE ME SOME OF THAT OLD-TIME XENOPHOBIA
(a memoir of the first wave of the Iraq War in 2003)
They did it in World War I
when sauerkraut was known as “liberty cabbage”.
They did it in World War II
when actor Eduardo Ciannelli changed his first name to Edward.
They did it during the 1979-81
Iran hostage crisis
when pictures of Mickey Mouse circulated widely.
Mickey raised his right middle-finger.
The caption was HEY IRAN!
Now, it’s being done again.
And it’s not even against
an enemy country.
A café owner in Santa Barbara
changes French fries to Uncle Sam Fries.
People, showing off for TV cameras,
threaten to boycott camembert cheese.
French wine is poured into the gutter.
David Letterman makes derogatory jokes
about the French in WWII.
I stay indoors,
scared of being scarred
by thoughtless hatred
wearing the mask of patriotism,
wishing it could be safe to say
“God Bless The World”
instead of
“God Bless America”.
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