PREACH LOVE : from me to GWB

Sent: 2/24/2003 2:45 PM


February 24, 2003

President George Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NY
Washington, DC 20500

VIA FACSIMILE: 202-456-2461

Dear Mister President,

As a Christian citizen of the United States of America, I look upon you with gravity as I'm shaken by the very nature of your leadership. You disgrace me with your complete disregard for a human's life. Your bloodthirsty vengeful nature coupled with your contentment, and further promotion, of a classist society are intolerable. Furthermore, and quite honestly, I am appalled by your blatant hypocrisy. Hypocrisy which is itself evil. Do you beg for the decay of the true American principals which were the rock of foundation of this great country, a country that I would like to think has changed the world for the better? As you further disintegrate the value of words such as "liberty" and "freedom", the sands of America are being swiftly caught in the winds of time. Your impact is great, and you haven't been walking softly. Do you feel the weight of your responsibility? You are speaking for many souls.

If you plan to speak for war or for violence as a means to peace, please let it be known that you did not speak on my behalf. Yet, as you inch closer to the Holy War, and nudge my Christianity away from love, I am finding myself in need of a richer decree of segregation of my spirit from your politics and policies. I daily find it more detestable in feeling Pilate, simply washing my hands of the U.S.A.'s death sentences. Therefore, honestly, it becomes heart wrenching paying my taxes while knowing where this money I am earning is truly being spent. Your military budget's count down is going to need fuel from my pocketbook, and I grieve when I find myself in paperwork handcuffs enslaved to this political monstrosity. It's no wonder American's are depressed. We lack liberty. Is this taxation without representation? For I feel like I'm the only one speaking for me in this democracy. After seeing the great multitudes of people calling for peace on 3rd, 2nd and 1st Avenues of New York City on Saturday, February 15th, I know that something has to change, or it will be an all out anarchy. I will not pay for you to not represent me. And it is unfortunate that it really only takes money to get your attention.

I beg you to pray about your path. I beg you to pray about America's future. And I beg you to take a moment of silence during your busy days to really listen to those small still voices within America's arms. Take the plank from your own eye. Do you hear their whisperings? Be good to others, and good will be done unto you. Pray and listen. These are new times. The first war of the 21st century, as you have called it, could mercifully never come to pass, if you would be allowed to see it. And I have to imagine that it would be a wonderful testament of hope for the entire world and every single human's life, in these new times. Only 2003. Please see peace. And know the God you worship. To whom much is given, much is required.

The President of the United States of America must be something much more than a job, as you affect the entire world with whatever you say or do. It's not just about the dollar sign. Let Americans show love, and that will be true.

God bless the world.


Chad Allen Gurley

PREACH LOVE : Only five and a half years old

Sent: 2/23/2003 9:50 PM

from my home i walked alone on the gravel road bare feet against the prickling stone of the road that seemed to go on and on straight to the flat delta horizon and more beyond as dusty wind rouged my brown cheeks and nipped tears from my eyes pulling white streaks feeling so weak but still walking forward towards my seek daddy of a boy who was far too meek to the community yes i'm walking towards the shop that one that was plastic yellow where the tractors pulled round and dogs are barking by the trailors and i'm walking right past it hearing the waves of the hands shout and laugh see-ya-laters alligators scowling potatoes man i wasn't getting very far and it sure would be faster by car faster to go where and that's when i said darn where could i be alone out on this farm

PREACH LOVE : sick of it

Sent: 2/23/2003 9:05 PM


I'm sick of it
sick of it

all this bureaucracy
that simply is a mockery
of everyone keeping
their job under
lock and key

sick of it
sick of it

killing so many trees
needing paper documenting
their every moment's history
because no one
is trusting

sick of it
sick of it

some worth determined by a ream
of needless information Ultimately
but rather reinstating policy
invented by
humanity

sick of it
sick of it

I'm so sick of it.


And I'm so tired
so tired

of copying a memo I've sent to prove I sent it
a moment of my life wasted in front of a machine
only ever recording my immediate history
while still seeing a future way far beyond me

so tired
so tired

of reducing my potential to zero
robotically smart not to mention
selling my machine for some dollars
to feed me and shelter me and clothe me

so tired
so tired

of feeling the system cell me
suffocating my creativity
because that doesn't sell realistically
being only qualified administratively

I'm so tired of it.


every day I seem to breathe
information that doesn't interest me
doesn't guide me further intellectually
just immediately recalls a number to write
underneath the pay here amount to be
3-602262

every day I am starving for inspiration
as the grind gets the best of me
a 10 to 6er because I have to be
to get to that dream just beyond me
that seems just out of reach
grasp

every day I rumble files
of colored paper under my fingers
thinking of something to remember
recalling that it's bread and butter
feeling life hiccup and stutter
and I really have to stop and wonder
why

every day Truly I'm blessed
that I'm really not that dumb
(and you don't have to pardon the pun)
in order to pay for a sum
to get me to where I begun
today


so although this cell leaves me pissed
I guess this is just the way things is
for now
today

PREACH LOVE : when you dance

Sent: 2/18/2003 1:20 PM


when you dance you move to a cosmic beat
the flow you show clumsy and slow
glides on your grace and then lifted away
perfection you do like no one but you

PREACH LOVE : steer here

Sent: 2/18/2003 1:19 PM


his hunting blade plowed in deep
as blood red irrigated his wrist
he cried out a want to reap
the bare fields leaving him empty

there was a day when he saw blue skies
and never even questioned why he should die
but today there played an escape
and from earth and humanity he'd rape

his own gift of life living here
something some light just right so dear
close to being snuffed by untrusting fear
and in not valuing the mere

but faith someday he'll see
the unique beauty he's meant to be

grace

PREACH LOVE : me about you

Sent: 2/18/2003 1:16 PM


he let me down this is true and therefore gets me deep dark blue
about the other gray new balance running shoe to plop drop my tiny bit
of hot red anger that can't seemed stopped damn the flow but this feels so
since saved in a guarded vault until this haphazard assault which
unintentionally potentially shattered my heart
and that's how it starts

but i cannot speak
my mouth is empty
you're rustling menus
my heart burrito

what happened to you
my grieving intense
my spotlight empty
with an empty seat then

it may seem small around him like something he could have missed but to me
it was my everything my all one fulfilled wish

pissed

i cannot look
my sight burning tears
your door is closed
my room alone

it may be blinded from your view and perhaps you can only care about you but
to me but to me to me it's not just me about you just me about you

now i hear
my tingling ears
your sounds familiar
as you enter
into the room
your movement seemed
through my mind redeemed

my wilderness spent with you and i guess you never knew

why do you do the things you do
is there something more you
need from me
i don't see
i can only be me

forgive me

PREACH LOVE : wings of a plastic bag

Sent: 2/18/2003 1:10 PM


from littered city streets below
the translucent plastic bag
was caught in an atmospheric embrace
wind pushing it high as birds fly
flapping atop the tall buildings
and then carried up into the sky

PREACH LOVE : back from washington d.c.

Sent: 2/18/2003 1:05 PM

On our way back from Washington D.C., I noticed a full-bodied bright orange moon rising over the horizon into the deep sea blue from outside our bus window. Its beauty held me captive so, that upon my return to New York, I had to go upon our roof to see it again. From directly above me, it lit the fluorescent white snow patches left remaining after a day of sun-yet-cold dusted across the top of the tar black roof. The moon above boom blossomed brightly causing my contact to get fuzzy before tearfully maintaining it. Connection.

Just before the moonly magesticness in an almost constellatory line were two brightly twinkling stars intent on beaming gleams through the polluted haze. The beauty of the night magically amazed. I was in a daze. The irrefutable realness showed the way out of this worldly maze. And there I gazed at the sky and was bless to not need to wonder why.

TRUST!

PREACH LOVE : Wordless?

Sent: 2/12/2003 7:59 PM

I almost feel bad for letting so much time pass since my last entries. For me, it seems, flood or drought. Also there is much in my head that keeps swimming, not quite ready to come out.

But if I shall mention one thing today, it's to love you, give yourself a mighty big hug, and say I'll make it one more day, for you will. God has a plan, and it's one tailor-made for you. Soon you will see. For now just be. And love!