The problem of silence

Cover ups, lies and silence at the political levels affect everyone at all levels.  Those in power positions effectively shut down the dialogue that we need to further the needs of humanity at the nation, community, family and individual levels.  
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The silence that I want to shine light on is the one that occurs in all families.  
I wrote a poem about the fear children have of bringing up difficult topics that their parents don't want to talk about for a variety of their own reasons, and the impact of that silence -- secrets in effect -- on their children.  At the heart of my book "The Inheritors" is the emptiness and pain that is left for the child to carry.  Further, if that child doesn't have the opportunity to express their pain, their secret becomes a burden and a void for their children.  This is why our societies are destined to repeat history. How much better off would we be if we healed the pain of our ancestors and built on their strengths by honestly talking about it, regardless of how painful it might be.

I Haven’t Been Listening
 
I haven’t been listening
To what you haven’t been saying
I haven’t wanted to hear
What you haven’t wanted to say
 
Words left unspoken
Melt into nothing
Melting hope
Melting joy
Melting peace
 
It’s really a sad and empty thing
When words don’t belong anywhere
Because they’ve been left unsaid
 When arms remain empty
Because they can hold no truth
When love is in turmoil
Because it doesn’t have a place to rest
 
And time is in limbo
Always waiting, always waiting, always
waiting
 
Because ...