PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

by David Arthur Walters





Preface:



The following article was written in response to an anonymous public comment made by an individual who uses "demonraptor" as his or her Internet alias. S/he is a member of the Anony Mouse family, some of whom squeak and scratch very ferociously at night, deluded by their echoes into thinking they are fierce Western-style dragons.



The Internet is frequently lauded as the broadest avenue possible for free expression. For the Anony Mouse family, it is a vast Underground affording global access to every home and business adjoined to it. It is dark place where mice can anonymously and irresponsibly express their verminous characteristics, the revelation of which gives normally honest and responsible people Aboveground due cause to become anonymous themselves lest they become actually as well as virtually victimized. However, once protected with false identifications, opportunity beckons, and many formerly decent people adopt the Anony Mouse family as their own.



I have been accused of politically incorrect anti-Mousism because of my frequent remarks about the Anony Mouse family. The charge is false. I do have respect for mice, even virtual and mythical mice. After all, I grew up in an age where Mickey Mouse was the Ideal Mouse. I give due recognition to the mouse totem of the Anony Mouse family. I appreciate the virtues of the ancient mouse-god. I know that mice are responsible for chewing through the chains of the Sun-dragon during the night so that he can rise every morning. Nevertheless, the Internetal Anony Mouse family and related rodents should take care lest they be trampled by the Leviathan in their sleep.





---LETTER---





Dear Mister Demon Raptor:



Thank you very much for the comment you appended to my brilliant essay, "GRAMMAR".  I always enjoy fan mail, but yours is special, therefore I am framing it on the Internet in its entirety, as follows:



"I feel this fierce need to comment on this article but have no idea what to say about it. I guess I could start with the first sentence. 'undoughtedly, the reason for mans existence is to think.' Really? I dought that very much. You speak as if that's an absolute or trueism that cannot be denide. It isn't. As for the rest of the incomprehesible article,did your dictionary throw up? I am not trying to isult you. I am just wondering what it was you were trying to say. Cause I didn't understand it and i don't know what grammer had to do with anything. Anyway if you want to explain it to me give me a buzz. --DEMON RAPTOR--" (SIC)



Mister Demon Raptor, since you doubt that the reason for a man's existence is to think, you are undoubtedly unaware that my essay is a tongue-in-cheek tribute in my mother tongue to Mother Grammar, the mother of language.



I am glad you felt a fierce need to comment on my essay. I know why you were attracted to its title, "Grammar". Please, Demonraptor, be not afraid of your urge to order your thoughts and to otherwise develop your mental faculties. Your instinct to do so will eventually make you fully human if you cooperate with the evolutionary process.



I see you are a member of the notorious raptor family of robbers and predators, therefore it is not surprising you have neglected your studies in favor of seizing things by force, constantly involving yourself in clawing and shredding activities. Yet I assure you, if you take some time each day to exercise your brain by studying Grammar in its broadest sense, you will find that there are more efficient, effective, and enjoyable ways of accomplishing your objectives. In fact, you will even know what those objective are!  Furthermore, you will live a much longer life: Mother Grammar will enable you to evade being clawed to pieces by your brutal brethren, and you will therefore have even more time to learn  several other sciences to extend your life.



When you become fully human, you will no longer have to hide behind a false persona to protect yourself. In fact, you will be able to take responsibility for your works and proudly sign your own name to them even if they happen to be unpopular. You will no longer be ashamed of your identity. You will even risk your life for a good name. Incidentally, several of my ancestors lost their heads at the gallows, having been convicted of High Treason: they fought for freedom and died courageously, proud of the names given to them at birth by their parents. The were not virtual or "almost real" Internet identities; they were authentic people!



Since your appellation includes the first name, Demon, Mother Grammar will have the further advantage of teaching you the difference between good and evil demons and their connection to good and evil names. There is a difference, you know. For example, during the Salem witch trials, a man was given the opportunity to stop the hangings by simply signing his name to a false confession. As he did so, three convicted witches in the death-cart standing nearby castigating him for signing. Then he refused to give the signed document to the magistrate. Why?



"Because it's my name! You have my confession, but let me keep my name! It is all I have!"



Still, the judge demanded the signed paper. The confessed man tore it up and was then put aboard the death-cart. His wife was urged to dissuade him, but she said, "No, now he has his goodness." The persecutions were eventually abandoned because too many people refused to give false confessions, and the public was sickened by the executions.



Mister Demon Raptor, if Demon Raptor is not your real name but a name you use to abuse people, I urge you to give up your dishonesty, to use your real name, to accept the consequences of your true identify. False identities when maintained can have embarrassing consequences when dispelled; for instance, a stalker who had assumed a false identity was finally exposed the other day; he was an otherwise very respectable member of the community: when the police approached his car to arrest him, he pulled out a gun and blew his brains out on national televison.



You have said that you do not wish to "isult" me. Then why did you bring that up? But have no fear, for I get the impression that you are descended from a dinosaur clan that I am rather fond of. Besides, I do feel some affection for all rebels. After all, my essay advised all grammarians to rebel in the name of mother love against the stultifying rules, but, mind you, by means of the mother tongue and not by the violent and criminal means usually employed by raptors.



I hope you have confined your shredding activities to words. If you must continue in that occupation, then please do so by means of words spoken above your name at the risk of your reputation. By doing so you will be truly establishing your real identity, whatever that might be. If you speak truly of yourself, that is what you will become, and you can be other than a demonic raptor as your dinosaur existence evolves into the wisdom of an Eastern dragon. And please note well here that the best means of accomplishing your freedom is Grammar.



Of course, Mister Demon Raptor, you will still have to fight, not only symbolically but actually. Yet you shall then be taking action for good reasons, not just to plunder and to kill at random. Finally, I must reassure you: if we all study Grammar and pass on our knowledge to our kith and kin, someday none of us shall ever have to claw again.



Thank you, Demon Raptor. Please keep that fan mail coming!



David Arthur Walters