Cleaning House

those who have a love affair with disobedience
hatred scorn arrogance pride and condemnation
it is best to avoid them
especially if they are members of your own family
father, mother, son, daughter, brother and sister
who often feel that their proximity
gives them special license to impose, abuse, control and destroy
whatever self esteem the innocent one possesses

this evil tendency toward the other
may be done in the name of religion
in the name of family
in the name of a debt
in the name of coercion
whatever the name
we must stand in what belongs to us
beginning with our self respect
and our natural entitlement
to have our wishes and feelings
honored and respected

although this philosophy is better established from the beginning
through good parentage and training
if we were instead vulgarized by our parents
i think we must establish this philosophy
on our own and have the stamina
to enforce it through legal means if necessary

clean house
and live peacefully
there is no better way to be