IS AND IS NOT
by Husayn Al-Kurdi
September 20, 2010
IS AND IS NOT by Husayn Al-Kurdi
Art is not Life
Poetry is not Struggle
Oppressors are not Oppressed
Peace is not Justice
Suffering is not Redeeming
Losing is not Winning
Begging is not Taking
Complying is not Resisting
Accepting is not Rejecting
Capitalism is not Socialism
Reform is not Revolution
Mendacity is not Veracity
Anguish is not Progress
Exclaiming is not Helping
Tears are not Bullets
Sentiment is not Blood
Pleading is not Overcoming
Appealing is not Overthrowing
Oppressing is not Liberating
Pleasing is not Defying
Beseeching is not Determining
Defending is not Attacking
Cowardice is not Audacity
Ordering is not Serving
Hearing is not Listening
Looking is not Seeing
Feeling is not Engaging
Democracy is not Freedom
Done is not Doing
Imitating is not Creating
Faking is not Making
Dying is not Living
Loaning is not Giving
Running is not Confronting
Abiding is not Deciding
Talking is not Fighting
Agonizing is not Realizing
Art is not Life
Poetry is not Struggle
Oppressors are not Oppressed
Peace is not Justice
Suffering is not Redeeming
Losing is not Winning
"Is/Is Not" Part Two by Husayn Al-Kurdi
Learning is Life
Life is Learning
Love is Indispensable
Capitalism is Mean
Socialism is Caring
Hatred is Motivating
Indifference is Inexcusable
Palestine is Arab
Crying is Cleansing
Iraq is Heroic
Zionism is Despicable
Arabness is Unconquerable
Martyrdom is Heavenly
Teaching is Sacred
Poetry is Touching
Art is Nourishing
Courage is Commendable
Cowardice is Contemptible
Compromise is Unjustifiable
Surrender is Unthinkable
Patience is Necessary
Victory is Inevitable
Attention is Demanded
Moving is Living
Inertia is Death
Ireland is Irish
Civilization is Desirable
Learning is Life
Life is Learning
Love is Indispensable
Victory is Inevitable
Dedicated to the Professors of Revolution who decisively influenced my viewpoint: A.M. Aflaq and J.C. Terpstra 
