No, You Cannot | Teen Ink

No, You Cannot MAG

November 6, 2008
By Anonymous

It is a new nation,
a nation that proudly proclaims:
“Yes we can.”
But what power holds “yes we can,”
when America has told many of our
brothers and sisters
“no, you cannot”?
You cannot follow your heart.
You cannot move forward.
You cannot take a hand.
You cannot break the mold.
“Marriage is a holy bond
for a man and a woman
it is not yours to taint,” they say.
Where is the future?
Relentlessly we must
keep striving for a better day.
We must stop this hatred
and bring about change in the
wake of defeat.


The author's comments:
This piece was written after Prop 8 was passed in California, a national tragedy at the state level.

Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 396 comments.


mmfdg623 GOLD said...
on Oct. 12 2010 at 3:52 pm
mmfdg623 GOLD, Lyndhurst, New Jersey
15 articles 0 photos 39 comments

Favorite Quote:
Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.
Louisa May Alcott

@ellyn-bo-bellyn_2014

Why would Lucifer tell two people to love each other?  Isn't that God's message:  For everyone to love one another?  I think Lucifer would be telling people to hate one another.  He spreads a message intolerance and hate; God spreads a message of acceptance, forgiveness, and love.


on Oct. 12 2010 at 11:27 am
nefariouslyme, Richland, Michigan
0 articles 0 photos 72 comments
What happened to keeping religion separate from government? The only reason it was passed is because people found it unholy. And what's wrong with being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender? It's not their fault they were born that way. And they're not defective or anything. It's simply how some of us like the color blue while some of us like red. Honestly, how immature can a person get?

on Sep. 20 2010 at 10:20 pm
inspired SILVER, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
5 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"God sees us as we can be but loves us as we are."

Opps i meant to rate it higher. im a noob to the website but this is extremly good!

on Sep. 20 2010 at 4:05 pm
-LeftBehindBroken- GOLD, Providence, South Carolina
16 articles 0 photos 73 comments

Favorite Quote:
Artists paint on canvas; Musicians paint on silence

the message in this poem says a lot, and i really like the way it is written. also agree with a lot of the other comments :)

TuffGurl said...
on Sep. 20 2010 at 2:48 pm
i am firmly against building a mosque two blocks from Ground Zero. Have you ever been to New York City? That's really close, and I don't think it's very respectful to the victims of 9/11. Why did they have to think of just TWO BLOCKS from Ground Zero? Are they wondering what the families of the victims are thinking? I am angry about this.

Austy BRONZE said...
on Aug. 29 2010 at 11:39 pm
Austy BRONZE, New Rockford, North Dakota
4 articles 2 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
Professionals built the Titanic, but amateurs built the ark.
Live life like there is no tomorrow

I am proud of this poem and I feel it is one of the best. If obama can deny chrisitinity and build a mosque two blocks from ground zero....if he wants this nation to have no religious face then marriage between two men or two women should be legal and fair

on Aug. 29 2010 at 8:59 pm
spiritualrevelationrevealspainandrevolution PLATINUM, Eugene, Oregon
23 articles 0 photos 212 comments
extermely well written, and the message rocks. haha dont worry humanity will come around

on Aug. 29 2010 at 9:28 am
Phantom_Girl GOLD, Ft. Carson, Colorado
14 articles 0 photos 279 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If it comes out of the lion's mouth...it will be on the test."
-Mr. Bala

Not only do I love the message, but the poem itself was very well written. I liked it because I didn't know exactly what it was about at first, but I could guess. And then my guess was confirmed later in the poem.

on Aug. 12 2010 at 11:46 pm
MercedesXO DIAMOND, South Easton, Massachusetts
52 articles 0 photos 280 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I realize that life is risks. It's acknowledging the past but looking forward. It's taking chances that we will make mistakes but believeing we all deserve to be forgiven."
-The Dead Tossed Waves.

ohh thanks so much:)

Aginger GOLD said...
on Aug. 7 2010 at 9:14 pm
Aginger GOLD, Bingen, Washington
11 articles 0 photos 46 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Why are you so busy trying to fit in when you were born to stand out?"

Your poem has a good meassage. Nice job!

on Aug. 7 2010 at 3:51 pm
shelterisland GOLD, Montclair, New Jersey
14 articles 0 photos 175 comments

Favorite Quote:
-Biting's excellent. It's like kissing only there's a winner."-Doctor Who, The Tardis

I loved "Dare To Be Different" I posted a comment under it but I'm not sure if it showed up because I didn't see it after I posted it, but maybe it'll show up in a little bit.

on Aug. 7 2010 at 3:42 pm
shelterisland GOLD, Montclair, New Jersey
14 articles 0 photos 175 comments

Favorite Quote:
-Biting's excellent. It's like kissing only there's a winner."-Doctor Who, The Tardis

so true... some people are so stupid :/

on Aug. 7 2010 at 3:32 pm
alanacarlene DIAMOND, Mexia, Texas
55 articles 15 photos 592 comments

Favorite Quote:
Silence screams too honestly and loudly.
-Alex (aka GangstaEyes)
Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two equals four.
-Winston Smith '1984'
Don't go wishin' your life away...
-Daddy S2
"What a drag it was to be limited by reality."

This is great and true love it

on Aug. 7 2010 at 12:59 pm
ThatClarinetPerson SILVER, Tequesta, Florida
8 articles 0 photos 226 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Life. Don't talk to me about life."
~Marvin the Paranoid Android (from the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy series)
Statistical analysis suggests that i am probably in tune with someone
(hahahahaha! I love this cause i'm never ever ever in tune >o

this is truly amazing. so heartfelt and so true.

on Aug. 7 2010 at 11:50 am
beautifuldisaster18, Arlington, Texas
0 articles 1 photo 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
Keep your feet on the ground, When your head's in the clouds.

I don't agree that God created homosexuality. I believe He created people to have free will and those people chose to be gay or whatever. I think they perverted what God intended marriage to be.

 

I'm not bashing your poem though. It's your opinion and I can't change that.


DevonP SILVER said...
on Jul. 19 2010 at 1:19 pm
DevonP SILVER, Wolcott, New York
7 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
" There's nothing wrong with me, this is how i'm suppose to be in a land of make believe that don't believe in me" - Greenday

One day people will come around. Just be glad that in 1978 Prop 6 was shot down because if it would have passed i could bet that no LGBT person would have a job right now. not like mant people have jobs now anyway because of the economy

on Jul. 16 2010 at 10:10 pm
skatergirl13 PLATINUM, Woodbridge, Virginia
21 articles 0 photos 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
" your heart is the most valuable thing I have I don't want to lose it"

I love your poem I can't wait to read more of your work

on Jul. 16 2010 at 9:30 pm
theinquisitivedonkey SILVER, Cohasset, Massachusetts
9 articles 2 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Why, you, Rodion Romanovitch! you are the murderer".

I love your poem! 

on Jul. 16 2010 at 8:17 pm
MercedesXO DIAMOND, South Easton, Massachusetts
52 articles 0 photos 280 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I realize that life is risks. It's acknowledging the past but looking forward. It's taking chances that we will make mistakes but believeing we all deserve to be forgiven."
-The Dead Tossed Waves.

i love this:)

and i wrote an article based on the same subject called Dare To Be Different. id love if you checked it out and saw what you thought.

nice work!


on Jul. 16 2010 at 8:15 pm
Shadow913 SILVER, Hinckley, Illinois
6 articles 0 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Remember what they say. 'There's no shortcut to a dream. It's all blood and sweat, and life is what you manage in between."' -Lyrics from "October" by Broken Bells

That was fantastic. I love the message you're giving out. Don't stop writing(: