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.

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This article has 396 comments.


on Dec. 4 2011 at 4:06 am
youngspeare BRONZE, Nairobi, Other
1 article 0 photos 273 comments

Favorite Quote:
We wouldn't ask a rose that grew from the concrete for having damaged petals; in turn we'd all celebrate its tenacity, we'd all love tz will to reach the sun well we are the roses n these are my damaged petals don't ask me why thank God and ask me how

This is fabolous! The flow, the words, the style all epic.. :)
Check out my work if you have time. Would appreciate it. 

on Dec. 4 2011 at 12:34 am
ilovearianna PLATINUM, Denver, Colorado
23 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
One day your life is gonna flash before your eyes, make sure it is worth watching.

i love it. nice job.

on Nov. 12 2011 at 11:19 pm
its very choppy. the message you attempt to send is definetley an interesting and controvercial one, but that doesnt mean that you can heavily rely on that and just leave the flow of the poem to be...well, nonexistent (excuse my spelling and grammar, trust me i dont usually write like this)

emattox SILVER said...
on Nov. 12 2011 at 7:34 pm
emattox SILVER, Onancock, Virginia
9 articles 1 photo 28 comments

Favorite Quote:
You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. -Ghandi

Wow, Torch, that was just about the most naive comment I have ever read.

Dreammer GOLD said...
on Nov. 12 2011 at 11:36 am
Dreammer GOLD, Montrose, Pennsylvania
19 articles 0 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
Love is like quicksand the further you fall the harder it is to get out

I really love this poem .. It's very true please look at dome of mine if you'd like

on Nov. 12 2011 at 12:41 am
EnigmaticBeing PLATINUM, Santa Barbara, California
22 articles 0 photos 51 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be careful what you set your heart upon - for it will surely be yours.'
James A. Baldwin

The message is understandable, but whether or not I agree with it isn't something I'm sure about.

on Nov. 12 2011 at 12:37 am
indimcmathz BRONZE, Vancouver, Other
3 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Alternative to what?" -Bliss, from the movie "Whip It"

I love this, and I love the message.

Lexie96 GOLD said...
on Oct. 23 2011 at 6:56 pm
Lexie96 GOLD, Havana, Illinois
11 articles 0 photos 378 comments

Favorite Quote:
Now Cinderella don't you go to sleep, it's such a bitter form of refuge, oh don't you know the kingdom's under siege, and everbody needs you. - The Killers

I really like it, and I agree with what you are saying also. How do we have freedom of religion in America when everything is ruled with principles based off of religion? If you or anyone else could check out my work sometime that would be great!

on Oct. 21 2011 at 9:28 pm
the viewpoint of this message is a bit unobstructed

on Oct. 21 2011 at 9:02 pm
directorchick419 GOLD, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
15 articles 0 photos 15 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I'd wanted to stay on that porch with him until the sun shone bright on both of us, but i didn't. I stood up and walked down the steps. I'd rather chase the sun than wait for it." from I am the Messanger by Markus Zusak.

at what point, though, does the "yes we can"s cross the line, and breach the moral code?

on Oct. 21 2011 at 7:29 pm
LarztheSquirrel BRONZE, Rolla, Missouri
3 articles 0 photos 21 comments

Favorite Quote:
"If life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

inspirational

on Oct. 21 2011 at 7:01 pm
AlwaysAntlers SILVER, Kingsport, Tennessee
5 articles 0 photos 72 comments

Favorite Quote:
“Don't forget - no one else sees the world the way you do, so no one else can tell the stories that you have to tell.”
― Charles de Lint, (from his book,The Blue Girl)

I agree with you, but I also agree with the Jaded Memories person. I'm a teen, and I'm not stupid.

on Oct. 21 2011 at 6:45 pm
inspiredbytheworld BRONZE, Rockford, Michigan
3 articles 5 photos 30 comments
This is a beautiful poem, and I entirely agree with your views. I do not believe that homosexuality should be looked down upon. In my opinion, to outlaw same-sex marriage is to imply Christian principles. The government of America is supposedly represented by the people, for the people, but how did we end up making same-sex marriage illegal when some Americans are Atheist? I believe that if two men or two women want to marry, they should be free to do so. If America is a free country, then why aren't we free to marry who we want? I would also like to add that this comment is entirely my opinion and mine only, so everyone who reads it is free to agree or disagree. :)

on Oct. 21 2011 at 1:26 pm
HollonCharlsie BRONZE, Nicholasville, Kentucky
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
" I dont care about money. i just want to be wonderful."- Marilyn Monroe

i really like it. your words give out so much power and emotion. its wonderful:)

on Oct. 21 2011 at 9:11 am
maraquette.koss SILVER, New City, New York
9 articles 0 photos 13 comments
This is a beautiful pice! i like the intesity of it

on Oct. 21 2011 at 9:05 am
me to but it was a great story

on Oct. 21 2011 at 8:44 am
AmayaSakaruta, Borger, Texas
0 articles 0 photos 35 comments

Favorite Quote:
From out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole, i thank whatever gods may be, for my unconquerable soul. -William Earnest Henley
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. -the Bible

i believe in christ too, but christ never, never, n-e-v-e-r wanted us to force Him upon others. besides even if He did this is still a FREE country and we as Americans have no right to tell others what to believe.

on Oct. 21 2011 at 12:05 am
Narene_baby SILVER, Scappoose, Oregon
7 articles 0 photos 4 comments
I really like the power in your word... If you could check out my stuff. Just trying to get some feedback. Thanks. :D

on Oct. 20 2011 at 11:31 am
deleteddeletedFoff, Columbus, Ohio
0 articles 0 photos 53 comments
good but it would be better if it were thikened up. just a bit.

on Oct. 12 2011 at 7:45 pm
cayaTW PLATINUM, Yuma, Arizona
29 articles 0 photos 83 comments

Favorite Quote:
Those who forget history will often repeat it

I loved your opinion.  I loved the way you portrayed it in your poem. I just read some of the comments and it makes me mad that some people are so closed minded especially one in particular.