What’s Your Occupation?

Hi, I’m Greece
I’m proud I had the world’s longest empire
But with Rome at my throat, I had to retire
I dominated enemies with my tight phalanx
Until their maniple shot through my ranks

Hi, I’m Rome
In the old days, I ruled most of the globe
Then all was lost as I tripped over my robe
The extent of my greed is hard to describe
No surprise I was beaten by a negligible tribe

Hi, I’m Turkey
My great empire lasted over six hundred years
My ruthlessness was responsible for Serbian tears
Unknown to most, I was the true target of WW-II
After my defeat, England and France got their due

Hi, I’m England
I’m famous for my many historical colonies
India and Africa were good for my economies
Of course, these days imperialism is unacceptable
But don’t forget, the Falklands are still susceptible

Hi, I’m France
I had to sell off Louisiana and settle for Algeria
It was one of many countries that met my criteria
I whined when Hitler fed me my own medicine
I’m so glad the Allies finally forced him to jettison

Hi, I’m Germany
Over many years, I’ve occupied several lands
Belgium, Poland, The Netherlands, and France
It took two big wars to finally shut me down
But for all my exploits, I earned global renown

Hi, I’m The United States
My Declaration of Independence caused a sensation
So I got away with Native American annihilation
I took their lands, killed their tribes off one by one
No way could the bow and arrow overpower a gun

Hi, it’s me again
My promise of liberty and justice for all was a sham
Some rights are ensured, others I didn’t give a damn
Slavery, prejudice, intolerance came pouring forth
Americans killing each other, South fighting North

Hi, I’m Israel
My beginnings, my true origins are quite murky
I evolved from Eastern European tribes in Turkey
Yet I’m currently sponsored in an illegal occupation
So I play the ‘S’ card to pull off every abomination

Hi, guess who
I have no genuine relation to the Hebrew bloodline
But I used my reputed religion to deforce Palestine
I took their lands, built walls, bound them in chains
No way could their rocks hurt my tanks and planes

Hi, we’re the U.S. and Israel
We use central banks to control worldwide money
The way we influence markets is downright funny
Some say our methods are unethical, those are lies
Face it – it’s the new age, civilized way to colonize

Hi, it’s us again, y’all
We control most of the world, we make a great team
We use the media and military to back every scheme
These days, we lead with the banner of “democracy”
In an all out effort to establish our global autocracy

Raji (Roger) Abuzalaf is a Christian Palestinian (Haifa) refugee raised in Houston, now a long-term Honolulu resident and a U.S. citizen. He is a guitarist, singer, composer, and poet. Raji participates in local progressive/activist causes, at present co-producing pro-Palestine filmfare for Oahu’s main cable provider’s public-access TV network. Read other articles by Raji.