By Royi Israel Shaffin
Inspired by the films “Madagascar” and “World War Z”. Originally published in “City Beat Magazine”.
I declare World War Z
Z is not for zombie
It is for zebra
I declare World War Z
The war to make us realize
that we are all zebras
To make us see our black stripes
And our white stripes
I declare World War Z
Go ahead and check your DNA
No one is just one thing
We are all zebras
Black with white stripes
Or White with black stripes
I declare World War Z
When we shout against that person
Who we think is so different
Or inferior
Or an enemy
Just remember
We carry that person inside of us
That person is a stripe or two or three
on that coat of many stripes
that makes us who we are
I declare World War Z
A war of words
A war of ideas
A war of love vs hate
Compassion vs anger
I declare World War Z
We are all Black
We are all White
We are all Mediterranean
We are all Iberian
We are all East Asian
We are all Jewish
We are all Arab
We are all Hispanic
We are all Indian
We are all Native American
We are all Aboriginal Australian
We are all Inuit
We are all humanity
We are more than 99% identical in every way
In the beginning God made
one man and one woman
So that no one could say
My ancestors were greater than yours
I declare Wold War Z
So go ahead and get that DNA test
Science doesn’t lie
And you will see
That you too are a zebra
And the next time you see
Someone who looks and acts
So different from you
You will remember that
That person is a part of you
And you are a part of them
Because we are all zebras
I declare World War Z
For more of Shepherd of Israel’s writings:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hollywood-bible-royi-shaffin/1127094132
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