TALENTED LITTLE BOY DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO SPELL AMERICA, BUT HE’S DAMN SURE IT AIN’T L-O-V-E

BY BRETT WEBSTER with MICHAEL BENJAMIN WASHINGTON

Michael sets himself up behind the

LIGHTS UP as the music begins. The

MICHAEL

Hi. I’m Michael, and I’m in the second grade at Chipperwood Elementary School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. My teacher Ms. Wilcox gave us this assignment. She wanted us to find a creative outlet for displaying our emotions over this country’s — America’s —

- current situation in the Mid-East. We had quite an array of outlets presented in my homeroom class. I chose my presentation through means of song about the simple facts and truths of what I know about the situation in the Mid-East. I don’t know much — I mean I’m a second grader for crying on betsy — but I can tell you what I do know...and that’s how I feel. Footnote: I will be using the case of the 1990’s U.S.-Iraq relations as my model for this presentation. So I hope you enjoy.

PEOPLE ARE DYING. AND CHILDREN ARE CRYING. WHAT’S HAPPENING? THE LOOKS ON THEIR FACES, ‘CAUSE THEY GOT NO PLACES. OOH-OOH-OOH-OOH. WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING?

Michael suddenly stops playing and

Fact: During the past nine years, 1.7 million people in Iraq have died as a direct result of U.S. placed sanctions!

He begins playing the piano again.

MICHAEL

PEOPLE ARE PRAYING. BUT WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? WHAT’S HAPPENING? SOME SAY IT’S JUST FATE. I SAY IT’S IRRATE. OOH-OOH-OOH-OOH. WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING?

He suddenly stops playing and again

Fact: Every child in Iraq suffers from some degree of malnutrition! A simple cut can lead to death because of contaminated water and a lack of even the most basic of medicines!

He begins to play again.

PEOPLE ARE BOMBING. SIRENS ALARMING. WHAT’S HAPPENING? YOU THINK YOU’RE SO BRAVE. ‘CAUSE THEY LIE IN THEIR GRAVES. OOH-OOH-OOH-OOH. WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING?

He stops.

Fact: The U.S. government charges the government of Iraq with the death of the population! But Iraq’s health care system before the war was the pride of the Middle East! Health care was and remains free to the entire population. In fact, people used to travel to Iraq from all over because their health care was so good and so free! And now parents, children, and more lie dead to starvation and un-humanitarianism during what was claimed to be a "humanitarian" mission and a gift on behalf of the United States to the rest of the world! Well, what kind of a gift was it — a white elephant? ‘Cause it must be a joke — only I’m not laughing! A gift! Well, you’ll excuse me if I ask for the receipt!

He sings.

PEOPLE ARE DYING. AND CHILDREN ARE CRYING. WHAT’S HAPPENING? THE LOOKS ON THEIR FACES, ‘CAUSE THEY GOT NO PLACES. OOH-OOH-OOH-OOH. WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S

MICHAEL

HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING?

He stops.

I don’t know what’s happening over there, Ms. Wilcox. All I know is this assignment has left my heart feeling about like this new rendering of the American Flag I drew up —

Michael turns his earlier rendering of

- and that’s empty! So, I ask you, Ms. Wilcox...

WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT’S HAPPENING, WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING?

BLACKOUT on the final chord.