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AMWeitz — Freedom by-nc-nd
Published: 2011-01-02 04:15:45 +0000 UTC; Views: 2009; Favourites: 49; Downloads: 8
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Description (Open-mindedness is not a power.)

Hold up your hand.
Straighten it and make a fist. That arm is a solid structure, a column of cells, a staff.
It's simply a cylinder, and that is all.


(Open mindedness is not a force.)

Go up to a trashcan, place your hands on its side, and shove as hard as you can.
Try it. Watch the trashcan fly, its lid clanging open and its guts spilling over the pavement.
You did that. Notice the veins bulging from your arms.
Do you feel at peace?


(Open-mindedness is not a form of knowledge.)

These I know to be true: the sky is blue, blood is red, and the Earth is round.
"Do you deny sunsets, then? Do you expect only oxygen, and disregard calculus?"


      ......Please stop.

      i dont want to be wrong, its embarrassing





Now go outside.


Imagine yourself immersed in sky, wrapped in the great blue blanket.
There are thousands of clouds above you, some heavy with rain and others bursting with sunshine, and seagulls dip and dive around you. They peck at your face and defecate on your skin,
and you are not made of steel. It hurts, it burns, it colors your cheeks and makes you want to
close up and
drop,
away from the gulls, the harsh sky.


But don't.


Instead,
hold up the fist that you made earlier, the one now covered in scrapes, cuts and seagull excrement.
What's there? An arm and a fist, as it was before and will always be.


Now cup your hand to the sky.


What's there?

What's inside your palm?

Not power, not a force, not even the air racing through your fingers.

Do you want to know?













It's everything.





(Open-mindedness is freedom.)
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Comments: 35

thredd [2013-10-10 03:56:59 +0000 UTC]

thankyou

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

lonewolfpuppy [2013-07-30 12:35:36 +0000 UTC]

This is incredible. You took me on a well-written, influential journey in such a short amount of words.
I cannot get over how much I love this. Thank you for posting it!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

AMWeitz In reply to lonewolfpuppy [2013-07-30 19:48:56 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for reading, and for commenting! I really appreciate it.

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lonewolfpuppy In reply to AMWeitz [2013-08-03 04:58:22 +0000 UTC]

It was my pleasure!

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nightshade-keyblade [2013-05-05 21:05:00 +0000 UTC]

Right. I'm nominating this for a feature.

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AMWeitz In reply to nightshade-keyblade [2013-05-05 23:58:12 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!!

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Li-flower [2013-05-05 02:00:45 +0000 UTC]

This is so true and a beautiful piece.

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AMWeitz In reply to Li-flower [2013-05-05 03:27:13 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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legomaestro [2013-05-03 09:13:51 +0000 UTC]

Brilliant poem

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AMWeitz In reply to legomaestro [2013-05-03 14:20:33 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! How did you find it?

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legomaestro In reply to AMWeitz [2013-05-08 09:04:53 +0000 UTC]

The DA news thing that appeared

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JohrnyReport [2013-05-02 20:53:59 +0000 UTC]

perfect divinition off every artist, that ever have existed

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

AMWeitz In reply to JohrnyReport [2013-05-03 03:04:46 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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Meruseitai [2013-05-02 09:41:29 +0000 UTC]

Gah, that was absolutely amazing. The visuals were so simple but so perfect and easy to read, too. Bravo!

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AMWeitz In reply to Meruseitai [2013-05-02 17:05:36 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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kenna20 [2013-05-02 06:01:55 +0000 UTC]

you make me pleased and Furious at the same Time.

for years i have Tried to Convey a Message similar to this.

i am Pleased i Finally read the words that match my thoughts.
but i am Furious i never managed to find those words before you wrote them.

Either way, Salute to you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

AMWeitz In reply to kenna20 [2013-05-02 06:26:45 +0000 UTC]

Wow, thank you very much for the kind words! I really appreciate it.

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The-Golden-Knight [2013-05-02 04:55:00 +0000 UTC]

I've already crossed this step on the Path to Freedom. But thanks for the landmark, anyway.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

AMWeitz In reply to The-Golden-Knight [2013-05-02 06:27:05 +0000 UTC]

Haha, that's good to hear.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ohmystarrylies [2011-04-10 22:22:42 +0000 UTC]

this is so beautiful.

that's all i can think of to say.

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AMWeitz In reply to ohmystarrylies [2011-11-19 21:29:11 +0000 UTC]

That's all I could ever want or hope for.

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Sepulchral-Roses [2011-01-13 00:13:44 +0000 UTC]

I think that I need to admit this to myself. And I don't know how.

And I'm really really glad that you wrote this, and I think that honestly, more people need to think this way.

[I also think that I need to read that book.]

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AMWeitz In reply to Sepulchral-Roses [2011-01-26 06:34:20 +0000 UTC]

It's...phew, it's hard. I can't tell you how.
I had to go through a really, really tough experience. And I'm not going to tell you to go out and let yourself be cut down so you can find freedom.

Gosh, thank you so, so much!! I wish more people were as nice as youuuuu.

You do.
It is life changing.
(And that's putting it lightly.)

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Sepulchral-Roses In reply to AMWeitz [2011-01-27 00:45:29 +0000 UTC]

I think for me it'll be especially hard - I despise admitting I'm wrong, but I'm pretty much open to everyone's opinions. I just put mine above theirs in my head [never out loud] unless they have a reallyreallyreally great argument. Which is rather rare. :/

It's not a good thing, but hey, that's life.

(: You're welcome! If only everyone was as sweet as youare...

[It's on my list - I can't wait for things to calm down at school after midterms - too much hard work, being a senior. i'd recommend not attempting five aps. it's just stupid... - I want to read again, it's been too long. Siddharta is on the top of my list.]

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proudeyesneverlie [2011-01-02 19:14:17 +0000 UTC]

don't you love beautiful literature that changes everything?

this is wonderful. this is something i always want to remember. this is something i want to share with everyone i meet.
thank you.

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AMWeitz In reply to proudeyesneverlie [2011-01-06 02:28:50 +0000 UTC]

...WHAT?!?!

I can't believe that you found so much inspiration in a piece that I initially didn't care for! My god...it truly goes to show ya', one man's trash is another's treasure. Jesus Christ...

It...it just astounds me that I would receive this kind of a comment, especially from you, whom I respect greatly as a poet. I love to dish these kind of comments out to well-deserving poets, as I love encountering pieces that leave me wet-eyed and in love, but...
I just never expected to leave that kind of impresion on someone else.

Thank you for giving this piece such a special place in your heart, and thank you for taking the time to comment. You're wonderful beyond words.

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proudeyesneverlie In reply to AMWeitz [2011-01-06 05:08:29 +0000 UTC]

i'm not trying to sound egotistic by saying this, i'm really not, but i know what you mean. sometimes i'll write things that i feel almost indifferent about, and i'm amazed by the reaction it gets... and it goes the other way too: sometimes the pieces i love the most are the ones that don't get much recognition. people are interesting. x3

you never really know how you're affecting another person with your words, you know? and i can tell you honestly that this has truly affected me, whether or not you thought it would reach someone

no need to thank me, really. and don't be silly, you're the wonderful one. <3 i'm just being honest and rambling about things that i love.

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IAmSniper007 [2011-01-02 10:24:37 +0000 UTC]

"Not power, not a force, not even the air racing through your fingers."

I always get excited when I see that you've posted something. Your pieces are always so wonderful, and have such meaning behind them.

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AMWeitz In reply to IAmSniper007 [2011-01-06 02:21:07 +0000 UTC]

...I...I don't know what to say. You honor me with such a comment! My goodness. Thank you, and I mean that with all my heart. It's things like this and wonderful people like you that assure me that I'm not wasting my time by writing. Thank you thank you thank you.

And happy belated new year as well!

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IAmSniper007 In reply to AMWeitz [2011-01-06 07:10:12 +0000 UTC]

I hope you never feel like you're wasting your time. I can only speak on behalf of myself, but your writing is inspiring.

And a happy new year to you, too, darling!

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Original-Blue [2011-01-02 07:51:28 +0000 UTC]

Do you have to continue being awesome even when everyone has acknowledged it? Just kidding. Wonderful and inspiring as always.

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AMWeitz In reply to Original-Blue [2011-01-02 09:12:13 +0000 UTC]

Oh HUSH. This is simply a cliche collection of thoughts hastily assembled in Mrs. O'Brian's class. Nothing worthy of that kind of praise, Princess Rachie-poo!

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Original-Blue In reply to AMWeitz [2011-01-03 02:50:24 +0000 UTC]

I hope Mrs. O'Brian sees this and knows the plight we suffer.

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AMWeitz In reply to Original-Blue [2011-01-06 02:12:29 +0000 UTC]

I SHOULD PRINT HER OUT A COPY. Wink wink nudge nudge, bitch. Liven up.

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Original-Blue In reply to AMWeitz [2011-01-07 04:43:18 +0000 UTC]

You DARE to speak to your mistress in that tone of voice? I'll call your mother!

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