Independent Thinking

I want to share a poem by Bob Kaufman titled “Believe, Believe.” Although this poem was written decades ago, its warning remains deeply meaningful for what is happening in our society today.    “Believe in this. Young apple seeds, in blue skies, and electric cities.” Excerpt from “Believe, Believe” by Bob Kaufman (© 1996 Eileen Kaufman, Coffee House Press). Full poem available at Poetry Foundation . The author’s creative background was shaped by the Cold War era, following the rise of McCarthyism. At that time, the whole country went through an “anti-communist witch hunt.” Opposing communism was indeed beneficial to America, and as someone who comes from a communist country myself, I understand the many evils of that system. However, during that period, anyone suspected of “sympathizing with communism” or having “left-leaning ideas” could be investigated, lose their job, or be blacklisted. The author was one of the rebellious young poets known as the Beat Generation. Throug...