The Silent Majority

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • 160 reads
9 comments
 

Over here, our people
are given the choice
to show opposition
with a powerful voice.
There are large groups
of vociferous die-hards
who protest with flags
and hand-held placards,
determined to exercise
their democratic right.
They will not surrender
as for change they fight.

Someplace else, though
there is no opportunity
to show disagreement
with a despotic authority.
But quiet as church mice
there is a silent majority
which for apathy or fear
is devoid of sonority.
They will never achieve
the freedom they yearn
unless they rise to show 
that the worm can turn

Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Opinion
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by GlosKat on

Edmund Burke - "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing".

It must be hard to rise up against tyranny if you know you're likely to be incarcarated, or tortured or murdered.  I admire people who are brave enough to do so, but not sure I would be. 

 

Submitted by Makis on

This quote is often attributed to Edmund Burke, but there is no proof he ever used these words. John Stuart Mill is a more likely attribution, but even that attribution is shakey. john F Kennedy did though so we could settle on him?

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Tom. Nice hearing from you. Regardless of who said it it's stil a good and relevant quote. I am positive it wan't  me.smiley

Best wishes and thanks for reading.

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hello Kat.  I too would not put my head over the parapet but thousands have done all over the world and paid the price with their life ike a namesake of mine I spoke about in my story  https://www.abctales.com/story/luigipagano/relatively-speaking

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

You have great rhythm in this one :0)
Perhaps apathy is a luxury of freedom. Having said that, our neighbour's intelligent, caring and creative daughter is going to court for protesting peacefully for Palestine, in England.
Thank you very much for this thoughtful IP response Luigi
I hope you had a lovely Birthday :0)

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Di. No one should be prosecuted for a peaceful protest, whatever their belief. Unfortunately, though, certain demonstrations may escalate into violent conduct.
My thanks to you and to the ABC editors who have cherried this pom.

Luigi x

P.S. I have just spotted a spelling mistake that I feel bound to correct. Sorry, folks. angry

 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

We need to hold those hand-held placards higher because the right to hold them is slowly being taken away from us. 

Turlough

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

If that's the case, it's a worrying situation.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Have you not seen on the news the peaceful demonstrators with their pieces of card inscribed with the words 'I support Palestine Action' manhandled and carted away by the police in England? Respectable people, many of whom were elderly, disabled or blind. I've seen it on the news here in Bulgaria.

The well known Irish author Sally Rooney daren't visit Britain for fear of being arrested and it's been suggested that her books be removed from British bookshops because of her vocal support for the same organisation.

It is indeed a worrying situation.

Turlough