How Do You Treat Others Like That?

How am I supposed to break

Twenty-two years of tradition

Of call and response

Of live and learn

Of mess around and find out

That if I tell the truth

If I even tell you how I feel

I will be punished.

How am I supposed to unlearn

Twenty-two years of habit

Of blind obedience

Of day-in-day-out

Of never questioning

Your superiority, your authority

If I even look at you wrong

I will be punished.

How am I supposed to cope with

Twenty-two years of abuse

Of dictatorship

Of threats and lies

Of psychological manipulation

And knowing that you would

Just love to use those prized guns

To punish me.