The 2011 Bill of Rights Day Haiku Challenge concluded on 12/16/2011. Mahalo to all who contributed!
For the 2012 Bill of Rights Day Haiku Challenge, click here.
Submissions were made via email, facebook, etc – they are grouped by Amendment, where specified or obvious. In the spirit of the 1st Amendment, haiku are published verbatim, and may not reflect the views of the ACLU of Hawaii, and may not be suitable for all readers. Inspired? (we are!) Is your favorite Amendment still not haikued? Add your voice! Submit YOUR haiku to office@acluhawaii.org!
1st Amendment: Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause, freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition
I worship a god You worship no god at all We are both welcome – Example haiku Freedom of Speech hammering her edge of truth Foundry of Sky. - @apwpoet (via Twitter) How happy that free speech spans a White House peace protest and zombie costumes (http://reason.com/blog/2010/02/26/zombie-wrongfully-detained-hav) – Veronica Lorson Fowler Expressed aloud disdain for current policy. No cops, no worries. - Benjamin William Allen Our freedom of speech By Citizens United Has been perverted – James Palmer The First Amendment Keeps church and state separate. May it always be.- Jeff Miller Never surrender Basic rights out of fear Of an opinion - Rene Canham Free speech rights: secure? Only if we’re vigilant. Otherwise, - Bill Dingfelder The need for money To win elective office Kills democracy – James Palmer The rights of conscience A wall of separation Sov’reign reverence - Skepticles Freedom to Assemble, Speak out or to write, We died for and live for, penned here black and white. - Maurice Friedman/Bard Of Earth One person standing, Dissenting, opposed but safe: The right to be heard. - Carolyn Jackson (this haiku also inspired by 5th and 14th Amendments) I do not like you you can say or opine I may say the same – Priya Varaprath Speak now for all time be silent for no one Our first amendment – Carol Bain Freedom of conscience
Government may not offend
Fight for civil rights - Holly Huber No paper tiger or parchment barrier protects if silent – Carol Bain State and church don’t mix First Amendment is the fix Keep church out of state - Mitch Kahle You annex my land I occupy the Thom. Square I’m the one wrong - Derek JW I speak my truth, a voice cries for justice, Justice is truth for both. – Barbara Franklin Pulled over by cop Told him he was full of shit Punched me in the eye - Anonymous To free human souls True rights of We the People This we live and breathe - Will Espero Use it or lose it Choose to not remain silent Unless arrested – Elmer Gantry
2nd Amendment: Sovereign state, the right to keep and bear arms
Commas screw it up: Yes, Virginia, there is no sanity clause there. - Bill Dingfelder The Founding Fathers Could not foresee machine guns Instead of flintlocks - James Palmer The right to bear arms. A conundrum for us all. We need a balance. – Anonymous The right to bare arms? Michele Obama OWNS it! That’s not what you meant? - CAH I may own a gun The second amendment says, But I don’t want one. - Keene Rees Fight for one’s nation Protection of family We defend with arms - Will Espero God Damn It To Hell Put new handgun in pocket Shot my own foot off - Anonymous The right to bear arms? I’d take gorilla instead. Stronger, with fingers. - Anonymous 3rd Amendment: Protection from quartering of troops Uninvited troops Taking up the couch. Hey, please don’t block my TV. - Bill Dingfelder4th Amendment: Protection from unreasonable search and seizure
Warrant for my house? Yes, but why not for my car? Search me, I don’t know… - Bill Dingfelder Plan to search and seize? Not without a warrant, pig! Keep the f*&* out, yo! – Anonymous5th Amendment: Due process, double jeopardy, self incrimination, eminent domain.
Habeas Corpus NDAA passes, no veto in sight Nice knowing you Due Process - Ann Ominous Runaway fears cause Indefinite detention At home and abroad. - John Chasnoff (this Haiku inspired by the disastrous National Defense Authorization Act) Double jeopardy? Not unless I’m on that show with Alex Trebak. – Bill Dingfelder Questions can be sly. “Are you still beating your wife?” Better to zip it. – Frankie Futrelle I was beaten down Handcuffed and thrown in a jail Case now dismissed… pfft – Damon Tucker 6th Amendment: Trial by jury & rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel My day in court, but I couldn’t afford a lawyer. This one? Hey, wake up! – Bill Dingfelder The NDAA? Article 6 says no to endless detention - @hello9 (via Twitter)7th Amendment: Civil trial by jury
Let my peers decide Mediation? What is that? Alas there are none - Harvey Lung Jury of my peers: Hope they’re just as smart and kind and handsome as me! – Bill Dingfelder 8th Amendment: Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel & unusual punishment Stop executions The death penalty is cruel Life without parole – ACLU of Ohi0 Cruel, unusual? Arizona cons in pink undies – does that fit? – Bill Dingfleder 9th Amendment: Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution Not listed? Then they’re rights “retained by the people?” (Guess gay rights are fine!) - Bill Dingfelder 10th Amendment: Powers of States and people Federal powers Get Tea Partiers all steamed (or so they’ve stated…) - Bill Dingfelder19th Amendment: No sex discrimination in the voting booth
Women weren’t allowed When my own mother was young. Today I can vote! - Keene ReesMisc/Tributes
Keep it like it reads. (Fine, unless you’re gay or bi, female, or not white) – Bill Dingfelder (inspired by the concept of Constitutional originalism) Precious liberty Freedom can’t protect itself Fight, A C L U! – Debra Sanchez Professor Van Dyke. Hero to the Bill of Rights. I miss him so much. - Anonymous Our brave Bill of Rights essence of liberty My freedoms endure – Carol Bain We must be prepared To protect all rights or Risk loss forever – Carol Bain The most fun of all is my unauthorized free will of action - Carol Bain Liberties are lost Like muscles atrophy Exercise all rights! - Carol Bain
