WEBVTT

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Oops.

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I did it again.

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This is one of the
subjects of poetry,

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an important subject
to the poem-- of poetry

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is misrepresentation and
how language is inaccurate,

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as well as accurate.

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And this is a poem that
I'm sure a couple of years

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ago was being written
all over the country.

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This is just sort
of my version of it,

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and it's sort of about
the misrepresentations

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of bureaucratic language.

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It's called "Operations."

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"In autumn, Operation
Enduring Freedom

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commenced, which
some people wanted

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to call Operation
Infinite Self-Indulgence.

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We tied flags to the
antenna of our cars

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that snapped like
fire when we drove.

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In winter, there was
Operation Gentle Sledgehammer,

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which seemed linguistically
a little underdigested.

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But we lined up squads
of second graders

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to stand at attention
while we beat a drum.

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Let me make it clear that
I was as doubtful as anyone

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about Operation
Racial Provocation.

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But I loved Operation
Religious Suspicion,

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which led to Operation
Eye For An Eye,

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which was succeeded by
Operation Helping Hand.

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Let me tell you, that
was a scary looking hand.

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But it was also a very
successful operation.

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Someday, you will be required
to perform a terrible deed

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in order to save yourself--

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to save yourself for what?

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That would be a question for
Operation Self-Examination

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to answer, which is a very
painful operation, performed

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without anesthesia in a naked
room full of shadows and light.

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Might I perhaps suggest instead
Operation Self-Medication,

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or Operation Endless
Mindless Distraction?

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In the meantime, Operation
Collateral Amnesia

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is proceeding very smoothly.

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When it is over, we want to
call it Operation One Big Happy

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Family.

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Is that OK with you?"

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