What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain…
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine…
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we’ve shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying Earth its weeping shores?
-
What have we done to the world?
Look what we’ve done.
What about all the peace,
That you pledge your only son?
What about flowering fields?
Is there a time?
What about all the dreams,
That you said was yours and mine?
-
Did you ever stop to notice,
All the children dead from war?
Did you ever stop to notice,
This crying Earth its weeping shores?
-
I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don’t know where we are
Although I know we’ve drifted far
-
Hey
what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can’t even breathe
(What about us)
What about everything
(What about us)
I given you
(What about us)
What about nature’s worth
(ooo, ooo)
It’s our planet’s womb
(What about us)
What about animals
(What about it)
We’ve turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about elephants
(What about us)
Have we lost their trust
(What about us)
What about crying whales
(What about us)
We’re ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about forest trails
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
What about the common man
(What about us)
Can’t we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
(What about us)
Can’t you hear them cry
(What about us)
Where did we go wrong
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about baby boy
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
(What about us)
What about the man
(What about us)
What about the crying man
(What about us)
What about Abraham
(What was us)
What about death again
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn
-
Lyrics from Michael Jackson’s earth Song
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usUWkIHVzo8]
Father
Help Your children
And don’t let them fall
By the side of the road, mmm…mmm…
And teach them
To love one another
That Heaven might find
A place in their hearts
‘Cause Jesus is love
He won’t let you down
And I know He’s mine forever
Oh, in my heart
We’ve got to walk on
Walk on through temptation
‘Cause His love and His wisdom
Will be our helpin’ hand
And I know the Truth
And His words will be our salvation
Lift up our hearts
To be thankful and glad
That Jesus is love
He won’t let you down
And I know He’s mine
Deep down in my soul
Jesus is love
Oh, yes, He is
He won’t let you down
And I know He’s mine, He’s mine, He’s mine, He’s mine, all mine
Forever, oh, in my heart
Help me, heart, heart
Ooh…ooh…
(Deep in my heart)
I know, I know, I know, I know
Ah, ’cause His love’s the power (Power)
His love’s the glory (Glory)
Forever (Ever and ever)
Ooh, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Ooh, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Ooh, yeah, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
I wanna follow your star
Wherever it leads me
And I don’t mind, Lord
I hope you don’t mind
I wanna walk with you
And talk with you
And do all the things you want me to do
‘Cause I know that Jesus
(Jesus is Love, I know) ‘Cause I know, Lord
(And if you ask, I’ll show)
(Love is the word forever) And ever and ever
Who can bring you love (Jesus)
Who can bring you joy (Jesus)
Who can turn your life around (Jesus), oh
Ooh, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Hey
Who will pick you up (Jesus)
When
THE COMMODORES – Jesus Is Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQPKBkW6a1s
Photograph by MJSITE
I have a friend who was pregnant several years ago and the doctors and nurses asked her to terminate the pregnancy due to complications. She was given the liberty to make her own decision. For her it was not an option and she opted to take the baby to term if it was possible. She was not alone as her family and friends supported her. She learned all the medical terms and was well versed on the situation. Besides carrying her cross she had to deal with the reactions (whispers) of nurses; the black girl had a degree, hence the reason for her knowledge. I sure there were difficult and awkward moments which was unpleasant given the already strenuous position. No matter if you are black or white one can become bitter and disheartened but in this case she told her self she can’t stop fighting.
Sometimes in life while carrying our crosses we have no option but to carry the burden of dealing with of scoffers and mockers. I remember her bravery her tenacity in face of the odds she took full advantage of her liberty to carry the baby as long as it was possible that was the greatest possible expression of her individuality.
Sometimes in life we have to deal with the tyranny of the majority (tell men what to think, how to behave, discourages originality and spontaneity). This can be fatal to the individual and life as Hobbes put it can be solitary, poor nasty and brutish.
To this day my friend embraces her child as someone who was here and just went to sleep. Michael Jackson through his prodigious talents convinced the public of his individuality but was it tyranny of the majority that resulted in him gone too soon. Well, today they both sing love is here and now you are gone.
In the Bahamas there is one character that has a food store trolley cart laden with hub caps. He always has cardboard placards that are always thought provoking. I look forward to reading them when I pass him on Shirley Street. He is homeless but does not beg and always seems so self assured and independent with his trolley. He is known by the alias Pot Cake. In the Bahamas Pot Cake often refers to a stray dog. The other meaning is the burnt bottom of a pot; some say it is the sweetest part of the pot others think it is the worst. I would think from his demeanor that his meaning was based on the sweetest part of the pot. In Montserrat, in other Caribbean countries and world wide there are many such characters. Even in European countries, they have abandoned their laws that make vagrancy a crime.
I recall this man called Brim, in Montserrat, who made a living from begging for money. One day he approached a prominent person for some money. When the person hesitated in giving it to him, his words were you may have more money than me but you are not better than me. To this day that incident has been etched in this person’s mind and they have shared it with others.
Some homeless individuals may appear to suffering from mental illnesses but it is only because we can see them every day as we pass them by. They give us a peep into their secret worlds. We can only guess as to how many other persons suffer from disorders. Many of these homeless men and women have behavior that can only be explained by physicians, psychiatrists or psychologists but to me they are some of the most creative individuals you can come across. In history there have been many examples of eccentric behaviour be it in art, literature etc. There are many international examples such as Van Gogh, Dorian Grey, Michael Jackson etc. In every day life the man or woman on the street in order for them to counter their conditions (anxiety, manic depression, mania, depression, bipolar disorder, drug abuse) they behave in a particular ways; begging for funds, appear on the side of road cursing, scratching themselves all the time, not taking a bath for weeks, tearing their clothes off etc).
For me these antics of some homeless individuals evoke powerful imagery that stretches my thinking and deepens my understanding – giving me different perspectives on life. The next time you see a vagrant do not think about how you could wish them away and think thoughts of they should stop bumming around and find a job. Yes many of us may think ill of them but bear in mind that many of us who are not in the eyes of the public have control of our persona; we bring out what we want the world to see; the apollonian side (rational, formal, uncontrollably, predictable, cohesive , regulated). These homeless people on the other hand are individuals who show us their Dionysian side (disorder, falling apart, chaos, emotions, and irrationality) and in the background to there story are often interesting and profound and many of their quirks can be traced to family traits.
Yet not all of the homeless are strange and undisciplined characters. Living on an island as one would come across these personalities I notice that some are kind, some sincere, some genuine others insolent. Some would tug at our heart strings in one manner or the other and some inspire us to reevaluate ourselves when we finally do notice them.
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