War

November 19, 2015 — Bob Marley, Haile Selassie, war, world dominance

“That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes; That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race; That until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain but a fleeting illusion, to be pursued but never attained; And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes that hold our brothers in Angola, in Mozambique and in South Africa in subhuman bondage have been toppled and destroyed; Until bigotry and prejudice and malicious and inhuman self-interest have been replaced by understanding and tolerance and good-will; Until all Africans stand and speak as free beings, equal in the eyes of all men, as they are in the eyes of Heaven; Until that day, the African continent will not know peace. We Africans will fight, if necessary, and we know that we shall win, as we are confident in the victory of good over evil.”

Haile Selassie address to United Nations Oct 6, 1963

Many music fans may think that Bob Marley wrote the lyrics to the popular song War.  The song was created to immortalize a speech given at the UN in 1963.  We are farther from the dream of lasting peace around the world than we were in 1963 because technology has served good and evil with equal measure.  Now war moves faster and can potentially do much more damage quickly.  I always loved this song and the idea that a tiny man from Africa delivered this truth, eloquence, and enlightenment to the United Nations.   It was prophetic.

It has always made me feel uplifted because as I sing along I get louder and more committed as we arrive at the part about the victory of good over evil…right over wrong, yeah.  I am one of those who fiercely believes in that victory in the long run.  At this time I am having  problems envisioning how the good is going to mange this conquest.  Most people in history were dragged into war, forced to fight, because it is insane to take these violent risks.  The ease with which the youth now is being convinced to start and end a private suicide war shows how far out of control this war/peace balance is.  We must find ways to support compassion and fairness on earth because our futures depend on it.  Jah, Ras Tafari, gentle reader.  Keep the faith, baby.