Simple Song of Freedom

Today is Yom Ha'Atzmaut - Israel's Memorial Day. It is quite fitting this observance comes at the conclusion of this particular week. We mourn those affected by the horror of the events at VA Tech and most recently, today the hostage (and gunman) killed at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston; while we are at it, we can add in the absolute crimes of humanity happening in Darfur and in too many places around the world. Today also marks 8 years since the Columbine HS massacre. My heart is so heavy with the thought of the sheer amount of suffering in the world brought on by our fellow human beings.

However, tomorrow is the 18th anniversary of the uprising in Tiananmen Square. 100,000 students from more than 40 universities gathered at Beijing's Tiananmen Square to voice their discontent with China's authoritative communist government, and call for greater democracy. Ignoring government warnings of violent suppression of any mass demonstration, the students were joined by workers, intellectuals, and civil servants. The picture that summed it up...





Towards the end of his life, Bobby Darin wrote a song called Simple Song of Freedom, whose lyrics remain relevant to this day.

Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We the people here don't want a war

Hey there, Mister Black Man can you hear me?
I won't dig your diamonds or hunt your game
I just want to be, someone known to you as me
and I will bet my life you want the same

So come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don't want a war

Seven hundred million are you listening?
Most of what you read is made of lies
But speaking one to one, ain't it everybody's sun
To wake to in the morning when we rise?

So come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
We, the people here, don't want a war

Brother Yareshenko are you busy?
If not would you drop a friend a line?
Tell me if the man, who is plowing up your land
has got the war machine upon his mind

Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air Tell the people everywhere
That we the people here don't want a war

Now no doubt some folks enjoy doin' battle
Like presidents and ministers and kings
But let us build them shelves where they can fight among themselves
and leave the people be who like to sing

Come and sing a simple song of freedom
Sing it like you've never sung before
Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
That we the people here don't want a war

Let it fill the air
Tell the people everywhere
That we the people here don't want a war