Tried unsuccessfully to read on jolting work-bound bus, mostly because could not concentrate. Lyrics to songs that have sung time and again for sleepily drunk party-goers bounced around inside my head providing anything but lullaby-like comfort.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, every one.
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn.
Have refrained from commenting upon the war that find ourselves presently involved in, and will not do so after this point. Will only say that am not a supporter of it, nor the basis on which it is founded. All that aside, feel a v. strong sense of loyalty and concern for those fighting in far off sandstorm of confused ideals. Brother airman, sister soldier, cousin infantryman -- do you really believe what you are there to do? At exactly the same moment am asking that question, the final verse of another song, lullabied to yours truly since before the days when had any notion of politic, propaganda and patriotism, takes over the spot of the other, on repeat.
Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why.
But the man who treasures freedom
Like the swallow has learned to fly.
Perhaps do not agree with the president on current political agenda. Perhaps cannot see clear to justifying a war and sending our brother, sister and cousin off to battle in it. But am touched that there are still some who believe that their efforts for this ideal will be repaid. Do hope that their belief provides swallow-like wings. Their intangible compensation. Because as for now,
God says, the check is in the mail.
Impressed with the lyric to the Jewish folk song. Do you know it's a Holocaust metaphor?
Posted by: supersal24 at March 26, 2003 11:01 AMyes. though the translation from the original yiddish leaves out a bit, it's still a very strong allegory. and a beautiful song. my mom sang it to us growing up.
Posted by: Fish at March 26, 2003 11:06 AMA very touching post, Fish.
Posted by: dave at March 26, 2003 11:20 AMi too have not posted on the topic of war. i lean way over to the side of the protesting folk, as i am not happy that we have this war on our plates. i had nightmares last night that i was out driving, dodging bombs and bullets right here in l.a., on the 101 freeway. everyone tells me, "what's the point of protesting, we're in the war, you should support the troops." my reply: protesting IS supporting the troops; i would rather those men and women be safe at home with their families.
i am so scared, sad and angry.
fish,
I think you artfully explored a confusing and difficult topic-- one that all of us are trying to deal with in one way or another. As long as well all remain informed, continue to vote, and hold our elected officials accountable, I don't know if there's really much more we can do.
Sometimes I worry about our troops, knowing that most of them are younger than me, and knowing that I'm not very old at all.
Posted by: mark at March 26, 2003 01:00 PMway to attempt to walk through this minefield of ambivalence a lot of seem to feel in one way or another
Posted by: the bricklayer at March 26, 2003 01:07 PMOh, I am not ambivalent. I care. But I care about the humanity involved, not the politics. Divided, I suppose, but not purely ambivalent.
I'm vapid, but not completely vapid.
I have not commented too much on the war because I don't want it to consume my life and thoughts.
Brilliant post again, Fish.
Posted by: Indigo Steve at March 26, 2003 02:12 PMThe war is a dangerous thing to post about, I think. Because it can set off readers and lurkers and tons of people who never came here and god knows how they showed up. Everyone's got an opinion and on something like this and since it's so serious, those opinions tend to be pretty vehement (word choice?). While I would like very much to have a round table discussion with a bunch of people (especially my favorite weblog writers and commenters) I think people find it incongruous when their - well, "their" - fun web page has suddenly been invaded by seriousness and controversy. Like Groucho Marx being serious. People hate that.
You walked lightly; you did nicely.
Incidentally, when I saw "like the swallow" I of course instantly expected a dirty post. I suppose a novena is in order.
And, interestingly enough, "Like The Swallow" is also the name of a great Saint Etienne song.
Not that it really matters...
Posted by: Frankenstein at March 26, 2003 09:43 PMIn keeping with the song lyrics theme, this is by the Flaming Lips and my boyfriend posted it on his site:
I thought I was smart, I thought I was right
I thought it better not to fight
I thought there was a virtue in always being cool
So it came time to fight, I thought I’ll just step aside
And that the time would prove you wrong
And that you would be the fool
I don’t know where the sunbeams end and that the starlights begin
It’s all a mystery
Oh, to fight is to defend
If it’s not now then tell me when would be the time
That you would stand up and be a man
For to lose I could accept
But to surrender I just wept
And regretted this moment, oh that I, I was the fool
I don’t know where the sunbeams end and that the starlights begin
It’s all a mystery
And I don’t know how a man decides what’s right for his own life
It’s all a mystery
‘Cause I’m a man, not a boy
And there are things you can’t avoid
You have to face them when you’re not prepared to face them
If I could, I would, but you’re with him
I’d do no good
I should have fought him but instead I let him, I let him take you
I don’t know where the sunbeams end and that the starlights begin
It’s all a mystery
And I don’t know how a man decides what’s right for his own life
It’s all a mystery
If not fighting a war against a tyrant who may harm us is 'peace' then I don't know what the point of even trying to survive is. War has solved many of problems: slavery, Nazism etc. Not doing anything is an action all of its own though it might not seem that way. I prefer the action we are currently taking to keeping our heads down and hoping not to get smacked harder than the last time.
Posted by: Kashei at March 26, 2003 09:56 PMSomehow failed in my attempt to make the lyrics above italicized but for the sake of clarity note that the lyrics end with 'It’s all a mystery' and its me speaking from there.
Posted by: Kashei at March 26, 2003 09:57 PMOkay, you've got me with this one, Fish. It's true what they say about it being good for the brain.:)
Personally, I'm dead set against this war, but have also struggled with the question of how to reconcile these feelings with a concern for the welfare of both US and (my own) British troops. They didn't ask to be in this situation. They're just doing their jobs.
Just wanted to voice admiration for once again articulately and sensitively voicing your thought process in reaching some kind of conclusion - just one of the things that makes your blog such a good read.
Posted by: Ben at March 27, 2003 05:38 AM