Reply #51: "Take your power back, or take the blame"

[Minstrel Boy]

One of the saddest songs, and most truthful, about today's America: "United States" by Seize the Day. Two versions can be downloaded here: http://www.seizetheday.org/UnitedStates.htm

From "United States":

It could've been Manhattan on the day the market fell
And it could've been a candy-store in Kandahar as well
And she might have been a Moslem, but it's kind've hard to tell
When your body's ground to zero and your skin's been fried to hell

...

America, my family, the whole world feels your pain …
And before this war is over, you'll make sure we do again.
Even as the tower tumbled on that fire-fighting team
We wondered who you'd barbecue for puncturing your dream

So tell me it's the war to end all war, or don't tell me nothin'
'Cos if this sacrifice don't change the world, it was not worth making.
Seems to me, you did your best to put your hand in the hornet-nest that bit you -
When will it hit you - There's other people need as much as you.
And greed is no excuse for what you do.

You're beautiful, big-hearted, and in many ways you're free
And you're smart enough to get the world how you want it to be
So it's hard for me to tell you what you shouldn't have to hear:
Your nation is that terrorist most human beings fear.

Nicaragua, El Salvador, Columbia and Nam,
Cambodia, Grenada, Chile, and Afghanistan,
Palestinian and Iraqi, and some more you never knew -
A united states of people who deserved as much as you

So tell me that you don't support this war, or don't tell me nothin'
'Cos if this song of mine don't change your heart, then it was not worth singing.
But I believe you did your best, chasing life and happiness,
Never wondered never guessed, how the news had been suppressed
Of a never-ending killing-fest, rip the kid from the Mama's breast,
Shrapnel thru her daddy's chest while we're all singing "Glory Hallelujah!"
I'm talking to ya -
Somebody made a killing in your name.
So take your power back, or take the blame.