We Are the World?

[nattyreb]

We Are the World?
[col. writ. 7/12/09(c) '09 Mumia Abu-Jamal


As the mania over the passing of Michael (notice that no last name is needed!) seems to die down, I recognize that there were a few of his hits that, if not set to music or armored with his sweet falsetto, would have caused me considerable concern.

The biggest of which was the title and lyrics of "We Are the World" a song which sticks to the ear like wax, co-written by the former Commodore Lionel Richie.

Although written to support humanitarian efforts to alleviate African hunger, and thus quite noble in intention, I've often taken quiet issue with the notion that " 'We' are the World."

In this instance art, even pop music, imitates and echoes larger themes in society -- even politics.

For millions of Americans, they actually think of themselves as 'the world' -- or the most important people in it, in much the same way that the British, or Romans, though of themselves during the height of their empires.

Most U.S. school students (even after years of No Child Left Behind) can't locate prominent places on the globe -- even places where U.S. forces are engaged in war!

Some can't find the U.S.! Not to mention what percent of the world's population lives in the U.S.! (Answer: less than 6%).

We are not the World. Americans form a small percentage of this vast population of the Earth.

We preach to the rest of the world as if we are the world --or at least the leaders of the world.

Now, it's true that the U.S.has the most powerful military -- and, up until recently, the most robust economy, but if the last few years have shown anything, it's that there are limits to that power.

Didn't the Iraq war show that? At least that?

Didn't the economic crisis of Sept. 2008, and the subsequent Recession show that?

Yet the U.S., now under new management, throws hard words at Iran -- for the suspicion that it may be pursuing nuclear weapons -- while looking the other way when India, Israel and Pakistan have nukes, because they're U.S. allies.

Is it coincidence that none of them joins the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which Iran signed in 1968 (when under the Shah)? Or that there was a secret plot to arm Iran with nukes when the Shah was running things, and a major U.S..ally?

Under the terms of the NPT (Article IX), any State can withdraw from it, if it asserts "extraordinary events" which places the nation in "supreme jeopardy."

How come some countries can have dozens, hundreds, thousands -- even tens of thousands of nukes- yet others can't have one?

We are not the world.

No matter how sweet the music, the numbers don't lie.

(c) '09 maj

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[Jalili]

Brother Mumia always breaks it down for FULL understanding.

If you don't feel his words, you just don't want to.