Last night as I was singing the song, “We are the world, we are the children...” in preparation for a concert honoring the Freedom Riders here in the United States, I thought of the demonstrators over in Egypt. They too, fight for their dignity as human beings. When I arrived home, still energized from those strong images, I saw something on TV that filled me with dread. I saw and heard the Egyptian people’s anguish over yet another broken hope. I wanted to close my eyes to it. I wanted to close my eyes...
Immediately, in my dreams, Amazon Sage transported me to that far away place that is now so close to my heart. Once again, I was at Liberation Square, in Cairo, Egypt. This time, the cries of the young girl, Yasmin, were for a different reason. Someone close to her was killed on the square. Try as she might, she could not close her eyes to what is happening in her home or outside of it; where the revolution that began as a protest of young hopefuls, has now taken on life changing proportions.
It was then that another great, old song came to mind; one that I hope all people of faith will sing together, with everyone who faces governmentally imposed suffering. Listen to the words of each verse and sing them as if you mean it. “We shall overcome... We’ll walk hand in hand... God is on our side... We are not afraid... We shall live in peace... some day.” Now, open your eyes my friends. Time to wake up.
