General,
Your Tank Is a Powerful Vehicle

General, your tank is a powerful vehicle.

It smashes down forest and crushes a hundred men.

But it has one defect:

It needs a driver.

General, your bomber is powerful.

It flies faster than a storm and carries more than an

elephant.

But it has one defect:

It needs a mechanic.

General, man is very useful.

He can fly and he can kill.

But he has one defect:

He can think.

[A poem by Bertolt Brecht]

 

Why?

 

Why do the babies starve

When there�s enough food to feed the world

When there�re so many of us

Are there people still alone

Why are the missiles called peace keepers

When they�re aimed to kill

Why is a woman still not safe

When she�s in her home

Love is hate

War is peace

No is yes

And we�re all free

But somebody�s gonna have to answer

The time is coming soon

Amidst all these questions and contradictions

There�re some who seek the truth

But somebody�s gonna have to answer

The time is coming soon

When the blind remove their blinders

And the speechless speak the truth

[A Tracy Chapman song from a 1986 album]