Re: Labi Siffre - "Something Inside So Strong"

David,

Thanks. I'm always happy to be called romantic and idealistic. You seam 
to assign a very particular reading to this song. While I won't deny I 
can identify with that reading, it was not part of my message. I 
presented this song as it was written, and as it was sung by the 
children in my son's class. Labi Siffre is a black, gay songwriter. Many 
of his songs referred to the situation in south Africa in the days of 
apartheid. The barriers in this song are metaphorical.

This song, as I understand it, is all about freedom. As I said in my 
original mail "I find them so very relevant to our part of the world, 
but perhaps that's because they are relevant to any part of the world."

As for coercing children to do things, the repertoire of the show was 
chosen by teachers and children together. The children had heard this 
song in a concert, and found it relevant to their experience in school, 
to the values and strength they got there.

One last thing, I have quite a few answers to your question "how should 
we defend ourselves?", but I'll just say this - first tell yourself what 
it is you're defending, the rest will follow.

all the best,

Yishay


David Rovner wrote:

>  
> Very romantic and very idealistic, Yishai, but how do suggest we 
> should defend ourselves ?
>  
> Besides that I'm against coercing children to do things adults want 
> them to do -- not in London, not in Jerusalem, and not in Bethlehem . 
> . . etc.
>  
> We must teach freedom in freedom -- not indoctrination . . . then 
> we will have peace !!
>  
> For a better world !!
> ~ David Rovner
>  
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* Yishay Mor <mailto:y.mor-xaKI+XbQf9Vaa/[email protected]>
>     *To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
>     ; democratic-schools-israel
>     <mailto:democratic-schools-israel-hHKSG33TihhbjbujkaE4pw@public.gmane.org>
>     *Sent:* Sunday, July 25, 2004 1:36 AM
>     *Subject:* [democratic-schools-israel] Labi Siffre - "Something
>     Inside So Strong"
>
>     For the last two years we have been living in London. My son (age
>     8) has
>     had the fortune to attend a wonderful school here. Not a democratic
>     school, nor any other "special" school. Just a regular state
>     school in
>     the London Borough of Camden, led be very special people.
>
>     Last week was his last at this school. At their leavers assembly, the
>     children sang "Something Inside So Strong" by Labi Siffre. I was so
>     moved by these words, that I decided to share them with you. I
>     find them
>     so very relevant to our part of the world, but perhaps that's because
>     they are relevant to any part of the world.
>
>     I wish for the day I'll hear these words sung by school children in
>     Arabic and Hebrew.
>
>     http://www.so-strong.com/archives/music/lyrics/05_so_strong.htm
>
>     Yishay Mor
>
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>     	
>
>
>         ***Something Inside So Strong*
>         (From the CD - "So Strong <../../amazon/labisiffre-isZ3ANSNRje7cbEvJA/[email protected]>")
>
>         The higher you build your barriers
>         The taller I become
>         The further you take my rights away
>         The faster I will run
>         You can deny me
>         You can decide to turn your face away
>         No matter 'cause there's
>
>         Something inside so strong
>         I know that I can make it
>         Though you're doing me wrong, so wrong
>         You thought that my pride was gone... oh no
>         There's something inside so strong
>         Something inside so strong
>
>         The more you refuse to hear my voice
>         The louder I will sing
>         You hide behind walls of Jericho
>         Your lies will come tumbling
>         Deny my place in time
>         You squander wealth that's mine
>         My light will shine so brightly it will blind you
>         Because there's
>
>         Something inside so strong
>         I know that I can make it
>         Though you're doing me wrong, so wrong
>         You thought that my pride was gone... oh no
>         There's something inside so strong
>         Something inside so strong
>
>         Brothers and sisters
>         When they insist we're just not good enough
>         Well, we know better
>         Just look 'em in the eyes and say
>         We're gonna do it anyway
>         We're gonna do it anyway
>         because there's
>
>         Something inside so strong
>         I know that I can make it
>         Though you're doing me wrong, so wrong
>         You thought that my pride was gone... oh no
>         There's something inside so strong
>         Something inside so strong
>
>              
>
>          
>
>     	
>     	
>
>
>
>         <../../links.htm>
>
>
>          
>
>
>         <00_index.htm> 
>
>          
>
>          
>
>          
>
>
>          
>
>          
>
>          
>
>
>
>
>
>
>         <../../prose/alien/09_astigmatism.htm#jesuswasajew>
>
>
>     	
>     		
>
 _________________________________________
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