Re: Labi Siffre - "Something Inside So Strong"

Hi Yishai,
I hope you are enjoying your studies and your stay in London --- besahna
habaa beirushalaim ;-) .

I'm sure you'll agree with me that when you post some writing -- and you
don't care to give your own interpretation -- any interpretation besides
yours may be legitimate -- specially when it says "the walls of Jericho" or
"You squander wealth that's mine", for instance. So this is the case. If you
want to avoid misunderstandings, you'd better be crystal clear. The barriers
in the song maybe metaphorical -- but they may also be real !!

Regarding children at this "just regular state school" you are referring, do
they also choose what they learn there ?
You may wish for the day you'll hear those words sung by school children in
Arabic and Hebrew -- and any othe language -- but it might happen they won't
be willing to do so !!

I'd rather say: I wish for the day I see children doing what their inner
self tells them to do.
So, as americans say, "if you want something done -- do it yourself". Don't
ask somebody else to do it, and don't coerce somebody else either !!

And one last thing, I'm just defending my life -- that is all, and I happen
to live in Israel. Not that the government represents me so much. I was not
born in Israel, so I am also paying for the mistakes done by "our" beloved
leaders -- before me arriving here.

all the best,
~ David


----- Original Message -----
From: "Yishay Mor" <y.mor-xaKI+XbQf9Vaa/[email protected]>
To: <democratic-schools-israel-hHKSG33TihhbjbujkaE4pw@public.gmane.org>
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 12:37 PM
Subject: Re: [democratic-schools-israel] 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>
> >
>  _________________________________________
> | Research Officer, www.WebLabs.eu.com    |
> | y.mor-xaKI+XbQf9Vaa/[email protected] +44-20-77632160 fax 2138|
> | Yahoo, Jabber, AIM: yishaym(@jabber.org)|
> | 23-29 Emerald Street, London WC1N 3QS   |
> |_________________________________________|



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