Author: mara.ahmed

Silvio Rodriguez – Ojala

ojala, a spanish word with arabic roots, translates into “god willing” or “i hope so” – i’m guessing it’s a corruption of “inshallah”. beautiful beautiful song.

OJALA

ojala que las hojas no te toquen el cuerpo cuando caigan
para que no las puedas convertir en cristal
ojala que la lluvia deje de ser milagro que baja por tu cuerpo
ojala que la luna pueda salir sin ti
ojala que la tierra no te bese los pasos

ojala se te acabe la mirada constante
la palabra precisa la sonrisa perfecta
ojala pase algo que te borre de pronto
una luz cegadora, un disparo de nieve
ojala por lo menos que me lleve la muerte
para no verte tanto para no verte siempre
en todos los segundos y en todas las visiones
ojala que no pueda tocarte ni en canciones

ojala que la aurora no de gritos que caigan en mi espalda
ojala qu tu nombre se le olvide a esta voz
ojala las paredes no retengan tu ruido de camino canzado
ojala que el deseo se vaya tras de ti
a tu viejo gobierno de difuntos y flores.

ojala se te acabe la mirada constante
la palabra precisa la sonrisa perfecta
ojala pase algo que te borre de pronto
una luz cegadora, un disparo de nieve
ojala por lo menos que me lleve la muerte
para no verte tanto para no verte siempre
en todos los segundos y en todas las visiones
ojala que no pueda tocarte ni en canciones

ojala pase algo que te borre de pronto
una luz cegadora, un disparo de nieve
ojala por lo menos que me lleve la muerte
para no verte tanto para no verte siempre
en todos los segundos y en todas las visiones
ojala que no pueda tocarte ni en canciones

translation:

If only falling leaves stopped caressing your body
So you couldn’t turn them into crystals anymore;
If only the rain would cease to be a miracle sliding down your body;
If only the moon could rise without you;
If only the earth wouldn’t kiss your every step.

If only you didn’t have that piercing glance,
Such precise words, such a perfect smile;
If only something would erase you from my mind:
A blinding light, a sudden shot of snow;
If only death at last would deliver me
From seeing you everywhere –
Every single moment, in every fleeting vision;
If only I couldn’t touch you anymore, not even in my songs.

If only the dawn would stop beckoning to me –
If only its voice would forget your name;
If only your steps stopped echoing against the walls;
If only my desire would disappear like you did
Into a world of dead people and flowers.

If only you didn’t have that piercing glance,
Such precise words, such a perfect smile;
If only something would erase you from my mind:
A blinding light, a sudden shot of snow;
If only death at last would deliver me
From seeing you everywhere –
Every single moment, in every fleeting vision;
If only I couldn’t touch you anymore, not even in my songs.

From “An Ethical Tradition Betrayed”

I realized there that anybody from a dominating group who tries to dehumanize people from a minority group, can only do so if by education, indoctrination and propaganda he has already been dehumanized himself, independent of the uniform he wears. (Hajo Meyer)

Khalid Mish’al: We will not sell our people or principles for foreign aid

this was back in 2006. “Our message to the Israelis is this: we do not fight you because you belong to a certain faith or culture. Jews have lived in the Muslim world for 13 centuries in peace and harmony… If you are willing to accept the principle of a long-term truce, we are prepared to negotiate the terms. Hamas is extending a hand of peace to those who are truly interested in a peace based on justice.” (Khalid Mish’al is head of the political bureau of Hamas) Full article.

Reasons to Kill: A conversation with Richard E. Rubenstein

“There is no way to justify a “War on Terrorism” that obfuscates America’s imperial role, portrays the leaders of mass movements like the Taliban and Hezbollah as isolated terrorists, corrupts and brutalizes societies subject to U.S. intervention, and inflames the structural situation that is generating anti-Western violence. It is not just a new foreign policy we need but a new way of understanding ourselves and the world we inhabit.” (Richard E. Rubenstein) Full article.

The Shadow over Israel by Margaret Atwood

I’d been told ahead of time that Israelis would try to cover up the Shadow, but instead they talked about it non-stop. Two minutes into any conversation, the Shadow would appear. It’s not called the Shadow, it’s called “the situation.” It haunts everything. The Shadow is not the Palestinians. The Shadow is Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians, linked with Israeli’s own fears. The worse the Palestinians are treated in the name of those fears, the bigger the Shadow grows, and then the fears grow with them; and the justifications for the treatment multiply. The attempts to shut down criticism are ominous, as is the language being used. Once you start calling other people by vermin names such as “vipers,” you imply their extermination. To name just one example, such labels were applied wholesale to the Tutsis months before the Rwanda massacre began. Studies have shown that ordinary people can be led to commit horrors if told they’ll be acting in self-defense, for “victory,” or to benefit mankind. (Margaret Atwood) Full article.

Silvio Rodriguez – Te amaré

lovely.

TE AMARE

Te amaré, te amaré como al mundo
Te amaré aunque tenga final
Te amaré, te amaré en lo profundo
Te amaré como tengo que amar.

Te amaré, te amaré como pueda
Te amaré aunque no sea la paz
Te amaré, te amaré lo que queda
Te amaré cuando acabe de amar

Te amaré, te amaré si estoy muerto
Te amaré al día siguiente además
Te amaré, Te amaré como siento
Te amaré con adiós, con jamás.

Te amaré, Te amaré junto al viento
Te amaré como único sé
Te amaré hasta el fin de los tiempos
Te amaré y después te amaré.

Silvio rodriguez Playa giron

This Cuban singer-songwriter, loved across Latin America but practically unknown in the US, was always a great believer in his country’s socialist revolution. He wrote this anthem-like song while working on the “Playa Girón” fishing trawler, in honor of the men who helped fight off the invasion at the Bay of Pigs – something all Cubans are proud of. And yet, when you read the words, the song is far from simple-minded propaganda.

PLAYA GIRON

Comrade poets, taking into account the latest trends in poetry,
I want to ask: (It’s urgent to me!)
What sort of adjectives should we use to write a poem about a ship,
without sounding sentimental, failing to be revolutionary,
or coming off like some pamphlet;
Should I use words like “Cuban Fishing Fleet” and “Bay of Pigs?”

Comrade musicians, taking into account today’s daring polyphonic songs,
I want to ask: (It’s urgent to me!)
What harmonies should we use to compose the song of this ship
with men who were never kids, men, purely men, aboard,
black, red, blue men, the men of the Bay of Pigs?

Comrade historians, bearing in mind how relentless Truth must be,
I want to ask: (It’s so urgent to me!)
What should I say, what rules should I respect?
If someone steals food and then gives up his life, what should be done?
How far can we follow these truths?
How much do we really know?
So, let them write their own story, the men of the Bay of Pigs.

Israel Navy reserves officers: Allow external Gaza flotilla probe

“We disagree with the widespread claims that this was the result of an intelligence rift,” said the officers. “In addition, we do not accept claims that this was a ‘public relations failure’ and we think that the plan was doomed to failure from the beginning. First and foremost, we protest the fact that responsibility for the tragic results was immediately thrust onto the organizers of the flotilla. This demonstrates contempt for the responsibility that belongs principally to the hierarchy of commanders and those who approved the mission.” Full article.