Katrina: Poverty, Race and Ethics

Survival
Bob Marley

How can you be sitting there
Telling me that you care -
That you care?
When every time I look around,
The people suffer in the suffering
In everyway, in everywhere.

We’re the survivors, yes: the black survivors!
I tell you what: some people got everything;
Some people got nothing;
Some people got hopes and dreams;
Some people got ways and means.

We’re the survivors, yes: the black survivors!
Yes, we’re the survivors, like Daniel out of the lions’ den
(black survivors) survivors, survivors!
So I idren, I sistren,
A-which way will we choose?
We better hurry; oh, hurry; oh, hurry; now!
’cause we got no time to lose.
Some people got facts and claims;
Some people got pride and shame;
Some people got the plots and schemes;
Some people got no aim it seems!

We’re the survivors, yes: the black survivors!
Tell you what: we’re the survivors, yeah! – the black survivors, yeah!
We’re the survivors, like shadrach, meshach and abednego
(black survivors),
Thrown in the fire, but-a never get burn.
So I idren, i-sistren,
The preaching and alking’ is done;
We’ve gotta live up, wo now, wo now! -
’cause the father’s time has come.
Some people put the best outside;
Some people keep the best inside;
Some people can’t stand up strong;
Some people won’t wait for long.

We’re the survivors
In this age of technological inhumanity (black survival),
Scientific atrocity (survivors),
Atomic misphilosophy (black survival),
Nuclear misenergy (survivors):
It’s a world that forces lifelong insecurity (black survival).

Together now:
We’re the survivors, yeah!
We’re the survivors!
Yes, the black survivors!
We’re the survivors:
A good man is never honoured (survivors)
In his own country (black survival).
Nothing change, nothing strange (survivors).
Nothing change, nothing strange (black survivors).
We got to survive, y’all! (survivors) - /fadeout/

But to live as one equal in the eyes
Of the almighty.

________________________


Isaiah 40:1-11

1 Comfort, O comfort, my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the LORD’S hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries out:
“In the wilderness prepare a way for the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

6 A voice says, “Cry out!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
7 the grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.
9 Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
10 See the Lord GOD comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.