[HANASHIR:11274] songs of peace? (fwd)

[I. Oppenheim <i.oppenheim...>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 06:14:18 -0400
From: Judith R Cohen <judithc (at) YorkU(dot)CA>
To: World music from a Jewish slant <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Subject: songs of peace?

hi, re SHirona's good question, I have one CD called "Palestine, Music
of the Intifada" - from 1989. Virgin Records CDVE29. Obviously, the
situation has changed since then... It doesn't give the lyrics, but does
have resumes of each song.:(they are given in ENglish; only the titles
are given in Arabic, and then in ENglish transliteration - these are
summaries of the summaries)

1.From the Camp is born the Vision: about women, and by women, the notes
say the very fact that the Muwwal is sung by a woman is a challenge to
Palestinian men's repression of their participation in political life.
2. Al Raba'yyeh: traditional, adapted, about the people as successful
freedom fighters
3. The Palestine Pledge: liberating the people and the land
4. Undying wounds: participation of all, wounds, strength of the weak
5. Bells of victory. Importance of youth and children as heroes in the
confrontation
Intifada and the revolution mountain.  the stone as metaphor; struggle,
foundations of a future from a squalid refugee camp
6. We are on the way. dream of return 
7. My homeland is not a suitcase.resistance to forced transfers of
population
8. They have destroyed my house.
9. Mt of Olives. "Song of Palestine the land, Palestine the identity and
Palestine the just peace", defending the olive branch which is -  "a
symbol of the Arab identity of Jerusalem and Palestine...will be
defended by all means". [It goes on:] "The olive branch is also the
Palestinian symbol for peace. Not only is Palestine the olive branch,
but the olive branch is itself peace. Mount of Olives can be seen as a
definition of the struggle for Palestine and a quest for peace. Real
peace with justice."

10. In the name of freedom and democracy. role of women, challenge
tradition; give them weapons insteaad of putting kohl on their eyes.
11. Dear Mother. Palestinian diaspora
12. We have had enough.
13. If my friends retunred "Mothers urged not to cry at the possible
death of their children to pray for the living...Sacrifice and death are
not the end. Martyrs live as they create freedom."
..."the reality of a people for whom there is no going back."

The album note gives a brief historical overview which in no place
suggests that Jews had any claim on the land whatsoever, and , to find
the other mention of peace on the album, "..they insist on being
represented by the PLO in any peace moves..." ...they don't want a
"Jewish refugee problem" but a "just settlement which will enable all
the peoples of the area to live together in peace."

As I finish writing this, the news gives the report of the suicide
attack in Haifa.
Judith
10

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