How Much Would It Cost?
nearly 1.3 trillion
in war costs so far....
how much would it cost
to feed the hungry,
and house the homeless
around the world?
which makes more sense?
which builds a better future?
bombs or bowls?
..... bullets or shelter?
......... death, or life?
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Related quotes
Enough Money Spent On Wars
What agony; accumulative emotive costs;
feed needle; soul destroying drug addictions?
What monstrous greed
cloaked in racial hatred;
fed with religious hatred
feeds covert wars justified?
When will we; with humanity feed;
with compassion; brothers sisters imprisoned;
in race conflict; poverty dying discarded;
in ignored horrors; extant third world?
Ban every earth war feed our poor
not capitalist corporate baron robbers;
glutted on global sly sweat shop wages
slum lord rents death reaped war profits?
Misery is waste residue of souls
which seek self pleasure materialism;
instead of gift of giving to others
oiled crimes greases palms capitalism.
It is still universally eternally true
it is better to give than to receive;
to sow sacred love not bile hatred
sow prosperity not starvation greed.
Enough money to buy drugs
to support epidemic addictions;
who will feed our suffering world?
Enough money spent on wars
to house all our earth's homeless;
who will house humanities homeless?
Who will feed the poor?
Ban every war feed the poor.
No need to ask who will bank on feed;
crime world exploitation materialism?
Spend money spent on wars
to house all earth's homeless;
feed our poor do not feed wars.
Souls who feed world materialism
will not house human immortal souls;
while flesh rots in blown away dust
in greedy winds of war greed lust.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Many Must Grow Poorer
Millions will go to bed hungry tonight that does seem sad to say
And many of them will not wake again for to see another day
The sad fact that many die of malnutrition is sad cause for lament
Whilst billions in war by Governments are spent
Even in the World's wealthiest Nations people live in abject poverty
And the unequal distribution of wealth does seem all wrong to me
The wealthy getting wealthier whilst the homeless of poverty street
Are searching in the rubbish for thrown out food to eat
To have enough of food and shelter should be a basic human right
But millions must try to sleep hungry without shelter tonight
And many cannot feed their families on their meagre take home pay
In an egalatarian World things would never be this way
And many must grow poorer for every new millionaire
And for the hungry millions doesn't life seem so unfair.
poem by Francis Duggan
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The Forgotten Hungry And Homeless
The forgotten hungry and homeless nowadays to be found everywhere
There are millions of them close to a billion in the bigger World out there
The refugees of drought stricken Lands and of warlords and the homeless of Poverty Street
Basic human rights of them are denied shelter from the weather and enough for to eat
In a Human World where everyone is supposed to be equal after all we breathe in the same air
But the poor and the homeless and the hungry cannot feel that life is very fair
The minority those who are too wealthy people with too much of everything
Are people that many look up to though their praises I cannot sing,
In an egalatarian Human World everyone would have a home to live in
And nobody would be without food and well dressed and not ragged and thin
The poor by the day growing poorer and that does seem a sad thing to say
And the refugee camps of the World are all overcrowded today,
'Tis sad to think that from the poverty of many that a minority does stand to gain
And I with enough of food and shelter have no reason for to complain.
poem by Francis Duggan
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The Ultimate Sacrifice
When nations turn from peace to war,
Each soul must question why...
When Death itself is at the door,
To bring its long goodbye...
To think, that leaders lead us all,
To back them to the hilt.
It's then we see our heroes fall,
When each of them is killed...
When little children shake their heads,
Disgusted at such things,
It's right to pray beside our beds,
Condemning what war brings.
The need for guns and bullets grows
And even bombs are made -
Efficiently Man fights his foes
And in their graves they're laid...
Who knows the good they could have done,
If peace had been their lot,
Instead of wars that must be won,
When nations turn from God?
If only love lived in each heart,
We'd share God's Paradise,
Instead of this, new conflicts start
And blood's our sacrifice...
For some, the cost was loss of health...
For some, it's wasted time...
For some, the cost was death itself,
When they were in their prime.
Is this the wisest way to live,
With bombs and bullets, too?
Christ's sacrifice helps God forgive
The evil that men do...
poem by Denis Martindale
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Early Works - Understanding
With a little understanding and humility,
this world would be a better place for you and me.
Instead of bullets, bombs and rockets
we’d have love between our neighbours and families.
Instead of death, destruction and misery
we’d have outstretched hands of friendship
from stranger we did not know.
No cause is worth the death of one man
no matter what that cause may be.
For love and understanding
is all anyone ever needs.
When all the bullets and bombs are gone,
what kind of world will be left,
the answer lies within ourselves?
Within our faith and understanding,
we must look at our enemies
try and understand their plight.
Not with weapons of mass destruction,
but with hope and understanding
that they have rights like us,
then maybe one day
we’ll all live under an umbrella
of peace and harmony.
19-20 February 1996
poem by David Harris
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Philadelphia Revised
The sad images of Philadelphia popped out of my eyes today
And I could see the streets of Philadelphia where the homeless sleeps
And freeze to death
While Politicians, doctors, Dentists, lawyers, teachers, and nurses get rich
Day by day
But the homeless freeze to death in the streets of Philadelphia and even die
But I have to ask all of you fellow americans where is your heart?
And doesn't charity starts at home first?
Don't you have anything at home that you could give away to the Homeless so they could have something either to wear or to eat?
Why can't we feed the homeless?
I can't understand you fellow Americans?
Please put yourself in their shoes for a day and try to picture what do they Have to go throw everyday
Is it right for the homeless to sleep in the streets and freeze and eventualy Die in the streets of Philadelphia?
Would you fellow Americans go few days without eating?
I don't think so
Why should the homeless that lives in the streets of Philadelphia starve?
Fellow Americans it is time to think about others and not just yourself Because others live In America just like you
Fellow Americans do you have a heart?
Fellow Americans did you ever learned to share what you have with Others?
Fellow Americans America is a sad world because we waste 98% of our Food at home, restaurants, and supermarkets
And all that wasted food ends up in the dump
It is so ashame and so sad at the same time
But the truth is that we are running out of food
And there is not enough food to feed anyone in America
But the cost of food keeps going up
Because we have to pay the American farmers who plants the food and Transport the food to the supermarkets
poem by Aldo Kraas
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The Battle.... (We Have Fought)
the battle we have fought for so long,
as a 'free' society...
in the name of justice, equality, diversity,
responsibility, and freedom...
has reached the point of decision.
we either move forward no matter
what the cost...
believing the dream is worth the price...
or we crawl back into the cave
of self-fulfillment at the cost of all others.
prejudice and discrimination have gone from color
to religion to sex and sexual orientation,
and now to those enslaved by poverty.
we cannot turn our backs on each other...
we cannot allow the few to destroy the world.
we are responsible, we are a part of each other.
when one is hungry, we are all hungry.
when one family is homeless, we are all homeless.
when one person is a victim
of prejudice, hatred, and injustice...
we all are!
when one eats, all should eat.
when one has a chance to work,
all should have that chance...
when one child gets an education,
all should have that right.
this is the time, and this is the place...
it is now that we must choose!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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There Is Hope For The Future
The bombs have caused death and destruction and the families mourn their dead
But there is hope for the future for better days ahead
When those for peace and World harmony will finally prevail
For those who talk of waging war are surely doomed to fail.
There is hope for the future though I may not live to see my dream
Of a better life for everyone in a World where peace will reign supreme
A World free of borders and camps for refugees
Where the smell of death and destruction is not blowing in the breeze
There is hope for the future around me not all dark
I hear young children playing in the playground in the park
The children are the future and they may well unite
Behind a peaceful leader who won't lead by power of might.
There is hope for the future and all surely not lost
Though there won't be peace tomorrow and 'twill come at a great cost
The Rose of Peace will bloom again though with the dead I lay
And the young and enlightened leaders to peace will lead the way.
poem by Francis Duggan
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How Many? (Holiness)
for every bomb that you drop,
how many hungry people could you feed?
for every time your planes fly,
how many homeless people could you shelter?
for every country you tear down,
how many could you help build up?
for every lie that you tell,
how many people would the truth set free?
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Save The World
Looking at the news today is a cold depressing thing we see our nation stained
and the whole worlds up in flames. People starving all over the land what a low
down dirty shame and abroad we see the same we have our selves to blame. Well
it's been said that we should share what the master gives to us well the time
has come to help someone less fortunate than us.
(chorus)
Save the world, feed the hungry people, clothe the little babies, lend a
helping hand.
Save the world, feed the hungry people, show them we love and care.
I took a walk into town this morning a beggar followed me he said he needed
food to eat and spare some change please. I took him into the closest grill and
paid for all he could eat it warmed my heart as he said thank you ma'am to me.
Well it saddened me as walked a little further just to see that there is more
than one on every corner without a place to sleep.
(chorus)
We've got to feed the hungry mind soul and body shelter feed and cloth everybody
with much as we can please stretch out your hand.
(chorus)
song performed by by Yolanda Adams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Someone Not Worthy to Deceive
If I came to the aid of my neighbor struggling...
Would I be then declared a socialist?
If I offered shelter to those homeless and hungry,
Would I be a liberal?
With an agenda that was 'leftist'?
In these United States,
When I was taught to pledge alligence...
To a white and red star encrusted flag.
I believed myself and others together...
To be patriotic and of this we were glad.
But as I look upon this land,
With a separateness done.
And racism to overcome!
I'm stunned by the selfishness,
Of those whose interests...
Are only to feed their greed.
And leave others on the street,
With nothing to eat!
If I came to the aid of my neighbor struggling...
Would I be then declared a socialist?
If I offered shelter to those homeless and hungry,
Would I be a liberal?
With an agenda that was 'leftist'?
And would I care if the 'haves'
Stop to stare at me as if I were trash?
And when they prepare to go to sleep at night...
Are they aware I rest peacefully,
With my eyes closed tight?
I doubt it.
They perceive of me,
As someone not worthy to deceive.
And certainly I'm not a 'conservative'...
Motivated by division and isolated by greed.
'Remember when political choices,
Were either Republican or Democrat?
Now there are subdivisions with divisions within them.'
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Thoughts
which is more threatening? the cost of war? or the cost of feeding
the hungry, healing the sick, and housing the homeless?
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Every Child!
the faces of...
every child who'll
go to bed hungry tonite...
every child afraid to sleep
for fear of the soldiers,
the bullets, the bombs....
every child abused
by his parents...
every child humiliated
for being different.
every child who's never
known his own father...
every child with no hope
for an education...
every child sleeping
in homeless cars.
every child alone,
lonely, without love.
every child of every broken home,
every child, every color, every country...
staring at me this sleepless night,
tearing at my heart...
all my children!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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If One.....
if one word
could change the world,
i'd say it,
and go home.
if one action
would stop the wars,
i'd do it,
whatever the cost.
if one intent
could change the way
we see each other,
i'd follow it
to my grave.
if one desire
could feed the hungry,
it would be,
my only desire!
if one life
would pay the cost,
that brings freedom,
and equality to all...
i'd pay the price today!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Dance Naked #2
pull back the curtains,
tear down the walls!
open the forbidden door,
break the egg, and fly!
hold the child dying
of cholera in your lap.
wash the feet of the leper,
wipe the old man's ass...
kiss the cheek of the boy
who hung himself.
pick up the homeless man,
feed him, take him to a shelter.
clean the old woman's house,
help the single mom with her kids.
pick up the prostitute on the corner,
and offer to take her home!
take the gun away from
the boy strung out on dope.
take the preacher's donation
and give it to the soup kitchen!
plant a tree, plant a garden
leave your car at home, and walk!
give an illegal immigrant some work,
and pay him well!
read the Bible for yourself,
pray with people of different faiths.
take God off of the altar,
and be compassionate action!
feed the hungry, heal the sick,
free the oppressed!
stand in the face of life...
bare your teeht, and howl!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Nakedness
If you are hungry and have no shelter,
Come and let me feed you and give you shelter;
Because you don't have to sell your nakedness on the streets!
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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We can no longer afford the war in Iraq. Our financial costs have already passed a third of a trillion dollars; the lifetime costs for this war, in both human and economic terms, will be borne by Americans for generations to come.
quote by Earl Blumenauer
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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What If? What If?
you are convinced...
that i am a socialist,
a deviant, a rebel,
a lost cause....
what if your mother
lived in Iran,
Afghanistan, Syria,
or even North Korea?
would you want to drop
the bombs then?
what if your father
was on Death Row?
convicted of a crime
you knew he didnt commit?
would you still vote
for the death penalty?
what if your sister,
strung out and desperate...
was a whore on the corner?
would you still want
to cut social programs?
what if you brother,
jobless and penniless,
had his house foreclosed?
leaving him homeless and hopeless...
would you still vote
to bail out the banks?
what if your children
were hungry and starving,
and no one would help them...
would you take the law in your hands?
what if? what if?
look around you!
the faces you see
are no different than yours.
maybe a different skin tone,
maybe speaking a different language,
maybe worshipping a different god...
but really, not any difference!
the faces you see are your own!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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Raw waR
Bombarded and war pitted
And pitied they who lie here.
The scar blasted houses
Now no place for dwelling
Or dwelling on the passed.
Where once love blossomed,
And families embraced in solidarity,
No blossoms grow for all the trees are dead.
Now the men have gone to war,
For war is raw and needs its raw recruits.
Recruited from the innocent
Whose hands will soon know death.
And those left behind face a different war.
The war of want.
The women face the daily grind
Of sky dropped bombs that scream annihilation.
And dodge the shells and bullets
To fed the hungry children
Who cower in makes shift sanctuaries
Deep beneath the ground.
Hollow eyed not understanding
And yet so used to death and loss.
For war is raw.
P H Brookes Copyright 2012
poem by Paul Brookes
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So Many Poor Souls And Not Many Who Care
So many poor souls and not many who care
Are doing it quite tough in the big World out there
The homeless and hungry teenagers of poverty street
Are searching in rubbish bins for something to eat
The gap is increasing in the social divide
And millions are Stateless and Homeless and hungry World wide
The victims of droughts and wars and disease
In the refugee camps millions of refugees.
The marginalized are doing it quite tough
On poverty street they are sleeping rough
People should not have to go hungry in the World of today
But such is not the case that does seem sad to say
For one wealthy person thousands in poverty
Those who need far more than words of sympathy
People who look old before they reach their life's prime
To be born to poor parents is their only crime.
poem by Francis Duggan
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