History Repeats Itself
We only hear of war and terrorism and crimes against humanity
In the World news headlines every day on radio and t v
Systematic abuse by so called soldiers on their prisoners of such we hear and see
And history repeats itself or so 'twould seem to me.
Of a war between the good guys and the bad guys there is no such a thing
For only death and suffering war has been known to bring
To the people of the Country where war is waged in many civilians in the cross fire die
As between the warring parties bullets to and fro do fly.
We've heard it said that war brings peace but with such I don't agree
As the World seems more divided now than at anytime in history
The cultural and religious divide it only seems to grow
And for centuries of fighting wars we do not have much to show.
In the news headlines only bad news or so it would appear
And of war and death and suffering we only see and hear
Yet the war that was to end all wars was waged nine decades ago
And of the lessons we should have learned from history we do not wish to know.
poem by Francis Duggan
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To Glorify War Heroes
Though talk of war and death and such I do not wish to hear
To glorify war heroes we have the balladeer
The old men displaying their medals march on war memorial day
Though they look tired and weary now and they are old and gray.
They weep for comrades who died young in battles far away
Young men who were buried in mass graves their bones far from home lay
'Tis said they died in freedom's cause though many with that do not agree
Since any lessons have not been learned from man's war history.
Each time I listen to the news the headlines mostly bad
A suicide bombing in Palestine a car bombing in Baghdad
More atrocities with a direct link to terrorism to many it would seem
But to those who give their own lives to kill the fulfilment of a heroic dream.
Of suffering and deaths linked to war so much has been written and said
And wives and mothers in the World today still mourn their war dead
And still the soldiers come back home to a victory parade
For people who shoot at other people too much respect is paid.
poem by Francis Duggan
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The Warlords And Aggressive Men
The Warlords and aggressive men their praises many sing
But peace and harmony to the Human World these people will never bring
The war supposed to end all wars was fought decades ago
And where mistrust and hate is rife the flower of peace won't grow
Another war waged in Iraq where thousands now are dead
The silly men who declare war the war history have not read
Far too many times we've heard those words 'At the going down of the sun'
Though we know that peace will never come from the barrel of a gun,
The Warlords and aggressive men are surely cowards at heart
They start a war but in their war they never do take part
Where the bombs dropp and the bullets fly you will not find them there
Of their own safety it does seem they do seem quite aware,
A World of peace and harmony how marvellous that would be
But that will not happen for as long as men ignore the lessons of war history.
poem by Francis Duggan
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War Is Our Worlds History
I Look into a history book.
And what do I see?
Pain and agony, death and suffering,
I see history that tells a lot about our world.
War!
Our world's history is war.
It is the pain and agony, the death and the suffering,
I see large fields of dead bodies,
I see our heritage being destroyed by other people
because it is not what they believe in,
I see people begging for mercy, but they do not get it
instead they get a bullet in the head.
In our history I see many mistakes in which we can learn from,
but we obviously we do not.
They say not to judge a book by its cover,
to me this quote means nothing to our history.
Our history is our cover,
and the book is filled with pain and agony, death and suffering.
Plain and Simple
War!
poem by Christian Cervantes
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Because Of Us
We will never defeat the terrorists with our oppressive laws
We will only defeat terrorism by fighting it's root cause
What are we doing one well might ask to alleviate poverty
In war torn and Third World Countries? not much if you ask me.
Because of us thousands of innocents in New York and Washington have died
And because of us so many dreams of life have been destroyed
And because of us in Afghanistan suffering and death dropped from the night sky
Those who say we are the good guys even believe their own lie.
And because of us in Iraq there is fear and death and pain
Far worse than the worst suffering inflicted on his people by the deposed despot Saddam Hussein
And since the Gulf war more than a million Iraqi citizens have met with a premature and tragic end
And why should they wish to believe us when we tell them we're their friend.
In a World where there is so much poverty terrorism will abound
For places of suffering and poverty are to the terrorists breeding ground
If we put as much effort into combating poverty as fighting terrorists then terrorism would subside
And people would live in harmony and peace would be Worldwide.
For the wars and deaths and suffering the terrorists we'll blame
But we ourselves not innocent we too play the dirty game
The game that causes grief and heartbreak they call it Us and They
But one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter at least that's what they say.
Because of us there are refugees and these poor people we demonize
And that they do not seem to like us comes to us as a surprise
And because of us and because of them there is only hell to pay
And that beautiful rose the Rose of Peace is withering to decay.
poem by Francis Duggan
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What Have We Learned From History
What have we learned from history little if anything
Of war men and war heroes their praises we still sing
Humankind have come far in technology and on the moon surface have trod
And still we fight for our Nation's flag and go to war for our God.
What have we learned from history not much if you ask me
We still have wars and famines and we still have poverty
And we still have this awful thing called ethnic cleansing and we still have refugees
And we still wage war on Mother Earth and we still pollute her seas.
What have we learned from history if anything at all
Before the baby has to walk the baby has to learn to crawl
And life is just a learning curve or so we have been told
But few of those who lack wisdom in their twenties grow wiser as they grow old.
What have we learned from history we have learned to populate
And by bulldozing more virgin woodlands more diseases we create
We pollute Mother Earth who feeds us and our successes seem so few
And that the World would do nicely without us only happens to be true.
What have we learned from history go ask one wiser than I
The World is far more polluted now than when I was a boy
And history has a habit of repeating itself a wise one once did say
And I've not learned from history though I grow old and gray.
poem by Francis Duggan
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From History We've Not Learned At All
They have all but rid the World of Communism and given us Capitalism instead
And still millions are living in poverty and millions of children are crying to be fed
And still we have war, terrorism and famines of those will we ever be free
And the gap between the haves and the have nots only widening despite the spread of democracy.
Long gone is the McCarthy era the one who broadcast fear of red
The one who gave rise to the witchhunt of communists under the bed
Yet we still have rank and class distinction for to appease the subservient kind
And still the one eyed king is the ruler of us in the Land of the blind.
And still for God and Country men are warring though the supposed war to end all wars long gone
And still the intolerance of those different amongst the ruling classes live on
And still we have got xenophobia that always lead to crimes of hate
If we are all sisters and brothers how come everyone's not our mate.
We now have the big corporations that only benefit the greedy few
And that a booming economy too benefits the have nots is something that does not ring true
For even in the World's wealthiest Nations you will find poverty in the extreme
And those who talk of an egalatarian World are not realistic 'twould seem.
They have all but rid the World of communism and capitalism is now to the fore
Though poverty is now even more widespread and nothing has changed from days of yore
And still we have wars, terrorism and famines and Empires they rise and they fall
But the lessons of the past we have ignored and from history we've not learned at all.
poem by Francis Duggan
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We've Not Learned From War History The Facts Never Lie
We've not learned from war history the facts never lie
For God and for Country many still fight and die
The flowers do not bloom brighter on the dead soldier's grave
As the one who died of old age and was not known to be brave.
With the words we've not learned from war history
I happen to be one of those who agree
One war leads to another it does seem to me
And we still have War Memorial day in the twenty first century.
Where there is mistrust between people hatred come to the boil
In war over borders and war over oil
And in wars over God far too many have died
To antiquated thinking many do remain tied.
Out of war and it's suffering many heroes are made
And to honour the war dead another parade
And for as long as those who glorify war do have things their own way
The flower of peace will never see light of day.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Sweet Silence
Sometimes the best news is no news at all.
Then you wouldn't hear if there was war or if the stocks fall.
Today, nothing we hear of the television is good.
They tell bad news and say "they did what they could."
If we hear nothing, we assume everything is alright,
We could go to our beds and sleep tight.
How would you feel, if on the television on the wall,
You turned on the news and heard nothing at all.
poem by Cody Klinker
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From History We've Not Learned
Men crucified the one millions now worship more than two thousand years ago
Yet many men they are as cruel today and any compassion towards others they never seem to show
And the gifts of compassion and empathy to the special few belong
And many far too many seemingly cannot tell right from wrong
Two thousand and seven years ago Jesus Christ was crucified
And nailed to a timber cross on Calvary slowly and painfully he died
Yet we have not learned from human history and it does seem sad to say
That nowadays many decent people die in the foulest way,
The war supposed to end all wars did not live up to it's tag
Young people dying in war zones every day for God and Land and Flag
Before we learn the lesson of history how many more must die
War men mock the sacredness of human life and many wars based on a lie
It has been more than two thousand years since Christ died on Calvary
And from history we've not learned a thing that's how 'twould seem to be.
poem by Francis Duggan
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On Passing Cromwell Street
In Melbourne streets named in his honour though he does not warrant such fame
For he lived a life of dishonour yet he never felt any shame
For his crimes against the poor of Ireland the winners write the history they say
And historians are too kind to Cromwell the one who did awful things in his day.
He evicted the poor of rural Ireland those who only knew of poverty
And put them on the hard road to Connacht the victims of crimes against humanity
His army were thugs and not soldiers for they did things that soldiers ought not do
The winners always write the history though their version of history is often not true.
In Cromwell's time the winners wrote the history and the winners still write the history today
But for any crimes against humanity the winners too should be made to pay
But Cromwell and his army honoured for their crimes in Ireland against the poor defenceless poor
'Tis sad to think that one so unworthy of a place in history is secure.
To hell or to Connacht his catch cry he forced thousands of poor families on the road
To people who were penniless and innocent not one scrap of mercy he showed
Thousands of them died in the harsh Irish Winter when homelessness on them took it's toll
Because they were poor they were punished though their life circumstances beyond their control.
I think of the untruths of history each time I drive by Cromwell street
The history written by winners their history of lies and deceit
I say to myself they honour a tyrant and I struggle for to understand
Why they name a street after somebody who oppressed the poor of Ireland.
Andrew Marvell in verse glorified Cromwell but he was one who would not know
What Cromwell and his army got up to in Ireland in those bleak times centuries ago
But he only believed what they told him and they told him what he wanted to hear
History often written by unworthy people those who rule by terror and fear.
In Melbourne streets named in his honour his poor victims long forgotten and gone
Into the World of the forgotten but Cromwell's fame is living on
And the lessons we should have learned from history did not lead to a fair go for all
And the winners only write the story though the real truth they never recall.
poem by Francis Duggan
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A War About God And A War About Land
A war about God and a war about Land
The tragic loss of lives I do not understand
A just war in truth is a damnable lie
For in modern day conflicts many civilians do die
Old hatreds they live on for centuries of years
And gives rise to suffering and bloodshed and tears
And every day of conflicts and wars we do hear of and read
And despite what some say war to peace never lead
The war supposed to end all wars was fought decades ago
But that is a fallacy as we do know
But with them it is never let bygones be gone
Old hatreds in mistrust in them living on
Another old hatred in conflict is raging today
Where many innocents die in a Land far away.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Good News
Something to begin with
That's easy said than done
You'll see me rolling home
But I don't understand why
Still there's nothing at all
Time is on my side
But we mustn't let our disappointment show
But I will, and you will go on
All I need is some good news (some good news)
All I need is some good news (just some good news)
To put me on my feet (to put me on my feet)
To put me at my ease (at my ease)
All I need is some good news (all I need is some good news)
All I need is some good news (some good news)
To put me at my ease (to put me at my ease)
All I need is some good news
All I need is some good news (just gimme me some good news)
All I need is some good news (some good news)
To put me at my ease (to put me at my ease)
To put me on my feet (on my feet, on my feet)
All I need is some good news (all I need is some good news)
All I need is some good news (all I need is some good news)
All I need is some good news
All I need is some good news (all I need is good news)
To put me on my ease (to put me at my ease)
To put me on my feet (on my feet, on my feet)
All I need is some good news (good news)
All I need is some good news (some good news)
All I need is some good news (good news)
All I need is some good news
[Repeat to fade
song performed by by 10 Cc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Extinction Blues
World of fear
Dying sun
Amber tears
Wars to be won
World grown old
Lost to man
All alone
All but forgotten
Same extinction blues
Youve heard before the
Same old news
You and i
Last chance
Age of ice
Frozen romance
Time repeats
Death to life
Heartbeats
Save us tonight
Same extinction blues
Its great to be optimistic
And look at the world
Through rose colored eyes
Tell you what not to wish for
Mountains dont move
When you want them to
Same extinction blues
Youve heard before
The same old news
Extinction blues
song performed by by Toto
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Man's Inhumanity
We have read about New York's Twin Towers and Hiroshima in Japan
Just for us two examples of man's inhumanity to man
And of Hitler and his Holocaust one who lives on in illfame
And of Stalin and of Mao and their awful crimes of shame.
We've heard of Pol Pot in Cambodia millions did suffer when he did rule
Some with power at their disposal they can be so very cruel
But in truth they were no different to some of the rulers of today
Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe as a despot now leads the way.
Streets in some Cities honour Oliver Cromwell yet if we go back in time
Against poor Catholic Irish peasants he committed many a crime
But 'tis said the winners write the war history with that one must agree
And Cromwell he is honoured for his crimes against humanity.
Idi Amin of Uganda of old age in exile died
The unmarked graves of his Homeland his shame forever hide
And up to a million Tutsis in Rwanda by their fellow Rwandans butchered to death
And this only in the recent past history repeats itself lest we forget.
We have not learned from history or so 'twould seem that way
So many despotic leaders in the World of today
And the Twin Towers of New York and Hiroshima in Japan
Are only two examples of man's inhumanity to man.
poem by Francis Duggan
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End The War
End the war without going into war
Don’t leave the sight but stay also not very far
Wars may be waged and let it be so
If Something is to be achieved and something to forgo
War may bring destruction and play the havoc
Yet the morning alarm is not stopped by cock
That message is aired daily without fail
We must thrive hard for peace and avail
Casualties or no casualties if thrust upon
Everybody knows wars are never won
It may be brutal and even painful
World must be given chance to remain peaceful
Hope or no hope wars must be resisted
Either by force or by any means desisted
Life is precious and must be preserved
But motherland is sacred and must be served
Wars are not waged for fun sake
Nations involve for their security stake
If that is waged by proxy means
It may never result in any kind of win
Every effort must be made to avert
All sources must be made to divert
For welfare and happiness of people
Nations must be made self reliant and capable
Wars must be waged against diseases
Against illetracy, feminine and misuses
After all land belongs to all have the rights to live
Let us not spoil the chance and find the solution to arrive
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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The Hero Is Dead
Many people the praises of warriors do sing
And they talk of war as if war is a good thing
There are tears in their eyes when the last post is played
And proudly they march in every war parade
Every day in war zones more people do die
And the war supposed to end all wars was based on a lie
And more wars are waged now than ever before
The lessons of history we tend to ignore
The coward from the battle turned and ran away
But the hero is dead and the coward lives today
They talk of the heroes in battles lost and won
But in war there's no winner when all is said and done
From the heat of the battle the coward ran away
But he is a very proud grand-dad today.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Lives In The Balance
Ive been waiting for something to happen
For a week or a month or a year
With the blood in the ink of the headlines
And the sound of the crowd in my ear
You might ask what it takes to remember
When you know that youve seen it before
Where a government lies to a people
And a country is drifting to war
And theres a shadow on the faces
Of the men who send the guns
To the wars that are fought in places
Where their business interest runs
On the radio talk shows and the t.v.
You hear one thing again and again
How the u.s.a. stands for freedom
And we come to the aid of a friend
But who are the ones that we call our friends--
These governments killing their own?
Or the people who finally cant take any more
And they pick up a gun or a brick or a stone
There are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire
Theres a shadow on the faces
Of the men who fan the flames
Of the wars that are fought in places
Where we cant even say the names
They sell us the president the same way
They sell us our clothes and our cars
They sell us every thing from youth to religion
The same time they sell us our wars
I want to know who the men in the shadows are
I want to hear somebody asking them why
They can be counted on to tell us who our enemies are
But theyre never the ones to fight or to die
And there are lives in the balance
There are people under fire
There are children at the cannons
And there is blood on the wire
song performed by by Jackson Browne
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Seeing Double
When I look at Africa,
I see the wild life- They show the wild living,
I see a people- loving- giving and truly believing,
They show a people heartless and only thirsty for killing,
I see a child holding up a report card saying “I was number one”
They show a child soldier holding up a gun!
I see prosperity, bountiful harvests and good health,
They show poverty, drought, disease and death,
I see the different cultures and tribes they show the tribal wars,
They ignore our strengths and show our greatest flaws,
I guess the good side of Africa doesn’t meet their criteria,
Maybe that is the core of western media,
Always struggling to create a boulder from a pebble,
Ignore the legend let us show the rebel!
So while you stand on the other side of the lense,
Trying to capture me on this side of the fence,
I’ll stay hopeful- I choose to see the glass half full,
Maybe one of your heartless pictures will eventually save Darfur,
Genocide sets news agendas and builds journalistic careers,
I can almost hear the raging roars of the journalist’s ideas,
“Make headlines by taking pictures of where the headless body lies,
No first aid just keep the tape rolling while that man dies,
The world needs to see this”- WRONG!
Show them the other side! Show them the peace.
Show them the love, the beauty please show them this,
Show them Africa- the cradle of humanity,
Stop showing a bleeding continent,
Show them the Africa I see
poem by Barak Al'Mondia
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We Have Not Learned That Much From The Past
We have not learned that much from past history the men of power repeat the same mistake
By threatening war on the Iraqi people for in war there's death and suffering and heartbreak
And in war there's never happiness and laughter the bomber jets they dropp death from the sky
Why to kill or capture the Iraqi leader will so many innocents have to suffer and die? .
I wonder when I hear talk of 'A Just War' since any war it never has been just
And war gives rise to vengeance and to hatred and between peoples build the barriers of mistrust,
Who ever coined that phrase was far from clever though many of those words have taken note
And too many far too many silly people that awful saying are too inclined to quote.
We have not learned much from man's past history if we have learned anything at all
The innocents of Baghdad and Basra will suffer when the big bombs from the night sky will fall
For bombs don't always hit their designated targets and for war mistakes it's the innocents who pay
With their lives or the most horrific injuries and the scars of war till death with them will stay.
We have not learned much from the mistakes of our forefathers for talk of war we hear now every day
And only on the day of the Election do the people ever seem to have a say
And the hawkish leaders who see war as okay from the path that leads to war cannot be cowed
They never seem to listen to their people though the voice of protest in their ears ring loud.
poem by Francis Duggan
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Show me my Africa!
Show me my origin...
Show me my land...
Show me my Africa...
Shine and support the spirit of UBUNTU.
Take me back to where i belong,
Where birds fly well peacefully,
Where every creature is happy.
Let me hear African stories,
Let me see its natural beauty landscapes.
Show me my land...
The land of great heroes,
Where Nobel peace price winners were born.
Where fighting and murder is a sin,
Where all people wish one thing,
Where all people preach one thing,
Where all people practice one thing,
Where everyone wants PEACE.
Let me hear those voices of hope...
Land of admissible and prosperity,
Where cultural diversity means nothing, but
Brings us together as valiant regiments.
Past is the past and let us let it pass...
Show me my Africa...
Where robust and intrepid people lives,
Where the beauty of cultures reflects.
Let discrimination be the history
And believe in the beauty of Africa.
Show me my origin...
Let me venerate and cherish its traditions..
Let me be the true African.
Take me back to Africa.
Show me my origin,
Show me my land,
Show me my AFRICA..
('ubuntu' is a Zulu word meaning humanity)
poem by Siyabonga A nxumalo
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