Bragg’s tribute to Rachel Corrie
Posted: March 28th, 2006 | Author: Aaron | Filed under: culture, middle east, usa |British folk singer, and long-time activist, Billy Brag has written a beautiful song about the peace activist Rachel Corrie. I’m not going to write about Rachel when she can speak for herself: -
Leaving Olympia
We are all born and someday we’ll all die. Most likely to some degree alone.
What if our aloneness isn’t a tragedy? What if our aloneness is what allows us to speak the truth without being afraid? What if our aloneness is what allows us to adventure – to experience the world as a dynamic presence – as a changeable, interactive thing?
If I lived in Bosnia or Rwanda or who knows where else, needless death wouldn’t be a distant symbol to me, it wouldn’t be a metaphor, it would be a reality.
And I have no right to this metaphor. But I use it to console myself. To give a fraction of meaning to something enormous and needless.
This realization. This realization that I will live my life in this world where I have privileges.
I can’t cool boiling waters in Russia. I can’t be Picasso. I can’t be Jesus. I can’t save the planet single-handedly.
I can wash dishes.
Rachel died 3-years ago when she was run over by an IDF bulldozer. She has since become a beacon for leftist activism in Gaza.
Recently a play about Rachel’s life, My Name is Rachel Corrie, was cancelled in New York because the subject of her story has become so incendiary. Probably the most disheartening aspect of the story is the way she has become a hate figure for the American right.
I adore the line, in Bragg’s song, that goes:
Is there no place for a voice in America
That doesn’t conform to the Fox News agenda?
You can listen to the song, and read the lyrics, here.
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I was in the US in March 2003 — a very frustrating time and place where sanity was rather lonely — and I read this article on townhall.com that made me so angry that I bookmarked it!
That the right wingers can turn the tragedy of Rachel Corrie into a hate symbol is all the proof required for their callousness and insanity. They did the same to Jeremy Glick and the parents of Nick Berg. Perhaps that’s when we start writing songs.
Thanks for the contribution and congrats on the first comment - ‘eternal gratitude’ is yours!
Nice guy this Prager, you gotta love the way he links Corrie with the Nazi’s……..
In the US a powerful dictatorship is leading the lives of Americans. If effectively the Bush Administration had been caring about its “subjects” it would have taken all necessary measures to clarify and punish the murder of Rachel.
Songs usually have more strength than prose and I trust this one will make the tour of the world continuously.
Hey Jose, nice to see you have made it here
I watched Fox this morning and the demolition of Hilary C is ongoing, get them early must be the policy. If the Dems go with Ms. C they’ll get crucified.
Cheers for the “eternal gratitude”. A reliable source informed me that I could get some in Camden, but I didn’t understand what they meant.
I’m not sure it’s the same sort!
I have a great story about Clapham…..
I am afraid Dems are already on the way down to the bottom, only that Americans by deciding to abstain - I am almost sure they will abstain - will leave the same political panorama we are now watching.
Unless a new party comes up in strength, I am completely disappointed by the once self-allegedly most democratic country in the world.
My idea has always been that Britain was entitled to this qualification, and up to now I do not see why I should discard it.
I’ll wait to see what the next elections will give Britons and then let’s decide.