"Where is the Love"
-Black Eyed Peas
But we still got terrorists here living
In the USA the big CIA
The Bloods and the Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate you're bound to get irate, yeah
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
Man You gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love y'all
People killing people dying
Children hurtin’ an’ ya hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?
Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me, got me questioning
Where is the love?"
This song was written in 2003, when Americans faced many hardships as a nation. The most prominent of course, being the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This song not only promotes anti-terrorism, it is also an anthem against the War on Terror and Invasion of Iraq, terrorism, government hypocrisy, racism, gang violence, war, intolerance, and greed. This song highlights the problems we have here in the USA and globally.
"Where is the Love" is very similar to the songs we listened to in class regarding the Vietnam War. Back in the Vietnam War era, some songs were anthems for the war, and some were anthems for peace. Artists with either perspective produced songs that were known and followed by many supporters, and are still well known today. "Where is the Love" is a similar form of song--popular and listened to by many. It highlights conflicts the American nation faces and takes a stand on those issues, providing an anthem for those who share the same beliefs.
