I wanted to pass along a couple of song lyrics that sum up the season for me, a Jewish pacifist:
“Someday at Christmas,” recorded by Stevie Wonder and Remy Zero
someday at christmas men won’t be boys
playing with bombs like kids play with toys
one warm december our hearts will see
a world where men are free
someday at christmas there’ll be no wars
when we have learned what christmas is for
when we have found what life’s really worth
there’ll be peace on earth
someday all our dreams will come to be
someday in a world where men are free
maybe not in time for you and me
but someday at christmastime
someday at christmas we’ll see a man
no hungry children, no empty hand
one happy morning people will share
our world where people care
someday at christmas there’ll be no tears
all men are equal and no men have fears
one shining moment my heart ran away
from our world today
someday all our dreams will come to be
someday in a world where men are free
maybe not in time for you and me
but someday at christmastime
someday at christmas man will not fail
take hope because your love will prevail
someday a new world that we can start
with hope in every heart
someday all our dreams will come to be
someday in a world where men are free
maybe not in time for you and me
but someday at christmastime
someday at christmastime
“The Rebel Jesus,” by Jackson Browne
All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
As the sky darkens and freezes
Theyll be gathering around the hearths and tales
Giving thanks for all gods graces
And the birth of the rebel jesus
Well they call him by the prince of peace
And they call him by the savior
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
As they fill his churches with their pride and gold
And their faith in him increases
But they’ve turned the nature that I worshipped in
From a temple to a robbers den
In the words of the rebel jesus
We guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why they are poor
They get the same as the rebel jesus
But please forgive me if I seem
To take the tone of judgement
For I’ve no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In this life of hardship and of earthly toil
We have need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel jesus.
South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
The Blog of South Brunswick
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Hank Kalet 