I was listening to one of my Pandora stations and heard the old 1967 Buffalo Springfield song, “For What It’s Worth”
I was struck by how this poem describes the same phenomenons of “pretesting” we see today in the OCCUPY movement. The continuity of wisdom is fascinating. In the midst of the excitement that something good may be happening, so often in these protests there is confusion, conflict, miscommunication, lack of coherency, and self-righteousness. What is interesting to me is that for some in the OCCUPY movement it is a way to relive the glory days of the 60′s protests. But it is mostly a new generation of activism that has failed to see that unity is not the general outcome of such protests. It may produce some noise and interest, but not solidarity and meaningful and lasting changes. Those are the gifts of God who transforms both hearts and minds to conform to His Word.
Take the time to read the lyrics while enjoying a trip back into the 60′s style of music.
There’s something happening here
What it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it’s time we stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
There’s battle lines being drawn
Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it’s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It’s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you’re always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, now, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Tags: Buffalo Springfield, music, Occupy, pop music, protest
