If we stand idly by, we share in the blame. The lyrics talk about “convenience”. What kinds of convenience do we demand in our daily lives? Do you think it’s worth the cost of human life?
Interesting... A perspective not mentioned in the song is how the sanctions are intended to work. The idea is those countries being sanctioned are meant to, and able to, avoid major economic pain and human suffering by changing their own policies and behaviors. Instead the leadership lets their own people suffer to maintain their power, or financial greed. Any uprising by citizens is put down, or met with worse conditions. I'm sure there are songs about that, too.
Interesting... A perspective not mentioned in the song is how the sanctions are intended to work. The idea is those countries being sanctioned are meant to, and able to, avoid major economic pain and human suffering by changing their own policies and behaviors. Instead the leadership lets their own people suffer to maintain their power, or financial greed. Any uprising by citizens is put down, or met with worse conditions. I'm sure there are songs about that, too.
That's so often the intent, and so often the consequence - the common people just suffer a little differently.
You are right, we stand idly by.
Such a poignant and sad song in part because the questions are so rhetorical -
Is it for freedom, or our comfort and convenience
Is it to profit for big business we pledge our allegiance
Are we prisoners in the land of the brave and the bold?
Held by indifference or hearts grown hard and cold