Rachel Corrie: If I can just make one little difference

Then I think my life is worthwhile

Hi all,

Thank you for joining me for today’s song, “I’d Rather Be Dancing (Rachel Corrie's Song)”, by Jim Page. If you’d like to hear the song before you read about it, I’ve included a YouTube video below the article.

Below, you’ll find my interpretation of the lyrics which are written in italics. Comments and questions are welcome. For Japanese students, vocabulary words in bold are provided in Japanese below. TOEFL (PBT) 450+, Eiken 2, CEFR B1.

Jim Page based this song on the letters that Rachel Corrie sent home from Palestine. The song was released in 2007 on the album Far From Home - Songs Of Hope & Courage In The Spirit Of Rachel Corrie.

Vigiler holds photograph of Rachel Corrie at a memorial for her death in Dupont Circle, Washington DC. 2003. (Photo: Carolmooredc, Wikimedia Commons)

(888 words)

Rachel Corrie was a young American woman who cared a lot about helping people. She was born on April 10, 1979, in a place called Olympia, Washington. Rachel was very kind and wanted to make the world a better place. 

You know, I was always the one 

I could never stand idly by and watch while the bullies beat up on the weaker ones 

I had to do something to try 

And I never gave up on people 

That we could be better somehow 

Her parents taught her to be a person with good morals, in other words, to do the right thing:

Morality's compass, you gave it to me 

I still follow it now 

Rachel decided to go to a country far away called Palestine. The people there were having a lot of problems because the country of Israel was taking over their land, and she wanted to help them.

Well, I couldn't stop thinking about it 

I couldn't get it out of my mind

The pictures, the stories, the plight (difficult situation) of the people in occupied Palestine 

Rachel knew that the American government supported what was going on there, and if she didn’t speak out, she would be just as bad.

How my government makes me complicit with the political aid that they send 

Rachel joined a group called the International Solidarity Movement. This group was made up of people from different countries who wanted to help the people in Palestine. They believed in peaceful ways to help, like talking and showing support, instead of fighting.

So I packed up my bags and I headed to Rafa to work with the ISM 

And I'd rather be dancing, dancing and falling in love 

But if I can just watch from a distance, then what am I made of 

“What am I made of?” means what am I willing to do in this situation? Do I have the strength to take action on an important cause?

Mama, these people are so good to me 

They treat me like one of their own 

They feed me and see to my needs and let me sleep in their home 

Papa, their lives are so hard

The gun shots at night, the road blocks, the strip searches, the humiliations 

Papa, it just isn't right 

Rachel knew that she had certain advantages because she was an American citizen. She could enter and leave the area. She would have the protection of the American government. 

I can feel my white skin privilege 

It's there in my American face 

I could wave my passport around like a flag and I would be safe in this place 

But she realized that the people who lived there didn’t have the same advantages. She also knew that the U.S. was sending money to help the Israeli government to control the Palestinian people.

For these child soldiers of Israel, they look like the boys back home 

And if it wasn't for American money, they'd have to leave these people alone 

Rachel Corrie Street - The Ramallah municipality dedicated a street to Rachel Corrie on 16 March 2010. (Photo: ISM Palestine, Wikimedia Commons)

And I'd rather be dancing, dancing to Pat Benatar (a popular American rock singer in the 1980s)

But somebody has to do something about it, and here we are 

One day, on March 16, 2003, Rachel was in a place called Rafah in Palestine. There, she saw some big bulldozers. These bulldozers were used by the Israeli army to break down houses. Rachel didn’t want the houses to be destroyed because people lived in them and had nowhere else to go. She decided to stand in front of a bulldozer to stop it from knocking down the house of a Palestinian doctor.

The tractors are coming today 

They're like tanks with bulldozer blades

The name on the side says Caterpillar 

That means they're American made 

Well, I am American, too, and I'll be where everybody can see 

So, if they want to run over these houses today

They're gonna have to run over me 

Rachel hoped that by standing there, the driver would see her and stop the bulldozer. But the bulldozer didn’t stop, and it ran over Rachel. She was badly hurt and, even though people tried to help her, she died that day.

It's dangerous takin' a stand but it's dangerous running away 

Sometimes you have to face up to the danger 

There is just no other way 

For there are such beautiful dreams 

I have seen the eyes of a child 

And if I can just make one little difference

Then I think my life is worthwhile (meaningful)

Many people were very sad about what happened to Rachel. Some people think that what she did was brave because she stood up for what she believed in, even though it was dangerous. Others think it was tragic because she lost her life trying to help others.

And I'd rather be dancing, but instead I'm saying goodbye 

But we'll meet again when it's over, don't cry 

And I'd rather be dancing, and surely we'd all rather be 

And one day we'll dance in a world that's peaceful and free

Rachel’s story is remembered by many people around the world. Some people perform plays, write books, and hold events to remember her and the good things she tried to do. They talk about how important it is to be kind and help others, just like Rachel did.

Rachel Corrie Memorial/Peace vigil 2003. (Photo attribution: MyRedDice, Wikimedia Commons.)

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Questions

1) Rachel wrote letters to share her experiences. Do you ever write letters or messages to share your thoughts and feelings with someone? How does it make you feel?

2) Rachel was inspired by the strength and dignity of the people she met. Can you think of someone in your life who inspires you with their courage or kindness?

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Vocabulary

stand idly by 傍観する

bullies (bully) いじめっ子

beat up 殴られる

morality 道徳

plight 窮状

an occupied area 占領地域

(I am) complicit 共犯者

What am I made of? この質問は、人の性格とアイデンティティが道徳的価値観と密接に結びついていることを強調しています。これらの価値観に固執することは、自尊心とアイデンティティ感覚を維持するために不可欠です。

strip search 全裸検査

humiliation 屈辱

privilege 特権

Sources

“I Think the Word Is Dignity” — Rachel Corrie’s Letters from Gaza:

https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/rachel-corries-letters-and-questions/

Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace & Justice:

https://rachelcorriefoundation.org/rachel