My first diary on this song and its implications was well received and I thank the community for that. In its sequel I will once again post the video for those unfamiliar with the song as well as talk about issues I see in my community as well as others. Oh ya and of course I will write some poetry for the diary.
I really hope you all enjoy and comment on the diary. It's important that the conversation about how to get everyone active politically and in their communities is continued.
If you hate hip hop that's fine, if you don't want to listen to the song or read its lyrics that's fine too. All I ask if that you engage in the discussion.
Here are the lyrics via some random site off google.
See I gotta draw the line I cant take it no more
If you aint down with revolution what you waitin for
Makin money for suckas and our communities poor
Rippin flags off of coffins man this aint our war
Colonized and terrorized by the worlds biggest killers
the US government the biggest weapon and drug dealers
Fillin prisons with children incarceratin the future
Myspace and facebook they got us stuck on computers
Stuck on stupid bumpin music that's the abusive to the shorties
And the nonsense that you spittin they just listen and absorb it
Ive been dormant ive awoken im a giant im ready
Im with the APPO in Oaxaca and we holdin machetes
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
CHORUS:
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Chi city!!!
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
South bronx!!!
WHICH SIDE ARE YOUON?
Oaxaca!!!
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Palestina!!
(RodStarz)
I rock hard like palestinian children holdin slingshots!!!
Im with every single kid that's down for hip hop
For the culture the life what it really stands for
This music is resistance it's the voice of the poor
Im on the side of the workers, the teachers and lunchladies,
on the streets with brown mommys raisin our brown babies,
im with youth organizers cleanin up the bronx river
im like jaime escalante when I stand and deliver
im with evo morales man he runnin bolivia
distribution of the land so they could all live bigger
im with hugo and fidel, grandmaster and melle mel,
with the Panthers up in queens justice for sean bell,
im with camacho negron, im with ojeda rios,
freedom for oscar lopez time to get an appeal,
im with abu jamal im with assatta shakur,
im with the compas in Immokalee getting a penny more!!
(Lah Tere)
im with elvira arellano im with Rudy Lozano,
im for a world without borders and a better tomorrow.
Im with Mothers on the Move Im with sistas on the rise
Im with La Pena del Bronx, keepin culture alive
Im with the kids at the Batey watchin a beat battle
Mean muggin all these yuppies in shorts and brown sandles
Im with parents everywhere fightin for good schools
And for all these good women to find some good dudes
Im with Salvador Allende Man Im Super Anti Momio!
Con el pueblo en la Havana grito Viva Cuba Cono!
Im for immigrants, activists, unions and freelancers
For djs mcs bombers and breakdancers
Im with editors, engineers and indy media
Im with my family and my crew Rebel Diaz
Im with Dj Disco Wiz a Latino Pioneer
Cuz its its dope when the elders break bread with the kids..
(G1)
Im for tellin the truth exposing the lies
Think about the dead soldiers when youre drivin your ride
Them people died for the oil and Daddy Bushs revenge
Im with the widows the children and the lonely best friends
Im with Families Stayin Together as ONE
Im Not for the Raids and the Deportations!!
Im with Victor Toro and The M.I.R.
So watch out for those snitches in that unmarked car!
And for Lil Saulito, we gonna fight for your moms..
So we gonna shout her out, twice in One song..
Im for twelve million workers and Elvira Arellano
Im for a world without borders and a better tomorrow
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
CHORUS:
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Chi city!!!
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
South bronx!!!
WHICH SIDE ARE YOUON?
Oaxaca!!!
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Palestina!!
Thank you Rebel Diaz for the great song. Songs like this are important to the inner cities. Thank you.
There are many issues that stem from political inactivity in the cities and in other communities. Their inactivity leads to a lack of representation in the government, which in turn leads to a constant assault on policies important to them. Attacks on social programs such as social security, medicare, medicaid, well fair,food stamps, child health care programs, etc are common place. This would not be possible if there was political action amongst the poor people that fought for their own interest. However, this does not happen, the poor have not become politically active, and the services they require continue to be attacked by republicans.
Yes, we have a Democratic House and Senate, but it's not enough to serve the interests of the poor. Yes, this House and Senate have made major strides to help the poor,as has our great president, but it is not enough. In fact, I have a sneaking suspicion that the reason Obama is not much more active is he does not now WHICH SIDE WE ARE ON. Or perhaps he knows that, but he also knows we will not be active. And how does he know this? Past results, a history of inactivity, and a history of stifling those who do come out because block voting is out of style.
If the people really showed up, and we really took sides, the tides of change would be swift. When we talk about getting out the vote we often forget how woefully low turn out really is. We often forget who has been repressed and oppressed to the point where they do not know how to fight. Well, honestly, who is going to teach them to fight if its not us? Its awfully hard to teach yourself something you don't know without access to the information you'd need to learn it.
So when I ask Which Side are You on, I ask are you willing to help the poor help themselves? Are you willing to help generate ideas as to how to tackle the task of getting the poor vote out? Are you willing to sacrifice some time to make this country a better place for all people?
I remember walking streets that often had needles Visiting houses that were full of nasty beetles Living near violence without the help of police Or if they come they take a neighbor they will never release The people live in fear of threats both far and near Children being lost and officials don't even lose a tear We are the forgotten peoples of America left to live in poverty Left to starve with little chance of employment in our home country I guess no one cares because they don't even hear us Our political silence has thrown us under the bus I vote and I talk but that's not even nearly enough To silence one voice isn't even that tough So things around here just stay like they are While people are overly focused on getting a car I think when their focus changes then change can begin Because if we all speak together then we can win
_______________________________________________________________________
We're the poor people of America we know they hate us We've got land fills of playgrounds and sores oozing with pus The health-care system won't do anything because we don't have insurance And when we're in the hospital they think we're a nuisance We live in the cities and near toxic waste dumps The waste products of industry are dropped in our rivers by pumps If its bad for our health its in our neighborhood Our children have asthma and that can't be good I know there's people on the Earth who've got it much worse But I swear being poor anywhere is worse than a curse
________________________________________________________________________
I live and breath daily on the edge of poverty I'm middle class living in the inner city We used to be many, now the minority I guess everyone must have lost their money Except it wasn't lost it was mass robery Not prosecuted at all because of mass bribery These robbers have exausted all our hospitality We need to end the protection immediately If we don't I fear the costs for you and for me I just hope everyone will wake up and see
_______________________________________________________________________
Looking forward to your comments, opinions, and thoughts.
