All you need to do is listen…

There are few songs that can portray a noteworthy message and have a good beat at the same time. The noteworthy message being: that one day there will be peace. The beat: a mix of Reggae and Hip Hop. The song: “One Day” by Matisyahu.

Matisyahu is a Jewish Reggae musician who has, somehow, conveyed a popular world view into just one song. He wants no violence and hate, but rather, freedom and equality. This is a common desire among oppressed people in third world countries, but Matisyahu is from America. I’m not saying that the U.S has no freedom, it does (it’s the foundation of our country…), but the fact remains that there are still people who don’t believe in equality. They believe they are better because of their ethnicity, religion, sexual preference, socio-economic status etc. So where does that leave those who are discriminated against? They get stuck in this permanent submission just because of another person’s one-sided view of the world. This is the America we live in today.

Americans pride themselves on being able to call their country a “melting pot,” but that is simply not true. I’ve heard another term that is a better description: we are a salad. It goes like this: The Lettuce acknowledges the presence of the Carrot and that’s it. Now, the Lettuce thinks that it is better than the Carrot because one can’t have a salad without there being Lettuce in it. But what the Lettuce doesn’t know is that the Carrot adds flavor and without it, the salad would just be rabbit food. This is an accurate representation of the American people. We acknowledge those who are different and put up with them (also known as tolerance). If the U.S truly was a “melting pot,” then people would acknowledge and accept those who are different from them, and not just put up with them. Our people are just tossed in a three thousand mile stretch of land, not mixed. Maybe all we need is some common ground to show that we are better when we work together to make what we have greater...otherwise known as ranch dressing.

Matisyahu’s song is beautifully written and just really sounds good. He knows how people are and wants change, and peace. He has hope for this world, and he’s not the only one.

Listen…and then you will see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-aAZT15eHc

You can also view this blog at oneloveforpeace.wordpress.com