Bein’ Human

This is an audio editorial comment to a blog that’s being featured on the Los Angeles Times during the week of October 24-28, 2005. The blog, “101 Days at Sea,” is written by Janet Eastman, a teacher who blogs from a ship that travels around the world as part of an educational program called Semester at Sea. My daughter, Arianna, is on that ship too, and her life is being changed even as I write. The title of this audio editorial is “Bein’ Human.” Here are the words:

There’s a narrow window op’ning
Just a diff’rent point of view
Time to look around you
Gotta lot of work to do

Called bein’ human
Called won’t you lend a helpin’ hand?
And maybe it’s old-fashioned
But people, people, people

They got boobs hangin’ out in Hollywood
They’re a dime a dozen there
But ain’t no tents in Pakistan
Just the cold night winter’s air

Tsunami came and went I’m told
Rita, Wilma, Katrina too
Iran wants to blow the Jews away
Iraq’s like a Viet Nam zoo

Called bein’ human
Called won’t you lend a helpin’ hand?
And maybe it’s old-fashioned
But people, people, people

They got a little food in Africa
And some aid for lots of Aids
China’s comin’ on strong they say
But the piper’s gotta be paid

The Christians hate the Muslims
The Muslims hate the Jews
The White Sox beat the Astros
But we gotta pay our dues

Called bein’ human
Called won’t you lend a helpin’ hand?
And maybe it’s old-fashioned
But people, people, people

The cruise ships sail to ev’ry port
An’ their folks feast on more than bread
Well maybe it’s time for a Gandhi
Time to fast instead

And I hear the cry of the children
And I can’t shut out their pain
Time to take the blind fold off
Be human once again

Called bein’ human
Called won’t you lend a helpin’ hand?
And maybe it’s old-fashioned
Yeah, maybe it’s old-fashioned
But people, people, people
Maybe it’s time to be human once again

(Copyright 2005, Joy Sikorski. All World Rights Reserved.)