Friday, November 04, 2011

DONA NOBIS PACEM - BLOG BLAST FOR PEACE 2011



Peace is in the interest of the people.  Sadly and scandalously, it is not always in the interest of governments.  What to do about it? Refuse, as individuals, as groups, and then in our multitudes, to play the games devised by our political masters. This, I believe,  is what is happening in another sphere with the Occupy movement, proving that it is possible for the people to make their voices heard. If we want it enough, together we can stop the killing and achieve a new way of living - in peace.

Here, with my translation, is one of the greatest anti-war songs ever written: 

Boris Vian - Le Déserteur




Monsieur le Président
Je vous fais une lettre
Que vous lirez peut-être
Si vous avez le temps
Je viens de recevoir
Mes papiers militaires
Pour partir à la guerre
Avant mercredi soir
Monsieur le Président
Je ne veux pas la faire
Je ne suis pas sur terre
Pour tuer des pauvres gens
C'est pas pour vous fâcher
Il faut que je vous dise
Ma décision est prise
Je m'en vais déserter

Depuis que je suis né
J'ai vu mourir mon père
J'ai vu partir mes frères
Et pleurer mes enfants
Ma mère a tant souffert
Elle est dedans sa tombe
Et se moque des bombes
Et se moque des vers
Quand j'étais prisonnier
On m'a volé ma femme
On m'a volé mon âme
Et tout mon cher passé
Demain de bon matin
Je fermerai ma porte
Au nez des années mortes
J'irai sur les chemins.

Je mendierai ma vie
Sur les routes de France
De Bretagne en Provence
Et je dirai aux gens:
Refusez d'obéir
Refusez de la faire
N'allez pas à la guerre
Refusez de partir
S'il faut donner son sang
Allez donner le vôtre
Vous êtes bon apôtre
Monsieur le Président
Si vous me poursuivez
Prévenez vos gendarmes
Que je n'aurai pas d'armes
Et qu'ils pourront tirer.

- Boris Vian

Mr President
I'm writing you a letter
that perhaps you will read
if you have time.
I've just received
my call-up papers
telling me to leave for the war
before Wednesday evening.
Mr President,
I don't want to do it.
I'm not on this earth
to kill unfortunate people.
I don't want to make you angry
but I must tell you
that my decision has been made
and I am going to desert.

During my life
I've seen my father die,
I've seen my brothers leave
and I've seen my children cry.
My mother suffered so much
that now she's in her grave
laughing at bombs
and laughing at worms.
When I was a prisoner
they stole my wife,
they stole my soul
and they stole my beloved past.
Early tomorrow morning
I'm going to close my door
in the face of the dead years.
I'm going on the road.

I'll become a beggar
on the roads of France
from Brittany to Provence
and I'll shout this message to people:
"Refuse to obey,
refuse to do it.
Don't go to war,
refuse to go."
If blood must be shed,
Shed your own.
You're a good apostle,
Mr President.
If you have me hunted down,
warn your policemen
that I will be unarmed
and they can fire.

[My translation]


To find out more about #blogblastforpeace, please visit the inspirational and wonderful Mimi Lenox here.  You can see more peace globes at the Peace Globe Gallery.

10 comments:

Lui said...

You're absolutely right!
Let's not go to war.
Let's ignore paths leading to it!

Karen Jo said...

I love the Sandburg quote. "The Deserter" is very powerful. Peace be with you today and every day.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hello, Travos and peace to you and yours, too. Hello, Lui and thank you. I agree. Hello, Karen Jo. May peace always be with you, too.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Wow. Very powerful. I would do the same as the man in the song.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hello, Sherry Blue and welcome. I would, too.

CherryPie said...

A lovely post for Blog Blast for peace.

Annelisa said...

That wrenched my gut! But it's true, the governments aren't so happy to get in there and fight, but are very happy to commit the lives of the ordinary folk!

[A link to your post will be on my blog 'Peace Bloggers Unite' soon]

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Annelise. Yes, a sad song but a lot of truth in it. I look forward to your post. Pace. xx

Mimi Lenox said...

Wonderful!
#2359 in the Official Peace Globe Gallery at blogblastforpeace.com
Join us again November 4th, 2012.

Yay for Sicily!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hello, Mimi. Thank you for all that you do. I'll be there in November. Pace and love to you.

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