The Cycle of Destruction

"Eve of Destruction" by Barry McGuire

The eastern world
It is explodin'.
Violence flarin'
Bullets loadin'.
You're old enough to kill,
But not for votin'.
You don't believe in war,
But what's that gun you're totin'?
And even the Jordan River
Has bodies floatin'.

But ya tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend,
Ah, you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction

And don't you understand
What I'm tryin' to say
And can't you feel the fears
That I'm feelin' today?
If the button is pushed,
There's no runnin' away.
There'll be no one to save
With the world in a grave.
Take a look around you, boy.
It's bound to scare you, boy

And ya tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend,
Ah, you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction

But think of all the hate
There is in red China.
Then take a look around
To Selma, Alabama.
You may leave here
For four days in space,
But when you return
It's the same old place.
The poundin' of the drums,
The pride and disgrace.
You can bury it dead,
But don't leave a trace.
Hate your next door neighbor,
But don't forget to say grace.

And tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend,
You don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction
Ah, no, no, you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction.

This song was written in the '60s and was popular then. It's surprising how much it still applies to our world today, though. Forty years ago we were in a war that has now been declared by many critics pointless. We were trying to be the world's police, and we supposedly have since learned that we cannot do that. We DID learn that, but I think we've since forgotten it. We're not learning from our mistakes. This song is forty years old, but I think it almost applies to our country better today (except for the voting age IS now lowered).

"Hate your next door neighbor, but don't forget to say grace." This really typifies our country today. Everyone is so caught up in domestic issues like gay marriage and abortion that they forget that there are some things more important. We're at war killing thousands of people monthly, but we're spending all of our time arguing over Terri Shiavo instead of figuring out how to get out of this war. The politicians are trying to cover up the major faults and dilemmas of our country by wasting time arguing over trivial matters.

Forty years ago our country was on the Eve of Destruction. So where are we now? Depending on one's perception of time, we could still be at the Eve. We could be in the process of destruction. But could we truly be sailing smoothly away from destruction?