In London last week I visited the Imperial War Museum and was, of course, both amazed and appalled at man’s (and it usually is men) ingenuity in devising such terrible machines of self-destruction. But the part that was most devastating was the Holocaust section on the top floor. In fact, after a while I found the galleries depicting murder on an industrial scale, mostly in dim light, almost too much to bear and simply wanted to get out. Unfortunately, leaving was not so easy (no doubt deliberately) as it was difficult finding the exit among the maze of rooms and passages.

Of course the Nazis didn’t only murder Jews. With their warped philosophy of Aryan superiority they believed they could treat anyone deemed inferior or different as worse than animals. This included, gypsies, homosexuals, any non-white races, those with a disability or learning problem, etc. We may believe nothing like this could happen again but in fact it is, right now, in many places around the world. Autocratic regimes are discriminating against and persecuting minorities or supporting religious and other groups to cause political unrest, terrorist explosions, etc, and even sponsor revolution and war.

My song was a reaction to all this when I got home.

PROTECT THE POOR

Protect the poor and needy, from the cruel and the greedy,
And those in power who do not care.
About society now – where everyone is free now,
To live in peace with their fair share.
Some say life is a race – you better know your place,
The cards are stacked before you begin.
And so why give a damn, about the rights of man,
The strongest rat must always win – must always win.

Defend the weak and helpless, from oppressors in the darkness.
One day who knows, it could be you.
Trampled down by heavy jack boots – storm troopers all in black suits,
Too late to cry you never knew.
But some say life is a farce – all things one day must pass,
Might as well enjoy it while we may.
There is no right or wrong, so sings the tyrant’s song,
The only truth is what I say – is what I say.

Do not deny the awkward, odd-balls you may call backward,
With special needs or broken down.
Different colours, different ways, bring sunshine to our days,
Reveal the wisdom of a clown.
But with their righteous anger, and obedience for ever,
The master race broke all the rules.
That was long ago now, a goose-stepping comedy show now,
Surely, we would not be such fools?
Would we – be such fools?