http://www.inquisitr.com/141211/paul-simon-the-sound-of-silence-ground-zero/ At the recent memorial for 911 at ground zero Paul Simon was supposed to sing "Bridge Over Troubled Water.Instead he elected to sing 'Sounds of Silence".

"Fools",said I,"You do not know"
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I may teach you
Take my arms that I may reach you
But my words,like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed,
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said,"The words are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls"
And whispered in the sounds of silence.

'Bridge Over Troubled Water' is about hope but 'Sounds of Silence' is about our inability to communicate and grasp the reality.It was a very sombre Paul Simon that remembered the 10th Anniversary of 911.

Ommitted " Take my arms that I may reach you,"
Paul Simon wrote Sounds of Silence soon after the assassination of JFK.

With the instigation of the Patriot Act and the Wars of Imperialism in response to 911,Paul Simon it seems does not see a bright future unless we all have the courage to speak up.

Silence became a cancer in Nazi Germany which enabled the genocide of the Jews.Genocide is happening in Lybia right now.Over one Million Iraqis murdered under the protense of WMD's that did not exist.

The USA is now attacking Afghanistan,Pakistan,Lybia,Somalia,and look like going into Syria.They've been sabre rattling over Iran for years even though their own CIA say Iran is of no threat.

When will our silence end? We are are more concerned over gay marriage boat people or animal rights than stopping the expansion of the wars.

Silence became a cancer in Nazi Germany which enabled the genocide of the Jews.
Arjay,
Silence is the cancer in Labor Australia to annihilate common sense & decency.

Where Is The Love?"

What's wrong with the world, mama
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas

I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma

Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA fightin'
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK

But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah

Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates

Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate

Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all

People killin',
people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love

It just ain't the same, always unchanged
New days are strange, is the world insane

If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong

Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young

So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong

In this world that we livin'
in people keep on givin'in

Makin' wrong decisions,
only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover

The truth is kept secret,
it's swept under the rug

If you never know truth
then you never know love

Where's the love, y'all,
come on
(I don't know)

Where's the truth,
y'all,

come on
(I don't know)

Where's the love, y'all

People killin',
people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me,
got me questionin'

Where is the love (Love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love?

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder

Most of us only care about money makin'
Selfishness got us followin' our wrong direction

Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema

Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality
Instead of spreading love we're spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity

That's the reason
why sometimes I'm feelin' under

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under

Gotta keep my faith alive
till love is found

Now ask yourself

Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?

Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love?

Sing wit me y'all:
One world, one world (We only got)

One world, one world (That's all we got)
One world, one world

And something's wrong wit it (Yeah)
Something's wrong wit it (Yeah)

Something's wrong wit the wo-wo-world, yeah

We only got
(One world, one world)

That's all we got
(One world, one world

Take a pinch of white man
Wrap him up in black skin
Add a touch of blue blood

And a little bitty bit of red indian boy
Oh like a curly latin kinkies

Oh lordy,..lordy,
mixed with yellow chinkees,..yeah

You know you lump it all together
And you got a recipe for a get along scene

Oh what a beautiful dream
If it could only come true,..you know,..you know

What we need is a great big melting pot
Big enough enough..big enough to take
The world..and all it's got

And keep it stirring for
A hundred years..or more
And turn out coffee coloured..people by the score

Rabbis and the friars
Vishnus and the gurus

We got the beatles or the sun god
Well it really doesn't matter
What religion you choose

And be thankful little mrs. graceful
You know that livin' could be tasteful

We should all get together in a lovin machine
I think I'll call up the queen

It' s only fair that she knows,
you know,

you know

What we need is a great big melting pot
Big enough enough enough to take
The world and all it's got

And keep it stirring for
A hundred years or more
And turn out coffee coloured people by the score

Coffee coloured people
Coffee coloured people
Coffee coloured people by the score

Don't know much about..history
Don't know much..biology

Don't know much..about a science book
Don't know much..about the french I took

But I do know that I love you
And I know that..if you love me too
What a wonderful world..this would be

Don't know much..about geography
Don't know..much trigonometry
Don't know much about algebra
Don't know..what a slide rule is for

But I do know that..one and one is two
And if this one..could be with you

What a wonderful world this would be

Now I don't claim to be an "A" student
But I'm trying to be

So maybe by being an "A" student baby
I can win your love for me

Don't know much about..history
Don't know much..blogery

Don't know much..about a science book
Don't know much about..the french I took

But I do know
that I love you

And I know that..if you love me too
What a wonderful world this would be

La ta ta ta ta ta ta
(History)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
(Biology)
La ta ta ta ta ta ta
(Science book)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
(French I took)

But I do know that I love you
And I know that if you love me too
What a wonderful world

this could be

I've been down so low
People look at me and they know

They can tell something is wrong
Like I don't belong

Staring through a window
Standing outside,
they're just too happy to care..tonight

I want to be like them
But..I'll mess it up again

I tripped on my way in
And got kicked outside,..everybody saw...

And I know that it's a wonderful world
But I can't feel it right now

Well I thought that I was doing well
But I just want to cry now
Well I know that it's a wonderful world
From the sky down to the sea

But I can only see it
when you're here.. here with me

Sometimes I feel so full of love
It just comes spilling out
It's uncomfortable to see

I give it away so easily

But if I had someone I would do anything
I'd never, never,..ever let you feel alone

I won't I won't leave you,
on your own

But who am I to dream?
Dreams are for fools,..they let you down...

And I know that it's a wonderful world
But I can't feel it right now

Well I thought that I was doing well

But I just want to cry now
Well I know that it's a wonderful world
From the sky down to the sea
But I can only see it when you're here,..here

with me

And I wish
that I could make it better

I'd give anything..for you to call me,

or maybe just a little letter

Oh,..we could start again

And I know
that it's a wonderful world
But I can't feel it right now

Well I thought that I was doing well
But I just want to cry now

And I know that it's a wonderful world
I can't feel it right now

I got all the right clothes to wear

I just want to cry now

I see trees of green,
red roses too.
I see them bloom,
for me and you.

And I think to myself,
what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue,
And clouds of white.
The bright blessed day,
The dark sacred night.

And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.

The colors of the rainbow,
So pretty in the sky.
Are also on the faces,
Of people going by,

I see friends shaking hands.
Saying, "How do you do?"

They're really saying,
"I love you".

I hear babies cry,
I watch them grow,
They'll learn much more,
Than I'll ever know.

And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.

Yes, I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.

Oh yeah.

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty, will I be rich
Here's what she said to me.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

When I was young, I fell in love
I asked my sweetheart what lies ahead
Will we have rainbows, day after day
Here's what my sweetheart said.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

Now I have children of my own
They ask their mother, what will I be
Will I be handsome, will I be rich
I tell them tenderly.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be

Dear Arjay,

Paul Simon was very sombre when he sang
"The sounds of silence," at the 9/11 Memorial
in New York. However, as Michael Moore stated
on "The View," we in the West make a big deal
about our casualties, but nobody mentions the
numbers of civilians, men, women, and children,
who are killed in those war torn areas on a
daily basis. Their casualties don't seem to
matter.

The same as Nazi criminals were
pursued all over the world for their crimes,
the communist criminals were allowed to go free.
They were, in effect, given tacit permission to
continue the operation of their concentration camps,
to expand their draconian system to include
psychiatric wards, thereby raising torture,
suppression, and murder to a science. The fact
that the process persisted was vividly disclosed
to the free world by Alexander Solzhenitsyn in his
book, "The Gulag Archipelago."

And so it goes today. We put a shroud of silence
over what we don't want to see - be it the
treatment of Palestinians, or the famine in Somalia.
Or the wars we're currently supporting.

Lexi I think Paul Simon was looking beyong the victims of 911.He clearly has the intent of sending a message by unexpectedly changing the tune.

Lexi

I think you have nailed the issue.

We in the West only think of ourselves, we publish the deaths of allied soldiers, but never hear about the lives (and deaths) of civilians in countries where we go to impose our version of democracy.

We are angered at the likes of Julian Assange who dared to open the Pandora's box of issues we don't want to hear about.

I imagined Paul Simon wanted to sing about hope, but in ten years we have learned nothing.

And the Silence of the dead, the maimed, the ruined, the malnourished is ringing as we turn away.

Dear Ammonite,

That's exactly the message that I feel
Paul Simon should have been trying to
pass onto us. "The Sounds of Silence,"
to me represents - that fact that some
people prefer to simply not see or speak.
Perhaps that was his message, after-all.

people prefer to simply not see or speak.
Lexi,
That seems to be endemic in free countries. In openly oppressed countries they fight oppression, in free countries oppression gets ignored or is called fees & permits & copers are called police & crooks get free education & get compensated. The free citizens just keep on getting fleeced.

Lexi,
just an example from my area. a kiddie fiddler was locked up for a year. When he went to jail he was an unhealthy, dirty creep with severely rotten teeth. When he was freed he looked fit & well & all his teeth were perfectly done. In all that time many decent people had no chance of seeing the dentist let alone could afford having their teeth fixed. This is in a modern, free democratic country.

Dear Individual,

I guess that's the problem with a democracy
isn't it. We don't have a "one size fits all,"
ethos as they do in totalitarian regimes.

Lexi,we don't have democracy.We have an oligarchy or rule by the corporate elites.

Dear Arjay,

Not yet we don't. That will certainly be the case
if Mr Abbott and Co. win the next election.

be the case
if Mr Abbott and Co. win the next election.
Lexi,
I don't think it possible to be more wrong than you in this case. Do you really think it could be worse than with Gillard now ? We're on the brink of Anarchy here & if the Coalition doesn't get in we're over the edge.

individual,

"Brink of Anarchy",eh....(with a capital "A" as well)

....how so?

Lexi,both the major parties take money from large corporate interests.Abbott in reality by opposing the carbon tax is attacking large corporate intersts.The NAB want the CO2 tax so they can profit from a new derivative called the ETS.AGW is a monumental scam.Dr David Evans believed in AGW from 1980 to 1996 when the stats no longer supported the theory.The AGW scam had too much momentum and too many on the gravy train to change any perceptions of reality.

The Earth has not warmed since 1998 even with expoential increases in CO2.Abbott is a rough diamond with foot in mouth disease but is undergoing rapid awareness.He is right is opposing the CO2 tax.

Dear Individual and Arjay,

I'm not going to argue with either of you.
I find it far too stressful and we'll only keep going
around in circles so I frankly don't see the point.
I realise that you're both conservatives and that's
fine. You're entitled to your opinions. We don't
have to agree on things.

....how so?
Lexi,
Australian society has reached a stage where the have's have taken as much as can be taken from the have not's. There's nothing left to take anymore, even self esteem. Just ask any ordinary worker or pensioner.

individual,

I see what you mean....

It's certainly a headache for Westerners to to pay for the two cars and all the cheap Chinese goods we're forced to stuff into our over-sized houses. All the medical, educational and other civilian infrastructure is a pain as well.

I think we should take to the streets tomorrow to say we're not gonna take this first world mollycoddled extravagance any longer.

Poirot,
Point taken but for your info I was referring to people so obviously outside your Public Service circle.
So I guess you're no longer against the notion of a National Service to induce some restraint & responsibility ?

individual,

Restraint and responsibility should be organic and emanate from the family out into the community. It's a state of mind - and one which is not encouraged at this stage of our economic system's evolution.

What's a Public Service circle?

What's a Public Service circle?
Poirot,
A bunch of hangers on who are of no benefit to the citizens but who deny decent citizens any benefit whatsoever even when deserved. Public Servants who only have to contribute a fraction to Super in comparison to hard working people whose only option is casual work because the bureaucrats mismanage everything so badly. In fact so badly that they then make fun of their victims' predicament. They're people who are mollycoddled from cradle to grave with not an ounce of understanding how working people have to manage to overcome the incompetence of so many bureaucrats i.e. the Public Service circle. My experience has shown me that there is only one in a hundred bureaucrats who are competent & who care.

Dear Individual,

Well you can only talk from your experiences, I guess.
Mine happen to differ vastly from yours. I've worked
in both the public and private sectors - and lazy
sods existed in both as did hard workers. I couldn't
make sweeping generalisations as you do - but you go
right ahead if it makes you feel better.

As Noisy Scrub Bird would say - "Enjoy your day."

if it makes you feel better.
Lexi,
To come back with a retort like the above clearly shows an indifference to others' struggles.
I for one sympathise with those who haven't the lack of integrity to exploit our swiss cheese like loophole system. That's why I chose not to vote ALP again unless they manage to muster some integrity such as Labor used to have. I suppose I'll be in for a long wait.

Dear Individual,

Look at your own retorts before you make
statements about others reactions to them.
Infantile finger-pointing is a waste of time
and you have no idea about whether I am or am not
concerned about others struggles. You don't know
me so don't put your reality onto me. That's who
you are, not me.

Lexi,
If the private sector had as many incompetent & useless as the Public Service, private enterprise would cease to function in hours.
When you do get some private business doing the wrong thing then who let's it happening ? Who are the watchdogs ? Who is supposed to keep an eye on all business practice ? The public service that's who. When does Law reform ever put up their hand or when does the Tax Office ever jump in in time for some Super fund not declare bankruptcy so that people don't lose all their savings ? How long a list to you want of examples where bureaucrats have let people down ? Bureaucrates who say "not Me" and who say "how do you know what I am thinking". From Consumer watchdog to Health to Law & order,. it's all public service. We have to rely on TV like Current Affairs & This day tonight etc. to get attention on issues, issues that the public service is getting good funding for & should be addressing. I find a bit rich to point the finger at private enterprise when clearly the public service needs a shake-up.
Let's start with school teachers getting some real life experience before letting them lose on unsuspecting minors & ruining them for the rest of their life. To say "We don't have a "one size fits all," is merely excusing the present mismanagement & to be negative about the Coalition winning is an even less excusable defence. The reason why much of public sector incompetence will continue after a change of Government is that bureaucrats don't get thrown out with the old Government, so in actual fact the public sector is destined to be ALP forever & no light at the end of the tunnel.

Dear Individual,

Again, I don't agree with your take on things.
Tony Abbott has made it quite clear that he
will be getting rid of entire government departments
when and if he gets into office. But you're entitled
to believe whatever you want. We'll have to wait and
see what will eventually happen.

The Dept of Climate Change would be a good one to eradicate.

Back the the topic.Why did Paul Simon change his tune? What is the cancer of 911 that grows in our silence?

Dear Arjay,

Not going to happen. As Malcolm Turnbull explained
on "Q and A," they need the Department to be able
to implement their policies (someone's got to do
the work). They'll merely re-name the Department.

As for what the cancer is - that Paul Simon was
referring to? Probably - apathy, (inaction) on behalf of the
people. Instead of correcting what we see is wrong (or
at least trying to) we tend to do nothing - and support
the status quo. "If it ain't broke - don't fix it."
Sound familiar?

you fell into that one lexie

""Fools",said I,
"You do not know"
Silence like a cancer grows""

paul was talking about our silence
[as arjay pointed out in his second post

but back to paul

""Hear my words
that I may teach you""

then as arjay pointed out
he DIDNT SAY..""Take my arms
that I may reach you""

which was a good ommision

""But my words,
like silent raindrops fell"'

unheard
un mentioned
un-noticed

""And echoed
In the wells of silence""

as they once again echoed
in the twin pits

of the towers footprints

one can only feel his pain as he repeats

""And the people bowed and prayed,
To the neon god they made""

the new tower
with the same old pain
the new becon to excess

then talking of the twin lazer light's

""And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming""

""And the sign said,
"The words are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls""

And whispered
in the sounds
of silence.

sometimes even words are silenced
but heck do words even...echo in their minds?

is the light on
but no one listening

please note that all song..is channeld
from either heaven..or hell

sometimes the words get edited
like brian did to many beatles songs

yes john
i too know you meant to say
we are going to have an *evolution

peace man*

not pieces
you were a true working mans hero
but you proved not only the good die young

Well said OUG.I think Paul Simon knows,and this was his protest.If you go to http://patriotsquestion911.com/ there are only 220 artists who want a new investigation into 911.They are silent because they know there will not be any more jobs or roles for tnem if they speak out.Charle Sheen spoke out for a while but is now silent.

Richard Gage has done a magnificant job in getting almost 1600 architects and engineers to speak out.Kevin Bracken head of the Vict Trades Hall spoke out and Julia tried to deride him in Parliament but it back fired.The Herald Sun did a survey of 10,000 people and 78% agreed with him.There is a monumental cover up of the evidence of 911 and too many lack the guts to speak up.

We have Howard's s Sedition Laws and the USA the Patriot Act.Our rights are being stripped away and still we remain silent.Julia Gillard lies about the Carbon Tax ,tries to silence the media via an enquiry and still most remain silent.

We are on the verge of a communist/facist take over of the planet in the name of environmentalism and the lie of terrorism,and still most remain silent.

People have become gutless,cluelss,lacking moral fibre and only pay homage to the neon god of Hollywood,their dummy that gives them comfort from the reality of Govt/Corporate totalitariarn terror.

lexie..i was teasing
of course your right

""As for what the cancer is - that Paul Simon was
referring to? Probably - apathy, (inaction) on behalf of the
people.""

its a basic skill of human nature
to decieve ourselves that others can fix thing's

as you correctly said>.."Instead of correcting
what we see..is wrong (or at least trying to)
we tend to do nothing""

and by..doing nothing*..
we give aid and comfort"" - and support
the status quo.""

you are totally correct
im sorry if i hurt you
your not like the ';others'

who really believe..."If it ain't broke - don't fix it."

""Sound familiar?""

yes it does dear lexie

yes
it does

so what can we do
legislate people
to give a damm

tie them down
force them to listen
or threaten them to think?

your way of having faith in them
heck we all know..in emergencies..
where there is a clear and present danger
we do come together

so in the end
it will get past apathy

but i prefer to stop[ok try to shop it..
before the muck gets anywhere near the fan

but then again if we didnt learn to walk/talk
if we let machines do it for us...we would never have learned
talking nor thinking

[im still working on writing]

and you dear lexie got a great mind
and a good heart

thats a great start

Dear Johan (OUG),

Thank You for your kind words.

However - I don't have all the answers by
any means and this forum is interesting for
the very reason that there is a variety of
opinions on it - and whether we admit it or
not - I think we're all influenced by each
other to some degree. I know that I've gone
back and had a re-think on many subjects
that I was convinced about, and yet reading
someone else's take on that same subject
made me look at things from a different angle.
And privately I had to admit that I was wrong.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/sep/22/ahmadinejad-addresses-un-general-assembly
Arjay/Sonofglion I truly am not haveing a shot at you.
Talking about any issue is of no use unless all views have a right to be aired.
My limited understanding of world events is not from personal opinions.
It is research, not just looking for things that support my views.
My search this morning ,just started is for advise on the impending world economic failures.
This came first,is the man Evil, Insane, I think both.
Are his people victims? yes, in my view.
As you and others constantly remind us of Americas perceived evils may I ask that you consider this man?

It somehow seems an appropriate choice.

Belly,The US Federal Reserve a private group of banks creates from nothing all the money for the US Govt and industry to function.They control the UN by controlling the US Govt.It is a Global Oligarchy Belly and we are its slaves.

obama is the 'faulse prince of peace''
as he has clearly revealed by his threat to veto palisteinian statehood..

[and failure to curb the affects of the money changers
by buying back govt control of the federal reserve..for a piddling 44.5 billion in coin[under right of seignorage..

to mint simply speaking 12 plate sized coins..one for eack of those vile bankers what stole control over money...by demanding govt assets [mint/fed resertrve]..for only 44.4 billion in true debt

who defated the true traditional value of coin
to where a copper penny is now worth a paper dollar
yet 100 iron copper plated coin..[pennies]= one fiat dollar

[costing 7 cents a note to print]

where gold and silver coins..has had the gold replace with cupra nickle and plain nickle coin..[its criminal..coins got hrh head on it to ASSURE value of its content]

notes are only a promise to pay..IN COIN
how can any fool not see the scam..where virual credit creates real debt

BANKS never lent a thing
they made the debt..payable
but that credit never egsisted based on any real money
not based on true value's..yet the ursury kills the real economy

so much so some due neo con red necks
can destry the twin towers
simply to steal some gold

collect insurance...and save a collapsing stock market

heck if only
the song writers
sang the WHOLE TRUTH

we permitted to life rather than make us depressed
this goes tripple for the tv..muder rape and mayhem programing blokes

but instead the media delivers lies
science dazzels people into thinking it holds truth

just to get ever more cash/credit
obama could stop it in a minute
buy back the fed..[by seizing back control, over the mint]

govt enlarges coin based..money supply
as the assets get built..or puts credit up to build them
or make jobs..the true value of states is its people

freemen..freeing others
not killing them or colluding to feather their own nests

finally we are seeing respect given
where respect is due..lol..not 'praise' steven

i like your new post
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=4731&page=0

of course we are still avoiding..the elephant in the room
in the land of the due..[middle east]..

and that soon..*the faulse prince of peace
obama [obomination]..reveals himself

when he goes to veto
the un motion..that keeps the middle east prison
as a victim..not an equal..with equal status

peace cant come from inequality
but only respect between equal

respect given/wether due..or jew
we are all children
of the one good loving
living mercyfull good..[god]

its time we gave..*him the respect..due..!

by helping/loving..neighbour
not bombing them..back to the stone rage

sing about that!

Paul Simom most powerful words of wisdom and music in the Sound of Silence will interest most of the people of the world including different religous ones as well and here is how one citizen of Canada, part of world unity in diversity has seen it. Check it out and please make a comment and hope you will enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2-mTrCgjI4