We got to have peace

Curtis Mayfield was more than a song writer and an artist. His eyes were open to the current issues of the world and he used his musical talents to send his own message to the world. The song, "We got to have peace" is one example about Mayfield's philosophy of music. In the song he addresses the world that peace is inevitable, if we are to live in this world. 

The song includes various themes that are similar to what HWPL is doing. We are raising up our voice, so that our children and future generation are able to experience this beautiful planet that were given to us. And peace is necessary, in order to keep this earth alive. And Mayfield suggests that "what if one of the soldiers, who bravely fought for his country, is able to come back from the dead? What would he say?" We, who never participated in a war and experienced the horror of the battlefield, where we would see people die, except in action films that we take pleasure from, are not able to understand as much as the soldiers, who experienced this. What did they truly fight for? Was it a fight that would bring them any gain? It was for their country that they were able to make that priceless sacrifice. But, truly what does it bring? A war will lead to another war. 

The only thing we have to do is to raise up our voices as one global family. We have to use our voice to tell the world that if we do not resolve this conflict, there is no turning back. We need to first find the reason we want peace personally and start acting to create peace in our small community, which will then branch off to bigger community. As many philosophers said in their writing, peace begins with one person's vision and person by person will join this vision. This is how HWPL came to be. Like many of the movements in the human history, it started with Chairman Man Hee Lee's vision and hope after experiencing an actual war and battlefield. And after hearing his messages, people renewed their hope and wish for peace. At this time, we are raising our voices in different places and method on peace.

If Curtis Mayfield was able to see what is happening at this decade, I wonder what his response will be?

We Got to have Peace by Curtis Mayfield

We got have peace

To keep the world alive

And war to cease.

We got to have joy,

True in our hearts

With strength we can't destroy.

People please hear us (people please hear us)

Through our voice the world knows

There's no choice.

We're begging save the children

The little ones

Who just don't understand

Give them a chance

To breed their young

And help purify the land

People please hear us (people please hear us)

Through our voice the world knows

There's no choice.

And the people in the neighbourhood,

Who would if they only could,

Meet and shake the other's hand,

Work together for the good of the land.

Give us all an equal chance,

It could be such a sweet romance.

And the soldiers who are dead and gone,

If only we could bring back one,

He'd say "We've got to have peace"

To keep the world alive

And war to cease

We got to have joy

Ture in our hearts

With strength we can't destroy

People please hear us (people please hear us)

Through our voice the world knows

There's no choice

And the people in the neighbourhood

Who would if they only could

Meet and shake the other's hand

Work together for the good of the land

Peace, peace, peace

Aah - hah, we got to have peace

People please hear us (people please hear us)

Through our voice the world knows

There's no choice

Save the children