A Song of Peace (alternate version)

Capitol Mall in Sacramento stretches six city blocks from near the Tower Bridge to a large fountain near the California State Capitol (Google map the phrase "capitol mall sacramento" for a satellite view of the area). This installation -- hosted by Sacramento Coalition to End the War, on behalf of the Iraq Body Count Exhibit -- covered nearly the entire mall from May 24th to May 31st, 2008.

Organizers estimate that 120,000 flags were placed by about 50 volunteers. Each white flag represents at least 5 Iraqi citizens and each red flag represents at least 1 U.S. citizen killed as a result of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq (sources and citations are available at the exhibit website).

Visit http://www.iraqbodycountexhibit.org for more photos, information, and to pledge your support for the project.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Iraq
• Body
• Count
• Exhibit
• commentary
• analysis
• documentary
• grassroots
• outreach
• Finlandia
• song
• peace

[rt1234321]

The words were written by the poet Lloyd Stone (1912-1993) and are sung to the hymn-like portion of Finlandia, composed by Sibelius in 1899-1900 (which had no words).

Lloyd Stone often fails to get credit for these words that he wrote in 1934. The poem has three verses, when sung to the tune from Finlandia, it is usually given the title "A Song of Peace" or "This is My Song." The third verse of the poem is rarely sung.

This version was sung and arranged by Harmonious Combustion.

[art101tv]

@rt1234321 thanks very much for your post and clarification. I'll pass it along to Harmonious Combustion. I know they'll appreciate it as much as I do.

[coaragdlm]

Thanks for the posting art101tv,

Very moving indeed.

It's so angering and disturbing that our current President refuses to prosecute those responsible for such tragedy.

History will speak for us.

.

[art101tv]

Indeed it will, coaragdlm. Thanks for the comment. It's interesting to note that Cheney admitted that there was no connection between Iraq and 9/11. What a morally bankrupt little shiester.

[DeXMonica]

Wow. An incredible rendition of a beautiful song. The imagery, though simple, fits perfectly and the end result is truly powerful. Very, very moving.

[art101tv]

Thanks. The music is by Harmonious Combustion -- an acappella vocal group in northern California whose members include Nan Geary. Google her name to find her website.

You can make out the dome of the California state capitol in the background of the last scene. The installation stretched several blocks to a large fountain near the capitol. Walking along the capitol mall past all those little flags was a moving experience. If the exhibit comes to a town near you, don't miss it.

[oilotnoM]

I'm not sure whether to laugh at the irony or cry at the apathy having seen a battlefield 3 advertisement next to this video on youtube's ad box ....

[PhreeSoul]

My translation to the original Finnish Text, written after Finland had successfully defended it's independence against Soviet Union in the World War Two.

Verse 1

Oh Finland behold, your day is dawning

The threat of the night has been banished away

And the morning lark is playing in the brightness

As if the heavens itself would play

The light of the morning is already winning the powers of the night

Your day is dawning, oh native land

[PhreeSoul]

2nd verse

Oh rise, Finland, and raise high

Your head wreathed by grand memories

Oh rise, Finland, you showed to the world

That you banished slavery

And that you did not bend under the oppression

Your morning has begun, oh native land!

[713davidh42]

This song does have three verses, when sung to the tune from Finlandia. Georgia Harkness wrote a third verse in 1939, but it seems to contradict the ecumenical spirit of the first two verses written by Lloyd Stone. So much so that a former pastor never used it when we sang this hymn in our church.

[MrFinlandssvensk]

Finlandia :-)

[nikkialexy]

so touching... thanks