Pretty much just venting about the world

[chapstick]

Most of you probably know that about 13 years ago a group of artists called "The Black Eyed Peas" made a song describing how our world was going downhill. This song was titled "Where is the Love?" I am not certain, but I believe that they made this to raise awareness in a way that would be easier to hear then a lecture or speech. But my question is, why is this still relevant? On June 12, 49 people were killed in a NIGHTCLUB. A place to enjoy yourself! What about the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007? 32 people were killed, AT A SCHOOL! What about the grocery store parking lot in 2011? There have been many mass shootings in schools, churches, malls. WHY? I don't know who I can trust and where I feel safe anymore. And why can't we let people use the bathroom they feel comfortable in? We are scared of rape, because that is what are world is now. If I offended anyone by speaking my mind, please PM me. I will be happy to take down any content from this message, I mostly just needed somewhere to vent. Below isn't the official music video from '03, but a more updated version including today's events.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdSWNs3M57E

 

[amanda1983]

That was 13 years ago?? Yikes I remember when that first came out.. It was a big deal as it was a song nothing like BEPs previous work and Justin Timberlake helped write it and sang the chorus. As much as I love the song, it was deliberately created to be a catchy pop anthem with some social commentary. Not a lyrical masterpiece (it's really not, it is very generic and not at all up to the usual work of those involved, but then it wasn't supposed to be). It introduced their new female singer, and their more radio-friendly sound, and it did so with more depth than most pop songs do.. But it's not David Bowie deep or anything.

I don't think it's saying that the world is going downhill, as the lyrics highlighted general things that are always bad as well as touching on some specifics. The overall point is asking us to do better. Not because things used to be good - they never were, I'm sorry, there is just no point in human history where life was good across the board for everyone. The lyrics reference some events and groups that were well known at the time (and still are, to my knowledge), but I don't recall anything in the words about this stuff being new ... This is just a current role call of some of the bad things happening, it wasn't meant to be definitive.

Unfortunately, the answer to your question of "why is this still relevant?" is that this will ALWAYS be relevant. Human beings will always face threats like those in the song, even if the source of the threat changes. Bad things will happen, good people will be hurt. Accepting that is a sad but necessary part of growing up.

I personally always took the "practice what we preach" lyric to heart, and considered this the main takeaway of the song. I can't change the world, but I can choose my own words, decisions, and actions. And I can be an advocate for change whilst being a positive role model myself. Which I am. The song isn't particularly sad for me, a little bittersweet perhaps, but it's just a catchy tune with a message. I choose to look at it that way instead of focussing on the horrors I'm helpless to stop.

 

[That Zephyr Guy]

Nothing's gotten worse, the world has always been like this.

Your perception of awful events has just improved with age.

 

[Bowie]

The world is getting better, I think. It's just that we're being faced with new problems. We're always gonna have problems.