Clear Decision

From the Lifesmith Group album, "Trifling."

The aircraft plant was closing, the walls were coming down
Those who could adapted, those who couldn’t left town.
All across the Southland, commercials sank into red
Without the government contracts, families won’t get fed.
The glut of paid professionals now loosed upon the scene
Struggle with their second choices and contemplate their dreams.
For war is something known and feared and peace is just a vision
We ask ourselves without remorse, is peace our clear decision?

The black masses at the Pentagon, now ashen in disgrace to some
Plead for increased taxpayer spending for secret projects to come.
Yet thousands on the streets with no shoes, no shelter, no funds
Rail against the madness -- hold their anger like a gun
The people and our planet are the resources we must protect
There will be no higher purpose if survival we don’t respect
Let’s carefully choose our priorities -- can we really have it all?
Yes, prosperity can be ours with peace, cooperation enthralled.

Will money bring you happiness if forgiveness cannot be bought?
Are we such unthinking fools to destroy what God hath wrought?
Can we change our selfish ways to serve ourselves in kind?
Will our brothers across the seas echo our maturing mind?

The time is now, the place is here, the glorious brotherhood awaits
Unknown cousins from beyond watch from behind the gates
To bathe us in that special light of knowingness and trust
Of depth renewed, and love construed, and exploration’s lust.