Watching some tape from the runup to the antiwar protests in Washington, I heard the protesters singing “We Shall Overcome.” At first, that washed over me: It’s expected, isn’t it, like Jimmy Buffet singing Margaritaville.
But as I thought about it, I wondered: What are they overcoming? The song is about people overcoming oppression.
Who’s overcoming oppression and trying to secure peace, freedom, and justice in this case? The people of Iraq, I’d say.
