about the music: Scream4peace
‘Scream4peace’, arranged and produced by Leon de Long is the music soundtrack for the book ‘trans4mation: Improvement vs. Change’ by Gillian Mercuur.
GF Handel’s timeless, beautiful melody ‘Ombra mai fu’ from the opera Serse (Xerxes), forms the base for this arrangement of promise and hope.
In juxtaposition to the tranquillity of peace that exists in nature, the human race is in a state of perpetual unrest. And our scream for peace resonates around the world. Our greed and its effect not only on us, but also on our fellowmen as well as nature, is the major cause of destruction, fighting and death in today’s world. Millions are subjected to unimaginable suffering as a consequence of sheer greed. For many, it is a struggle to simply survive in a daily life filled with violence, fear, hatred and starvation.
Truth reveals the greed in me, thereby helping me to transcend both my own greed and the effects on me of evil caused by the greed of others. But what is truth? The only thing that exists in reality is truth. We do not find truth; for to know truth, we need to live in truth. When we live in truth, we are in truth. Truth is the same for everyone and is given in equal measure. It exists both within us and around us, and it exposes all falsehoods. Truth makes that which is unacceptable, unacceptable.
What is peace and how can we achieve it? Only when the fear, worry, insecurity and unrest caused by our internal and external conflicts are overcome, can peace be experienced. Fragile and precious, peace can be disrupted by a single thought or utterance. Imagine the sufferance caused by a bullet or bomb! In a world that is fraught with danger, violence, greed and corruption, our collective desire is for peace. Must we wait to ‘rest in peace?’ Can we not strive to ‘live in peace?’ Can world-peace be achieved if I am not at peace?
We are born in truth and we die in truth; should we not then live in truth? When living in truth, each of us has the opportunity to fully recognise, acknowledge and understand our inner selves and who we are.
This allows us to identify and understand our own wrongdoing and the consequences thereof, thus enabling us to free ourselves and find peace. When we have peace, we emanate it into the world and only then can we physically experience and truly demonstrate compassion. Compassion shared and experienced, leads to healing for both victim and perpetrator.
Truth is the only foundation upon which peace, love and happiness can take seed and flourish.
Handel’s Ombra mai fu: English translation (Shade never there was a plant) ‘Branches tender and beautiful, of my sycamore beloved’....’do not let then outrage ever the dear peace, nor let arrive to profane you, the west winds’
In the bible story too, Zacchaeus climbed the sycamore tree to get Jesus’ attention. He repented his crimes by paying back double of what he stole from his victims when Jesus showed him compassion. And as a result, the earlier meaning of this tree meant ‘Justice’.
Today, judicial systems across the world have adopted the Sycamore System, where victims are given the opportunity to talk and reflect on the offence committed against them and its subsequent effects. Convicted prisoners are also given the opportunity to acknowledge and repent their wrongdoing. Here, acknowledgement and understanding establishes a sense of peace for both victim and perpetrator.
There is no doubt that, until the day arrives where every single one of us becomes accountable to truth, world peace will remain a fantasy. To know truth is to know peace! Where there’s no truth, there’s no peace!
Peace is possible! Ultimately, peace begins and ends with ME!