Courage

by Bob Blue

A small thing happened once at school

That brought up a question for me.

And somehow it forced me to see

The price I paid to be cool.

Diane is a girl that I know;

She's strange like she doesn't belong.

I don't mean to say that's wrong;

We don't like to be with her, though.

And so when we all made a plan

To have this party at Sue's,

Most kids at our school got the news

But no one invited Diane.

The thing about Taft Junior High

Is secrets don't last very long.

I acted like nothing was wrong

When I saw Diane start to cry.

I know you may think that I'm cruel

It doesn't make me very proud.

I just went along with the crowd.

It's sad, but you have to in school.

You can't pick the friends you prefer

You fit in as well as you can.

I couldn't be friends with Diane

'Cuz then they would treat me like her.

IN one class at Taft Junior High

We studied what people have done

With gas chambers, bomber and gun

In Auschwitz, Japan and My Lai.

I don't understand all that I learn

Sometimes I just sit there and cry.

The whole world stood idly by

To watch as the innocent burned.

Like robots obeying some rule

Atrocities done by the mob

All innocent, just doing their job.

And what was it for? Was it cool?

The world was aware of this hell,

But nobody cried out in shame.

No heroes and no one to blame.

A story that no one dared tell.

I promise to do what I can

To not let this happen again.

To care for all women and men.

I'l start by inviting Diane.