BOL (Speak Out)
In our Wednesday evening conversation with David Barsamian, he shared the poem below by the Urdu poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
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Bol, ke labh aazaad hain tere Bol, zubaan ab tak teri hai Tera sutwaan jism hai tera Bol, ke jaan ab tak teri hai |
Speak out! Your words are free. Speak up! Your tongue is still your own. Your body remains yours; ramrod, erect. Speak out! Your life is still your own. |
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Dekh, ke tere aahangar ki dukaan mein Tund hai sholay, surkh hai aahan Khulne lage quflon ke dahaane Phailaa har ek zanjeer ka daaman |
Look! How in your smithy’s forge flames soar; iron glows red. How the locks have opened yaws and every chain spreads out, unlinked. |
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Bol, yeh thodaa waqt bahut hai Jism-o-zubaan ki maut se pehle Bol, ke sach zindaa hai ab tak Bol, jo kuch kehnaa hai keh-le! |
The short time left to you is still enough. Speak up! Before the body and its tongue give out. Speak out! For truth still survives Speak out! Say whatever you have to say! |
| Translation and Transliteration © Mustansir Dalvi, 2012, All rights reserved. | |
As one of America's most tireless and wide-ranging investigative journalists, David has dedicated his life to speaking out. We were proud to have him grace our stage this week--after all, "Speak Out" is one of our core values.
Respect and Appreciation: We create a safe environment for people to explore and express who they are. We provide programming from diverse points of view, supporting each other in the expression of our truths, while building acceptance and understanding.
In our programming, we give a platform to many who would not otherwise be heard--students, women, the homeless, filmmakers without distribution, and we tackle issues that are complex and often difficult to comprehend.
We are not here to give you typical Hollywood fare. You have many choices for entertainment of that sort. Instead we offer an alternative voice--alternative ways to view the world in which we live. I invite you to come and spend some time with us. This week you can travel from the suburbs of Paris to Dublin, Ireland to the Aleutian Islands to Palestine. You can hear about life from an institutionalized schizophrenic, a courageous kayaker, a girl gang member and a clown.
Everyone has something to teach us. These stories broaden our understanding of the world. Take them with you. Your story is important, too. We want to know and understand your truths. Add your voice to the conversation.