I have been listening to Child Cudi’s Pursuit of Happiness on repeat for fairly a while. Really, its been one in every of my favourite songs to blast within the automobile on a sunny day and I all the time hearken to it whereas understanding. Initially, I linked to the upbeat rhythm and the journey towards happiness that we’re all on. Lately, nonetheless, the lyrics started sounding extra grim to me.
I used to be first launched to this music by my teenage son, I are inclined to gravitate in direction of his playlists. Taking part in this monitor made me really feel nearer to him as I think about the magnitude of Cudi’s phrases in a seventeen-year-old’s thoughts:
Dwelling my life, getting our goals
Individuals informed me to gradual my roll
I am screaming out, fuck that
I all the time felt a way of empowerment, singing “fuck that” as I drove with the wind in my hair, quantity additional excessive, pumped to proceed dwelling my life and by no means slowing my roll it doesn’t matter what others consider me. I, too, am within the pursuit of happiness, and listening to this music for the primary few dozen occasions reassured me I’d get there quickly if I continued to reside my life, my method.
The opposite day, it occurred to me that this music is de facto unhappy, regardless of its catchy beats.
Every thing that shines ain’t all the time gonna be gold, hey
Actually, little is what it appears to be on the floor. Cudi wrongly assumes {that a} glamorous life ridden with extreme alcohol and drug utilization would discover him happiness, however he later admits within the music that he’s improper. Equally, many people are inclined to gravitate in direction of something sparkly -often occasions our pursuit of happiness turns to materialism to fill a void.
I do not anticipate happiness from issues. Sporting designer garments would not make me happier, it simply makes me really feel prettier. Nevertheless, I do are inclined to get lured by shiny individuals – particularly those that dangle expressions of affection towards me; I assume it is the Leo in me who falls for this entice. Or possibly I are inclined to mission as a result of after I inform somebody I really like them, I really actually do love them so the belief is that others are as real as I’m. I dare tweak Cudi’s lyrics to:
Everybody that shines ain’t all the time gonna be gold, hey.
There are roughly 15 million Jews on the earth and 1.8 billion Muslims. In response to Brigitte Gabriel, a Christian Lebanese lady whose life was turned the wrong way up by Islamic radicals, 20% of the Muslim inhabitants is radicalized. That is a load of militant Muslims crammed with vile hatred in direction of Jews or anybody who stands with Israel. Jews want the voices of our gentile pals, who declare to like us, to assist us come near matching the a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands of voices which can be protesting for the eradication of our land and our individuals. “I really like you”. Do you? If I’m surrounded by a lot love, why do I really feel so alone? I’ve a handful of extraordinarily supportive non-Jewish pals however as an individual who takes pleasure in having many “pals” and understanding many individuals, a handful versus the numerous I do know is equal to the huge distinction in inhabitants of Jews versus Muslims on this planet. I really feel extraordinarily alone regardless of there being 2.4 billion Christians on the earth whom the Bible teaches to relentlessly defend Israel. The vast majority of the non-Jews I do know have despatched a sort textual content or two. They imply nicely however they do not really perceive what it’s like to look at rallies calling for the destruction of your individuals in response to essentially the most brutal massacres towards Jews because the Holocaust, they do not perceive the choices we have now needed to make as dad and mom as our kids apply to high schools the place nearly none really feel secure for Jewish college students proper now, they do not grasp the excruciating ache that comes with their silence whereas Jews worry each day that we’re on the verge of a second Holocaust. So, as a substitute, with the very best intentions, they inform you they love you and shine their pearly whites in an tried smile to console you.
Everybody that shines ain’t all the time gonna be gold, hey.
USC professor John Strauss has been banned from campus after saying “Hamas are murderers. That’s all they’re. Everybody must be killed, and I hope all of them are killed.” Is there one thing improper with wanting terrorists useless? Apparently, if you find yourself Jewish, you may’t want loss of life upon terrorists or you’ll have the Professional-Palestinian/Anti-Zionist/antisemetic physique have you ever fired. The place are our non-Jewish pals serving to Professor Strauss get his job again? There are simply too few Jews in comparison with the shortly rising Nazis of 2023 to struggle these injustices on their very own.
Inform me what you realize about dreamin’ dreamin’
You do not actually find out about nothin’, nothin’
Inform me what you realize about them night time terrors each night time
5 AM chilly sweats, waking as much as the sky
Cudi suffers from night time sweats as his extreme alcohol and drug consumption go away his physique. I can relate to the nightmares and 5:00 am night time sweats, as I dream a few ten-month-old child being held hostage by Hamas terrorists and a four-year-old little woman held captive for 50 days after witnessing each her dad and mom being murdered. I too can’t sleep lately. My goals are additionally shattered.
Jewish owned companies in the USA and Europe are being vandalized frequently, the President of AIPAC’s residence was visited by protestors who used smoke bombs on his property, a instructor in New York Metropolis was nearly attacked by a mob of teenagers who discovered a put up on social media of her attending a pro-Israel rally, a Jewish man was killed by a violent Professional-Palestinian protestor in Los Angeles, hundreds of protestors in Australia screamed “fuel the Jews”, Armenia’s solely synagogue was burnt down, an Austrian synagogue was vandalized, Jewish school college students have been threatened on nearly each campus … All this in lower than two months (and there are many different incidents that I don’t embody right here).
I am on the pursuit of happiness and I do know
Every thing that shine ain’t all the time gonna be gold, hey
I will be advantageous as soon as I get it, yeah, I will be good
Like Cudi , I too am in denial believing that if Jews get extra help my disappointment will dissipate after I nicely know the form of help Jews want is not coming. Cudi and I are each in seek for that “factor” that may make our issues go away. Whereas he sings about being self-destructive and feeling empty, turning to medication and alcohol to fill his void, I too really feel empty and am desperately trying to find that “factor” to make me really feel entire once more. There was a nagging sense of vacancy because the massacres of October seventh that I am unable to shake off.
We do not want “I really like you’s”. What Jews want from their non-Jewish pals is to rally with us, to jot down their congressmen and senators voicing help for Israel, signing the a whole bunch of related petitions which can be going round, calling universities and condemning them for failing their Jewish college students. That is what we want: motion, not phrases. We can’t win this battle with out others leaping within the struggle with us, our inhabitants is simply tiny in comparison with our enemy’s; in the event you take a look at the numbers you will shortly perceive that is an inconceivable battle to win with out robust allies.
Sadly, I do know that as I signal petitions, my title turns into public and I develop into a Jewish goal. I do know that being affiliated with many pro-Israel organizations make me a goal too. I additionally know that after I write schools that my son has utilized to and rebuke them for failing Jewish college students that I danger his possibilities of acceptances.
Trying forward no turning again
Know I cherished it to the fullest
Know I lived and missed some bullets
As soon as upon a time I listened to Pursuit of Happiness and felt overtaken with pleasure and hope. These days I discover myself sobbing as I sing alongside.
I will be advantageous as soon as I get it, yeah, I will be good