RING THE BELLS THAT STILL CAN RING, THERE IS NO DRUM

Dear Leonard,

It has been ten years since you left us, and the void you left behind remains impossible to bear. The society that you -and others like you- dreamed of has vanished; or rather, it never truly came to be. We are once again going through difficult times, both socially and ethically. Politics has lost its function as a tool for social transformation and has instead become a den of corruption, cynicism, hypocrisy, and the constant exploitation of the common good. Everything has become polarized, to the point where the two extremes now touch -making it impossible to trust either one.

We have failed as a society because we lack the collective consciousness needed to put an end to these individualistic, megalomaniacal, and selfish behaviours, and to refocus on what is truly important: the human being. Those minorities you held in such high regard continue to suffer under the excesses and impositions of the majority -though, of course, all in the name of "transformation" and "inclusivity," with a focus on "equity" and the perspective of [insert here the specific group you claim to protect while actively destroying them]. Misery has been turned into a business, and despair into a form of entertainment. Nihilism is taking hold among the youth. The culture of hard work and effort has been eclipsed by marketing and the pursuit of quick gains. The worker is criminalized, while the parasite is rewarded.

We have failed to conquer Manhattan -let alone Berlin- and have instead been conquered ourselves by a tidal wave of ignorance, cynicism, envy, and lies. Those societies that Aldous Huxley and George Orwell warned us about are already among us, and, honestly, I do not know how we will reverse them -or even if it is possible to do so.

We do not falter in the struggle, yet with each passing day we grow older, watching as we lose what previous generations fought for and won. We see that we are leaving a dark future for those who will come after us -a dark, economically bankrupt future.

You always sang out against this type of society -the one that was yours, and remains ours today. Now, mediocrity has spread from the political sphere to every corner of society, including the cultural realm. While the voices of dignity grow old-only to be cast aside or outright censored- there are no new, committed voices like yours to take their place. It is chilling to see so many artists in prison simply because they are a nuisance to the regime of the day -and yes, this is happening here, in the Europe you and I both love.

I shudder to think what the next ten years will be like without you -without anyone at the helm -under these leaders who are inept, mediocre, megalomaniacal, and, above all, corrupt: corrupt in their actions and in their very souls. Those who promised to transform everything have only transformed their own lifestyles; meanwhile, the old guard -the ones who have always been there- are certainly not the solution to the very problems they themselves created.

And so, in these times of social uncertainty and persistent disappointment, we pledge not to give up, but to keep working to reverse this situation. It will not be easy -but great crises often give rise to great opportunities. We cannot allow ourselves to be humiliated any further, nor can we tolerate their continued lies -or the way they prioritize individual interests over the collective good, and the idler over the hard worker. In the most difficult moments of our history -and we have many to look back on- an anthem has always emerged. With your permission, we are holding on to yours to keep moving forward. 

We miss you, Leonard, and we haven't forgotten you.

The birds they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what has passed away
Or what is yet to be

Ah, the wars they will be fought again
The holy dove, she will be caught again
Bought and sold, and bought again
The dove is never free

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

We asked for signs
The signs were sent
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah, and the widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see

I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
They're going to hear from me

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

You can add up the parts
But you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in

More information: The Daily Declaration

 Music is the emotional life of most people.

Leonard Cohen