this diary is dedicated to all who suffer because of war and other disasters

cross-posted at DailyKos, Booman Tribune, European Tribune, and My Left Wing.

image and poem below the fold


A gypsy girl, injured in an attack that killed her mother, sits in her home in the southern Iraqi city of Diwaniya November 2, 2005. Iraq’s tiny community of gypsies are famous for their dancing and singing, which many Iraqis enjoy, but for years they have been socially ostracized. Now they say their way of life is under threat from religious extremists. The gypsy community of around 250 families who live near the southern town of Diwaniya say they have been attacked by Shi’ite militias and they fear for their future.
REUTERS/Imad Al-Khozai


Kendra Murphy, 11, sister of U.S. Army Reserve Spc. Kendell Frederick, who was killed in Iraq on Oct. 19, recalls fond memories of her brother during a press interview at the family’s house Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005, in Randallstown, Md.
(AP Photo/Matt Houston)

Tears of a Clown
by William ‘Smokey’ Robinson

Now if there’s a smile on my face
it’s only there tryin’ to fool the public
but when it comes down to foolin’ you;
Now honey, that’s quite a different subject

But don’t let my glad expression
give you the wrong impression
Really I’m sad
I’m sadder than sad
You’re gone and I’m hurtin’ so bad
Like a clown I pretend to be glad

Now there’s some sad things known to man
but ain’t too much sadder than the tears of a clown
when there’s no one around

Now if I appear to be carefree
it’s only to camouflage my sadness
In order to keep my pride I try
to cover the hurt with a show of gladness

But don’t let my show convince you
that I’ve been happy since you decided to go
Oh, I need you so
I’m hurt and I want you to know

Now there’s some sad things known to man
but ain’t too much sadder than
the tears of a clown
when there’s no one around

Just like Pagliacci did
I try to keep my sadness hid
Smiling in the public eye
But in my lonely room I cry
the tears of a clown
when there’s no one around

Now if there’s a smile on my face
Don’t let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression.
Don’t let this smile I wear
Make you think that I don’t care
Really I’m sad
Hurtin’ so bad…

Song credited to W. Robinson/H. Cosby/S. Wonder
– – –
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support veterans for peace
support the Iraqi people
support the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC)
support CARE
support the victims of torture
remember the fallen
support Gold Star Families for Peace
support the fallen
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support the troops and the Iraqi people
read This is what John Kerry did today, the diary by lawnorder that prompted this series
read Riverbend’s Bagdhad Burning
read Dahr Jamail’s Iraq Dispatches
read Today in Iraq
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