“One day this all will change, treat people the same. Stop with the violence, down with the hate. One day we’ll all be free, and proud to be under the same sun, singing songs of freedom…” One day. Two simple words made famous by hip-hop/reggae singer Matisyahu as he steps back to realize the world around him. With widespread war, violent dictators, and senseless hate consuming the world like a plague, it may seem futile to hope that one day we will all be able to live in harmony. That one day we will ignore our differences and live under our common sun as a family. For those who wish for the same, these two simple words serve as an anthem. Sometimes it seems like a lost cause to hope for such a drastic change, but only optimism, determination, and above all love, will save the people from themselves.
Now imagine thousands of people, all with this common wish, gather to embrace each other and bask in the gift of life. No fighting. No alliances. No hate. To me, this utopia seems not very far away. Wakarusa 2012 will be a retreat from the evils all around us, and for four days I expect we will experience sheer peace. With thousands of open minds and open hearts, and the music to lead the way, we will truthfully say that we feel safe here.
I believe that I should be the No Depression representative because I can capture Wakarusa 2012 like a snapshot and put it on paper. My language is artistic; my ideas are fully developed and offer intriguing insight. Beyond the emotional intelligence I have exhibited here, I have also taken several college level writing classes in the past few years and I believe these skills can be put to good use here.
Sadly for Matisyahu and those among him, it is proving nearly impossible to change the world for the better. Instead, he gives us the next best thing: a vision. For those not fortunate enough to experience Wakarusa for themselves, I believe I can offer the next best thing. A full embodiment of the festival which will lift their spirits as though they are standing in the front row praying for that One Day just like the rest of us.
