The speech that laid the foundation for Bob Marley’s song “War” of the 1976 album “Rastaman Vibration” was spoken by Emperor Haile Selassie-I before the United Nations General Assembly on 4 October 1963:
“Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war. And until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation, until the colour of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes. And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race, there is war. And until that day, the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship, rule of international morality, will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained…”
Words spoken over 50 years ago and, unfortunately, as valid as ever.
