I wasn't sure whether to put this in the music or Your View board. But as music is involved...

I'm sure everyone has seen the images of Syrians chanting in the streets. What I didn't realise is that these chants are not religious, they are very clear political messages. The most impressive of the "chanters" (for want of a better word) could get crowds of thousands whipped up with a mix of deft wordplay, rhythm and politics. This makes our protest singers look like wussies.

Alas, the best of them all, Ibrahim Qashous, paid the ultimate price. His body was found in a river last Monday. His vocal chords had been ripped out.

www.a-lyric.com/2011/07/syria-one-voice-less/#more-1234

I chose not to show the image of him dead. You can imagine what it looks like. But click through for some electrifying public discourse.

M

Surprisingly (for me), Ibrahim Qashous has become the most-used search term to get to my site over the past ten days. I even saw a video of his chant being used in a street rally as far away as Washington. The power of a good lyric!

M