Gangsta's Paradise & Non-Violence

These are the original lyrics to the song "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's not much left
Cause I've been blastin' and laughin so long that
Even my ma'ma thinks that my mind is gone
But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
Me, be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of
You better watch how you talkin, and where you walkin
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc'-
As they grew I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool
I'm the kinda G the little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night
Sayin prayers in the street light


Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise


They got the situation, they got me facin'
I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the strip
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Too much television watchin' got me chasin' dreams
I'm an educated fool with money on my mind
Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I'm a loc'ed out gangsta, set-trippin banger
And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, fool
Death ain't nuthin but a heart beat away
I'm livin life do-or-die-a, what can I say?
I'm twenty-three now, but will I live to see twenty-fow'?
The way things are goin' I don't know


Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise



Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's runnin, but half of them ain't lookin
What's goin on in the kitchen, but I dont know what's cookin
They say I got ta learn, but nobody's here to teach me,
If they cant understand it, how can they reach me?
I guess they can't; I guess they won't
I guess they front; that's why I know my life is outta luck, fool!


Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me
Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me

And this is my interpretation

As I walk through this place of iminent death

I realize my life will be short and theres not much left

Because I've been attacking and laughing at people so long

Even my mama thinks that I'm insane

But I've never crossed a man that wasn't deserving

and no one treats me like a punk

don't say anything or go anywhere that other gangs might not like

or they might kill ya

I dont like to make myself look bad but Ive got to look-

As they grew I see myself being shot

I'm the kinda guy little kids look up to

On my knees in the night
Saying prayers in the street light

We've been stranded in this place where gangsters thrive

We've been stranded in this place where gangsters thrive
We're gonna be stranded in this place where gangsters thrive

We're gonna be stranded in this place where gangsters thrive

They know the situation that I'm facing

I can't live an average life because I was raised by the strip mall

So I have to know the gangsters well

I can't watch too much TV or I'll chase dreams and die trying

I have an education and need money bad

I've got ten dollars in my hand and I'm ready to steal or make some more

I'm armed and ready to fight

and my friends are ready to fight too so don't make me mad
Death isn't far away

and I've gotta follow through or I'll die anyway

Im twenty three years old but will I live to be twenty four?

Right now, I'm not sure

Why are we not able to see that

the victims here are you and me

We've been stranded in this place where gangsters thrive

We've been stranded in this place where gangsters thrive
We're gonna be stranded in this place where gangsters thrive

We're gonna be stranded in this place where gangsters thrive

All I care about is money and power

that's all I can ever think of

Everyone's trying to get out but they don't know where to go

Something's happening in the kitchen but it might not be food that's cooking

I'm told I need to learn but there is no one to teach me

If they don't understand me there is no way to get to me

I bet they can't and they won't

I bet they're front; that's why I know my life's gonna be short

We've been stranded in this place where gangsters thrive

We've been stranded in this place where gangsters thrive
We're gonna be stranded in this place where gangsters thrive

We're gonna be stranded in this place where gangsters thrive

Why are we not able to see that

the victims here are you and me

Why are we not able to see that

the victims here are you and me. . .

Can you live a non-violent lifestyle in a violent environment?

          
       As shown by Mahatma Gandhi and Aung San Suu Kyi, it is possible to live non-violently in a violent environment. However, this does take a tremendous amount of self control. For instance, many bullies pick on the people they know will not fight back, so most likely there would be people who threaten you with violence. When they are violent to you, you would have to fight the instinct to defend yourself. Gandhi thought non-violence was the key to fighting violence itself. Since your attackers may give up when they don't get a reaction out of you (Gandhi). These people are also weaker than the non-violent (Gandhi). Many people have been persecuted by other people who do not like anyone of a particular race or religion. Anger, frustration and political upheavals have led to many dangerous and explosive violence all around Mahatma Gandhi and Aung San Suu Kyi. This has required tremendous discipline and restraint and an iron clad resolve in their belief systems to endure. America's armed forces have been placed right in the middle of violent reactions in Iraq and other Middle East locations. The troops have been assigned peace keeping missions in an effort to quell uprisings but they have been attacked (Palestine, Israel, Iraq) sometimes for religious reasons, sometimes for political reasons and sometimes because people think the Americans are there to take over and run their country and they don't want that. This has tested the troops to the point of either striking back with non lethal means or kill in order to survive. The reason the troops have been placed in Iraq are varied. America removed a dictator, America also has oil interests in the region and the nation's leaders also feared weapons of mass destruction. America's reason was not to torment citizens of Iraq and other middle eastern people. For a respected peace keeping leader like Gandhi, the situation in Iraq may have been avoided by embracing the idea that non violence is the only way to combat violence. He said a nation must embrace religious freedom and allow the will of the people to rule (Gandhi). It is possible to lead a non violent lifestyle in a violent environment with self discipline, with strong morals and an inner belief that peace will always overcome violence and aggression.