Lyr Add: Who's the Criminal? (Ted Warmbrand)

Subject: Lyr Req: 'Who's the criminal now?'
From: GUEST,Felipa
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 03:01 PM

I don't know either the tune or the lyrics, but I was intrigued by what I read re Ted Warmbrand's song about illegal immigrants. http://tucsoncitizen.com/morgue/2008/01/01/72843-my-tucson-song-s-question-who-s-the-criminal/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Who's the criminal here?'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 03:14 PM

I think I'll post the article to give more people a chance to see it. Good goin', Ted!

Tucson Citizen

My Tucson : Song’s question: Who’s the criminal?
by John M. Fife on Jan 01, 2008, under Opinion

One of the treasures of Tucson is a musician by the name of Ted Warmbrand.

Ted plays the banjo, but lots of folks are better. He sings his songs, but he’ll never make the Grand Ole Opry.

What makes Ted a treasure is his huge heart for justice and his keen eye for hypocrisy.

A couple of years ago, Ted wrote a song entitled, “Who’s the Criminal Now?”

The occasion was the arrest and indictment of two humanitarian aid volunteers who were driving three migrants to get emergency medical care at a clinic in Tucson. It was a record hot week in July that had set an all-time record for deaths of migrants in the desert.

Ted’s song raised the critical question haunting all of us here in the borderlands:

When the U.S. government deliberately develops a border-enforcement strategy that funnels migrant workers and their families into more and more deadly areas of the desert, and the result is the death and suffering of thousands of the poor, “Who’s the criminal now?”

A federal judge said that question would have to wait for another time, but threw out the criminal charges against the “No More Deaths” volunteers a year ago.

Whenever a column or editorial is written about immigration issues, one thing is certain: Lots of letters and comments will result with a common theme.

“What part of illegal don’t you understand?” “They have violated the law and are criminals.” “We must uphold the rule of law.” “Illegal aliens are criminals.”

I guess those lies have been repeated often enough by demagoguing politicians and hate-mongering commentators that people actually believe they’re true.

All propaganda that has led to so much bigotry, hatred, and fear in the past has depended upon lies repeated again and again until they are accepted as fact.

The truth is that more than half of the migrant workers living in the United States without documents entered the country legally. They simply overstayed their visa or other entry permit.

That is a violation of an administrative or civil immigration law, not a violation of a criminal law. It is not a crime and they are not criminals.

As an attorney explained to me, “It is the same as applying for Social Security and being denied because you do not qualify.”

For those who entered through the desert, it is a violation of U.S.C.1325 to enter without inspection. It is a misdemeanor, however, not a felony.

We do not brand folks who have committed misdemeanors and paid their fine as “illegals” and “criminals.”

Don’t forget that all of the proposals for comprehensive immigration reform have included the payment of a hefty fine, the payment of all back taxes, and the requirement to learn English.

That ain’t amnesty folks, that’s called justice and the rule of law.

Rather than misdemeanors and appropriate fines, maybe we ought to consider serious crimes and gross violations of international law and human rights.

On Sept. 17, 2003, the justices of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled unanimously on the border-enforcement strategy of the United States and the resulting deaths in the desert.

Their verdict stated, “The deaths of almost 2,000 Mexican and some Central American migrants is the strongest evidence that the United States has violated and continues to violate human rights. . . . This thesis is strengthened by the fact that a report of the United States General Accounting Office expressly recognized the link between ‘Operation Gatekeeper’ and the deaths of migrants.”

So in the words of Ted’s song, “Who’s the Criminal Now?”

John Fife is a retired Presbyterian pastor who volunteers with Samaritans, No More Deaths, Borderlinks and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

---

I think the actual name of the song is "Who's the Criminal Here?" Here's a link to a recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKbLSwX9zOY

It's a perfect song for today's demonstrations against Trump's immigration policies. It brought tears to my eyes.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Who's the criminal now?'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 03:28 PM

Here's an article about border songs that gives an excerpt from the song: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/p/pod/dod-idx/border-songs-bringing-the-immigration-crisis.pdf?c=mp;idno=9460447.0008.104;format=pdf

I can shut my eyes and turn away
Shut my mouth—nothing to say
Should someone die in my desert today
Who’s the criminal here?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Who's the criminal now?'
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 04:05 PM

“When the U.S. government deliberately develops a border-enforcement strategy that funnels migrant workers and their families into more and more deadly areas of the desert, and the result is the death and suffering of thousands of the poor, “Who’s the criminal now?”

Criminal mindset. Fake news.

The huge bouncer, doorman and yellow plastic chains are not deliberate attempts to steer gate crashers to the side entrance of your concert or play.

You demand respect you're not willing to give both for yourselves and on behalf of others equally unwilling.

They're called “boundaries” for a reason. Nations, societies, couples, all God's chilluns got 'em. Learn to respect others' and you'll have a lot less to protest about.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Who's the criminal now?'
From: GUEST,GregF
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 04:40 PM

Say whut, Phil?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Who's the criminal now?'
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 04:43 PM

This is a thread about a song. Let's not get into a big argument about immigration. That's for the BS section.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Who's the criminal now?'
From: GUEST,ted
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 04:43 PM

Well, let it be said there are musicians worse than me too, John my friend.   Here are some lyrics. There is a Spanish version being sung on the border lately too. Let me know if you'd like those. I don't know how to share the mp3 of the song but it's recorded on a BorderSongs compilation, has been sung by individuals and choruses around the nation, and if you want to hear it let me know.   

WHO'S THE CRIMINAL

coro
TELL ME WHO TELL ME WHO
WHO'S THE CRIMINAL HERE

DIME QUIEN DIME QUIEN
QUIEN ES EL CRIMINAL

IF YOU'VE HAD TO LEAVE YOUR LAND
AND YOU MEET YOUR MATCH ON BURNING SAND
THEN SOMEONE LENDS A HELPING HAND
WHO'S THE CRIMINAL HERE ...coro

BORDERMAN WON'T LET YOU THROUGH
WHAT'S A POOR MAN GONNA DO
BUSINESSMAN'S GOT WORK FOR YOU
WHO'S THE CRIMINAL HERE ...coro

FRAMING LAWS AND AIMING GUNS
KEEPS YOU DOWN AND ON THE RUN
HOW WILL YOU FEED YOUR LITTLE ONES
WHO'S THE CRIMINAL HERE ...coro

WHEN YOUR SKIN IS RED OR BROWN
OR BLACK AND BLUE ON WHITE MAN'S GROUND
AND YOUR HEAD IS PIERCED WITH A THORNY CROWN
WHO'S THE CRIMINAL HERE   ...coro

I KNOW HOW FEAR CAN LEAVE YOU BLIND
TO THE HOPEFUL HEART AND THE OPEN MIND
BUT TO MAKE A CRIME OUT OF BEING KIND
WHO'S THE CRIMINAL HERE ...coro

I CAN SHUT MY EYES AND TURN AWAY
SHUT MY MOUTH - NOTHING TO SAY
SHOULD SOMEONE DIE IN MY DESERT TODAY
WHO'S THE CRIMINAL HERE   ...coro

Subject: ADD: 'Who's the criminal here?'(Ted Warmbrand)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jun 18 - 04:47 PM

Hi, Ted -

Yes, it would be nice to have the Spanish lyrics, too.
Is the YouTube video your recording of the song? It doesn't seem to be available on CDBaby anymore.

If you'd like me to post an MP3, send it by email.

Thanks a lot. It's a great song.

-Joe-
[e-mail]

---

Here's what I hear on the YouTube video. Ted, is that you singing on the recording? Any corrections?

---

WHO’S THE CRIMINAL?
(Ted Warmbrand)

CHORUS
Tell me who, tell me who
Who’s the criminal here? (twice)

Dime quien, dime quien
Quien es criminal

If you have to leave your land,
And you meet your match on the burning sand;
Then someone lends a helping hand,
Who’s the criminal here?

Borderman can’t let you through,
What’s a poor man gonna do?
Businessman’s got work for you,
Who’s the criminal here?

Framing laws and aiming guns,
Keeps you down and on the run;
How will you feed your little ones?
Who’s the criminal here?

When your skin is red or brown,
Or black and blue on white man’s ground,
When your head is pierced with a thorny crown,
Who’s the criminal here?

Now, I know how fear can leave you blind
To the hopeful heart and the open mind;
But to make a crime out of being kind,
Who’s the criminal here?

I can shut my eyes and I can turn away,
And I can shut my mouth – nothing to say;
Should someone die in my desert today
Who’s the criminal here?


Written about 2008, in response to the arrest of activists who were giving assistance to people who had crossed the border to Arizona.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKbLSwX9zOY

---

Here's the MP3 Ted sent. It's slightly different from the recording on the YouTube video.

Click to play (joeweb)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Who's the Criminal? (Ted Warmbrand)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Jun 19 - 05:32 PM

In January 2018, college geography teacher Scott Daniel Warren was arrested on similar charges. I'm happy to report that the jury deadlocked, and Warren was not convicted of the offense.
And it's a very good time to listen to Ted's song again.

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900075129/how-giving-water-to-illegal-immigrants-religious-freedom-issue.html

I think we need more songs about the migrant crisis that is plaguing our world these days. Somebody has to stand up and sing on the side of compassion.

Here's a good thread for posting songs on the subject:

new songs re U.S. shutdown, wall, immigration

-Joe-