Televangelists between the Tigris and the Euphrates

From the Washington Post:

BAGHDAD -- With arms outstretched, the congregation at National Evangelical Baptist Church belted out a praise hymn backed up by drums, electric guitar and keyboard. In the corner, slide images of Jesus filled a large screen. A simple white cross of wood adorned the stage, and worshipers sprinkled the pastor's Bible-based sermon with approving shouts of "Ameen!" National is Iraq's first Baptist congregation and one of at least seven new Christian evangelical churches established in Baghdad in the past two years. Its Sunday afternoon service, in a building behind a house on a quiet street, draws a couple of hundred worshipers who like the lively music and focus on the Bible.

Great! Televangelists, McDonald's and Texan ranches between the Tigris and the Euphrates. Last November this Blog dedicated the song Bella Ciao to the Iraqi Resistance and the City of Falluja. We are doing the same today. A beatiful song that has nothing to do with the hypocrisy of Live 8 and the PR operation known as 'Make Poverty History'.

Una mattina mi son svegliato,
O bella ciao, bella ciao,
Bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
Una mattina mi son svegliato,
E ho trovato l'invasor.

O partigiano portami via,
O bella ciao, bella ciao,
Bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
O partigiano portami via,
Che mi sento di morir.

E so io muoio da partigiano,
O bella ciao, bella ciao,
Bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
E se io muoio da partigiano,
Tu mi devi seppellir.

Mi seppellisci lassù in montagna
O bella ciao, bella ciao,
Bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
Mi seppelisci lassù in montagna
Sotto l'ombra di un bel fior.

Tutte le genti che passeranno
O bella ciao, bella ciao,
Bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
Tutte le genti che passeranno
Mi diranno «che bel fior!».

E questo è il fiore del partigiano
O bella ciao, bella ciao,
Bella ciao, ciao, ciao,
E questo è il fiore del partigiano
Morto per la Libertà.


English translation

This morning I awakened - Oh Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye Goodbye - This morning I awakened And I found the invader

Oh partisan carry me away - Oh Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye Goodbye - Oh partisan carry me away Because I feel death approaching

And if I die as a partisan - Oh Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye Goodbye - And if I die as a partisan Then you must bury me

Bury me up in the mountain - Oh Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye Goodbye - Bury me up in the mountain Under the shade of a beautiful flower

And those who shall pass - Oh Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye Goodbye - And those who shall pass Will tell you what a beautiful flower it is

This is the flower of the partisan - Oh Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye beautiful Goodbye Goodbye - This is the flower of the partisan Who died for freedom