Marc-Vincent Jackson

              History has many wars, rumors of war and destruction.  When we remember history we must look beyond this and find what is good.  When I sing history, I tell more about peace, because it is very important to us; the first thing we wish to know when we meet people here is if they are in peace.  They must say yes, because that makes it so.  This way, our wish is for everyone and we all have peace.  Peace belongs to all of us, but all praise goes to Allah.  When you submit your will to Allah, you can find peace.  Sometimes we must make things still and let Him work.  We must still our tongues, our thoughts, and our hearts, and let Allah fill them with peace.  This is why we have Ramadan; this is why we fast.

              Thirty days is not much to ask. Thirty days to let there be peace on earth, to let the storms of the world and our hearts calm.  Thirty days to forgive each other, thirty days after which we can again start anew.  Ramadan is a cleansing; it makes a home for peace and allows us harmony.

              Ramadan can be compared to history, not because of its agelessness, not because it is lived, nor because it is a ritual.  It is like history because to do it, you must sometimes push away the evil to see the truth.  During Ramadan, one must not think impure thoughts.  This lets you see the good in the world and the beauty of people, and brings back the faith we lose being mere men.  Ramadan reminds us of the gifts Allah gives us, and history allows us the same opportunity.  Faith gives us hope, and we can live, which is Allah’s will.  It is his will that we be, it is his will that we are.  It is his will that I am a griot, it is his will that I tell of what was.  I, Madior, a humble servant of Allah, will purge myself of unwholesome thoughts.  The peace that Allah places in me, I pass on every day.  I say peace be with you to all I see.  I wish it for everyone.

              Sometimes I see the power of my words.  I see it when the soldiers put down their guns and pray with their families.  I see it when the bureaucrats shut their offices and give money to us beggars to ease their conscience.  I see it when the politicians remain silent for they dare not tell a lie.  I see it when the students hold still their closed fists and open their minds or a book, even with the strike.  I see it when I see the elders talking with the youth, the women with the men, the rich with the poor, and there is laughter because we are all still here.  I see it when people still share their food no matter how expensive it gets.  I see it in our smiles, our children, and our hospitality.  I feel it in my heart: Peace.  So I know, even without history or stars as my guide, that my words have power.

              Ramadan will calm. If we all keep still enough, the world will stop and we can begin again with peace.  I see Fatou come and go; I wish she would keep still.  Not so I can follow her, but so she can let peace find her; for this I pray...

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               I’m not French, I’m Senegalese and have one leg to prove it.  It was Allah’s will that I lose my leg because I sinned.  I was being what I wasn’t, so he punished me.  What was my sin?  You will say that since I know history, I can see that I was colonized.  As a griot, I know this.  As Madior, I know in my heart the truth.  I was denying what Allah made me.  I was perverting essence.  That is a sin, and the first time I let them make me proud to be French, was the day I fell from grace.  It takes a long time to redeem yourself.  Sometimes you never do.  Allah forgives me, but I don’t forgive myself.

              Ramadan will give me peace.  Ramadan will calm.  I’ll see the goodness in my life and appreciate it.  I’ll be thankful for what I have.  I’ll pray for the world.  I love Fatou.  I’ll thank Allah for her and pray that peace finds her.  I’ll pray for peace for us all.  Forgive us, Allah.  I pray we can all someday forgive ourselves.