Sabra Y Chatila

Alberto Cortez's song "Sabra Y Chatila" is a poignant reflection on the tragic events that took place in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in 1982. The lyrics are a series of haunting questions that challenge the listener to consider the absence of justice, empathy, and humanity during the massacre. Cortez's words are a powerful indictment of the world's indifference and the failure of those in power to prevent or address the atrocities committed.

The song opens with a stark question about the sun's absence, symbolizing the loss of hope and light during the massacre. This metaphor extends to the questioning of God's presence, suggesting a crisis of faith and the feeling of divine abandonment. The repeated questioning of where various entities were—God, the singer, the listener, the powerful—serves to highlight the collective failure to act and the pervasive sense of guilt and complicity.

Cortez also addresses the role of the media and the legal system, questioning their effectiveness and integrity. The lyrics suggest that laws and justice have been rendered meaningless in the face of such horror. The song's tone is one of deep sorrow and anger, as it calls out the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy of those who allowed the massacre to happen. The imagery of an insatiable angel of horror that continues to roam and the open wound that refuses to heal underscores the lasting impact of the tragedy.

The song is not just a lament but a call to awareness and action. It urges listeners to confront their own complacency and the ongoing consequences of the massacre. The final verses warn that the horrors of Sabra and Shatila are not confined to the past but continue to haunt the present, suggesting that the cycle of violence and indifference is far from over.