KELAPARAN

TIAP kali mengingat kelaparan atau papa, selalu saya berhenti makan, menaruh sendok, dan menghembuskan napas berat. Di ujung lain dunia ini, atau di beberapa tempat di sekeliling kita, banyak balita merengek karena tak makan apa-apa seharian. Di sekitar kita banyak orang mengais makanan sisa di keranjang sampah.

Kita kenyang dan mengumbar tawa. Kita berjoget dan hura-hura. Tapi, ketahuilah, banyak suami-istri ribut malam-malam lantaran besok pagi harus makan apa. Ketahuilah pula, banyak pria mencuri ayam untuk sekadar membeli beberapa kilo beras dan ikan asin untuk anak-anaknya.

Kita masih subur dengan perut menggelembung. Kita masih sejahtera dengan sarapan dan makan siang tanpa cemas. Tapi bagaimana dengan mereka yang makan pagi sepiring dibagi? Bagaimana dengan mereka yang selalu kelaparan?

Ada perlunya kita meresapi lirik lagu We Are the World tulisan Michael Jackson dan Lionel Richie yang berkibar era 80-an ini. Tak kurang 50 penyanyi papan atas Amerika gotong royong melakukan ‘koor’ lagu ini dalam bungkus Band AID. Kasetnya sendiri berlabel “USA for Africa”.

Kapan penyanyi-penyanyi kita sejenak berhenti mendulang uang, lalu membikin album seperti ini?

Inilah We Are the World itu:

There comes a time
When we head a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on
Pretneding day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of
God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me