Kurt Waldheim was an Austrian politician who served as Secretary General of the UN during the 1980s; it was later revealed he had been involved in Nazi activities as a young man which he covered up to help his political career.
Jesse Jackson, who is still very much around today, was a black civil rights leader who sought the Democratic nomination in 1984 and 1988. He won a few primaries, but was considered a bit of an extremist, particularly for some off-color things he said about Jews, and his apparent uncritical embrace of the Palestinian cause.
This song, as I see it, is mostly just calling out these self-righteous figures for their hypocrisy. I am not sure if the mention of the Pope (Pontiff) are in specific reference to anything unfolding at the time, or just a general dislike of papal pomposity.
The Pontiff mentioned is Pope John Paul II. He is mentioned because as Pope he met with Waldheim at least twice, and awarded a Vatican honor to Waldheim, even though Waldheim's Nazi involvement was well-known before Pope John Paul II ever met him.
The Pontiff mentioned is Pope John Paul II. He is mentioned because as Pope he met with Waldheim at least twice, and awarded a Vatican honor to Waldheim, even though Waldheim's Nazi involvement was well-known before Pope John Paul II ever met him.
Kurt Waldheim was an Austrian politician who served as Secretary General of the UN during the 1980s; it was later revealed he had been involved in Nazi activities as a young man which he covered up to help his political career.
Jesse Jackson, who is still very much around today, was a black civil rights leader who sought the Democratic nomination in 1984 and 1988. He won a few primaries, but was considered a bit of an extremist, particularly for some off-color things he said about Jews, and his apparent uncritical embrace of the Palestinian cause.
This song, as I see it, is mostly just calling out these self-righteous figures for their hypocrisy. I am not sure if the mention of the Pope (Pontiff) are in specific reference to anything unfolding at the time, or just a general dislike of papal pomposity.
The Pontiff mentioned is Pope John Paul II. He is mentioned because as Pope he met with Waldheim at least twice, and awarded a Vatican honor to Waldheim, even though Waldheim's Nazi involvement was well-known before Pope John Paul II ever met him.
The Pontiff mentioned is Pope John Paul II. He is mentioned because as Pope he met with Waldheim at least twice, and awarded a Vatican honor to Waldheim, even though Waldheim's Nazi involvement was well-known before Pope John Paul II ever met him.