Post by Fr David Neuhaus SJ | 18 December 2025
Flea, the Australian/American performer, founding member of Red-Hot Chilli Peppers, has released a powerful new video. My friend Rob, who published the book and named it “Conquest and Leaven”, sent it to me. He said “relevant”, “lovely example of leaven” – “one man, not his whole band”. I watched it and in it Flea dances, sings and communicates a powerful message.
I encourage you to watch the video:
In the first half of the video, we see a body: A body in convulsions. A body verifying that it is alive. A body that has known trauma. A body battered. A body that has survived. A body reaching out for others. A body pulling up, pulling in, pulling down… A body with a message.
In the second part, the body sings out:
(Repetitively in the background – Civil war, civil war)
I hear it in the air.
I feel it in the air.
Who’s your neighbour? Who’s your friend?
Ah… There is hate all around.
I don’t care about your fucking politics.
I don’t want to hear about your politics.
Well, he said boo.
She said hurray.
Now, we’re human beings right here.
Human beings, we’re here together.
Come on…
Watcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when it falls on you?
You’re scaring the kids.
The beautiful kids.
Ah, yeah, they wanna know.
The children wanna know.
Is the ugly coming, and the guns?
Is the army coming, blotting out the sun?
The blood red sun, the blood red sun.
Ahhhh, concentration camps.
My blood runs cold.
I’m feeling hate all around.
It’s no solution.
It’s never been a solution.
Come on, are you with me?
We all know what it is.
(Repetitively in the background: Peace and love, peace and love)
Build a bridge, shine a light. Build a bridge, shine a light. Build a bridge, shine a light. Build a bridge, shine a light. Build a bridge, shine a light. Build a bridge, shine a light.
Make something beautiful.
I don’t care if it’s a little scrap of squiggly crayon on a paper.
Make something beautiful and see somebody.
Give it to somebody.
I am not being corny; this shit is real.
Live for peace. Live for love. Live for peace. Live for love. Live for peace. Live for love.
It’s all we got.
See the god in everyone.
See the god.
See the god in everyone.
Peace. Love.
Come on with me.
Everyone just wants to be loved.
Everyone wants love.
See the god in everyone.
Everyone leaves out no one.
And everything besides love is cowardice.
You wanna be brave? You wanna be tough?
Peace and love is the toughest, hardest thing you can do.
Build a bridge; that’s where the courage is. Build a bridge; that’s where the courage is.
Shine your light. Shine it true.
Yeah!