Watching the Duke lacrosse story play out reminded me of a song from the musical Hair, “Easy to Be Hard.” I took the liberty of rewriting it for Durham:

How can Durham be so heartless?
How can Durham be so cruel?
Easy to be hard
Easy to be cold

How can Durham have no feelings?
How can they ignore injustice?
Easy to be hard
Easy to say no

Especially claiming
You care about strangers
You care about evil
And social injustice
But do you only
Care about minorities?
What about lacrosse team guys?
Or don’t they count?

How can Durham be so heartless?
You know you’re a hypocrite
Wanting to convict
To even up the score

And Duke professors
Who care about strangers
Who say they care about social injustice
Do you only
Care about the underclass?
How about your students, man?
They need you now

How can Durham have no feelings
How can they ignore injustice
Easy to be hard
Easy to be cold
Easy to be hard
Easy to say no