Rock and soul artist Nadir has just released a new video of his song, “Guantanamo”. The song is originally from Nadir’s 2008 album Workin’ For The Man, and while it was never previously promoted as a single release, over the past year the track has gained grassroots popularity and relevance through the internet. As the controversy over the detention facility grows, and with the most recent airline bombing attempt taking place near Nadir’s studio in Detroit, the song clearly demanded video treatment.

“Without question,” Nadir says, “the song and video are very much inspired by the Guantanamo we know from the daily news. But the song and video are not just about Guantanamo itself as a place, but what it represents: the conflict, the anger, the heartbreak and relief, the pride and shame that goes along with it. All of these, plus the need to take a stand on what may be difficult and taboo subjects. At some point in our lives, we all find ourselves dealing with our own personal Guantanamo.”

The video is directed by Detroit filmmaker Ryan Myers, and her vision is compelling as she takes images of the now familiar orange jumpsuits and hoods worn by the detainees and juxtaposes them with a sad woman with a rose extended as if it were a peace offering. When Nadir sings of the blood on his hands and children without their fathers, the question is open as to whether he’s singing about war or an abusive relationship. In either interpretation, the answer lies in taking a stand no matter how others may interpret that stance, even if he finds he has to “stand alone.”

So Nadir takes “Guantanamo” beyond the controversy over detainees and where and why they’re held in a particular place. “Guantanamo” is about a man asking questions of himself, those around him, and his nation. Coming from a military family, Nadir understands the premise of the US Constitution and not just the defense of the rights it guarantees, but the obligation of exercising those rights. He has several family members currently serving in the armed forces and while growing up on bases in the US and overseas, Nadir was instilled with the lesson that you must stand up for the things you believe in — this has been a central motivator in his life, and “Guantanamo” is no exception.

“Guantanamo” speaks to the deeper issue of what it means to be active in the world in which we live. At its heart the song is not about partisan politics, but about the heart, about the human compulsion to be heard and to stand up for what is right.