I didn't expect to feel emotional at all about Pete Seeger's passing the other day. He was 94 years old and though I grew up listening to his music, I don't feel particularly nostalgic about it. In fact, I've sort of always thought of him as making children's music which I generally find kind of annoying. I started my day on Tuesday rolling my eyes at Facebook friends' RIP posts, until I watched this video. It's from Obama's inauguration celebration in 2009 and I found myself almost moved to tears watching it. There's something really moving in thinking about someone's whole life and career being spearheaded by the true belief that getting groups of people to sing together can lead to action. Also, seeing Pete perform this song with Bruce Springsteen, it really made me feel no matter how insane and messed up this country is, a song like this, a song that often moves large groups to sing out loud and feel some sort of connection to this strange often times upsetting country, is powerful. And it's especially powerful for me that the two people leading the group in song are people like Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen, people who stand for something different than the usual god bless America anthems. Look out for a dancing George Lucas and Melanie Hobson in the audience, they just donated $25 million to After School Matters, where I work!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
P. S.
I didn't expect to feel emotional at all about Pete Seeger's passing the other day. He was 94 years old and though I grew up listening to his music, I don't feel particularly nostalgic about it. In fact, I've sort of always thought of him as making children's music which I generally find kind of annoying. I started my day on Tuesday rolling my eyes at Facebook friends' RIP posts, until I watched this video. It's from Obama's inauguration celebration in 2009 and I found myself almost moved to tears watching it. There's something really moving in thinking about someone's whole life and career being spearheaded by the true belief that getting groups of people to sing together can lead to action. Also, seeing Pete perform this song with Bruce Springsteen, it really made me feel no matter how insane and messed up this country is, a song like this, a song that often moves large groups to sing out loud and feel some sort of connection to this strange often times upsetting country, is powerful. And it's especially powerful for me that the two people leading the group in song are people like Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen, people who stand for something different than the usual god bless America anthems. Look out for a dancing George Lucas and Melanie Hobson in the audience, they just donated $25 million to After School Matters, where I work!
This Kid
Wow. I stumbled across this video on a a friend's Facebook page. This kid is incredible. When I think about the times that I've been at a protest and wondered if I would be able to eloquently, quickly, and easily explain my position or how I feel about the situation on the spot, I always get nervous. There is not hesitation in this kid's on point analysis. Where does this come from? Is this something that we can think about in the realm of education? Is this something that can be taught? Or is this just one very, very special kid?
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