Playing For Change

Peach Through Music

Playing for Change

Yes We Can!  I'm quoting our President only to make a point that I do believe in change.  Positive, gospel-directed change.  Change where we in this country, on this planet, come together and help our fellow man (and woman).  Help the hungry children.  Help the poor and sick who can't seem to get help.  I haven't seen enough change yet since the swearing-in ceremony of our country's leader.  I'm waiting though, and I'm hoping that he will do what he said he would do in the campaign.  At this point, I don't see how that will happen, because there is little to no peace between the two parties.

I really don't care about all of their accusations against each other.  I only know that the two sides are hurting my country that I love.  I know there are some of you out there who share my feelings.

It's all about the people we elected to government making themselves look good at the risk of the ones on the other side.  I don't call that strategic governing.  I call it selfish motive, and screw the people they're supposed to be representing back home.

This morning, I updated my scrapbooking blog, Journey to Faith, here at Blogger.  I noticed the first link I have on the right, at the very top, which I put there for just that purpose--to remind me to click on it occasionally.  To remind me that there are others trying to bring about positive change in this world who aren't so well known but exceedingly wiser than any one politician we have.

"Playing for Change" is a video created by an awesome young man, Mark Johnson, who believes there is a language known and shared around the world that everyone understands.  The language of music.

Yes, peace through music.

Playing for Change first appeared on the Bill Moyers Journal on October 24, 2008.  An excerpt of that airing follows:

Bill Moyers sits down with Mark Johnson, the producer of a remarkable documentary about the simple but transformative power of music:PLAYING FOR CHANGE: PEACE THROUGH MUSIC. The film brings together musicians from around the world — blues singers in a waterlogged New Orleans, chamber groups in Moscow, a South African choir — to collaborate on songs familiar and new, in the effort to foster a new, greater understanding of our commonality.

Mark Johnson

Johnson traveled around the globe and recorded tracks for such classics as "Stand By Me" and Bob Marley's "One World" — creating a new mix in which essentially the performers are all performing together — worlds apart. Often recording with just battery-powered equipment, Johnson found musicians on street corners or in small clubs and they would in turn gather their friends and colleagues — in all, they recorded over 100 musicians from Tibet to Zimbabwe.

Click here to watch the video.

Now, I know some of you may not be fans of blues music, or fans of black guys playing on the streets in New Orleans.  You may not be a fan of Bill Moyers because of his liberal views.

But, see, that right there shows there's something wrong.  People (and I include myself) like what they like and don't want to be involved in anything they don't like, EVEN if it's something created for a good reason.  For example, I really don't like hip-hop and rap.  However, if I came across a documentary featuring one of these music genres created for a worthy cause by an intelligent guy with a vision for peace and a love for all people, I would support it.  And I support "Playing For Change."

I have an advantage music-wise on this one.  I love classic rock 'n roll, and as a teenager, my friends and I listened to a lot of blues by the great African-American artists, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Ray Charles, Bobby Bland.  I had an Etta James album I played every night when I was 18 as I lay in my bed in the dark, and, yes, "At Last" was one of my favorites.

So "Stand by Me," the tune in Playing for Change brings to life memories of my early years.  Released in 1961, written and recorded by Ben E. King.  Those were some good years back then great music.

Can something like music link people together, help them care about peace between their countries or with their fellow citizens?  All I know is Mark Johnson and his organization are making a go of it.  They are continuing with the mission and recording more music, bringing additional musicians into the performing group, and they are taking the stage now.  They continue traveling to far parts of the globe seeking  more talent.

I say this is a very BIG thing.

Public Education and Politics

Public Education!  This read yesterday on Political Insider:

Your morning jolt: Democrats condemn end of limits on class size, Republicans split
9:46 am May 25, 2010, by Jim Galloway

The state Board of Education on Monday voted to gut its limits on class sizes over the next year in response to a deepening school budget crisis that has already forced thousands of teacher layoffs and shorter school years across the state.

The move prompted criticism among a majority of candidates for governor, especially Democrats in hot competition for the public school constituency.

But Republicans were decidedly split in their reactions — Karen Handel and John Oxendine called it was a bad idea, Nathan Deal described himself as “disappointed,” Jeff Chapman declared it “the best thing,” and Eric Johnson said “vouchers.”

Seriously.  What's wrong with this picture?  How important is education in this country?  Evidently, not very.  Future leaders of America get the shaft.  That's how it is.  Hmmm, could we cut some of that government waste instead of adding more students to an already over-packed classroom, where in lots of instances students are falling through the holes right now because they need more attention.

It comes down to this:  Where are our priorities?

It's not bad enough that our budget is about to bust and we could be called the" United States of Wall Street" because, hey, look and see whose really running this country.

I love the phrase I coined from Bill Cosby (also title of his book), "Come On, People!"

My youngest son Jeff was in special education in our school district.  He has Down syndrome.  As a parent, sometimes you really have to fight for rights your kid is entitled to by law.  But the fact is, when the schools let the special ed teachers go, who's going to teach the students that qualify?

I read news reports the last few days as well about this situation, removing special ed teachers.  Because of budget cuts.

We should NOT be cutting budgets on schools.  We are sending our children to schools for entire days, five days a week, People.  When states make these cuts that affect your child, is this not a personal affront to you?  Or are we all supposed to send our kids to private schools?  What about people who can't afford it?  I don't believe we should HAVE to have private schools.  This is supposed to be the greatest nation on earth.  And we are trashing our public school system.

And while we are letting it happen, we're paying more taxes to keep Wall Street alive.  This doesn't smell, it reeks!

I know this for sure:  If we continue to turn our backs on public education, we will live to regret it as a country.

There.  I got that off my back.  Let's see what else I find through my lens today.