Manifesto--on Guns; Judy Collins' Song

I don't own a gun. Though I don't hunt myself, I'm not against hunting or target shooting. Many close friends and family members hunt and target shoot. But I, personally, promise never to own a gun. I will not ever defend myself with a gun. I would rather take a bullet myself than to kill a child.

My old friend, Reverend Maurice McCrackin, tested his actions against the question, "What Would Jesus Do?" Jesus would not be shooting people with guns; He would not be shooting children; He would not protect his few worldy possessions with lethal force.

I am probably not a total pacifist, but I believe in peaceful, nonviolent resistance. I think it is a good and effective strategy. Violence so often begets more violence. As Gandhi said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth will leave the world blind and toothless."

Peace begins with me--and you. 

Don't abet violence; don't seek revenge; put a stop to violence with non-lethal means whenever that is possible (and it is possible most of the time). Keep guns locked away if you own them.

Here is a Judy Collins's song about how one person can begin creating a world of peace:

Fortune of Soldiers

Words and Music by Judy Collins, David Buskin, Dwight Batteau, Jr.

Was the fortune of soldiers to be always at war

Sighting down the barrel at whatever comes

Till the fighters forgot what they're doing it for

And reason was lost in the sound of the drums

Twas the fortune of soldiers to be always alone

Forgetting the faces of all their loved ones

Far from their daydreams, far from their homes

Love songs were drowned in the sound of the drums

Don't you know the dream has come true

Don't you know by now the dream has come true

When they say peace can never be

It's a fantasy

They didn't know about you

Don't you know the dream has come true

Don't you know by now the dream has come true

When they said peace can never be

They just couldn't see

What one dreamer can do

Tis the fortune of bankers and builders of arms

To worship the profit however it comes

Up in their towers, sheltered from harm

Far from the smoke and the sound of the drums

Tis the fortune of dreamers to see what they see

To live with the scorn till the miracle comes

To teach us the music and show us the key

And the chorus to silence the sound of the drums

Don't you know the dream has come true

Don't you know by now the dream has come true

When they say peace can never be

It's a fantasy

They didn't know about you

Don't you know the dream has come true

Don't you know by now the dream has come true

When they say that peace can never be

They just couldn't see what one dreamer can do

Tis the fortune of children to have such a choice

To grow up to be dreamers or builders of guns

Born to be angels, born to rejoice

Not to grow up to the sound of the drums

Don't you know the dream has come true

Don't you know by now the dream has come true

When they say peace can never be

It's just a fantasy

They didn't know about you

Don't you know the dream has come true

Don't you know by now the dream has come true

When they said that peace can never be

It's a fantasy

Judy Collins in Concert at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights

Last night, Judy Collins came out onto the stage at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights, one of our nation’s most beautiful and intimate venues for singers, and belted out a fabulous version of Joni Mitchell’s song “Chelsea Morning.” That put to rest once and for all any worry about the 75-year-old singer’s vocal power. Her voice is strong, pure, and in tune, with all the subtleties any singer could ever want.

Judy Collins on stage at Cain Park (phone camera)

Here are some of the songs she sang during her hour and a half set:

• “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”--a tribute to Pete Seeger.
• “Born to the Breed” (for her late son Clark).
• "Coal Tattoo," by Billy Edd Wheeler.
• “Grandaddy,” one of my all-time favorite songs, and especially poignant to me now that I am a grandfather.
• “My Father,” again, one of my favorites.
• “John Riley,” an old song, from her earliest work.
• “Where or When,” a Rogers and Hart song, beloved by her father.
• Three Stephen Sondheim songs, including “Pretty Women” and “Send in the Clowns.”
• “Norwegian Wood,” by Paul McCartney and John Lennon.
• "Mountain Girl"--made us think about our daughter Carolan.
• “New Moon Over the Hudson.”

Judy Collins ended the night with a sweet rendition of “Danny Boy.” In singing that song was she thinking of all the people she has been close to who have died? Most recently, Pete Seeger? And her son Clark? Was she thinking about herself? I hope this is not the last time I get to see her in concert. She is a national treasure (an international treasure, as they know in Ireland!).

Two themes that seemed to run through many of the songs: Fatherhood and parenthood; she seemed profoundly influenced by her own father and grandfather. And mortality--nothing lasts forever, where have all the flowers gone?

There are few singers and musicians who have brought meaning, passion, and beauty together like Judy Collins has--and she has done that over a 55-year career. Wow, what a treasure!

* * *

We started last evening by dining at Tommy's on Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights. This is one of my favorite restaurants, with very healthy food, lots of vegetarian options, and it's located in one of Cleveland's most interesting and vital neighborhoods. It is a relic of the Hippie Era, and I love it. After eating at Tommy's we went next door to Cleveland's best little bookstore, Mac's Backs--Books on Coventry, and chatted a bit with Suzanne DeGaetano, the long-time store manager, the person who knows books and Cleveland literary events as well as anyone in town.

Here is a Youtube version of Judy Collins singing "Danny Boy" in Ireland:

"So early early in the spring . . ."

Snowdrops--Penitentiary Glenn Metropark, Kirtland, Ohio

Today I thought of the song Judy Collins sang so many years ago when I saw the first crocus in bloom in my Chardon, Ohio yard. Below--not Judy Collins, but pretty damn good!

First crocus of 2013--in my yard in Chardon, Ohio

Beautiful Irish Singers: Heidi Talbot and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh

There's something about a beautiful female voice that affects me so deeply. I'm reminded of Walt Whitman's reaction to operatic voices (in Walt's case, I think the attraction was to male voices). Somehow, the voice, the power of song, goes straight to the heart, straight to the soul. I find that the great American folksinger Judy Collins does that to me. And certainly the great Irish singers Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan and Heidi Talbot, formerly of Cherish the Ladies, do that. Recently I listened to the album Woman of the House by Cherish the Ladies. A song that Heidi sings on that CD, "The Green Fields of Canada," will touch your heart. It's the amazing combination of great lyrics, beautiful tune, and beautiful performance. There is almost nothing like it in the world.

Maith thú! Mairéad and Heidi!