REH From: Peter Yarrow
Subject: The Power of Song - Still true after all these years Dear Friends, In yet another way, as per the newspaper article, below, Pete Seeger's music and it's power to affirm a common purpose, has shown how music of the folk tradition still holds a remarkably active place in the world of progressive advocacy. Although the headline says that Pete's song, "My Rainbow Race", was sung by 40,000 people to "annoy a mass killer", to me that headline is a full miss. 40,000 people sang "My Rainbow Race" in Norway not to "annoy", but as a demonstration of solidarity, an affirmation of humanity and a commitment to a democratic spirit, which action was also a direct condemnation of the perspective of the Norwegian mass killer and avowed Fascist, Anders Behring Breivik. Woody's "machine" (his guitar) was a powerful weapon of peace and equity. (The writing on the guitar actually said, "This machine kills Fascists.") Woody was right then, and remains so, even in this day and age of digital information exchange, Twitter and Facebook, which undoubtedly play a huge part in today's progressive political actions. However, flesh and blood, in-person action, where people "show up" and "put their bodies on the line" is still a great and essential tool in the world of progressive advocacy and change. Thank you, again, Pete and Woody for your inspiration and your undiminished life-long pursuit of justice and peace. We follow in your footsteps. Peter An estimated 40,000 people gather in Oslo's Youngstorget square to sing "Children of the Rainbow," a song derided by mass killer Anders Behring Breivik. April 26th, 2012 10:21 AM ET Norwegians sing to annoy mass killer <http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/26/norwegians-sing-to-annoy-mass-killer/> Norwegians raised their voices in unison on Thursday to get under the skin of admitted mass killer Anders Behring Breivik. An estimated 40,000 people turned out in central Oslo's Youngstorget square to sing "Children of the Rainbow," a Norwegian version of "My Rainbow Race," written by American folk singer Pete Seeger. During his trial for the killings of 77 people last summer, Breivik cited the song as an example of Marxist influence on Norwegian culture. The Norwegian version of the song describes a "World where - every sister and every brother - shall live together - like small children of the rainbow," according to a report in the Norway Post <http://www.norwaypost.no/news/mass-choir-to-sing-in-breivik-protest-26832.h tml> . Breivik, whose trial in Oslo City Court began last week, boasts of being an ultranationalist who killed his victims to fight multiculturalism in Norway. Thursday's event, which included a march to the courthouse to drop roses outside, was "a beautiful, touching scene," said Geir Engebretsen, the court chief justice in charge of Breivik's terror trial, according to a report on Views and News from Norway <http://www.newsinenglish.no/2012/04/26/norwegians-pull-together-again/> . "It's a very moving manifestation of Norwegian culture," Engebretsen said, according to the report, which cited Norwegian broadcaster NRK. The idea for Thursday's singing statement came from two women, Christine Bar and Lili Hjonnevag, who became upset with Breivik's derision of the song and posted a call on social media for others to join them in singing it on the square, Views and News reported. They expected a few dozen people, the report said. But by Tuesday, 4,000 people had accepted their Facebook invitation - and then 10 times that many turned up Thursday. "I think this just shows that people felt a need to show their feelings, to make an expression of how they value the Norwegian democracy. It's fantastic," Views and News quoted Labour Party Secretary Raymond Johansen as telling NRK. Culture ministers from Sweden, Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Iceland joined in the song, the Norway Post reported. Lillebjorn Nilsen, who wrote the Norwegian version of the Seeger song, led the crowd in singing both the Norwegian and English versions, according to the Views and News report. ------ End of Forwarded Message
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