The Power Of Song

Subject: The Power Of Song
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 08 May 08 - 01:30 AM

If you've ever doubted the power of song, this comes from the Associated Press:

AP - Tue May 6, 9:43 PM ET

A man with a guitar and a megaphone climbed atop a convenience store
roof to serenade commuters with his musical protest of high gasoline
prices â€" until police halted the impromptu concert.

Once atop the roof of the Family Express store Monday, and above pumps
dispensing fuel at $3.78 per gallon, Jay Weinberg, 29, performed his
ditty called "Price Gouge'n."

Dozens of supporters chanted: "I can't afford it. I'm banging on my
dashboard. I can't believe they think I'm a fool."

The performance lasted about 15 minutes before three police officers
arrived and arrested Weinberg on charges of trespassing and disorderly
conduct. Police said he was cooperative.

The crowd, made up of Weinberg's friends and other people who just
happened to be pumping gas, continued singing. Then some, including
his wife, Danielle, drove to Porter County Jail to bail him out.

Weinberg left the building around 7:30 p.m. and was greeted with cheers.


Be well.
Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: Barry Finn
Date: 08 May 08 - 01:46 AM

That's a gas

Barry

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 08 May 08 - 03:07 AM

2 Quid a gallon, and he's protesting?!

In the UK, we're currently paying something like $10 a gallon for petrol.

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 08 May 08 - 09:26 AM

"In the UK, we're currently paying something like $10 a gallon for petrol. "

And you are not protesting??????????????????

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: Jassplayer
Date: 08 May 08 - 09:29 AM

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: Jassplayer
Date: 08 May 08 - 09:32 AM

Hats off to Mr. Weinberg! We're going to track him down and invite him to our festival to lead a workshop in the tradition and power of the protest song.
The Taunton River Folk Festival, Oct. 10-13, 2008
Jack Radcliffe

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: Amos
Date: 08 May 08 - 10:02 AM

Well, you don't have as far to go in the UK, as anyone who looks at a globe can see... ;>)



S

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 08 May 08 - 10:33 AM

That sounds like backward reasoning to justify gas prices. The car still burns gas at the same rate.

The distance in the country has nothing to do with it. I would bet that most people live about equal distance from their work, and depending on mass transportation, you still drive your car.

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: GUEST,Val
Date: 08 May 08 - 01:05 PM

It would truly be a testament to the power of song if the filling station lowered it's prices, or if people hearing the song decided not to fill their tanks as part of a protest.

As it is, the only "power" that seems to be reported in the story is to get other people to sing along and to have someone bail you out of jail. Both are good things, granted, but it doesn't strike me as especially "powerful".

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 08 May 08 - 01:17 PM

A song will never create change - but it will inspire. Look at what songs did for the civil rights movement.

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: Amos
Date: 08 May 08 - 01:55 PM

Ah, Ron...Ron,

See that strange lump on the outside of my jaw?


It's me tongue poking through from the inside of my cheek.


A

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 08 May 08 - 03:16 PM

I thought you were just glad to see me!!! :)

Subject: RE: The Power Of Song
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 09 May 08 - 01:43 AM

Jassplayer, Way cool!

Ron, you're right. Music is, at best, a great organizing tool. We need to rally all of the tools we can get right now.

Ruth, our economy is structured a bit differently from yours. The current price of gas in The United States is crippling, and, in some cases, nearly killing several industries. The problem is not so much what we're actually putting in our gas tanks (although that's annoying), The problem is the negative shock-waves that it's sending through the prices of everything else.

Stephen Lee