Our world is looking pretty grim these days, especially as reported by mass media--Alice's son missing 2 days of school to pipe bomb threats, the news from Canada, worries about WWIII. This morning, I heard a news item which gave me the chills. Supposedly a boy in a NYC middle school overheard 5 of his classmates discussing plans to blow up their school. He went & reported this to the principal & those kids are out of school now. A week ago, I probably would have believed it without question. As it happens, though, it is almost identical to the rumor spread about my son--which was completely unfounded. Many adults & children are living in fear right now. Other kids are considering murder & mayhem. Still others are thinking of ways to get time off from school or give trouble to those they dislike. Some, like my son, have been victimized by those kids. I just hope that, now, he doesn't get the idea that notoriety is fun.

We need to exert our influence for good & we need to encourage ourselves. Those of you who perform, I hope you will choose, in these next days, some songs which encourage right actions & staying the course. The rest of us will sing to ourselves & try to bring light to our corners of the world.

Let's put together some song ideas which are hopeful. Here's my start--"Fashioned in the Clay" by Elmer Beal (I know it by Bok, Muir, Trickett)& "Hope for One & All" by David Mallett. The world *will* go on & so will we!

best,

bbc