Song memorial for September 11

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 06:32 PM

I couldn't understand it meself, Taliesn, but it is late at night here...

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 07:06 PM

I have sung a couple of times this year, including last night, Tom Paxton's "The Bravest" which is in the DT and you can hear him sing it on MP3, though it was just too late for his last CD. I shall sing it again this weekend and on 11th Sept.

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Burke
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 07:21 PM

This thread began with suggestions of ways to honor Sept. 11. If you want a sense of joining with others it seems to me that the most fitting way is to join the people of New York in their official events.

From a longer press release: The Governor said whether at formal events, in schools, at home or work, New Yorkers should observe a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the moment of the impact of the first plane into the World Trade Center, pause again at 9:03 a.m. at the time of the second impact, 9:59 a.m. at the time the first tower collapsed and finally at 10:29 a.m. at the time of the second tower collapse.

The Governor has requested the tolling of municipal and church bells across the State at precisely 10:29 a.m. as part of the effort to reflect on and remember the tragic events, as well as the heroism, of that day.

See also the Schedule for the Day in New York.

There will be many candlelight vigils in the evening.

Last year our campus held a candlelight vigil. Most singing was unprogrammed with God Bless America probably sung most with America the Beautiful probably second.

Subject: RE: Much oblidged Burke
From: GUEST,Taliesn
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 07:44 PM

(quote) " If you want a sense of joining with others it seems to me that the most fitting way is to join the people of New York in their official events. "

Thank you so much for going to the source and bringing it to us all hopefully proving that them that " Me thinkst protest too much", their points now rendered irrevokably moot , were *never* threatened *one wit.*

I tired to explain allthat , but sometimes being a slave to one's *idoelogical correctness* blinds one to the reality of fears unfounded.

Let us all join now in whatever way suits one, but join,by *all* means join , finally if only out of love.

Peace be unto all

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 11:00 PM

I expect to go to work late on September 11. Despite my best efforts, I know I will be in tears. My song?

"Further along we'll no longer wonder.
Furhter along we will understand why.
Cheer up my brother; Live in the sunshine.
We'll understand it all by and by."

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Pseudolus
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 01:24 AM

What song would it be that would include EVERYBODY? I don't think there is one. And if you read the first post, the poster didn't ask all of Mudcat to join in. He/she asked that "should you feel like it" you can join in. Who's excluding you? It seems to me that by suggesting that anyone who "feels like it" please join in, they ARE including everyone who wants to. If you choose to "remember" differently, you are free to organize your own, or not do anything special at all. But why, because you wouldn't want to participate, should someone not be allowed to ask people here to get involved? No one asked Mudcat to sponsor the event, no one insisted that ALL mudcatters get involved, it was simply an invitation to get involved if you felt like it. This jumping down people's throats for suggesting an idea that you don't like or agree with just sucks....

Frank

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: GUEST,how about....
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 02:51 AM

...the old "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Oops. Reviewing the lyrics in my head I come to the "With God as our father, brothers all are we." Maybe something else could substitute there.

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Peg
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 03:10 AM

What the World Needs Now...

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 09:02 AM

I don't think either SharonA or I objected to the New Yorkers singing whatever their hearts will, yea verily even unto Amazing Grace. What I said was, if the Mudcat is going to do a song-around-the-world, the idea to which I was answering, I would rather it weren't something Christian, but something that includes the Islamic and other faiths as well as the nonbelievers, which I don't believe Amazing Grace does. Taliesn wrote "I thought confirmed atheists find *all* religious practice abhorant to their *special requirements*. " - we have no special requirements that I know of, all I know is that hymns do not speak to my heart in times of trouble, I'd rather sing songs of reality, of hope and the overcoming of fear and danger in *this* world. I do find that in the good old USA, there is a tacit assumption of Christianity, in the same way there used to be a tacit assumption of white skin. Well, there are a lot of folks here who aren't Christian, and if we were the secular nation we were founded to be, the fundamentalist Islamic fanatics would have a lot less to hate us about. What I object to, and more so since 9/11 with all the god stuff our president is always spouting, is the idea that atheists can't be patriots, citizens, or even humans sometimes, that only hymns can soothe the soul, that turning to a particular god or gods is the way to overcome the hatred of those who follow some *other* god or gods.

I think what I said before, which was simply "Maybe we're just tired of being excluded, especially since 9/11? I'm not saying NY shouldn't sing hymns, I'm just saying if we want the whole Mudcat around the world to unite over something, it ought not to be something that excludes some of us." said it all...

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Pseudolus
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 09:02 AM

"What the World needs now" has the line "Lord, we don't need another mountain".....probably won't go over too well....

Look, I'm not saying that everyone should jump on board with this idea, I'm just saying that if you don't like the idea, don't join in. And don't judge what others are going to do to find comfort on September 11th. By turning this thread into an argument, the idea has essentially been squashed, and that's sad....

Frank

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Pseudolus
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 09:26 AM

Mrrzy, we were posting at the same time so I hadn't read your last post when I entered mine. Here's my offering....

Let's go with the original idea but with a twist...for those of us who intend to remember, let's agree to do so together, at the same time, but with the song or poem or prayer or just silence that each of us chooses. Seems to me that what we end up with is a rememberance as diverse as the Mudcat itself.....

Frank

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Peg
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 11:10 AM

Dona Nobis Pacem?

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 11:14 AM

dona nobis pacem is definitely out. Those are Catholic words used in the Mass. The dona is a command to God, not even a please give us. God keeps rearing his head everywhere in this.

Well, once again something has been destroyed. Very very easy to do. Let's all pick a time and everyone sing whatever and then let's start a chorus and everyone sing a different song because we can't agree. The result will be just lovely.

mg

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Pseudolus
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 12:03 PM

I agree mg, for what it's worth, I'm going with plan A, your original idea. If you still plan on singing, we may be a chorus of two but we'll be out there!

Frank

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 12:05 PM

GUEST,mg,

I'm all for your first idea in your post that started this thread. But because 'America the Beautiful' has God references, it too is probably inappropriate, despite its very fitting verse in tribute to heroes. Here's an idea: How about 'My Contry, 'tis of Thee', the melody to which is "borrowed" from the national anthem of another GREAT nation? It's not divisive, and there is no religious slant to it, Christian or otherwise.

'My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I [we] sing
Land of the pilgrim's pride,
Land where our fathers died,
From ev'ry mountain side,
Let freedom ring!'

Perhaps "our fathers" could be replaced with "the heroes". Just a thought.

(For those who don't know, I refer to 'God Save the Queen(King)' as sung in the UK.)

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Amos
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 12:30 PM

Jeeze, you guys sure do wrap around the axles nicely, doncha?


I'll tell you honestly that I would just as soon NOT spend a lot of time remembering 9/11, except for the brave people who moved in to try and help. They're something to remember. I will never forget the cowardice and insanity that started it, nor the pain it caused all over the world, but to invest in commemoration and put my attention back onto the big splash in world attention caused by Osama's Boxcutter Brigade -- I dunno, I think not. It is not as though they were striking a blow for human rights and freedom.

But such remembrance as I will undertake, I'll do in my own space and time, to my own tune. Don't see much point in reinforcing a massive trauma.

Regards,

A

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 12:32 PM

People from 83 countries died on September 11. Not just Americans, or people to whom the idea of America the Beautiful would necessarily be too relevant.

I think the better idea is people in all those 83 countries and more singing whatever seems right to them, and thinking about what happened and the roots of it and the consequences of it for all of us. If that's a thousand different songs in a thousand diffeent languages, all the better.

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Burke
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 02:21 PM

On September 11 always remember, and each and every September 12, take some time that day to take stock of where you are and what you're doing. Ask yourself, 'What am I doing to help my neighbor, my community, my nation? Am I doing something to make a difference?' Each year, recommit yourself to the spirit of September 12.

--U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman, Hamilton College Commencement, May 26, 2002

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Pseudolus
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 03:08 PM

Amos,
To each his/her own, I respect your decision to not participate with a group because of what it would mean to you. Some of us will participate for varying reasons and that's ok too, as I said, to eash his/her own.

McGrath,
I totally agree with you, a lot of people will be remembering that day and to some it will be almost as difficult as the day itself....and they will do it in a way that is meaningful to them.

Burke,
My wife just got her Masters at Widener where Christie Todd Whitman wa the main speaker and she used essentially the same speach. I thought she was very sensitive to the issues and was very NON-political with what could have been a very political subject....I was very impressed.

Frank

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 04:22 PM

My Country Tis Of Thee is lovely. I also like the idea of everybody singing what they like, in their own language as the song travels around the world.

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Amergin
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 04:35 PM

this land is your land works well....especially since so many people have wrote versions of it fitting their own countries....

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: BH
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 07:04 PM

I am not a Christian, but I will say that Amazing Grace--to me--is the most meaningful of hymns. It is a song of peace and has evolved into a non sectarian piece.

I would add that the changing of the word "wretch" to "soul" by Paul Robeson made the song just perfect for me. As Robeson said; "...we are not wretches but human souls". When---not if--I go I want that played---and that version.

But as a previous writer noted---whatever brings you peace and serenity is what you should sing, hear, or do whatever you will.

A final though----have we now replaced 12/7 with 9/11. The tragedies mount do they not? And not just in this land.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 08:03 PM

no..can't do my country tis of thee..

first of all, the tune is GOD save the queen...first of all it is religious. next of all it is imperialistic. P

then someone might want to do one of the next verses..

My father's GOD to thee, author of liberty...

keep on trying though. I think we are down to Somewhere Over the Rainbow..Small World...the Coke Commercial (rots your teeth though and corrupts developing countries)and I'm looking over a 4 leaf clover. Perhaps someone can think of more that people spanning several generations know, that have a tune, that have a message and neither include people we don't like or exclude people such as ourselves who have the hot line to righteousness.

mg

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: GUEST,Bagpuss
Date: 06 Sep 02 - 05:26 AM

Always look on the bright side of life?

Subject: RE: Song memorial for September 11
From: Pennny
Date: 06 Sep 02 - 07:06 PM

How about We Are The World ? We could be here all night trying to think of a song or act that would symbolically link us all to the events of September Eleventh. Why not just give thanks to the appropriate one for all that we have and all that each one of us can do to alleviate suffering around us and in our world. Listen to others' words more than your own. Maybe a minute of silence with appreciation for the bird's song or even a train whistling along .Just a thought.