I've been asked to sing to the far right

Subject: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 11:53 AM

I have been asked to sing a song I wrote about Bangladeshi women, victims of gang rape and forced migration at an event soon,peopled by a lot of Hindu fundimentalists. This event I fear may be filled with folks who may miss the point, that it is not about one sides fundamentalism ... so ... well... emmmm.... trouble with folk singers is that we keep writing, eh? Hope I survive the night...
Cheers
Larry

Song of the third world.
Words Lorcan Otway - tune "Jamie Foyers"

Who profits, who profits, from all of our pain
While pointing their fingers at our ancient shame
while we stand divided, neighbor's blood on our hands
The industrial nations bleed the wealth from our lands

Its not about difference, we are all the same
We are all the pawns in the colonialist game
my neighbor and I worship God differently
so industrial nations turn my brother against me

My sister was murdered, for the wrongs of the past
In the Chitagong Hills, in the streets of Belfast
In Ramala, or Gujarat, in corners far away
while our poverty feeds gluttony in the USA

What more can I say now to finish this song
Don't look to your neighbor to pay for the last wrong
There is not enough blood to cleanse hatred from the past
But a third world united may end hunger at last

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: Bobert
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 12:04 PM

Good for you, Larry. Intolerance by any other name is still...intolerance.

They *need* to hear it! Hey, it was written as a protest song and not written to be preaching to choir.

Have a ball...

Bobert

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 12:10 PM

Make your point of view absolutely known in your introduction, or you may be kicking yourself for years. Also, remember that there are probably quite a few in the audience who support your aims but are afraid to speak up.

Chances are the worst that'll happen is some will ignore you. Make sure the cheque doesn't bounce!

I've played a few times for groups who've liked certain songs on various of my albums but completely missed the message of several others. It's more interesting than preaching to the converted.

Good luck, you'll be fine.

Rick

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 12:30 PM

Thanks for the advice Rick... no worry, no cheque, performing, as usual, for free. Mary Courtney of Morning Star offered the best advice, check that there is a back door, and wear your running shoes. After seeing the film of the destruciton of the mosque in Gujarat, she may be right!!!!!!!! Larry

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: wilco
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 01:14 PM

I would suggest an introductory statement about the meaning of the song, with the statement that ethnic/religious intolerance is a terrible problem worldwide, and "let 'em have it!"
    befroe the performance, give them a web address or name or phone number for more information. I do this all the time when I do presentations for disability or pro-life issues; it gives those in the audience a resource to follow-up, if they are curious.
    If the local host will allow it, have some kind of brochure or copies of the resource materials there.
    make em' squirm!!!! and, have a blast!!!!
    Wilco in tennessee

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 02:39 PM

Hi WIlco:
Actually, what they will have is a print out of this song... (Following the message...) which is kind of preaching to the choir... but unfortunately they will also have forks and knives...
Say a wee prayer...
Larry

Who Will Marry Me
Lorcan Otway all rights reserved...


I'm a Bangladeshi Hindu girl, I cannot say my name
I cannot show my face to you, I'm forced to flee in shame
I cannot find the words to tell, what they did to me
When the gangs came to my village and robbed my dignity

I cannot speak the words my fear, and horror to relate
When the women of my village became, the target of your hate
With nothing but my tattered clothes, I have been forced to flee
For after my public shame, who would ever marry me

In the decade before I was born, my land was wracked with pain
Democracy and Freedom, religious rights to gain
All the people of our land, shared the terror of that night
to cast off religious hatred and, emerge into the light

I can't understand why the world, allows hate to divide my land
Is our pain so foreign to your world, that you can't understand
The tears of my nation, a waterwheel could turn
Can they not touch your heart enough, our history to learn

How my story ends I cannot say, what's ahead I cannot see
Fundamentalism's fertile fields, are starved lands of poverty
But in the ruins of my land and life, I can only cry in vain
why must I bear the shame alone, who would ever share my pain

One question more I'll ask of you, before I flee my land
One question more I'll put to you, I'm too young to understand
One question more I must demand, before I turn to go,
for the answer to this question, no young girl may ever know

My sister's bodies have become, the target's of your war
And our mother's and our grandmothers, for countless years before
How can it be our dishonor, why is it our disgrace
Why is it not the rapist, who is forced to hide his face

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 04:06 PM

Good luck Larry. You'll do great.

Fundamentalism can mean a lot of different things, and it's often a label thrown at people by a different kind of bigot, as a way of avoiding discussions. Sometimes all it means is people in a new country turning to their own religious traditions and recognising that they have things worth holding on to and passing on.

Here's a verse from a song I wrote once, with Irish immigrants in mind, which ties in here in a way:

They tell you when you land here that you're far behind the age,
They tell you you must learn to change according to their ways,
And they tell you what you must adnire, and what you must despise,
And you learn too late that what they say is a spiders web of lies.

There are aspects of the Hindu tradition, as there is of the Muslim tradition, and aspects which are in truth fundamental to it, which are the reverse of intolerant and bigotted. Gandhi's Hinduism was pretty fundamental to his message. And you could say the same for George Fox and his Christianity.

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: Sam L
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 07:11 PM

I've occasionally been asked to sing to the far right, by people seated to the left. I had trouble with my harmonica rack, and sometimes got a kink in my neck. Eventually started turning the whole chair sideways. Good luck.   

sorry to kid, looks like solid material that should stand for itself very well.

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: DougR
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 07:43 PM

Geeze, Larry, I thought maybe you were invited to perform at Rev. Falwell's church or something.

I'm sure you will do fine, but keep the car engine running just in case. :>)

DougR

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 07:43 PM

Never negotiate with the enemy. Do it your way, and you'll be fine.

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: leprechaun
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 09:43 PM

Inobu

I betcha...

By the time this post fades, you'll be telling us how nice these people were.

You're nice, too. They'll pick up on that.

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 11:09 PM

No, Lep, they ARE nice, I actually know these guys, but they are alined with the guys who shot Ghandi ji, no kidding... these guys hate Ghandi! But, most have a sence of humor, and we have been butting heads for a few years. They love my Bangladesh song, because it is about the other guy. But, well, I will report in Monday and tell ya all how it goes... I hope.
Cheers, Larry

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: leprechaun
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 02:06 AM

Well, nice as you are, you hate George W Bush. That's kinda the same thing isn't it?

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: Mudlark
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 02:13 AM

Strong material, and very good. Good luck on having an audience that will take it properly!

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 08:51 AM

Tolerate all things except intolerance

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 09:55 AM

Dear Lep:
I don't hate any of the Bush family, even those who aided the Nazi cause... in fact, I played at the wedding of a niece of the current occpant of the white house. I don't believe the man is competant to hold the fate of the world in his hands. But, I would be civil to him and listen and talk with him if we met. I am sure he is a personalble fellow. I do believe that he is a murderer (ordering the extra-judicial killing of suspects in Yemin) and yet I believe there is hope for him to discover the light within himself.
Larry

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 10:18 AM

Look out - opinion coming. Larry's a lawyer. As such, I would assume he sometimes deals with some very unsavory people. Everybody has rights, even the people some of us hate or think are scum of the earth. It takes a heck of a lot of fairness, open-mindedness, whatever-the-word-is to try to see someone's rights and the light within them when the things you don't like stand out so strongly.

To those who say "don't negotiate with the enemy," it's your choice, but somebody has to do it. There's absolutely no chance of peace, no chance of changing minds if no one is willing to look for that part of someone else they can reach. I don't think any one of our heroes - whoever they may be - has become a hero by isolating themselves from unpleasantness. Quite the opposite.

Larry, I don't always agree with you, but I gotta have a load of respect for someone willing to go into the lion's den, even if the lions DO have a sense of humor!

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 10:38 AM

Thanks Jeri:
I am doing a wee cartoon to give out with the song, I wish I had come up with the origional idea, which was a row boat sinking, with the US at the high end and the USSR at the low end, and the US saying, don't worry guys, there end is sinking faster... in my cartoon an ancient sailing vessle is split in three, the front end and back end, Bangladesh and Pakistan are sinking first, to India's relief... while big modern ships of the EEC and NAFT sail past, offering them an anchor.
Cheers
Larry

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 10:44 AM

There is also a school of thought that says direct negotiations rarely work. A good example: Northern Ireland. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Historically, neutral third party negotiators usually have had much better, more long lasting results at ending communal violence. That is why we have the United Nations. So people like George Bush and Saddam Hussein don't have to be left to their own devices to "work it out". Ahem.

The majority of people tend to believe that a central pillar of successful conflict resolution includes making the parties "change their minds" or "change their thinking". That isn't the purpose or the function of conflict resolution. The purpose and function of conflict resolution is stopping communal violence, so a peaceful space can be created where justice and fairness can be imagined, and then worked toward, by any parties who wish to move in that direction.

The belief that warring factions must sit down in the same room together and agree to agree is "the best" solution is just plain wrong. Most successful ceasefires are brokered by third parties. Hence my statement, "never negotiate with the enemy".

It takes a certain amount of arrogance and egomania to believe you can preach to your enemy, and believe the result will be that they will change their evil ways, and come on over to your side.

If the problem you are having is the the word "enemy", then substitute whatever seems applicable to the situation. In this case, Larry chose to label these people "the far right" and "Hindu fundamentalists". Whatever. Mindset is still the same. Larry might claim that the far right and Hindu fundamentalists aren't his "enemies" but the fact remains, he is using oppositional language (fundamentalist vs progressive, far right vs progessive left, etc) by using the word choices he uses. To think those words aren't just as emotionally volatile in our society as the word "enemy" is pretty naive.

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 11:15 AM

Dear Guest:
The fact is that one needs to employ descriptive language to communicate. In point of fact, among others,a few of their wives express their fustration at their husbands inability to learn new patterns of political thought, as right wing fundimentalism. I meet on a regular basis with the guys, and show them the fact that nine per cent of a population don't have much chance at waking the oppresor up to the wrong the oppresor does, but they do have a chance to show the opposition party that in order to become a majority party, they need both the remaining minorities as well as the displaced population. I would send you a rather long paper on the subject, but as you choose to remain anonimous, what the hell.
Cheers
Larry

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: jimmyt
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 11:26 AM

Just remember how the Blues Brothers dealt with playing in that Redneck honky tonk bar. Stay behind the chicken wire, and be ready to go in to Rawhide at a moment's notice.

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 11:29 AM

Larry, I was really addressing my remarks more to Jeri, who took exception to the use of the word "enemy", and who expressed the wish that people would learn to respect the rights of people who have done extraordinary malevolent things, and "see the light within them".

I'm a bit more of a pragmatist. I'm willing to settle for people being able to respect civil and human rights. The warm and fuzzy "light within" shit can definitely wait until later. Or never, as far as I'm concerned, as I don't think much of the school of thought that says the highest, most noble (sic) human purpose is thinking lofty thoughts about ourselves and our fellow human beings.

I'd really rather we learn how to get along, so each of us could fulfill our human potential without fear of starving, freezing, or boiling to death, being murdered by (mostly male) relatives, strangers, military/paramilitary mercenaries and soldiers, that sort of thing.

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: leprechaun
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 11:33 AM

Ooh Larry, you said "hell!"

I was just teasin' about that hate the Bush thing.

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 12:16 PM

What made you think I took exception to the word 'enemy'? I also didn't say "people should learn to respect the rights of people who have done extraordinary malevolent things." It's good some people respect rights period. Most of us can't even learn to admit that our opinion someone's Evil isn't necessarily true.

Anyway, it might be good to quote what you're responding to.

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 08 Feb 03 - 01:14 PM

Hi Lep:
We Quake's are completely bechuckled with the notion of Quaker piety... say hell? For F'cksake did I say the H word? I know you were kidding, ol' pal, as to the chicken wire, that is a good idea, execpt I think tossed lamb curry may get through the wire, mabe someting like a deap sea copper helmet suit may do the trick!
Cheers
Larry

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 09:05 PM

Well... survived the gig... got a big ovation... one or two close friends in the Hindu comunity didn't like it,but the cast majority did, lots of song sheets passed out...
Cheers
Still among the living, Larry

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: Deckman
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 09:10 PM

I'm enjoying this thread ... there have been some very good comments made. What you are really talking about is making people think, and even perhaps think a new way. That's always a challenge.

This reminds me of a simliar situation I was in many years ago. I live in Everett, Washington, USA. Everett's history is that of a lumber mill town, complete with many union battles, including the "Everett Massacre. This happened when a boatload of Wobblies was fired on by town vigilantes. I was hired to perform my traditional songs at a local (POSH) Golf and Country Club. This was during the bi-centenial year in America, 1975 I think. I'd been performing all over the place, schools, churches, libraries, etc. So I decided to do my basic program on "Labor Songs", unique to the Pacific Northwest.

There I was, on stage, singing to all the black tie folks, songs like:
Pie In The Sky; Joe Hill; Pastures of Plenty; and many other Wobbly and labor songs. Then it hit me ... I was singing to the ruling inteligentia ... the sons and daughters of the timber barons of old.

When I realized what I'd done, I figgured I'd have some more fun and go for it! I then threw in a bunch of songs from the civil rights era: We Shall Overcome; Which Side Are You On, etc.

I was the ONLY person there that enjoyed that evening. I did get paid, about a month later, by mail, and surprise of all surprises, I was not invited back again! Oh well.

So, as someone said: make sure they have a back door and enjoy yourself! GOOD LUCk, Bob

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 09:44 PM

Gee, Bob, Evertte! Damn! Notice my handle? InOBU? In One Big Union... I have a red union card, fellow worker! Cheers, Larry

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: Deckman
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 09:58 PM

Larry ... it IS a small world, isn't it! Bob

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 10:04 PM

Small and getting smaller, well, especialy when they are going to through all us anti war folks in jail any day! Be seeing ya!, bring a harmonica!
Cheers
InOBU
Larry

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: InOBU
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 10:05 PM

The above comment is explained here....Obit: US Alerts guard against the Constitution

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: leprechaun
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 11:20 PM

Deckman - Maybe they wanted some dance music.

Subject: RE: I've been asked to sing to the far right
From: Deckman
Date: 10 Feb 03 - 11:32 PM

... "Maybe they wanted some dance music!" ... That is a very good comment. Over the years I have occasionally found myself where I didn't belong, meaning that my traditional folk music did not fit the occasion. Heck, I can remember a time, eons ago, when I actually walked on stage as a "folk music act" between the strippers. You can imagine how populiar I was, guys in the audience yelling for the next girl to come out and take off her clothes while I'm standing there singing "Michael Row The Boat Ashore!" Those are the kinds of experiences that make you veteran! CHEERS, Bob (the job didn't pay much but the dressing room was a gas!)