Rest in Power, Pete Seeger
It was yesterday to hear about the news about a folk singer's peaceful death.
As Pete Seeger, known for his progressive folk songs played during the protest movement, died last January 27 in the Age of 94. He died peacefully in his sleep leaving a legacy of his songs that somehow brought power trying to bring social change both in the United States and in the world.
Personally, this writer had listened to his songs, one of which is the song "Where have all the flowers gone" that reminds of the Vietnam War, so is the song "If I had a hammer" that was originally a song made in support of the progressive movement, that also became popular with Trini Lopez singing in a cheerful tune.
However, despite his popularity, his songs reflected his views, that his activism during the Wprld War 2 and the cold war acquired an ire from the system, describing him as subversive, that even Eleanor Roosevelt, also a love of Folk Music described his "Songs for John Doe" as "Bad Taste."
But, that "Mendacious Moscow Tune" Time magazine's Henry Luce stated was the same tune that made everyone realize the real state of America should deal with. African Americans struggle for civil rights, the continuous building of war machine, and other anti-people actions had made Seeger strum his banjo and played the tunes making people arouse, organize, and mobilize against the system; especially during the November 15, 1969, Vietnam Moratorium March on Washington, DC. There Seeger had led 500,000 protesters in singing John Lennon's song "Give Peace a Chance" as they rallied across from the White House.
His voice carried over the crowd, interspersing phrases like, "Are you listening, Nixon?" between the choruses of protesters singing, "All we are saying ... is give peace a chance".
Obviously, it can't be Moscovite what Luce and other slanderers said before, but American, American prior to its intervention during the war, emphasising peace and non-intervention that until today people had yearned for instead of "Military-Industrial Complex" and provoking its own kind and its neighbors with fear.
Ironically, president Obama, who had tolerated low intensity conflicts around the globe like his predecessors, had afford to pay tribute to the man who consistently opposed the system's views, as he said:
Ironically, president Obama, who had tolerated low intensity conflicts around the globe like his predecessors, had afford to pay tribute to the man who consistently opposed the system's views, as he said:
"Over the years, Pete used his voice and his hammer to strike blows for worker's rights and civil rights; world peace and environmental conservation and he always invited us to sing along. For reminding us where we come from and showing us where we need to go, we will always be grateful to Pete Seeger. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to Pete's family and all those who loved him."
But come to think of this, is the system in the United States had apologized for the red scare and other actions made before?
Quite saddening indeed, but why not relieve the spirits through his legacy of music? Seeger didn't die in vain, he's in a deep sleep that in the clarion of struggle will awake and thus alive in everyone's hearts.