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Title: 'We Shall Overcome' The comback of protest songs
Source:
Boston Globe
URL Source: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ed ... 5/06/we_shall_overcome?mode=PF
Published: May 9, 2006
Author: Robert Kuttner
Post Date: 2006-05-09 01:45:21 by Morgana le Fay
Keywords: None
Views: 67968
Comments: 124
''THIS IS our first gig," said Bruce Springsteen. ''I hope it goes OK."
With that, The Boss and his 18-piece Seeger Sessions Band opened their set with a rocking rendition of ''Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep." As an act of solidarity with this doubly ravaged city, Springsteen began his homage to Pete Seeger tour here, at ground zero of everything ruinous about the people who now run our country.
The 37th annual Jazz and Heritage Festival was playing to a smaller, whiter crowd than usual in half-abandoned New Orleans. It would be hard to imagine a more poignant or uplifting marriage of musician, impulse, venue, and moment.
Lately, musicians as diverse as Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Paul Simon, and Ani di Franco have followed the same impulse. This is surely the time and the place.
Commentators solemnly billed Hurricane Katrina as the flood that laid bare awkward truths of class and race in America. It did -- for a vivid week, and then we turned away.
By a fine accident of timing, I came here for a conference on what Katrina revealed -- and found plenty of surprises. Downtown and the tourist French Quarter, which got priority federal attention, look as if Katrina had never happened. But the outlying scale of devastation is far more extensive, and the federal default of government more staggering, than one could imagine.
Of 485,000 people who lived here before Katrina, only about 165,000 remain. New Orleans had high rates of black home ownership. But tens of thousands of homeowners are trapped in a horrific Catch-22 because of cascading federal failures.
In huge swaths of the city, basic public services are unrestored, so people can't return to viable houses. Mountains of stinking rubbish -- once the stuff of homes and lives -- lie uncollected on front yards. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, decided to clear inhabited areas first. It just never returned to pick up the rest.
Tens of thousands of homes could be renovated and reoccupied. But instead of making emergency rehab grants or loans, FEMA spends $90,000 per trailer, often parked in front yards, while black mold relentlessly ruins structurally sound houses.
FEMA was slow to revise federal flood insurance guidelines. Without federal flood coverage, no private insurance flows and people can't get bank loans. So extensive salvageable areas remain unoccupied. Meanwhile, the 2006 hurricane season arrives June 1, but the levees are restored only to withstand a mild category 2 storm.
Filling some of the vacuum left by the Bush default, heroic work is being done by volunteers, from Habitat for Humanity, ACORN, and several churches and trade unions. Many live in a tent city -- which FEMA now plans to tear down June 1.
Springsteen toured all this, appalled. He composed two new stanzas to the 1929 song, ''How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?" including, ''[Bush] gave a little pep talk, said I'm with you, then he took a walk." Springsteen elicited loud cheers when he deplored the government's ''criminal irresponsibility." A small plane circled, towing an ''Impeach Bush" banner.
New Orleans heroically pulled itself together to bring off this Fest. Held on a racetrack grounds, the fair has nine simultaneous performance spaces going all day, a crafts section, kids' tent, and a food midway where New Orleans's finest chefs serve such specialties as artichoke and oyster soup and gourmet jambalaya ladled from murky oil drums at $5 a bowl.
As the field dried out from a drenching rain, I gloriously wandered from Willis Prudhomme and the Zydeco Express to the gospel tent to a medley of everything from brass bands, Dixieland funeral music, back to more zydeco, to blues.
By 5:30, when Springsteen strode onto the main stage, following New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint, the sun was shining. Like Seeger's, the Springsteen repertoire included not just political songs such as ''Keep Your Eyes on the Prize," but the whimsical bits of Americana that Seeger loved, like ''(Get Out of the Way,) Old Dan Tucker." And when Springsteen began ''We Shall Overcome," the crowd, both the '60s generation and youngsters who had seen it only on TV joined uplifted hands, swayed, and sang along, without irony.
If anyone can reintroduce songs of protest to a new mass audience, making that much-reworked tradition fresh, it is the sunny, exuberant Springsteen. Folk music was, of course, the original popular culture. Sometimes, the borrowings of commercial pop from folk music are cheesy and opportunistic (say, the Byrds' version of Seeger). Other times, the result is a powerful, authentic synthesis, as in the work of Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan, and John Lennon at their best, New Orleans's own Randy Newman, who wrote the original flood anthem three decades ago, ''Louisiana: They're trying to wash us away," and now Springsteen.
Like protest music, you never know when protest itself will recur. As Springsteen packed up and our conference began, millions not ''Born In The USA" were assembling across America to declare their dignity as working people and human beings. They also sang.
America today is depressing, but music adds energy and spirit to the protest imperative. Song is an inherently collective ritual that reminds us that we are not alone. You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
Robert Kuttner is co-editor of The American Prospect. His column appears regularly in the Globe.
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#1. To: Morgana le Fay, SMOKESCREEN, Coral Snake, TLBSHOW, continental op (#0)
"He composed two new stanzas to the 1929 song, ''How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?" including, ''[Bush] gave a little pep talk, said I'm with you, then he took a walk." Springsteen elicited loud cheers when he deplored the government's ''criminal irresponsibility." A small plane circled, towing an ''Impeach Bush" banner."
LOL...I love the Boss's tunes, but his politics are all wet...MUD
#2. To: Mudboy Slim (#1)
Who cares about what his politics are? I know that his politics are as uninformed as your own. Neither of you have read a serious book in years. In springsteen's case; probably never.
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#3. To: continental op (#2)
How nice of you to consort with neocons, the gracious thing to do would be to not use others doing so as some sort of ideological club, comrade.
#4. To: CapnCarlos (#3)
Slim isn't a neo-con. He's your run of the mill dupe.
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#5. To: continental op (#4)
He is a partisan dope, why does it matter exactly who or what he worships?
#6. To: CapnCarlos (#5)
he has the right to worship anyone he chooses, as do you. and I have the right to call you both retards.
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#7. To: continental op (#6)
You've never met me, so your opinion of me is not valid since I'm still alive.
#8. To: continental op (#6)
and I have the right to call you both retards.
be nice ponchy.
#9. To: CapnCarlos (#7)
Don't even try to understand. Your mind wasn't built for comprehension.
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#10. To: continental op (#2)
"Neither of you have read a serious book in years."
LOL...you have no clue, pencil-dick...MUD
#11. To: continental op (#9)
"Your mind wasn't built for comprehension."
Pot..kettle..black...MUD
#12. To: CapnCarlos (#5)
"He is a partisan dope, why does it matter exactly who or what he worships?"
I am a RadicalRightWingWhacko, nothing more, nothing less...if you can't keep up, don't blame...MUD
#13. To: Morgana le Fay (#0)
"New Orleans heroically pulled itself together to bring off this Fest."
Gimme a break...let's see if New Orleans can "heroically" build some new homes in the flood-destroyed areas? Still waiting fer DeeCee to come in and save the day? Ain't gonna happen, New Orleans needs to fix itself, but all they can pull off is a ProtestFest...LOL!!
My friends go to the JazzFest every year...they say it's a blast...MUD
#14. To: Morgana le Fay, continental op (#8)
"ponchy"
I thought it was "Porky"...MUD
#15. To: continental op (#9)
Don't even try to understand. Your mind wasn't built for comprehension.
good morning ponchy! still in the depressive cycle?
#16. To: Mudboy Slim (#14)
'ponchy' is short for 'pontius'
#17. To: Mudboy Slim, Captain Moron. (#10)
LOL...you have no clue, pencil-dick...MUD
Okay, Slim. Tell me what's on your reading list?
I am currently reading, Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic, and re-reading Rothbard's history of money and banking.
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#18. To: continental op (#17)
i am reading a book on handling borderline psychotic bipolar control freaks.
#19. To: Morgana le Fay (#18)
I'm really not interested in your relationship with your husband.
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#20. To: continental op (#17)
"Tell me what's on your reading list?"
Presently, I've relaxing with a copy of Russell Kirk's "The Conservative Mind from Burke to Eliot" and Peter Ruhe's "Gandhi"...but what's that say about anything? What matters is what you take from what you read, co-op.
You need to be more respectful when addressing yer superiors...MUD
#21. To: Morgana le Fay (#18)
"...a book on handling borderline psychotic bipolar control freaks."
I read http://it...comes in handy while surfing these web forums...LOL!!
Regards...MUD
#22. To: continental op (#19)
I'm really not interested in your relationship with your husband.
i am single ponchy poo.
#23. To: Mudboy Slim (#20)
You need to be more respectful when addressing yer superiors...MUD
Superiors? Lol, you hick, you design buildings. I design and build them.
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#24. To: Morgana le Fay (#22)
I'm not surprised. hubby dump you for one of the newer models?
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#25. To: Morgana le Fay (#0)
"Shan't Git Fooled Again!!"
(To be sung to The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again")
We'll enlighten all we meet...
For our children, we shall FReep...
Truth and Morals that we worship shall live on!!
'Tis Clinton who spurs us on...
Lib'ral Judgement is all Wrong...
Medyuh LIES, but the Sheeple shall catch on!!
We'll re-enforce Nation's Ol' Constitution...
Devolve Power...The Great Devolution...
Laugh and sing and take Slick Willie down!!
Listen to what Limbaugh's sayin'...
Gotta do more than pray!!
Folks, we'll rise to our feet and sing...
"We shan't git fooled again!!!"...No NO!!
We'll raise our voice for our Country with pride...
Ain't gonna listen to Left's Med'yuh jive!!
We'll wake all the Sheeple and smite all Left's spies!!
Folks, you know that the Chi-Com spies always lie...don'tcha?!!
(Kewl synthesizer/guitar combo...maybe a li'l MUD on harp...LOL!!)
YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
FReepers, hit the streets...educate everyone you meet...
Lib'rals' "programs" we'll erase...by and by!!
And the SLAUGHTER of the Left...means momentum for what's Right...
Sheeples' fears shall melt away before our sight!!
Right'll re-enforce our Ol' Constitution...
Reject Lib'rals' Socialist solutions!!
Smile and grin at the change all around...)8^D!!
Pick up my ol' harp and sing...ain't like yesterday...
Folks, we'll take to streets and scream...
FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!
Meet the new boss...his name is George Bush!!
Mudboy Slim (09/11/2002)
#26. To: continental op (#24)
You really are a dirtball, punk...MUD
#27. To: continental op (#23)
I build them, too...MUD
#28. To: Mudboy Slim (#26)
Whatever, Slim.
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#29. To: Mudboy Slim (#27)
I build them, too.
architect and into construction? no wonder you dress like a bum. Otoh, why are you always in your office, posting, then?
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#30. To: continental op (#24)
'm not surprised. hubby dump you for one of the newer models?
no, never married. except i'm not old like you and i probably will be married someday. i just graduated and want some time on my own.
#31. To: Mudboy Slim (#26)
You really are a dirtball, punk...MUD
he is, but that is what makes him fun to kick around. we couldn't tread a normal person like we treat ponchy. our conscience would bother us.
#32. To: Mudboy Slim (#26)
the bike trip is probably off. it is impossible to get registered. they only let 2000 in. we are now on the waiting list for cancellations. about 3000 more go on their own. i found this out when i tried to book hotels along the route. they are all full. one hotel told me they fill up within three hours of the route being published.
#33. To: Morgana le Fay (#30)
What are you doing posting with people twice your age, then? That's pretty pathetic, you know.
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#34. To: continental op (#33)
- What are you doing posting with people twice your age, then?
Hey, speak for yourself, grandpa.
Click Here for the "Jhoffa VS Mudboy Slim official fight thread"
#35. To: Jhoffa_ (#34)
There was so much to read, for one thing, and so much fine health to be pulled down out of the young breath-giving air. I bought a dozen volumes on banking and credit and investment securities, and they stood on my shelf in red and gold like new money from the mint, promising to unfold the shining secrets that only Midas and Morgan and Maecenas knew. And I had the high intention of reading many other books besides. I was rather literary in college--one year I wrote a series of very solemn and obvious editorials for the "Yale News."--and now I was going to bring back all such things into my life and become again that most limited of all specialists, the "well-rounded man." This isn't just an epigram--life is much more successfully looked at from a single window, after all.
#36. To: CapnCarlos (#35)
A wookie would write something like that..
Click Here for the "Jhoffa VS Mudboy Slim official fight thread"
#37. To: Morgana le Fay (#32)
The horses, needless to say, were not mentioned again. Tom and Miss Baker, with several feet of twilight between them, strolled back into the library, as if to a vigil beside a perfectly tangible body, while, trying to look pleasantly interested and a little deaf, I followed Daisy around a chain of connecting verandas to the porch in front. In its deep gloom we sat down side by side on a wicker settee.
ibid
#38. To: Jhoffa_ (#36)
Are you "Maecenas" on the the pottery board?
#39. To: CapnCarlos (#38)
Nah, I'm a ringer from the NSA.
Click Here for the "Jhoffa VS Mudboy Slim official fight thread"
#40. To: Jhoffa_ (#34)
Hey, speak for yourself, grandpa.
I'm going to introduce her to weikel. We're always annoying him about his chronic virginity.
Free David Irving!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Gotovina!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Free Eric Rudolph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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