Brian’s Reflection: Tuesday, May 3, 2011

I still call myself a communist, because communism
is no more what Russia made of it than Christianity
is what the churches make of it.

Pete Seeger; musician, philosopher; he was born on this
date, 1919, at French Hospital, Manhattan; he’s 92 today.


Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?

Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?

Where have all the flowers gone?

Young girls have picked them everyone.

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?

Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?

Where have all the soldiers gone?

Gone to graveyards, everyone.

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?

Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?

Where have all the graveyards gone?

Gone to flowers, everyone.

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Words and Music by Pete Seeger (1955)

I am grateful to Pete, whom I have been privileged to meet on his beloved Hudson River, for his unwavering commitment to the Earth, to humanity, to peace and to Justice, to his standing up to Joe McCarthy, and to his vision of what America could be.

How long will the cycle go on? Will we ever learn? Perhaps today, in honour of Pete, we could all vow to do what we can not to keep the cycle of death going. Howver small, we can all do something, in heart, mind, action.

Brian+