A Veterans Day "Stand by me" salute
- Thomas Tittmann
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
I drafted this post as a response to a Veterans Day email I received this morning from Senator Siela Bynoe - my NYS 6th District representative. My initial thoughts were:
"How about we stop making veterans - abled and disabled - by teaching peace instead of war...beginning with our children. Because women have the honor of bringing new lives into our world, women need to lead the charge to reverse the age-old "solution" of WAR as a primary means for resolving conflicts.
Let's champion the role of music in bringing people together...
The first two sections highlight the role music can play in helping people appreciate different cultures. The final section provides a look at the important work of the people who are part of Veterans for Peace.
I encourage you to watch at least the opening 6 minutes of the Playing for Change documentary, as founder Mark Johnson talks about how he was inspired by Roger Ridley - a street musician he passed while walking in downtown Santa Monica, CA. He does this by featuring guitarist Roger Ridley performing Ben E. King's 1961 classic "Stand by Me."
For those in a hurry, here's another of PFC's online versions:
"Peace Through Music" Playing for Change
For years, as a member, I've supported PFC's efforts at uniting our world through music. Because of their worldwide success, they've been able to build schools in under-served parts of our shared globe so children can receive the benefits of education in the arts. For this and more, click on their website link below.
Playing for Change - In Northern Ireland
In 1998 after a tragic terrorist car bomb killed and injured people, a local man brought together young people from both sides and formed a choir to help begin the healing work...
To hear their story refer to the Peace Through Music Documentary (24:00 to 29:45)
Mideast: Arab-Jewish Orchestra
To hear their story refer to the Peace Through Music Documentary (45:50 to to 52:19)
Tibet/India Border Refugees
To hear their story refer to the Peace Through Music Documentary (56:54 to 101:55)
Peace Through Music Act/Global Music Diplomacy Initiative
The Initiative was launched to enact the bipartisan Promoting Peace, Education, and Cultural Exchange (PEACE) Through Music Diplomacy Act, sponsored by Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Ted Deutch (D-FL) in the House of Representatives.[12][13][14] A companion bill was introduced by Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) in the Senate.[15][16] It passed Congress and was signed into law by President Joe Biden as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 in December 2022.[17][18][19]
The Initiative came amid calls from senior diplomats (such as Tara Sonenshine) and think tank researchers (such as from the Atlantic Council) for the U.S. government to strategically strengthen its music diplomacy efforts, including through the implementation of new programs replicating the Cold War-era Jazz Ambassador initiative.[20][9]
[From the video's text] The universal language of music has the power to transcend borders, ignite understanding, and foster peace. We're humbled to announce a new partnership between @YouTube and the U.S. State Department that aims to harness this power for good. Together, we're reviving the spirit of cultural exchange through the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative.
Black & White & Blues...Muddy Waters
"Hoochie Coochie Man" was Waters' 10th hit and best-selling single ever. It clung near the top of the R&B charts for 13 weeks. But that didn't mean Muddy Waters made a lot of money, says Marshall Chess, whose father and uncle ran Chess Records, Waters' label.
"There were not many radio stations that played black music," Chess says. "White radio was very racist at the time.
There was not distribution everywhere in black neighborhoods of the big cities. There weren't many record shops. People bought their music at barber shops — sort of general store, package stores where they sold milk, beer, cigarettes and records."
Veterans For Peace
Arlington Memorial Displays
'Arlington Memorial' displays are an ongoing project of Veterans for Peace.
Arlington West began in Santa Barbara, CA when VFP members began every week setting up crosses for each of the US military killed in the Iraq war. Their purpose is t o remember the fallen and wounded, to provide a place to grieve, to acknowledge the human cost of war, to encourage dialogue among people with varied points of view and to educate the public about the needs of those returning from war. Arlington displays are now regularly created by VFP chapters across the country.
Note the irony of the "LIFEGUARD" vehicle in this next image.
Huntington Beach, CA
Santa Monica Beach, CA
Closing Meditation
#VeteransDay #music #peace #PlayingForChange #MarkJohnson #RogerRidley #BenEKing #PeaceThroughMusicAct #GlobalMusicDiplomacyInitiative #AntonyBlinken #JazzAmbassadorInitiative #MuddyWaters #ChessRecords #VeteransForPeace #ArlingtonMemorials #BobDylan
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