In case you missed the story last month, Dick DeVos (R), if elected will cut the Cool Cities program in Michigan.
As an artist who has been following this project in Grand Rapids, the results promised are starting to appear. These positive first steps is part of the recovery beginning to happen in Michigan.
Dick Devos is terribly misguided to cut a program that is such a very small line item in the budget. And just like his flip flopping on the flag issue, I do not doubt he will try and retract his statement when the numbers begin to appear that this progrma is working.
He must feel the Arts are an easy target just like Gays and Women's reproduction rights.
But should DeVos buy ...er ...be elected governor in November, the Cool Cities funding and future projects that benefit our cities will all go away. (see Free Press Story here)
DeVos' camp has fired the first shot in what could become Michigan's next cultural war.
It is time for all artists and arts lovers to rally in their communities, Dick needs to be stopped at the polls this November.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Friday, July 21, 2006
"You Gotta Love Willie!"
While on an art field trip in 1981, I remember my travel mate Earl (last name forgotten) saying over "a smuggled in the hotel room" drink, "You gotta love Willie!"I had heard of Willie Nelson's music, I had never heard such gushing over a singer before.
It was almost like he was saying that come what may, you must stand by this man.
Later in life, as I would listen to his music and watch his life, I would grow to understand the simple truth of this statement.
Two weeks ago I had the chance to see Willie Nelson live at the Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids.
While I have always enjoyed his music, I have never been able to catch him live.
The setting for this show is an intimate outdoor theatre with plenty of grass.
Speaking of grass.... Willie, famous for his smokin' down on his bio diesel tour bus, was spot on as he ran through a marathon set list. His ability to hold the audience points to the showmanship that has made him an American Icon.
From a far I have admired his life.
As he has stood up to farmers, environmental issues, gays and world peace, the man has woven himself into the very fabric of what it means to be an American.
My only negative comment from the concert was that the one song I most hoped he would play, "Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth" was performed with his son's opening band.
The pace was hurried as he plowed through the three-minute tune. At this pace, the audio board also exhibited some problems keeping up with Willie as his lyrics became twisted or dropped completely. (Audio issues were fixed once Willie took the stage for his own set.)
Some of the key lines from this song include the beautifully articulated, "So I guess it's just
Do unto others before they do it to you. Let's just kill em' all and let God sort em' out
Is this what God wants us to do?"
When this song was release, folks booed him because it was while we were in the first stages of the Iraq war. And while it never was officially released, it still made huge waves as folks burned his records in protest.
Recently, he stood with Gay people as he released two great tune from Brokeback Mountain and then release a special funny song on the iTunes site, Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly (Fond of Each Other).
Responding harshly to the cowboy song a writer posted a comment on Nelson's site that "they were now going to burn all of their Willie Nelson CD's."
A staffer simply replied, "You went out and bought more of Willie's music after burning your entire Nelson collection in protest over the Whatever Happened To Pace on Earth song? We thought you did not have any thing left to burn."
(See, progressives can be funny.)
So for those who have not heard his hard to find "Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth," I am reprinting the lyrics below and then adding a link to a site with a piano version of the tune.
If one is also smart, they will discover how to get this track to their iPod.
In the end, folks like Willie Nelson give me great hope that when one lends their voice to the dialogue, we will shine a light of truth on the wrong being committed in this world.
It might be very Anne Frank of me to say this Hallmark style comment but we can make a difference. Willie, along with so many other voices, has subtly impacted my own world.
Here's the to the hero inside each of us!
Photo Credit: Holly - "Thanks for the great pics!"
LINK: Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth MP3
Lyrics: What Ever Happened to Peace On Earth
by Willie Nelson
There's so many things going on in the world
Babies dying
Mothers crying
How much oil is one human life worth
And what ever happened to peace on earth
We believe everything that they tell us
They're gonna' kill us
So we gotta' kill them first
But I remember a commandment
Thou shall not kill
How much is that soldier's life worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
So I guess it's just
Do unto others before they do it to you
Let's just kill em' all and let God sort em' out
Is this what God wants us to do
(Repeat Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
Now you probably won't hear this on your radio
Probably not on your local TV
But if there's a time, and if you're ever so inclined
You can always hear it from me
How much is one picker's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
But don't confuse caring for weakness
You can't put that label on me
The truth is my weapon of mass protection
And I believe truth sets you free
(Bridge)
And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
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