FailureToCommunicate
FailureToCommunicate's JournalThe great civil rights act, the ADA, was bipartisan, and signed by GHWBush in 1990...
The gist of the article- originally from Liberaland - is certainly true, but this is kind of a big omission.
"Don't worry about that bug, it has no mouth parts" my father used to say, when there was some
scary looking insect on us. He had always been interested in entomology and knew better, but he was wiser in the ways of fatherly comfort for an alarmed kid. His tactic nearly fell apart, though, one night in Tunisia when three of us awoke with giant cockroaches crawling on us: we kids could clearly see their 'mouth parts' inches from our frightened faces!!
Years later, I tried that on my own kids several times, and they just said "Yeah, right, Dad"
When I was a kid there were horrific crashes like this by our house
regularly at a terrible exit off the Bronx River Parkway. I was first one on the scene in several of those times, held one guys head telling him to hang on till the ambulance came (the engine was next to him in the seat...) He didn't make it, I later learned.
Seat belts helped many times back in the day, WHEN people wore them, but many time not. Air bags are certainly a much better additional margin of protection.
I just sold my old car and got a newer (still used) car with all the current required safety equipment: front AND side curtain air bags, crumple zones, anti-lock brakes, steering overturn dampers, etc.
I thank God we survived driving back in those dark ages in those huge cars with hard dashboards, no seat belts...
Now I thank countless crash victims families for forcing the auto industry to improve cars for everyone, not just those who could afford to buy expensive models.
Safety features or not, PHYSICS is always the same: So please slow the f**k down people!
For a human being who gave so much to his Earth, this is his hymn of
what he wants to give back. Most of us can only raise our voices, and hope to continue down the -sometimes difficult -path he started us on.
Farewell Pete.
You made so many lives better,
cheered the hearts of generations of children.
It was a privilege singing along with you
Grant me, and all of us, the strength and courage to keep on "strugglin on..."
singing a 'Seeger song'
My life goes on in endless song
Above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?
WONDERful encounter dorkzilla. Here are my few brushes with Pete:
All the Seegers -Pete, Peggy, Mike were familiar recordings around our house as I grew up, so when I was fortunate to 'work' along side of Pete at numerous Hudson Clearwater Revival festivals back in the 1970's Pete seemed more like a kindly uncle than a folk superstar. Not sure if any of us really actually 'worked along side of him'. It felt like we were always trotting behind him trying to keep up with his seemingly boundless energy! As we ended late nights of singing in a dining area, Pete would quietly get up and resume sweeping up the place. Early in the mornings, as we were just getting up, there was Pete already picking up litter from the fields. I said good morning Pete, how ya doing, and he'd say: "Oh, strugglin on, strugglin on"
One other time I got the chance to sing FOR Pete at a singer/songwriter weekend event. Pete was very kind to each of us in his critique of our songs, even if you could tell he wasn't too impressed. To me he said "Well, but don't take my opinion as gospel, long ago I told Woody that I didn't think much of his new song "This Land is Your Land"" Pete was always so encouraging of ANYONE to make music and sing your heart out.
Thanks Pete for all the courage you showed, by example, to stand up for progressive causes with grace. And for inspiring generations of kids to feel like they could (should!) get up and sing. That music for humans, like for birds, was in our nature, and we should not just leave it to the professionals and pop stars!
I picture you in heaven rousing a group of harp players to join in one of my favorite songs of yours as you got older: Old Devil Time:
May you ever keep on "strugglin on, strugglin on"
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Gender: MaleHometown: Massachusetts
Member since: Sun Sep 14, 2008, 06:48 PM
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