Art and Peace
The peace march that took place in Boston and ten other cities Saturday drew a total of 100,000 people. That’s not very many for the whole country but there was music in Boston— The Leftist Marching Band from New Hampshire and The Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society from Cambridge, MA. The slogan for The Leftist Marching Band, God bless them, is—’Our music is better than it sounds.’ There’s hope.
At the drawing class on Saturday I told the ladies about James Carroll. We are all liberal in the class but I sensed a little discomfort. We’re there to study art, of course, not to talk about politics and war but I really wanted to share Carroll’s sense of America’s historical trajectory and especially his analysis of how change really happens when people step up and ask for what they truly desire—peace and prosperity for all. At first, I wondered if I’d overstepped the mark by bringing politics to the class then one of our members asked if Carroll’s talk was depressing. No! No, it wasn’t! We’ve all felt so resigned and hopeless in the face of this government that I think the class was girding for more hopelessness. They were cheered though by President Kennedy’s words about Robert Frost—’When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.’
So we did our drawing again in good cheer, not daunted by events seemingly beyond our control. Growing ourselves as artists matters. Not that we are great artists, some of us will be, some of us won’t, depending on the kind of devotion and risks we’re willing to take and other things too perhaps—but it still matters that we connect with artist within, which is with our spirit and humanity.
I did not make it to the peace march because I went to dinner with my wondrous friend, Kelly, who was in town from Ohio for the weekend. With opportunities to visit infrequent it seemed just as important to nurture a friendship as to attend the march this time. We need to create all the good cheer we can and Kelly and I did our part on Saturday.
I must note here too that absolutely no mention was made of the march in The Boston Globe on Sunday. The media seem interested only in bad news. Part of the paradigm shift that needs to happen, I think, is that we begin to pay real attention to the good. What we focus on grows. So I am deeply happy to learn that The Leftist Marching Band and The Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society were out in force. This is the way forward.
October 30th, 2007 at 4:29 am
Everything we do is a political statement, I think–the choices we make, what we purchase, how we purchase and the like. Putting it into words does seem to make folks uncomfortable at times, although our actions are always right there for all to see.
Must be the month for having lunch with Kelly. We hadn’t seen each other for over a year, and met for lunch a week or so ago. Making contact with dear friends is like coming home.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Dear Cathy,
Thank you for your wonderfully peace-filled words about the Boston Peace Rally. I too noted the total lack of coverage in the Globe, and my reaction was to feel angry, disapointed, excluded. How dare they overlook that event!Then, reading your words I realized that if I give in to such feelings I just add to the same mindset that has angry politicians sending bombers to Iran. The only way to peace is to live peace. And the marching band is a splendid example of that.
Think peace.
Allan
October 31st, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Yes to you both! I, for one, am deciding to be outspoken!
With a little humor, of course. Peace, peace, peace.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I forgot to ask you about the rally, so caught up in the evening. I’m soooo glad you came out, it was just wonderful to be with you.
I had no idea you’d been posting so much this past month, my feed for your site isn’t working properly. I’ll have to spend some time to catch up!! xoxo.