Laura Nyro - Save the Country

As we watch the extremists and Fascists on the Right continue to spread their emotional plague of hatred, death and destruction throughout America and beyond, many of us have begun to fight back.

But it would help to have a theme song, and a rallying cry to inspire us. Well, Laura Nyro, the New York City gal born in the Bronx with the powerful and spiritual voice, gave us one years ago when she wrote and performed "Save the Country". It's time to start singing this song again and shouting "Save the country now" from the rooftops.

Quotation of the Week of January 22, by Yogi Bhajan

(Yogi Bhajan, who died several years ago, was a Sikh Master from India who came to the US in the 60's to found the 3HO Foundation (http://www.3ho.org/), which became a series of ashrams that have spread across America teaching Yoga and a more spiritual lifestyle. He was a very wise man and an advocate for the Aquarian Age, which, in the bleakness of today's landscape, we tend to forget we are now moving into. There is light at the end of the tunnel.)

*****
What is the one principle that is most absent in the actions and philosophies of the hard Right-wing, the Neocons, the Apostles of war, violence and fear, those who want to dictate to the world at the point of a gun and who seek to divide humanity with hatred?

In a word, love. Progressive forces must fully recognize this, lest we adopt some of their wretched tactics. It is love which gives our cause meaning, and which will sustain us as we work to manifest the brotherhood and sisterhood of humankind.

Yogi Bhajan often spoke eloquently about love. Here is an excerpt from what he said in a lecture in June 1970:

"Man has to live in love - love which is not lust. Love where there is no possession, no slavery of another person. Love which is a giving. Love which is for the sake of love. Love which lasts forever. Love which is a total sacrifice. Love which is more than the grace of God itself. Love which gives a halo around the face of the person. Love through which one can see God in the eyes of the person. Love with which the body shines, the words become sweet, and the communication is absolutely beautiful. That love for which one sacrifices his own life to save a little bit of injury to another person. That love with which one pleasantly and peacefully takes all the pain into his heart to redeem another fellow being. That love can only flow when one knows how to tune into that universal God."

-from Aquarian Times, volume 5, number 6, Nov/Dec 2006, p.28.

So tune in to the heartbeat of the planet, the highest energies of the Cosmos, and the Truth in our souls. Channel the positive force of love into ourselves and out into the world until it becomes a momentous force for transformation.

David Rovics Performing In Norfolk

WHERE: 40th Street Theatre
Norfolk, VA 23508
(757) 423-4084Norfolk VA
WHEN: 7:30 pm Monday nite Nov 13th

WHY: A "Perfect" way for Virginians of all stripes and colors to come together and celebrate a new unity in Virginia with the recent Jim Webb Victory!

"Listen to David Rovics..."
Pete Seeger

"Rovics has his fist tight on the pulse of intervention through music."
Sing Out! Magazine

"David Rovics is the musical version of Democracy Now!"
Amy Goodman, host, Democracy Now!

"David Rovics is a guy George W. Bush would probably like to clamp in chains at Guantanamo Bay -- the last American protest singer (or so it seems)... In these days of ongoing neo-conservatism he carries the torch of dissent and protest -- in fact if the great Phil Ochs were to come back from the dead tonight he'd probably be hailed as the new David Rovics."
Andy Kershaw, BBC Radio 3

"If Alternative Radio had a musical voice, it would be David Rovics. He will tell the people."
David Barsamian, host, Alternative Radio

"David Rovics' music gives life and hope in the struggle for peace and justice. He is an inspiration."
Reverend Roy Bourgeois, founder, SOA Watch

"If the key to building a mass movement is to make it 'irresistible,' David is opening the flood gates."
Medea Benjamin, Founding Director, Global Exchange

"In that Wobbly tradition of sharp social commentary, David is a master."
The Industrial Worker

"Inspiring, and inspired... For anyone despairing of finding the next generation, worry no more!"
AK Press

"David Rovics is the peace poet and troubador for our time."
Cindy Sheehan

"David Rovics is the musical version of PBS — that is, if PBS had more cojones!"
The Lone Star Iconoclast, Crawford, Texas

Come on OUT, have a GREAT TIME, and SUPPORT an indy artist and the local Hampton Roads Indy Media Coalition. Tickets are $15.00 BUT if you buy an advance ticket over the weekend they are $10.00...Buzz...Buzz....Buzz...Mosquito

The Changing Face of Hampton Roads

I remember when it was difficult to get a crowd together for anything progressive in Hampton Roads. This has changed in the last few years thanks to the efforts of a number of Hampton Roads citizens such as Steve and Kim Baggerly and their Catholic Workers, Tom of the Gaia Circle, Tench at the Naro Cinema, Jean and Star of The iMage Project and the World Dreams Peace Bridge, the Emanuels in Va Beach with their monthly salons, Dani Vedros and David Gordon and their Second Saturday Salon, Tom Palumbo, Ann Williams, and George Ibarro of the the Southern Eye, Whit Peace, Alexandra Kedrock and the rest of the folk at Hampt0n Roads Network for Nonviolence, Susan Posey and her annual Fair Trade Festival, J.P and his friends with Food Not Bombs, Alma Kessling and Bev Sell and their work in Five Points, the local farmer markets, the folks at the 40th Street Theatre, Ann Hageman and the Equality VA community....These folks and others have come together to create a thriving prgressive network.

Last year a coalition of over twenty groups formed The Tidewater Peace Alliance. This organization worked with the Naro Cinema and started their work with The Light into Darkness Peace Film Festival last December.

The Unitarian Church hosted a celebration of the United Nations Day of Peace last night. This event was sponsored by The Tidewater Peace Alliance, the Naro Cinema, the Studio for the HEaling Arts, and a long list of local progressive organizations. 150 folks shared a night of inspirational speeches, dance, singing, and interactions with each other. It was definitely a warm community gathering.

This weekend the Green Film Festival continues...Naro will be showing a number of great films including Who Killed the Electric Car. There will also be seminars at the nearby Studio for the Healing Arts.

On Sunday evening i a new, important documentary--raq for Sale:The War Profiteers--will be shown. This is a new documentary and it's a must see for anyone planning to vote on November 7.

On Friday night, The film God and Gays: Bridging the Gap wukk be sgiwb, Nel White (Soulforce) and the producer and Director will be on hand to discuss the film. This is another must see film with the Marshall Neuman amendment on the ballot.

Check it out:

The Green Film Festival schedule of films, showtimes, and events