...it was always burnin' since the world's been turnin'...
and this past weekend only confirmed those lyrics for me. I went on one of the most depressing-in-an-inspiring-way weekend trip to the Normandy region. More specifically, to Caen - to visit the WWII memorial, to Omaha Beach - and the American cemetery, and Point du Hoc -the German forces' base. It was overwhelming, to say the least. At the memorial museum in Caen we watched a couple of films that included footage from the battles, but nothing compares to actually going to the beaches and seeing what the Allied troops were facing. Omaha beach, for example, is HUGE...much more so than I was expecting. There's also all sorts of marshy vegetation to fight through...and a very large hill. and of course, the troops were also dealing with the enemy fire raining down on them...it's no wonder that the cemetery is as large as it is. It's a sight that will take your breath away...crosses and Stars of David stretching on for what seems like forever in perfect rows...
It was an emotional weekend for me. I always remember the Albert Einstein quote whenever I think of war..."One definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result every time." I have to wonder when humankind will find the new approach, rather than trying that same thing over and over.
Being the broadway baby/music aficionado that I am, music marked a lot of this weekend for me, too. I had Billy Joel's "We didnt start the fire" going through my head as we were watching one of the films at the Caen museum that showed image after image and footage of so many of the wars and armed conflicts that have happened in the past century. It was...bouleversant (moving, distressing), to say the least. but then...a new song started to play in my head while I was at the cemetery. A song most people don't know, because it's 8 years old and part of an obscure musical created by an international theatre troupe that doesn't exist anymore. It's called A Song of Peace from A Common Beat, created and performed by Up With People. UWP came to Ontario when I was in 7th grade. I have the soundtrack memorized...and on my iPod.
Can we sing a song of peace in a world that's full of fear? Can a melody of hope ever hope to dry a tear? It's an easy thing to say and it's so hard to hear...will the fighting ever cease if we sing a song of peace? Can we sing a song of love when we're hostages of hate? Will it be heard above the shouting at the gate? Can we stop the sands of time if we hold a hand of faith? In this world of push and shove can we sing a song of love?
Clouds are gathering on the horizon and on the winds...overtures of war. It may be too late to settle for peace if we wait till they settle the score
Can we sing a song of peace when they're knocking down our doors? Can you hold an olive branch, hang on to what is yours till the weapons that destroy go to join the dinosaurs? Will there still be hope at least if we sing a song of peace?
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6 comments:
Hard for me to imagine Normandy, two of my uncles served in Europe. I remember the UWP performance. I am listening to the Boston Pops version on You Tube. Be cool if more people listened and tool it to heart.
Rascal
i can't even imagine how amazing seeing all that would have been.
you're right too, billy joel fits the scene . .
and i saw up with people when they came too (and consequently have the sound track on my ipod :)
I went there too. It's very moving. I didn't know that much about D-Day when I went, but I was awed and saddened by the events that took place there. I have way too many pictures too - I'm finally starting to get my Paris pictures on CDs! I have to - my computer's getting way too slow!
We Didn't Start The Fire has been running through my head for a week now.
Rascal
Eight years ago I spent a large portion of my Up with People tour in Ontario. I am glad to see that the music touched others as much as it impacted everyone in our cast. Up with People is back and touring again spreading the same message.
I toured with Up With People's Cast D 1984 and we had "Song of Peace" in our show. I was a trumpet player in the band and that was one of the songs that always gave me the chills. One weekend a year since I was 12, I had been playing the “Last Post” from the tower at the town hall from my hometown on Saturday evening and the next Sunday morning on the remains of the fortress that in 1914 was supposed to defend Antwerp from the Germans in World War I. Too many young boys died a meaningless death there and in order not to forget the madness of (any) war this battle is commemorated. Somehow I think I always connected this experience to “Song of Peace” when I was playing.
But Up with people keeps working to build bridges of mutual understanding forging an Alliance of Civilisations! Go and take a look on their website : http://www.upwithpeople.org
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