So, I think it's easy to write about John and Paul, because they were such obvious front men. They were the song writing duo of a generation. They were the voices of the Beatles.
The year John Lennon died, I was about nine years old. My mom and I had talked about the Beatles many times over the years. She was an avid music fan just like me, but felt like she really wasn't old enough to be part of Beatle Mania. Sadly, she gravitated more toward the American Pre-fab four that was created for television--The Monkees. The times we talked about the Beatles, she always said that of the four, George Harrison was her favorite. I think she picked him just to be different, not necessarily because she really understood the merits of such a choice.
I think many people my age remember George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set On You," from the album "Cloud Nine." I owned that album on cassette. My favorite track off that record was "Someplace Else." It was a great album, but not the quintessential George Harrison album.
A great music loving friend of mine, Kat Hodes, reintroduced George Harrison to me about a year and a half ago. We spend a good portion of our days working together talking about our musical passions, and she urged me to listen to "All Things Must Pass," and I trust her taste so much that without hesitation, I pretty much immediately walked down the sidewalk to Best Buy and picked it up.
It's an album that splits open your heart and fills it at the same time. Those are always my favorite. George Harrison had the ability to pour himself, like a fine whiskey, into your soul and give you heartbreaking joy.
Over the last few days, I have been watching Martin Scorsese's "George Harrison: Living in the Material World," and again have been realizing what a great gift Harrison was.
He may have been the "quiet" Beatle, but in the early days of their first recording, he is described as being the first to voice opinions about the direction they were going. Paul McCartney credits Harrison for showing John Lennon that a guitar should have six strings--not just four. And he created one of the finest riffs ever for the song "And I Love Her." (If you're a Beatles fan, you know the one.)
Eric Clapton is arguably one of the greatest guitar players of all time. He was friends with George Harrison. He talks about Harrison strolling the grounds of Friar Park playing his guitar, and of Harrison writing "Hear Comes the Sun" in a matter of moments. There was an innate greatness in him that, perhaps, required a quiet nature. His low key persona never out shined his music.
As the years wore on, and the happy days of the Beatles were drawing to a close, George Harrison had been preparing. Through the years, he was lucky if maybe one or two of his own songs ended up on a Beatles album. John Lennon recognized Harrison's gift when he advocated that "Something" be a single, instead of a B-side like most of the other George songs that were released. Lennon's advocacy was dead on. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to work with a young man with some learning disabilities. He may not have known all of the words to "Something," but there was literally something about the melody and chorus that moved him. It resonated with someone for whom memorizing a list of simple tasks was difficult. He frequently hummed or sang the chorus as he worked.
The trials, tribulations, drug use, and misadventures with the media associated with the Beatles are pretty well documented. These were four young guys who did what most of us can never imagine: they got very famous and very rich--practically overnight--only to discover that this wasn't the destination they were trying to get to. Harrison may have come to that conclusion sooner than his band mates.
In Scorsese's documentary, Harrison talks about walking through a park where a large number of young people had gathered and the atmosphere of "free love" and drugs was all around. People were offering him a plethora of drugs. It occurred to him in that moment that the whole situation was completely messed up. It occurred to him that there had to be something more--a place that one could get to where you could achieve the feeling without the chemistry.
I'm not a religious person. In the words of Bono, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for." George Harrison started searching. I may not embrace what he found, but I respect the idea that he felt like he found it. I always respect anyone who finds a sense of faith and spirituality and is able to make it the foundation of their existence. George Harrison did that.
As he discovered what was true about himself and what he most wanted to be connected to, I think it was easier to look at what was going on around him and say 'hey, you know, I don't think this is for me.' Sadly, finding his own truth was part of the unraveling of the Beatles. He was the "quiet" Beatle, but I want to think that his truth was so bright, it shone a light on the dark truths that existed within the group.
For years, George Harrison had quietly done what he was asked to, even when he was hearing a different song. For years, he had quietly taken a back seat to John and Paul. He had literally been the B-side. At a point, even when you have believed in something that is fundamentally great, sometimes you have to believe in yourself more. You have to find and know yourself.
"All Things Must Pass" was George Harrison's invitation to the world to do just that.
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"--The Beatles (written by George Harrison)
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
October 7, 2011--Stop using sex as a weapon: Women are the mothers of peace
So, a couple of weeks ago I was on my way home from work after what I thought was a crazy, rough day. I'd finished my shift in the evening, and was lucky enough to catch part of Public Radio International's "The World." They often bring to light stories that most of us never hear about, and many of us would never want to hear.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where violence against women runs so rampant that it sometimes seems like it gets mentioned in passing. I know I have written about violence against women and sexual abuse on several occasions, as well as sexual inequality. On a day-to-day basis, there's plenty that happens in my world that reminds me that men and women are not treated equally, and they probably never will be. I don't like it. I know most women feel the same way. But the one thing most of us who find frustration with inequality between men and women in the United States don't always realize is that we are so fortunate. By chance of birth, most of us live in a country where even though things often are not equal, many horrible and violent acts perpetrated against women are viewed as just that--horrible and violent.
"The World's" Lisa Mullins was interviewing a journalist from the Congo about the horrible sexual violence against women directly related to the ongoing conflict in the region. Congolese journalist Chouchou Namegabe spoke to Mullins about the frequency with which rape is used as a means of terrorizing villages. Women are often killed in front of their children. In the most horrific instance that Nabegabe described, a woman and her five children were kidnapped. Everyday, her captors raped her; and everyday they killed one of her children and forced her to eat the flesh.
I was pulling into my driveway when I heard this story being recounted, and it stopped me cold. I work with animals every single day, yet, I could never identify any animal I work with being more base and horrible than these so called "humans." I can't even make sense of such a violent and horrific crime being perpetrated against another human, no matter the perceived "reward."
A woman in Saudi Arabia recently decided to stand up--or sit down as it were, behind the wheel. By law, Saudi women are not allowed to drive cars. They aren't even allowed to ride bicycles. Women are required to have a male guardian with them everywhere they go. One Saudi woman has openly defied the law against driving, and faces a punishment of ten lashes for her "crime."
Can you imagine living someplace where women can't get in a car and drive to the supermarket to buy a gallon of milk? Last fall, I flew to New England and drove all over the place on my own--no husband; no guardian. I appreciated doing it, but not because I knew or cared that there were women elsewhere who don't have that same right.
As recently as two years ago, twelve women were burned on an hourly basis by their husbands. This crime is often perpetrated, either because it is felt that the dowry offered by the woman's family is inadequate, or the man simply wants to be free to remarry. The practice is illegal and if convicted, the crime can result in a life sentence, but only about thirty percent of these burnings are ever reported. Many such burnings are passed off as "accidents."
Domestic violence isn't as uncommon in the West as I wish it was, but my guess is that most of us don't live in fear of our husbands setting us on fire to end a marriage.
In many areas of the world, women are essentially property. If they are "damaged," they bring shame to their families and are turned away to fend for themselves. In Africa, young girls are often forced into marriage and become pregnant far earlier in life than they should. They receive poor nutrition and medical care, and they often have difficult childbirths. Some of these attempts at delivery result in a fistula that prevents the women from being able to control urination--they leak and are humiliated by the problem. Oprah brought this issue to light years ago, and fortunately there is an organization helping these women, but the origin of the problem remains. Girls are not valued. The sooner they are out of the house, the sooner the family is not burdened with caring for them. Imagine being a young woman who has had a horrible delivery, resulting in a horrible medical complication and being turned out into the streets because you are "damaged goods."
In countries such as China and India, female infanticide and abandonment were widely accepted for centuries. It may happen less often now, but the fact that a specific gender has been identified as less worthy of life is unfathomable to me.
In light of all of these horrible stories, it can be difficult to hold out hope for our patriarchal society. With men "in charge" how is it even possible to conceive of a time when women will achieve equality? At every turn there are men all over the world doing everything possible to reinforce how worthless and disposable we are. Violence against us is acceptable and promoted. We are no more than livestock.
There was a time that it wasn't so. There was a time when women had power and their value was never in question. Sadly, we live in a world where this is no longer so.
But, today, a ray of light. Three women were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Tawakkol Karman, Leymah Gbowee and Ellen Johnson Sirlea were awarded the prize today because of their efforts to promote peace, democracy and women's rights in their respective nations.
In their press release regarding the selection of these three women, the Nobel Committee stated the following: "It is the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s hope that the prize to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman will help to bring an end to the suppression of women that still occurs in many countries, and to realise the great potential for democracy and peace that women can represent."
When I heard about the selection of these women on National Public Radio this morning, and the reason behind their selection by the Nobel Committee, I saw hope in a world where the deck seems to be hopelessly be stacked against us.
Women are the mothers of our species. We are the mothers of the future. We cannot wait to be given the power to achieve peace and equality, we must give "birth" to it ourselves.
"Love and Peace"--U2
Unfortunately, we live in a world where violence against women runs so rampant that it sometimes seems like it gets mentioned in passing. I know I have written about violence against women and sexual abuse on several occasions, as well as sexual inequality. On a day-to-day basis, there's plenty that happens in my world that reminds me that men and women are not treated equally, and they probably never will be. I don't like it. I know most women feel the same way. But the one thing most of us who find frustration with inequality between men and women in the United States don't always realize is that we are so fortunate. By chance of birth, most of us live in a country where even though things often are not equal, many horrible and violent acts perpetrated against women are viewed as just that--horrible and violent.
"The World's" Lisa Mullins was interviewing a journalist from the Congo about the horrible sexual violence against women directly related to the ongoing conflict in the region. Congolese journalist Chouchou Namegabe spoke to Mullins about the frequency with which rape is used as a means of terrorizing villages. Women are often killed in front of their children. In the most horrific instance that Nabegabe described, a woman and her five children were kidnapped. Everyday, her captors raped her; and everyday they killed one of her children and forced her to eat the flesh.
I was pulling into my driveway when I heard this story being recounted, and it stopped me cold. I work with animals every single day, yet, I could never identify any animal I work with being more base and horrible than these so called "humans." I can't even make sense of such a violent and horrific crime being perpetrated against another human, no matter the perceived "reward."
A woman in Saudi Arabia recently decided to stand up--or sit down as it were, behind the wheel. By law, Saudi women are not allowed to drive cars. They aren't even allowed to ride bicycles. Women are required to have a male guardian with them everywhere they go. One Saudi woman has openly defied the law against driving, and faces a punishment of ten lashes for her "crime."
Can you imagine living someplace where women can't get in a car and drive to the supermarket to buy a gallon of milk? Last fall, I flew to New England and drove all over the place on my own--no husband; no guardian. I appreciated doing it, but not because I knew or cared that there were women elsewhere who don't have that same right.
As recently as two years ago, twelve women were burned on an hourly basis by their husbands. This crime is often perpetrated, either because it is felt that the dowry offered by the woman's family is inadequate, or the man simply wants to be free to remarry. The practice is illegal and if convicted, the crime can result in a life sentence, but only about thirty percent of these burnings are ever reported. Many such burnings are passed off as "accidents."
Domestic violence isn't as uncommon in the West as I wish it was, but my guess is that most of us don't live in fear of our husbands setting us on fire to end a marriage.
In many areas of the world, women are essentially property. If they are "damaged," they bring shame to their families and are turned away to fend for themselves. In Africa, young girls are often forced into marriage and become pregnant far earlier in life than they should. They receive poor nutrition and medical care, and they often have difficult childbirths. Some of these attempts at delivery result in a fistula that prevents the women from being able to control urination--they leak and are humiliated by the problem. Oprah brought this issue to light years ago, and fortunately there is an organization helping these women, but the origin of the problem remains. Girls are not valued. The sooner they are out of the house, the sooner the family is not burdened with caring for them. Imagine being a young woman who has had a horrible delivery, resulting in a horrible medical complication and being turned out into the streets because you are "damaged goods."
In countries such as China and India, female infanticide and abandonment were widely accepted for centuries. It may happen less often now, but the fact that a specific gender has been identified as less worthy of life is unfathomable to me.
In light of all of these horrible stories, it can be difficult to hold out hope for our patriarchal society. With men "in charge" how is it even possible to conceive of a time when women will achieve equality? At every turn there are men all over the world doing everything possible to reinforce how worthless and disposable we are. Violence against us is acceptable and promoted. We are no more than livestock.
There was a time that it wasn't so. There was a time when women had power and their value was never in question. Sadly, we live in a world where this is no longer so.
But, today, a ray of light. Three women were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Tawakkol Karman, Leymah Gbowee and Ellen Johnson Sirlea were awarded the prize today because of their efforts to promote peace, democracy and women's rights in their respective nations.
In their press release regarding the selection of these three women, the Nobel Committee stated the following: "It is the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s hope that the prize to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman will help to bring an end to the suppression of women that still occurs in many countries, and to realise the great potential for democracy and peace that women can represent."
When I heard about the selection of these women on National Public Radio this morning, and the reason behind their selection by the Nobel Committee, I saw hope in a world where the deck seems to be hopelessly be stacked against us.
Women are the mothers of our species. We are the mothers of the future. We cannot wait to be given the power to achieve peace and equality, we must give "birth" to it ourselves.
"Love and Peace"--U2
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