In the 1960s, Bob Dylan wrote a large volume of protest songs that inspired a generation of young people.  Eventually, as a result of the storm of political protests, partially inspired by the music of the day, America pulled out of Vietnam and the war ended. 

            On the documentary ‘No Direction Home’ Bob Dylan’ A Martin Scorsese Picture, there was a moment in time that demonstrated the power of political change enhanced by well written musical lyrics and song. 

            There was a video clip in the documentary that featured Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington in 1963.    Close to the front of the crowd, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez performed their songs for political and social change. 

            I was only eight years old in 1963, and living outside a small town in northern Michigan and was totally unaware of the events of that time period.  But, after reading about those days and watching the documentaries recently, I believe America was headed in the right direction.  We also had powerful leaders that believed in political and social change too.    

            Our country started going off course that year.   With the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy in 1963, I believe Americans lost their momentum in demanding political and social change for awhile.   With the assassination of Robert Kennedy in 1968, I believe the focus was lost even more. 

            As we approach the end the year of 2007 and start into the year of 2008, I challenge all of you who were young men and women that were politically active in those days, to do your part and finish the job that you started.  All the rest of you who were too young to be involved in the 1960s and were born since, I challenge you to become politically active in a big way.  As God as my witness, these times are the most threatening to America than they ever have been before.  If we don’t take swift and decisive action on a number of issues, I feel we may not have much time left as a nation. 

            In 2007 we are at war.  This is a different kind of war, but it is a war nonetheless.   So I challenge all of you, let’s get on with the fight.
 

The Pen is mightier than the sword

Author Unknown 

 

The Guitar could be mightier than the Bomb

Pete Seeger 

(Young Folk Songbook, Copyright 1963 by

The Society for Traditional Music Inc.) 

In the 1950s, Pete Seeger was among a group of Folk Singers painted as communists by ‘the establishment’ simply by singing songs about the plight of the poor and disenfranchised in this country.  As far as I am concerned, Pete Seeger was or is no more a communist than George Washington was.

 

The Music Video is mighter than

Any Clueless Conservative Spin and Paint Job 

George Walker 

            In our quest for political and social change in 2007, one our biggest enemies are division, misdirection, deception, and misinformation.     The Clueless Conservatives will be broadcasting the messages that changing their vision of the status quo is wrong for this country.   

            Before we accept any message, we have to be certain we not only listen to the message, but understand who is communicating that message to us, and what will they gain after they invested the resources they are spending to get us to believe and act upon that message. 

            Today, our political and business leaders are sending us conflicting messages.   They are telling us to stay the course so we fight terrorism with everything we’ve got.  On the other hand, our leaders are saying fighting terrorism is not a priority when they don’t secure our borders.  The terrorists can walk right across the Mexico – US Border and disappear into the United States landscape.   I feel that is a much greater threat than terrorists thousands of miles away. 

            I’m no Bob Dylan by any stretch of the imagination.  But I have written a couple of songs for your enjoyment.   The verse to one from the book is below.  Enjoy

Spin, Spin, Spin

written by George Walker

In the 2004 Presidential Election the Clueless, Closed-Minded, Selectively-Blind Conservative Club used a very effective commercial on John Kerry in his one man surf sailboat.  They flipped him going to the left across the water, then to the right.   The purpose of the video is to educate Americans how the Clueless Closed Minded Selectively Blind Conservative Club uses the media to paint an unfavorable image of their opponents to discredit them and ultimately to defeat them.  They have used it well over the years to win elections. 

Also, I tried to make it funny.  If you can make something funny, it will stick with people for a long time.  It may even sink in. 

On this sampler of my book I included the verses to one of the songs in my book. Here it is.

               

Spin, Spin Spin

 

(Verses) 

The clueless closed-minded conservative club Is at it again 

Painting our war heroes indecisive As the waves and the wind 

If they stood on the issues and their record, they know they can’t win 

So they weave their web of misdirection and deception. Spin, spin, spin. 

 

John and Teresa Heinz Kerry, I salute you. 

On election day I worked the phones. 

I worked the streets for you too. 

But the most important work for you 

I could not do.  It’s time for it now. 

Fellow Americans, let me explain it to you.

 

I give you this, Sometimes presidents must be strong 

Once a decision is made, They must follow it along 

But the commander in chief, also has to be aware. 

The methods are always changing. 

There are wackos out there

 

A leader has to value thoughts of others  

I am sure of this 

Others can have ideas and points of view 

That are better than his

 

He has to know when the winds of change 

Must turn his ship 

If he doesn’t change his course 

His footing may slip

 

When he stays the course 

Ignores the lighthouse light  

And the foghorn, you think? 

His ship will crash, his sails will break

And he will sink

 

My daddy used to tell me when I sat on his knee 

Son, there are times

when You can’t believe anything of what you hear 

And only half of what you see

 

Watch the clueless conservative elephants every move

 There are times he tries to deceive

 There are many ways that breed of elephant will try

 To control what you believe

 

The elephants mission is to keep the status quo

 He doesn’t want the common man to believe 

He has control over the way things go

 

There is also a concept I need you to understand 

Clueless Conservatives try to get you to dismiss a message  

by sliming the character and integrity of a man

 

But fellow Americans I believe and I can say from the heart

We can accomplish anything if we stick together and don’t fall apart

 

Fellow Americans I am calling out to you 

Don’t fall for the spin it can only hurt you

Together let us define the standard

The family sustaining job is what we do

  

When we work together and take control 

We call the shots

 

The clueless conservatives may think  

They have ultimate power but they do not

 

Let us join together in action and pray 

Together we can make this country and this world

 One of peace, prosperity, and a bright new day!

 

Clueless conservatives either let me enlighten you

 or . . . you can, Spin to the left, Spin to the right

 Spin up and down and all around, You spin both day and night 

 

You spin so good, You spin so fine

Why don’t you spin yourself right to that unemployment line!