Same Love

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert. Wonderful song, wonderful film.

As we think, so we become

via Harvest Heart's marvelous Tumblr.

I'm listening, even if the Bishop is not

When my big girl was little, we would watch Sesame Street together. I had never watched it before, so I was almost (almost) as captivated as she was. There are so few places that give us messages of hope and pride, it seems. But in the past week, I have been thinking every day about Lucinda Naylor's calm, brave, love-filled message to us all.
Today, Fresca is accompanying Lucinda Naylor this morning at the Basilica in a manifestation of the power of love over hate. As Lucinda says in this letter to the Star Tribune* her art project of turning the Catholic Bishop's (funded by the Knights of Columbus and an anonymous donor) DVD messages of hate into a work of art that manifests the spirit of love does not come from hate, but from love. She the solidarity and support of many people of faith as well as those of us whose families are targeted by the the Bishop and all the others who try to tell us we are bad or wrong or unworthy.

So, Bishop, listen up!


We need to help our children survive the messages of hate. Too many are succumbing to despair and ending their lives because of hateful acts against them.
This morning, my daughter and I watched this video that Dan and Terry made to kick off their "It Gets Better" project, in response to all the stories of young people taking their own lives, many of them because of the relentless bullying to which they were subjected by their peers. Art can make a difference. Let's spread these messages of strength, love and solidarity, even as we mourn the stunted spirits of those consumed by hatred.
UPDATED TO ADD: here's a handy round-up of some of the more famous folks who've contributed to the "It Gets Better" project, not because their stories are more important, but simply because their fame helps attract attention to the project itself, and is especially likely to appeal to teens who are looking for role models.

*Because it is so beautiful, I'm including Lucinda's letter to the paper:

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Lucinda Naylor on her DVD to ART project

The Star Tribune's Sept. 28 article about my DVD to ART project, "Job on the line over DVD protest," missed the point. I aim to create a hope- and spirit-filled artwork that expresses inclusion out of the archbishop's disheartening, divisive DVDs. The project is not an anger-fueled protest. Instead, it is energized by all the wonderful, loving Catholic people who know the sky won't fall if Minnesota legalizes civil marriage for same-sex couples. It will be a positive expression of this spirit of love and transformation.

This is a personal project. I never capitalized on my title of artist-in-residence at the Basilica to promote this project. I accept my suspension from that role as the unfortunate by-product of taking art down off the wall and into the hubbub of the community.

Many Catholic congregations support this project. DVD to ART has accepted the support of Protestant churches to host collection boxes because their congregations have the freedom to support the project without backlash from the archdiocese. Obviously, Catholic churches do not.

DVD for ART is partnering with ReturnTheDVD.org, which has pledged a financial donation to St. Stephen's Human Services, an outreach program for the homeless, for each DVD that is sent to them.

ReturnTheDVD's website states: "We are a group of Catholics who are concerned about the priorities of the leaders in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis." Their action, distributing 400,000 DVDs on the single subject of same-sex marriage shortly before the upcoming election, reflects misguided priorities and strays from the essential teachings of Christ.

The money and effort expended would be put to better use by focusing on Catholicism's "preferential option for the poor" and the commandment to love thy neighbor.

LUCINDA NAYLOR, MINNEAPOLIS

José Antonio Labordeta, grande.

José Antonio Labordeta died this week after a long struggle with cancer. He leaves a legacy of song, of integrity and love for his homeland, Aragón, and for the people of Spain. The city of Zaragoza has declared three days of mourning. Over 50,000 people lined the streets to pay their respects as his body lay in state in the Aljafería. From everywhere come expressions of love and sadness for this honorable man.





Polvo, niebla, viento y sol
Donde hay agua una huerta
Al norte los Pirineos
La tierra es Aragón

Al norte los Pirineos,
al sur la sierra callada
Pasa el Ebro por el centro
Con su soledad a la espalda

Dicen que hay tierras al este
Donde se trabaja y pagan
Y al oeste el Moncayo
Como un Dios que ya no ampara

Desde tiempos a esta parte
Vamos camino de nada
Vamos a ver como el Ebro
Con su soledad se marcha

Con él, van en compaña
Las gentes de estas vaguadas
Los valles de esta sierra
Las huertas arruinadas

Polvo, niebla, viento y sol
Y donde hay agua una huerta
Al norte los Pirineos
La tierra es Aragón

This song is "Albada," in the tradition of songs sung at dawn as people went out to the fields to work.


Here he is, acting as "pregonero," officially opening the Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza, evoking with love the thousands of years of history of his beloved Aragón and its capital Zaragoza (text here)





And the song that many consider the song of Aragón, Canto a la libertad




Letra:

Habrá un día en que todos
al levantar la vista
veremos una tierra
que ponga LIBERTAD

Hermano, aquí mi mano
será tuya en mi frente
y tu gesto de siempre
caerá sin levantar
huracanes de miedo
ante la LIBERTAD

Haremos el camino
en un mismo trazado
uniendo nuestros hombros
para así levantar
a aquellos que cayeron
gritando LIBERTAD

Habrá un día en que todos
al levantar la vista
veremos una tierra
que ponga LIBERTAD

Sonarán las campanas
desde los campanarios
y los campos desiertos
volverán a granar
unas espigas altas
dispuestas para el pan

Para un pan que en los siglos
nunca fue repartido
entre todos aquellos
que hicieron lo posible
por empujar la historia
hacia la LIBERTAD.

Habrá un día en que todos
al levantar la vista
veremos una tierra
que ponga LIBERTAD

También será posible
que esa hermosa mañana
ni tú, ni yo, ni el otro
la lleguemos a ver,
pero habrá que empujarla
para que pueda ser.
Que sea como un viento
que arranque los matojos
surgiendo la verdad
y limpie los caminos
de siglos de destrozos
contra la LIBERTAD.

Habrá un día en que todos
al levantar la vista
veremos una tierra
que ponga LIBERTAD.

Lena Horne 1917-2010

I knew Lena Horne on TV in the 60s and 70s from her TV performances on Bill Cosby and variety shows. But it wasn't until a friend gave me a CD of from the early years of her career that I truly appreciated her amazing talent. It is one of my very favorite recordings, one I sang along to in the car countless times, trying in vain to emulate the wonderful timing, the subtle nuances of her interpretations, the ease and suppleness of that amazing voice. A singer's singer: impeccable on every level. The early voice was like "honey and bourbon" according to one critic. She was the first black woman in films to be portrayed as glamorous. Yet she also knew that many of her films were shot so that her scenes could be cut out when they were screened in the South. She was blacklisted during the McCarthy era, and for years her public persona was withdrawn and "icy". Yet when you see her interviewed in later years, her sweetness and peace are evident.

I absolutely adore her rendition of "Where or When,"

Here she performs a Kris Kristofferson song in 1973.

Here's a great interview with Lena Horne on the Rosie O'Donnell show when she was 80:


I had never seen this until today. My tears are flowing. Lena Horne navigated a complicated and often lonely path in her career through the racism of our society, and was a fierce advocate of the dignity and rights of all people.



The Auteurs blog has an excellent link-heavy appreciation of Lena Horne's film career.

"Freak the Vogue!"-Pony and Dashaun teach basis of vogue to the fabulous Beat Freaks

Pony and Dashuan, two of the stars of Vogue Evolution (the crew I first saw on ABDC) teach The Beat Freaks how to vogue.

PART 1 OF Pony and Daschaun of VOGUE EVOLUTION teaching LindseyB, Rino, Maryss From Paris, and Keeley "LockN' Key" of the BEAT FREAKS how to VOGUE. Part 1 includes: Catwalk & Duckwalk.

FREAK THE VOGUE 1 from Beat Freaks on Vimeo.

Part 2 of Pony and Daschaun of VOGUE EVOLUTION teaching LindseyB, Rino, Maryss From Paris, and Keeley "LockN' Key" of the BEAT FREAKS how to VOGUE. Part 2 includes: Dip & Hands

FREAK THE VOGUE 2 from Beat Freaks on Vimeo.

I have so much respect and love for these dancers! Here they talk about the knowledge behind the moves. There is a lot in common for these dancers who are keeping dance practices alive and innovating with them at the same time: take the moves and make them your own!

FREAK THE VOGUE: THE KNOWLEDGE from Beat Freaks on Vimeo.

Mary Travers, my first love

Mary Travers' voice and spirit nourished me as a child. Oh, how I loved her then! Her voice singing "The Sparrow" enchanted me:


"The Rising of the Moon"

"The First Time" by Euan McColl

They sang with Martin Luther King, Jr, and against the Viet Nam War in 1971:

And they could be funny, too!