MAY YOU STAY

I have almost given up on Face Book. With nearly 100 friends it became a burden so I canceled myself. I had my fill of strangers and their ideas on what I should buy or believe. Months later I opened a new FB account but under a different name. I have 4 friends now and it feels better. In the meantime I’ve increased my YouTube habit. I still have to wade through some advertising but I can mute the sound. Still they track your habits to anticipate your appetite, recommending one video or another; somebody has to profit after all. Looking at the previews I am informed again, what I’ve viewed in the past; lots of airplanes, camping, World War 2, boats, rock climbing, movies and music; tons of music. 

It can be ironic, humorous, even cathartic, the suggested still frames and titles that pop up next to each other. Last night I scrolled down, looking for something interesting. Lots of spam there too but you can spot them by photo shopped pictures and tabloid titles. Two different offerings appeared together, next to each other. The photographs were unmistakable but the proximity and the pairing seemed to me just too much. On the right was a 70 year John Wayne being interviewed by Barbara Walters while on the left was a 90 year Pete Seeger, with children; singing “Forever Young.” 

If you push past the Duke’s movies and Seeger’s songs, they were icons of political upheaval during the mid 1950’s, the McCarthy era, fear of Communists in high places. In Hollywood, the Duke was deeply involved with rooting out film industry people who had socialist connections. Senate hearings were held to question and identify not only communists but anybody who sympathized with them. Pete Seeger was one of those called to testify. He, like many others, refused to cooperate with Senator McCarthy, would not name names, wouldn’t comment on any of his personal beliefs. He lectured them on the 1st amendment but he along with others was convicted of contempt and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The conviction was soon overturned but those entertainers were blackballed from working in the entertainment industry for many years. In the end, standing up against a draconian, heavy handed inquisition was more virtuous than his sins were damning. McCarthy came out the villain and clearly, patriotic zeal had been over sold. 

Half a century later, with both men dead in the ground, they are remembered as much for their ideals as their careers. Wayne, the rough, tough patriot with his swagger and his fists is counter balanced by Seeger, the soft spoken progressive with his banjo and a song. Of all John Wayne’s movies only one stands out to me, a WW2 flick with great supporting cast, “In Harm’s Way”. On the other hand, I can’t think of a Pete Seeger song that I don’t identify with. The Duke appeals to hard shelled, steely old patriots while Seeger’s music draws children like flies. If I have to choose between the two, experience tells me kids may not keep score so well but they read the heart.  “. . . may you always do for others and let others do for you: may your heart always be joyful, may your song always be sung; and may you stay, forever young.”