VoGE and Carla Thomas at the Overton Park Shell

Some things you can’t ignore

I don’t usually respond to hateful words, but I found a bigoted rant in my email that was so blunt and venomous that I decided to dissect the message in order to see what made the writer tick.

I found no surprises. The ravings of the author (printed in red, below) represent typical examples of the same type of prejudice that I grew up with in the south. That’s when I decided to respond to their message point by point, if only to settle the faint ghostly echoes from a southern past hiding away in my own subconscious.

I apologize in advance if I am too long winded in my responses, but truth needs a strong foundation if it is to have any lasting impact. That said, let us begin.

The rant starts off with the statement:
> I AM WHITE!

Well, I am not and, most likely, neither is the author. As Americans, most “whites” are a mixture of races that have been going to bed together for over 500 years, and that’s not counting all the European hanky-panky that went on before that.

> I have been wondering about why Whites are racists,
> and no other race is.

That’s not a true statement. Racial intolerance is at the root of many of the world’s biggest problems and its standard bearers come from many cultures and races. The key is that they are all TAUGHT to hate by their elders. Cultures, like children, learn by example.

> There are African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian
> Americans, Arab Americans, etc. And then there are
> just Ameri- cans.

Actually, your parents and/or grandparents probably affiliated strongly with their country of origin, even if you don’t. They most likely lived in a part of town where others of their culture also resided, especially if they were immigrants.

The fact that you are rootless and a generation removed from any knowledge of your own traditions does not put you in a superior position. It just makes you ignorant.

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I have two sons, both of them fine young men in their late teens. I have many reasons to be proud of them both. They are warriors at heart with strong minds, bodies, and spirits. The blood of their heritage burns brightly in them both. They have excellent minds with scholarship opportunities and grade point averages to prove it. All these things in common, yet, they could not be more different one from the other.

Both of them strong willed with a determination to prove the truth as they know it, but with vastly different ways of expressing it between them. While the younger has always considered the “sage advice” of his wise old father when life requires reflection, his older brother pretty much considers the old man’s words to be universally outdated and irrelevant to this “new world” in which we find ourselves.

Yet, despite all these variances in approach, they are both so much like me in so many ways that it amazes (and frightens) their mother on a frequent basis. I have always considered my children to be unique spirits (in the words of Kahlil Gibran, “Your children come through you, not from you.”), and I have never desired making them over in my own image.  That’s a good thing too, because these two young bucks have had their very own – very strong – personalities since their first breath! I know. I was there.

These images of their childhood come flooding in at me this dawn as I adjust to the new reality that our family has begun with a startling suddenness. Last night, about Midnight, the elder son packed a backpack and left into the night without a word…

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Hello family, friends, and neighbors…

It’s been far too long since I’ve posted here and for that, I apologize. In fairness, I have been very busy… The 1001 details I will spare you, but the good news is that some of my busy-ness involved music… and I’m sharing it with you via online videos and mp3 links!

So let the fun begin. First of all, I’ve been very busy producing videos for myself and others for the last couple of years some of which you can check out via my video production site, AnotherGulliverProduction.com. Currently the lineup includes three VoGE streaming music videos online (in stereo even!):

SISTER MOON MEDICINE SONG (in Stereo)

NIGHT DOG SPIRITS (in Stereo)

CHICKASAW BLUFFS (in Stereo)

That should keep you busy watching for a bit. I have also posted quite a few videos on YouTube, but that’s a topic for another post… Which I will put together very shortly, I promise. Those of you who like to read ahead can go to YouTube and search for VoGE. I hope to see you there!

Memphis’ own daily newspaper, The Commercial Appeal, has always been great about supporting regional artists and now they have expanded that effort into the Internet age. The Talking Stick is one of a group of regional blogs that they are promoting on their website and publishing in the paper itself. This is a wonderful gesture on their part and I appreciate the Commercial Appeal working to be a community resource, not “just a newspaper.”

Regardless of how you found this place, please make yourself at home! In addition to my ruminations, you’ll find links to VoGE music online, and several music videos. I hope you enjoy it here and your comments are always appreciated.

WADO!

Sometimes magic happens… Without planning or forethought, a normal day can transform into something intense and sacred if we just open our hearts to the possibilities. Such a time was recently gifted to me and as luck would have it, a camera was rolling!

I was visiting with some dear friends, one of whom is a sculptor and painter. The ambiance of their home is amazing, like visiting a gallery or museum. As I marveled at the wonderful artwork everywhere about, I also became aware of an amazing number of HUGE quartz crystals in the room. Feeling a warm glow swirling all about me (so strong I could feel it pulsate!), I sat down in the middle of the floor with my Juniper Flute, closed my eyes and began literally inhaling the energies, “charging the flute” with each breath.

The music that soon flowed through me spoke of Sunset time… The period of gathering darkness for all… A time of reliance on a greater light within… It sang a lullaby for sleepy winged spirits… Wistful, whispered promises of rejuvenation before a Dawn sure to come.

As I reviewed the videotape, I was again caught by the magic of the moment and added two additional keyboard tracks. Thus was born the video I share with you now!

SUNSET SONG (8meg file)

Click to view the entire video or

Right Click then choose Save Target As

to download the video to your local hard drive.

I warn you in advance that all the technical elements for a “good video” are missing here. The light was very dim; the camera was casually sat on a table unattended; the room was noisy and I didn’t even use a “good microphone”… But somehow the flaws don’t matter. This is a slice of time, a singular prayerful moment at sunset, crystallized and captured by the technology.

I hope you enjoy the video. It is an honor to share it with you!

AHO!!!