September 30, 2009 at 6:26 am · Filed under Gangs, Memory, Mobs, Religious, Violence
Teen beaten to death in Roseland mob fight
I am still very upset about this and will be for some time. This headline at least gets it right in that it was a “mob fight” of young people after school. I watched the videos posted and see behaviors that are all too common in society. In Chicago, we have lost far too many young people to violence… This act of violence was just a few (2.77) miles from where I live…As a teenager in the mid 60’s, I often took the bus to Fenger High School for Drivers Education and to nearby Pullman Pool for Lifesaving and Water Safety Classes. It is still known an excellent school and draws quality teachers. Nearby CPS schools are Morgan Park and Julian and assorted Parochial Schools.
This tragic death reminds me of the death of a classmate from similar circumstances… could have been 1965 or 66 and from memory, I can’t remember the young man’s name? I do remember going to his wake and thinking about how very sad it was. Even though I do not remember his name, I do remember the ring he had on his hand. Strange that I remember someone’s comment that they were going to bury him with it since the undertaker could not get it off. Maybe one of my peers from Morgan Park remembers his name?
I also heard today that some cheerleaders were censored because they used Bible verses on banners at football games. One said, “Do onto others as you would have them do unto you…” We need to teach this our youth and model it ourselves… Using random Bible verses/quotes is not “establishing a state religion.” People need to start paying attention to what the Constitution says instead of what people tell them it says.
Maybe there would be less violence and less death if people started following the Golden Rule… Treat me like you would like to be treated by me…
Teach children when they are young to respect each other, elders, property, etc… Teach them about antecedents and consequences early and often…
That’s what’s on my mind right now…
September 17, 2009 at 10:13 pm · Filed under Memorial, Memory, Music, Remember, fog poems and tagged: Mary Travers, Paul and Mary, Peter
Remembering Mary Travers
I was saddened today to learn of the passing of Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, Their music has been a large part of my life. My very first guitar songs were Peter Paul and Mary songs. I played “Puff the Magic Dragon” for school children and then for my own child over the years… I played “Blowin in the Wind” as I was asking the same questions as most of my peer group in the late 60s and early 70s. I sang “If I had a Hammer” and Where have all the flowers gone around campfires. Tonoght I am reminded of the music from the album “No Easy Road to Freedom” and ”Light one Candle”…. I am fortunate that I was able to see them in concert a few times and cherish those memories… The songs are still here and the music has been recorded for the ages electronically and on our hearts.
If you click on the pictures below, one will take you to Peter Paul and Mary offical website with more details about Mary. The album cover will take you to a list of their albums and lyrics.
My first Peter Paul and Mary Album
My friend wrote a poem about Mary today…
Farewell to an Angel’s Voice
pipe dream
smokey dilemma,
be by my side,
from my autumn to may
i will feel for you through the hazy
feeling,
you send me reeling
as i puff the magic dragon
and the fire burns within,
a knight in rusty armor
with a plastic sword
ageless wonder on a battlefield of years gone by
the
pipe dream
swells, the rings counted
be by my side
i will tender my resignation
with complacency
and drift with you towards a forest
where the creature welcomes us,
extends soft talons of understanding
as i sever the endeavor
and rise towards a welcoming sky
dissipation of occupation
an earthen wonder returns
pierced forever through the heart of you,
another flower gone.
erin-cilberto
9/17/o9
September 11, 2009 at 12:35 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
September 11, 2009 at 9:17 am · Filed under 911, History, Memorial, Memory, Remember, Terrorism
September 8, 2009 at 10:25 am · Filed under Education & Learning, History, Holidays, Music

School days, school days
Dear old Golden Rule days
‘Reading and ‘riting and ‘rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hick’ry stick
You were my queen in calico
I was your bashful, barefoot beau
You wrote on my slate, “I Love You So”
When we were a couple o’ kids
Written in 1907 by Will Cobb and Gus Edwards.