Dueling Liberal Dreams - "Imagine" that "We are the world" | Eastern North Carolina Now

    The experiment in inclusiveness made for some good music, but not so good in actual practice. The English people have spoken and all the pundits are aghast.

    Sometimes songs express the best of wishes and dreams and that is the beauty of music. It allows the flight of fantasy that we humans often use to delude ourselves. As an old folkie, I am no different than anyone else. My favorite songs have always been lyrically based first and then musically based secondly. My favorite group in the late 1950's was The Kingston Trio. Their mix of irreverent humor bookended with some serious subjects was one of the reasons I picked up a guitar and sang Folk Songs.

    I spent many a night at Stone Mountain with a pint of rum and some Coca-Colas singing folk songs on the walk up trail with friends. That later came to be known as a Hootenanny. Later a more polished commercial group popularized the folk era. Peter Paul & Mary were a dedicated group of liberal dreamers and I loved their songs and renditions. I was not too keen on their politics, since I was more of a realist than a dreamer.

    It should not be a surprise that when I got to Vietnam we often sang "Where have all The Flowers Gone" and "Eve of Destruction" while in basecamp. Grunt soldiers are really peaceniks at heart. They have to be, it is the banner of a reality that allows the soldier to hold two opposing thoughts at the same time.

    England just voted to leave the European Union and it has caused a stir in the financial markets as well as the network news shows. Everyone is concerned that the world will come to an end because the people have decided to take back their destiny. It remains to be seen if this is a good or bad thing.

    I felt it appropriate to pay homage to the Liberal mentality with two songs that I have always enjoyed but felt was the Anthem of a misguided judgement of human nature.

    First is the beautiful tune that completely misunderstands the reality of human life.

   

Imagine -1971
    Next is the continuation of the dream that has many talented and dedicated people lost in their dreams.

   

We are the world 1985


    Finally the A$$hole in me could not resist the final installment of this Dueling Dreams posting.

    The World Turned Up-side Down was played in 1781 at Lord Cornwall's surrender at Yorktown when his dreams of conquest were dashed by an upstart nation of Patriots.

   

    World turned upside down -1781

Welcome back to the real world.