About Changing The World, More Important, Don't Let It Change You

About Changing The World, More Important, Don’t Let It Change You

“When people all around the world start saying they won’t let the world change them, that’s when the world will change.”

I first wrote this post when I noticed that Pete Seeger had another birthday, it was his 94th and I hoped he would have many more. Alas the years finally caught up with Pete and on the 27th of January 2014 at the venerable age of 94 he passed away. His wisdom brought to me through song has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

In an interview that Bill Moyers has put up on his blog from 1994 Pete talks about what a song, or an effort can do. He tells the story of a 1951 peace demonstration in Times Square around midnight. The president who was passing a Quaker kid who is holding up a sign asks the kid,

“Do you really think you are going to change the world by holding up that sign.” The kid replies, “I suppose not but I’m not going to let it change me.”

Watching this I am reminded another time of the inspiration and hope Pete’s life has been for me. Here’s the link to Bill Moyers site where this clip comes from. Thanks Bill for your thoughtful commentary on so many topics.

There is a very fine post on Pete at this San Francisco blog..

I’ll put a teaspoon of sand in that basket next time I pass by Pete, fare the well.

Here’s an embed vid of a full documentary program on Pete Seeger.