“They’re rioting in Africa, there’s strife in Iran.
What nature doesn’t do to us, will be done by our fellow man.”
— The Kingston Trio (1959)
Actually, before you jump to the conclusion that Dave Guard, Bob Shane and Nick Reynolds were seers, had latent Nostradamus tendencies as it were, they were doing nothing more than commenting on the politically dysfunctional planet of their day, although as a minuet, in 3/4 time.
Historically, rebellion has always gone down better with music. Imagining the American labor movement without “Which Side Are You On?” is problematic indeed. Or the civil rights movement without “We Shall Overcome” or “This Little Light of Mine.”
That would be like envisioning the Irish Republican Army without “A Nation Once Again.” I recall Father Pat Carley whipping us into such a frenzy with that one at one of his back-in-the-day St. Paddy’s Day parties that we came close to marching on the Post Office.
These days, the chant has taken over as the musical form of choice when it comes to people in the street protesting the status quo. Not that it hasn’t always been a popular construct when it comes to defining grievance. In my day, “Raza Si, Guerra No” reached No. 1 during the Chicano Moratorium along Whittier Boulevard in East L.A.
“Hell no, we won’t go” was an oldie but goodie. As was “Make love, not war!” During more recent street uprisings, “Out! Out!” zoomed to the top of the charts in Cairo, Egypt, as did “Up yours!” in Madison, Wisconsin. I’m of the opinion that screaming with the desire for revenge is about as cathartic as it gets.
So, fellow zealots, if you feel that life in the street has passed you by, have I got a deal for you. This coming Monday, climate-change activist Tim DeChristopher will go on trial in Federal Court down in Salt Lake City on two felony counts for disrupting and derailing the outgoing Bush administration’s plan to sell public mineral rights to private oil and gas developers.
I’m sure you recall the uproar that Tim, as “Bidder 70,” caused at the sale by successfully outbidding others in the room and “acquiring” a number of the available leases. This audacious action on his part prevented industry insiders from having their way with the public lands then on the auction block.
Having refused to plea bargain, DeChristopher has forced a jury trial, which I’m sure the government, at least privately, would just as soon see go away. Although the judge has already ruled on defense motions in such a way as to preclude the trial being overtly about climate change, there is a “peaceful uprising” planned outside the courtroom that will no doubt “rule” otherwise.
Robert Redford, Terry Tempest Williams and other rather conspicuous leaders of the social- and environmental-justice movement have written a letter which issues a call-to-action for solidarity on a march from Pioneer Park to the Federal Courthouse on Monday morning.
It’s a call for those who approve of DeChristopher’s actions to take to the streets on the day of the trial a date they see as pivotal in the climate-change movement. They figure if he could put his personal freedom (up to 10 years) at risk by calling attention to humanity’s folly of continuing down the ecologically self-destructive path it has chosen, then the rest of us with a vested interest in planetary health should show our support.
You gotta love the organization that assorted volunteers put into this planned “peaceful uprising.” They’ve been conducting summit meetings, music rehearsals (Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary will be a song leader during the trial), banner & sign-making workshops, plus gathering on Sunday mornings for coffee and Thursday evenings for “Happy Hours for Hellraisers!”
For those wishing to get buffed-out prior to the march Monday morning, this weekend, February 25-27, will feature summit meetings at Westminster College that will continue Peaceful Uprising’s dominant themes of music, art, workshops and action. And their website, www.peacefuluprising.org , also makes mention of a midnight vigil featuring Peter Yarrow and his daughter Bethany on the night before the march.
Myself, I’m putting on my game face, coppin’ an attitude, and heading on down to Pioneer Park Monday morning. A peaceful uprising is afoot!
Jay Meehan is a culture junkie and an observer, participant, and chronicler of the Park City and Wasatch County social scenes for the past 40 years.