Peace, Love, and Tie Dye concert inspires, raises money for flood victims
A COLUMN By Kathryn Ross
It was a time to smile, sit back, tap your toes and move with the beat Sunday when Grace United Church presented its Peace, Love and Tie Dye Concert to the public
I couldn’t tell you the names of all the musicians and singers who appeared in the 1.5 hour hootenanny, now there’s a word you don’t hear much of these days. Unfortunately the chapel was not as full as it could have been, and I want to tell you, those who weren’t there missed a darn good time. The musicians, and singers, more than a couple of dozen, performed for free, because the whole idea of the concert was to raise funds for flood victims from last month’s Hurricane Debbie devastation in Steuben County. They raised a nice fistful of money from donations and a couple of basket raffles, it was more than $1,400 that will be dropped off at the Greenwood Fire Department to help flood victims.
But for me, and for many in the audience and for many on stage, the whole event led to deeper feelings than just helping out our neighbors, although that was and is important.
It was the music. Songs dragged from the archives of the 1960s, another turbulent time in this country’s history and memories for a lot of people who are in their 60s, 70s and 80s today.
As we embark on the final weeks before the 2024 Presidential Election, it is hard not to draw comparisons – unrest, civil disobedience, hateful rhetoric, innocents losing their lives to violence whether on a battle field thousands of miles away or a college campus. Today however, the slaughter takes place in elementary and high schools, at concerts and in churches or grocery stores and malls and even in the Nation’s Capital.
One song keeps running through my mind. I find myself humming it, and wishing that it would happen and that people would heed the words, understand and do it.
“Love is but a song to sing
Fear’s the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Some may come and some may go
We shall surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moment’s sunlight
Fading in the grass
If you hear the song I sing
You will understand (listen!)
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It’s there at your command
Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another
Right now
Right now
Right now”
Thanks Dave Toot and company for reminding us that “We can overcome,” by getting to the ballot box and casting our vote.
