Saturday, May 02
GREAT BARRINGTON
Happy 90th birthday, Pete Seeger! I have loved this man and his music since I was 14 years old and first heard him playing the banjo at Buck's Rock Work Camp. Once I heard him, I couldn't get enough. I borrowed "The Weavers at Carnegie Hall," "The Weavers on Tour," and every other Pete Seeger record I could find from the library so many times that I think I drove my whole family crazy. I played them over and over again back then and I still play them all over and over again today. I have loaded my iPod with most of Pete's recordings. Our group, The Berkshire Ramblers, plays very little that isn't connected to Pete.
I once sang one of Pete's songs to the campers at the Ocean Beach Youth Group on Fire Island on one of my days off from my job at the Bronx House Camps in nearby Copake, N.Y. The song was "Abiyoyo." Since I didn't know every word, I just changed the whole thing around. As I remember it, in my version we fooled the monster, Abiyoyo, into eating all the toxins out of the Great South Bay by feeding him toilet paper soaked in catsup. So Pete came to Fire Island and one of the campers took him sailing and told him my version.
He loved it and wrote a whole column in Sing Out! Magazine about how I changed the words, citing it as a good example of the "folk process."
Many years later when I really got to know Pete because of our interviews for WAMC, I was up at his mountaintop house
and told him that story. He looked at me with amazement and said, "You're the counselor?" I used to write him letters as a teenager and either he or his remarkable wife, Toshi, would answer them. That kind of personal attention is amazing when you consider all of the fan mail he must have received.
In college, I wrote a major paper on Pete Seeger and the First Amendment. When everyone else was running from the witch hunters who were putting people in jail because of what they said or thought, Pete stood tall and looked them in the eye. They tried to send him to jail but they didn't get away with it.
But it is at WAMC that we owe Pete the most. He has recorded five wonderful conversations with us, talking about his life and time, and he allowed us to use them as premiums during our fund drives. There have been lots of films and books about Pete but the definitive Pete Seeger is to be heard on these recordings. As a direct result of Pete's generosity, an awful lot of money has come in to keep the station going.
When he and his troupe came to Great Barrington to play at the Mahaiwe, they all stayed at our house. We stayed up much of the night talking and the first thing the next morning, we started all over again and talked some more. I was quite concerned because I had read an article in a local magazine that quoted Pete as saying that no one really needed to live in a house with more than two rooms. While our house is hardly close to the biggest in the Berkshires, I was scared that Pete would be put off by its size.
Now Toshi Seeger is one of the best people I have ever met. When I brought them up to their rooms, now dubbed the "Pete Seeger Suite," Toshi looked at Pete and said, "Peter, this is the house I always wanted so that I could invite my relatives to visit." I loved her even more for that.
Of course, everyone has a Pete story. I can't go anywhere without someone telling me how the man has impacted their lives.
Before he passed away, the legendary Harold Leventhal, Pete's manager, told me that he rented Carnegie Hall for that first incredible Weaver's reunion concert because Town Hall wouldn't rent to him. There are fewer than 3,000 seats at Carnegie Hall but about 100,000 people swear that they were at that concert.
Tomorrow at Madison Square Garden, more than 20,000 people will gather to honor Pete, a man who eschews being honored. The tickets were sold out in just a few days. He's only allowing the honor because the money is being raised for the Clearwater organization, that group that has done more than anyone else to clean up the Hudson River.
I'll be there with all my friends who used to go to Carnegie Hall every time Pete played there. On the same stage will be Bruce Springsteen and just about every name in folk music. There won't be a dry eye in the house.
Alan Chartock, a Great Barrington resident, is president and CEO of WAMC Northeast Public Radio and a professor emeritus of communications at SUNY-Albany.
Guantanamera.mp4 15 mb
Guantanamera.mp4 19 mb
We shell overcome 4,55 mb
THE PETITIONPete Seeger has been an ambassador for Peace and Social Justice over the course of his lifetime; he will be 90 years old on May 3, 2009. As a prominent musician his songs, messages and performance style have worked to engage other people, particularly the youth, in causes to end the Vietnam war, ban nuclear weapons, work for international solidarity, and ecological responsibility. It is time that a cultural worker receives the recognition that this work has great influence and global reach, that it is not only a medium of entertainment but of education, compassion and action.
DESIRED OUTCOME
To encourage any nominee with standing, to nominate Pete Seeger. Many nominations are encouraged.
The *Nobel Peace Prize Committee* Nominators Qualifications:
1. Members of national assemblies and governments of states;
2. Members of international courts;
3. University rectors; professors of social sciences, history,
philosophy, law and theology; directors of peace research institutes and foreign policy institutes;
4. Persons who have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize;
5. Board members of organizations who have been awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize;
6. Active and former members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee;
7. Former advisers appointed by the Norwegian Nobel Institute.
WHO WE NEED TO INFLUENCE
Mr. Thorbjørn Jagland
President, Nobel Peace Price Committee
Norwegian Parliament
Henrik Ibsens gate 51
0255 OSLO
Norway
HOW LONG WILL WE CAMPAIGN
As long as Pete Seeger is alive because they do not award the prize posthumously.
WHO TO CONTACT
Eleanor Walden
ewalden3@comcast.net
» Sign this petition
Displaying 1 to 100 of 29057 [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next 100 signatures - (101 to 200) | IOLANTA SERZHANTOVA (IOLY) | Producer of www.DeanReed.ru and the Book about Dean. Dean was singing the "Guantanamera" and "We shell overcome" better than other. | | NAME SUPPLIED | He is a world treasure | | NAME SUPPLIED | I have been moved by Pete Seeger's work my entire life, I was raised on his singing. | | KARON A. PERLOWSKI | Pete touches the soul with his life and his song. | | WILLIAM BARLOW | Thank you, Pete. | | VALERIE LYN FINDLEY | No one is more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize than Pete | | FILIPE PINTO BALDAIA | | | JESSE WOZNIAK | | | NANCY WURST | A truth-teller and a tireless ambassador for Mother Earth and all of her peoples. | | JOHN CAPOZZI | Pete is the man! | | NANCY FRAHM | for all his music has done to promote poeace in the world | | RONALD B HOBSON | A truly great human being | | CHRIS HARMEYER-LOGSDON | None more deserving! | | KEVIN FITZPATRICK | Yes - couldn't agree with this nomination more! | | NAME SUPPLIED | | | HARRIS GRABER | He deserves the Nobel Peace Prize more than anyone else I can think of. | | NAME SUPPLIED | For his courage to sing out and speak out against injustice. | | CARLA L. RUECKERT-MCCARTY | God bless you, Pete Seeger! | | JACK SIEGEL | He continues to fight for freedom equality and the environment; few lives have bettered humanity more. | | VICKIE RUESS | Pete Seeger deserves this recognition for all he's done for the USA and mankind. | | GERALD WEISFELD | No one deserves it more | | JOAN BLEIDORN | PETE'S SONGS BRING A MESSAGE TO PEACE TO THE ENTIRE WORLD. | | STACY MEYER | for all Mr. Seeger has done to spread love and peace | | JEFF BISHOP | Pete Seeger deserves this. | | SUSAN DALY | | | KRAIG HILL | Pete exemplifies the human spirit which makes peace itself so meaningful. | | NICHOLAS S WATERS | I can't think of anyone more deserving | | SANDOR SLOMOVITS | we owe him much! | | MARY SEMEL | Long overdue. | | NAME SUPPLIED | This is the season.... | | NAME SUPPLIED | His songs are timeless! and inspirational. | | JEANETTE BUCKLEW | A peace & music giant deserving of this recognition | | NAME SUPPLIED | A magnificent humblel man | | JOSEPH CAMPBELL | Let's make this happen! | | FRANCES SIEBENGARTNER | Who could possibly be more deserving than this man? | | REES GORDON | | | AMY CASTNER | Pete Seeger is incredible and definitely deserves to be recognized! | | SHARON NELSON-VAUX | | | MARGO HENNEBACH | | | RICHARD H ALCOTT | No artist has worked more tirelessly to joyously popularize the causes of civil and human rights than Pete Seeger. He is a human force of nature for peace and justice. | | STEVEN G NELSON-VAUX | Pete is "ahimsa" personified | | NAME SUPPLIED | | | KAY JOHNSON | world peace through music | | BEVERLY NAGEL ELLIS | Give Pete a chance! | | SUSAN SHAW | He is a hero of these ages, a troubador extraordinaire for Peace and Justice and a safe, green earth. | | MARY GILLMOR-KAHN | Pete Seeger is an inspiration to all who work for peace and justice. | | CHARLES KRYSEL | | | SOPHIA KARWOWSKI | | | JOCELYN LOOMER-KRUGER | A man who has championed peace and the environment in a way that has resonated and helped as Pete Seeger has done, deserves the broadest of world recognition. | | LUISE IRMA PERENNE | Mr.Seeger's music is a strong shield against tyranny. | | PETER J CROWLEY | iIn the 70's I had the pleasure of sailing on the Clearwater photographing a group of school children. | | DON MACDONALD | Pete's promotion of peace and social justice has influenced many generations! | | JAMES ALLEN WRIGHT | | | NAME SUPPLIED | An honor well deserved and long overdue. | | DENNIS KELLOGG | A World Icon for Peace and Justice | | AMY PLYMAT | A historic person having done so much | | MARTHA L. DEWOLF | | | BRENDA MILLER | he deserves this | | NAME SUPPLIED | he totally deserves this honor for all he's done and continues to do in the name of peace in the world | | DAVID A. BUEKER | Yeah Pete! | | ROBIN BOUDREAU PALMER | Pete Seeger stayed at my home several times, when I was a child. He performed with my dad's orchestra, The American Wind Symphony. Pete is an amazing spirit and role model! | | REBECCA T. GARCIA | his humble footsteps have walked the world, his music has been hummed, strummed, whistled and sung throughout the world, and his message of hope, peace, justice, community inspired all. | | JAMES K. GOLTZ | He has been one of the few sane voices in this crazy world. | | ALEX URSULIAK | Mr. Seeger taught me through his music to respect humanity. | | MICHAEL B. KAMIEL | A justly earned award! | | NAME SUPPLIED | You deserve the prize for never giving up ! | | NANCY FALKOW MC BRIDE | An inspiration for many years, I now pass on his music to my kid, GO PETE! | | KATHLEEN WALSH D'ARCY | I met him when he came to sing for Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association really in NYC. He had dedicated his life to human rights and peace. | | SANDRA BONETTO | A great human being who cares about other human beings | | COLETTE BARNETT | Listen to the words of his songs.... | | JOHN MAJESKI | Few human beings have worked longer or harder for peace! | | ANN WORTH | | | REBECCA LENA RICHARDSON | | | BROOKE RICHARDSON | Met Pete and Toshi during summers in Beacon NY and the sloop club | | NAME SUPPLIED | Pete Seeger has made the world a better place through his music and he must be honored for this . | | JAMIE FREY | Pete Seeger's politics should run this country | | JUNE SCHWARZ | Making people think is part of making peace | | ANDREW TREIBER | | | ANDREW AMES | Pete's already won the Pete Peace Prize. This would be gravy. But nice gravy. | | NAME SUPPLIED | sail on, Pete | | BARBARA CARLIN | Great inspiration and well deserving | | MARTI MURRAY | truly a gentle voice for peace | | JEREMY SCHNEIDER | He deserves it. | | LINDA DEE | What a wonderful example of what one person can do. | | MONA STUTES | | | NAME SUPPLIED | A life devoted to peace and integrity deserves the nobel. | | BETTY DAYRON | a wonderful idea | | LARRY HILDES | No one has done for for Peace and Justice over the course of so many decades and with suh personal sacrifice. This is long overdue and would be richly deserved. | | ERICA RAPPORT GRINGLE | He has been an incredible, tireless ambassador for peace. | | SARAH HILL | pete is amazing, he has changed my life, and makes me a better person | | NINA CORWIN | Pete Seeger has been a beacon for peace and courage for as long as I've been alive. | | NAME SUPPLIED | If anyone ever deserved a Nobel Peace Prize, it's Pete! | | PAUL W. MILLER | Pete is an influence on all he or his music touches. | | NIALL CUNNINGHAM | We Shall Overcome | | ELLEN STEHR | Pete Seeger Has Changed The World !!!!!!!!!!!!! | | RENAY DAVIS | Long live Pete in our planetary consciousness. | | MARION LOVETT | Nominate Pete! | | NAME SUPPLIED | I support this valuable prize for a valuable person, Pete Seeger. | | NAME SUPPLIED | Indeed, a nobel peace prize should be given to Pete! | | JAN HILLEGAS | |
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Displaying 1 to 100 of 29057 [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next 100 signatures - (101 to 200) This petition was last signed on Tuesday, May 05, 2009
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