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Charlie Pillsbury's remarks at the
2002 ELI WHITNEY FOLK FESTIVAL
HAMDEN/NEW HAVEN, CT
SEPTEMBER 14, 2002
GOD, BLESS THE WORLD WE LOVE.
The festival organizers told me that I could not talk "partisan politics"
tonight, so I thought I would talk with you briefly about music, religion
and patriotism, and then ask you to sing with me a new song to a familiar
tune.
How many of you went to see a professional baseball game this summer?
Did you notice anything different about the seventh inning stretch?
I went to three games this summer with my son Andrew: a Ravens game in
New Haven, a Mets game in New York, and a Red Sox game at Fenway. At
each game, in the middle of the seventh inning, you no longer just sing "Take
me out to the Ballgame" anymore; instead of, or in addition to this familiar
song, the ballpark organist plays "God Bless America".
Now, I love this country, and I love God, but I don't believe that God is in
the business of blessing just one nation. Furthermore, the world is so
interdependent that we all would be in big trouble, if God were only to
bless this country, and no place else.
I propose that we reorient the way we think, and then the way we act. I
think that we have to, as the saying goes, "think globally, and act
locally." And what better way to do that at a folk festival than to give a
patriotic hymn new words with a universal message. We are all sisters and
brothers on this planet together; our future as a human family is
inextricably linked to the future of this planet and to the future of all
peoples.
Let's begin here, and let's sing this new universal hymn in our ballparks,
in our homes, on our town greens, and around the world. I tried singing a
modified version in the bleacher seats at Fenway Park last month, and it's
tough doing it by myself. I'm looking for help. Together, let's raise our
voices, off key or on, no matter, and sing these words penned by the Rev.
Barbara Lundblad to the tune of "God Bless America."
GOD, BLESS THE WORLD WE LOVE
(TO THE TUNE OF "GOD BLESS AMERICA")
GOD, BLESS THE WORLD WE LOVE,
STRANGER AND FRIEND,
GO BEFORE US, RESTORE US
WITH A HOPE THAT DESPAIR CANNOT END.
EV'RY PEOPLE, EV'RY NATION,
MIGHTY OCEAN, HEAVEN'S DOME!
GOD, BLESS THE WORLD WE LOVE,
OUR ONLY HOME.
GOD, BLESS THE WORLD YOU LOVE,
OUR ONLY HOME.
NEW WORDS BY THE REV. BARBARA LUNDBLAD,
UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
USED WITH THE AUTHOR'S PERMISSION BY
CHARLIE PILLSBURY, GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS
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