[T]he world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.
- Albert Einstein
Saturday night Erin and I went to see Michael Frantti and Spearhead at McMenamin’s Edgefield Winerty in Troutdale with some friends. Outside of being a great show, the evening was one of those rare reminders of our shared humanity and common interests. It was an opportunity to reflect on the truth that there’s actually far more that unites us than divides us. Humans being what we are, we tend to focus on our differences- the tribalism, the ideological conflicts, the political differences. For at least one evening, everyone there felt as if they were part of the whole, that their presence mattered, and that they were loved and respected. For 19 years, Frantti’s been using his music to spread a very positive message- that we’re all in this together, and that the things that separate and divide us are artificial (and ultimately destructive) constructs. We could use more of that.
So much of our time, energy, and attention these days is directed towards things that set us against one another. I’m keenly aware of this, because much of my writing in this space is devoted to those who work to divide and conquer. You see it on the news, on the Internet, and in our newspaper…becauses division and conflict are what sell. People destroy property and other people to advance their cause; what they’re too blind to see is that violence and bloodshed bring them no closer to the realization of whatever their dream happens to be. We live in a world with too bloodshed and pain, and too little love and compassion. We’ve plenty of blood and tears and far too little tolerance and understanding.
Frantti’s music is about such “Liberal” causes as peace, love, understanding, and coexistence. It’s the sort of thing most of us assumed died when the ’60s left the building, but there are still those who believe they can change the world, and Frantti’s certainly one of them. Here’s a musician who went to Iraq in 2004 during the height of the war and sang on street corners for the people. This simple gesture was an effort to bring at least a little bit of peace, love, and music to beleaguered Iraqis- a gesture as courageous and magnanimous as it was risky.
One of the things I learned during my sojourns overseas, especially in war zones like Croatia and Cyprus, is that people may speak different languages, have difference customs and faith traditions, and have different skin colors, but we have much in common. We all want peace, to love and be loved, the opportunity to provide for and support our families, and to enjoy safety and security in our daily lives. Strip away all of the conflict and strife, and you’ll find that we’re far more alike than we’re different.
If you believe as I do that you’ve made a difference if you positively impact even one person, you’ll understand my admiration for Frantti. The man’s a helluva musician, but more than that he’s a helluva human being. Saturday night, he reminded us that despite what we might see as our differences, we really are in this together. Peace, love, and understanding isn’t some sort of Liberal plot to advance Socialism and a touchy-feely agenda; it’s the recognition that we’re far more alike than we are different.
It’s difficult to possess- much less maintain- much in the way of faith in humanity these days, but for at least one evening we were reminded that there’s still hope for us. Perhaps someday that won’t seem such a radical concept.
