MIA: The Truth

After reading for today’s lecture (a piece on patriotism), I recalled a discovery I made during the 2007 Diversity Conference at Humboldt State University. One of the workshops I attended focused on the use of music in social and political activism; one of the songs we looked at was This Land is My Land, made famous by Woody Guthrie--someone I consider to be a true American patriot. I know others did or do not, I believe patriotism to be based on one's perspective. (I've said for a while that one person's patriot could be another's terrorist.)

Growing up in the southern Midwest, I learned a song that was considered to be very patriotic in elementary school; you might know it—This Land is My Land, made famous by Woody Guthrie. While the original recording of the song by a different artist painted America as a land where are all equally blessed, Woody Guthrie added two stanzas, which are widely unknown that challenged the idea of the United States being a utopia of equality. (All the lyrics are posted below, the stanzas added by Woody are in bold.)

During my reflection, I was thinking that this is only a very small example of how messages of truth are deleted or altered; unfortunately history has been distorted in many ways. I see it my responsibility to educate myself, to pull away the mask of myth.

This Land Is Your Land

This land is your land

This land is my land


From California to the New York island; 


From the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters,

This land was made for you and Me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway, 


I saw above me that endless skyway: 


I saw below me that golden valley: 


This land was made for you and me.

I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps 


To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts; 


And all around me a voice was sounding: 


This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,


And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,


As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting: 


This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking I saw a sign there


And on the sign it said "No Trespassing." 


But on the other side it didn't say nothing, 


That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people, 


By the relief office I seen my people; 


As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking

Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me, 


As I go walking that freedom highway; 


Nobody living can ever make me turn back 


This land was made for you and me.

-Woody Guthrie

A great Woody Guthrie quote:

A folk song is what's wrong and how to fix it or it could be

who's hungry and where their mouth is or

who's out of work and where the job is or

who's broke and where the money is or

who's carrying a gun and where the peace is.

– WG

http://www.woodyguthrie.org/index.htm

In reflecting on Woody's messages, who is a patriotic in my book, got me thinking about the power differentials that exist, it is tragic who some people can have so much while others have so little. Though social workers spend most of their time working directly with the most vulnerable and oppressed people, it is important to identify people in power and power structures within community as a part of community organizing. While power and corruption are often bed fellows, there are times when getting buy-in from people and organizations with power can be appropriate and greatly influential in making successful change. Oftentimes (if not always) power is hand-in-hand with resources, crucial to any change. According to Hardcastle & Powers (2004), the "purpose is not to prove who is on top but to involve as many influential people as possible..." in community organizing. Hardcastle & Powers discusses creative ways to find where power lies within communities; They suggest making a note of family names at well-kept cemeteries, asking the chamber of commerce about long-run family businesses and talking to a local historian (2004). Not only will these activities inform on power within the community, it will also give an opportunity to meet people and get a feel for the community.