Monday, February 18, 2008
KEEPERS OF THE FLAME
Must have a code that you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good bye.
Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
And you, of tender years,
Can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth,
They seek the truth before they can die.
Teach your parents well,
Their children's hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked, the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
* * *
"Teach Your Children" is a song by Graham Nash from the album Deja Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released in 1970. It quickly became the counterculture anthem of America's youth at that time.
posted by Señor Enrique at 10:45 AM
18 Comments:
-
said... You have chosen a good song for this beautiful picture, Eric. I looked at each of the young faces here ... I pray for them and their future. It makes me feel guilty knowing it may not be as bright as we all hope it would be, what with this entire system of corruption that seems to deeply ingrained in our society.
-
Photo Cache said... they don't write songs the way they used to. yeah i remember listening to this in my youth.
-
said...
The photo of those beautiful children is full of hope and dreams while your poetry is touching.
Would you believe it's 2AM here and I'm up (jet lagging)?
Glad I have your web photos for company.
Paolo-
Unknown said...
Beautiful picture of innocence, Eric. The message of the song is relevant today as it was when it first came out almost 4 decades ago.
-
said...
According to Jun Lozada, he didn't know how to answer his child who asked him: "Papa, if you are telling the truth, and doing what is right - then why do you have to run and hide?"
Parents do need to guide their children. Nevertheless, I believe that children, in many ways, also serve as guiding light to adults. You'll be surprised to know - how in all their innocence, purity and youth - they possess so much wisdom. :)-
nutart said...
a very moving poetry of a song with an apt picture!
Once upon a time, I was so involved with puppetry and children's books and would have so many, many activities which would bring me face to face with Filipino children of all walks of life. My journey took me all over the Philippines from the very rich to the houses near esteros where street children (with the street parents) live. I would tell fairy tale stories to abused children, orphans and the handicapped. And even was often pleasantly surprised that they relish hearing all these pieces of fiction believable for them... that their only sanctuary were their beautiful imaginations.
I thought I was a teacher by profession, but it was those thousand young ones who taught me how it is to live life in all trust and wisdom.-
Señor Enrique said...
Thank you, Bugsy.
What was strange was during the Makati Rally, as I was shooting with Sidney the various scenes of the event, this particular image (taken during the Psaakalye performance in front of the NCCA in Intramuros) permeated my mind.
I wonder, what if these children were also there watching the rally? What thoughts would run in their minds? How would this rally affect the way they shape their visions of their future? What lessons would they learn from us which they could take with them into their respective adulthood? Many more questions kept popping up, but mainly from their perspective.
And if you noticed it, Bugsy, in the previous Makati Rally photo essay I had posted, I hardly included shots of those on the streets and from their office windows who were watching the rallyists marched by. It was because I was inundated by this particular image of this group of children.
The question that is now paramount is this: "Will we teach our children to accept graft and corruption as a Filipino way of life, or instill upon them to remain focused on what is truly good and right despite the prevalent ills that have been "deeply ingrained in our society."-
Señor Enrique said...
This song was one of the soundtracks of my intial years in New York City, Photo Cache.
It was a time when many youths were disillusioned by the merits of America's involvement in the Vietnam war. It was an era mired with myriad student protests and militant dissent. On top of all that, the Watergate scandal came along which eventually led to the resignation of Richard Nixon.-
Señor Enrique said...
Glad you've arrived safely and now decompressing from a lengthy trip, Paolo. Better not drive, yet, until you've fully rested.
By the way, this is not of my own; rather, it was written by Graham Nash. Thought it'd make a perfect soundtrack for the current political climate going on here now.-
Señor Enrique said...
Thank you, Luna.
I am really hopeful that we would rise above the problems we are coping with now, and come up with resolutions so that we would spare our children the same dilemmas.-
Señor Enrique said...
"You'll be surprised to know - how in all their innocence, purity and youth - they possess so much wisdom."
How right you are, Rhoda.
If I may add, we really have to be mindful of what we say and do in their presence because they are quite observant and tend to emulate the adults around them, especially those they look up to.-
Señor Enrique said...
One of my fondest memories back in elementary school, Bernadette, was in fourth grade. Once or twice a week, our teacher Mrs. Ligaya would read us a story such as those from Aesop's Fables, as well as those popular fairy tales like Cinderella, Snow White, and etc.
It was indeed a much anticipated session by everyone in my class; everyone would be mesmerized.
And of course, television was not as popular back then. So, nowadays, what I find dismaying is the popularity of telenovelas amongst our children -- filled with intrigue and betrayal. And on top of these are the stories of graft and corruption in our evening news.
I can only imagine what a tough time our children are having these days.-
Amadeo said...
Eric, since you were a music man, you picked the very popular CSN & Y song that most of us can probably hum to.
That group was a mainstay here in the Bay Area, during the 60's flower power era. And I get that sense even now when I drive through Haight and Ashbury Sts. in SF.
I'm sure you are also aware that while the lyrics are very ennobling, that counterculture milieu was also deep into drugs, and that did not spare this group. Crosby continues to be in the news and thus that part of their career continues to also be dredged up.
Thus, I hope those children featured in your pic do not grow up to be like many children of the flower power people.
In Hollywood, celebrity examples of those childern would be Wynona Ryder and the Phoenix brothers.-
Panaderos said...
I truly hope that those kids grow up to be productive citizens in a very prosperous Philippines. Thus, let the fight for a better tomorrow take place now, on our watch rather than defer the fight to future generations.
Great pic, Eric.-
Señor Enrique said...
I love your thoughts, Panaderos. I will pray that they all come true! That'll definitely make the Philippines a wonderful country as it should be :)
-
Señor Enrique said...
Ah, that was a wonderful era for me, Amadeo, with great music coming out from within America and from across the Atlantic. But as you mentioned, it was a generation mired in drugs and free sex ... hehehe.
Incidentally, Crosby's daughter, if I'm not mistaken, endured drug addiction as well. She was an actress in one of the more popular TV sitcoms during the '70s.
However, I'd like to think that some of these kids of the flower power generation did all right, too :)-
said...
That's a great song by CSN&Y with a great message :)
I love kids.. I really do. In fact this long weekend ( Family Day in Ontario) we "borrowed" a relative's 2 year old boy for a couple of days. He slept on the bed with us - me, my wife and daughter. He was so malikot that he banged heads with me and my daughter all night hahaha :)
I honestly believe that a well loved kid will appreciate life much better when he/she grows up!-
Señor Enrique said...
"I honestly believe that a well loved kid will appreciate life much better when he/she grows up!"
I totally agree with you, BW.
Hmmm... perhaps, it's time to follow your girl with a boy, eh? Lol!
