Remembering.....

Remembrance Day is always a thoughtful day for me. My maternal grandfather was a veteran from the First World War; and also, both my mother and my father were vets from the Second World War. My father was one of eight brothers, all of whom joined the armed forces, and my mother and her brother, the only ones in her family who were old enough, volunteered; her in the Air Force, and him in the Navy. All came home safe! What a blessing.

I was brought up in a neighbourhood where new houses were built for vets from the Second World War. As a result, most of we kids were similar ages, and all the parents had at least one thing in common! We were taught respect for the sacrifices made by our parents, and especially those who did not return. Unspoken, but present, we were also taught respect for authority, our parents, teachers, police, lawmakers, and the government. Our parents showed us that it was our responsibility to be involved, that our involvement would make a difference in this world.

That leaves to think about some sad news I heard yesterday. One of the many current events discussed when I was young was apartheid in South Africa. All the parents and young people had opinions. Back in the early sixties, when I started becoming aware of the bigger world out there, many of those opinions were coloured by personal prejudices, but there were also more open-minded thinkers. In South Africa at that time many of those who opposed the the laws of the day were banned, or if they left the country and spoke up against apartheid they were refused re-entry to South Africa.

Two of those people are musicians, and they are the ones I am most familiar with: Hugh Masekela, a jazz trumpeter, and Miriam Makeba, a singer, who was lovingly referred to as "Mama Africa". Both left South Africa in the late fifties, and after speaking out during their tours, were refused re-admittance into their own country. They spent over 27 years in exile. During that time they were both active in speaking out against the regime, and participated in the global concerts which cried out against apartheid. They also participated in Paul Simon's African Concert in Zimbabwe. When Nelson Mandella was released from prison in 1990, and it was safe, they both went home to live.

Yesterday, I heard the sad news that Miriam Makeba died after collapsing during a concert in Italy. At 76 years old, she died of a heart attack. It is my opinion that the world lost a bright star, she was not just a singer, but as one of those very special people who non violently resist against oppressive regimes, she is just as much a veteran as the brave soldiers we are honouring today.

God bless all those bright and shining stars who fight and in many cases give their lives so others may live in peace.

Good night,

Phoebe