What's Going On?

What’s Going On?

Does anyone remember Marvin Gaye’s Grammy winning album? I bought the CD several years ago, and someone stole it in computer class, so I bought it again. It is, by far, one of the best CD’s ever recorded, and although an old one, very timely. I’ll include the lyrics from the title song at the end of the article, but the whole CD is beyond anything words could describe, and it made him an Icon, emphatically with a capital “I” -- creative, can-do, thinking out of the box.

At the Barack Obama rally where I volunteered, there was a section cordoned off for the VIP’s, which would have been necessary. Public officials do need some protection, and ex- Congressman/Mayor Dellums made sure there was plenty of police protection for those officials. There was never a moment’s rest during the day, and although I wasn’t on the Security Detail

(that job has been reserved for husky big guys), it was everyone’s job to keep an eye out.

The public officials stood out, because they were the only ones in this special area dressed in suit and tie (the men), and the females were all nicely appareled as well), probably overdressed. But, there was one person who stuck out, with his U.C. Berkeley yellow sweatshirt and jeans. He was very tall, young, blonde, very attractive, and had I been 20 years younger… hmmm, but he was a youngster.

I walked over to him, and said,

“This is the VIP section.”

He said, “I know that,” as he looked around, assessing the area, probably deciding where the best place would be to position himself.

I said, “You’re not supposed to be here. Just how did you get past the barriers, police, and guards, anyway?”

He said, “I wanted to.” and he stared at me very defiantly.

That did it! I just laughed, and said, “Right on, Brother. Have a good time. But I never saw you. I know NOTHING!” With that he went off.

To be frank, had it been anyone else, other than a U.C. Berkeley student, I would have called the guards to have him removed. But with Berkeley students? They are going to FIND a way to do what they want to do, when they want to do it and how they want to do it, and I just admire that so much, I didn’t have the heart to have that kid thrown out. He had succeeded in doing what no one else had done. Creative, can-do.

There is a lesson to learn from that young man. Rules are not always good things and sometimes rules are meant to be broken. Rules -- for example -- that tell us to fight a war in a broken down country, when Osama bin Forgotten runs free, 6’5”, supposedly on dialysis and can’t be found, after nearly six years -- what’s wrong with that picture? ANSWERS>I going to have an audience with some U.C. Berkeley students and ask them about their opinions on Iraq, this country, what to do, directions, and so on and so on and so on and so on. Where the older generation seems to be stalemated and immobilized, I am certain the leaders of tomorrow have innovative, creative, can-do ideas that would make for a brighter…today.

Click here for the album lyrics

Below are the title song lyrics:

*What’s Going On, by Marvin Gaye

Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some loving here today

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some loving here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
What's going on, what's going on
What's going on, what's going on

Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
But who are they to judge us
Simply 'cos our hair is long
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some loving here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
What's going on, what's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on

*Copyright Motown, Marvin Gaye, All Rights Reserved