Pete Seeger is nothing short of a legend in folk music circles, and it was amazing to see him perform today at the "We Are One" concert, alongside one of my other favorite artists, Garth Brooks.
For those of you unfamiliar with the incredible resume Seeger has amassed over his expansive career, he has spent over 60 years advocating on the local and national stage for labor rights, the environment, civil rights, and many other progressive causes.
A prime example of one of his protest songs:
For those of you who remember Garth's continued support for Progressive causes and the GLBT community - he performed a wonderful rendition of "We Shall Be Free" at the concert today. In my opinion, no song better captures the hopes and desires of the Progressive Movement than those articulated in that fine country tune.
I highly encourage you to watch and record the "We Are One" concert, especially Seeger's performance at the end of the show. Nothing that I have seen since election night better captures what we all fought for during the campaign.
Remember, though - this fight to take back America has only just begun. Here in Washington and throughout the country we're still on our post-election honeymoon, celebrating. But there is so much work yet to do. Celebrate now, but on January 21st, it's time to roll up our sleeves again and not only make sure the Republicans are held accountable, but to make sure President Obama and the Democratic Congress follow through on the promises they have made.
Whenever you feel tired or fed up with activism and staying involved in your government, just think of Pete Seeger. He never conceded to great odds that he faced in his various battles, and always spoke truth to power. He has dedicated his life to change, and is relying on us to carry on the legacy his generation has left us. May we all have such tenacity.