tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12467883.post7623454334341447404..comments2024-01-02T02:34:03.618-08:00Comments on Carrie's Bar & Grill: Police Brutality Toward The Occupy Movement Picks Up Speed On University CampusesCarriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16804061199499531440noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12467883.post-42251752048963795752011-11-21T21:53:28.792-08:002011-11-21T21:53:28.792-08:00"This third verse was written by the poet Dor..."This third verse was written by the poet Doris Plenn, in the 1950’s, when her friends were imprisoned during the McCarthy era. At this time in American history, citizens lost their jobs, their friends, even their freedom, for being communists, communist sympathizers, or for simply being accused of being such. Cartoonists like Walt Kelly, entertainers like Zero Mostel, pastors like the Methodist Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam and Boston Community Church’s Don Lothrop, and yes, this poet Doris Plenn, stood up publicly against this persecution of friends and strangers.[1]<br /><br /> <br /><br />Whatever you may think of communism as political ideology, historians look back on the McCarthy era as a time when we fell far short of our nation’s promise. This country, founded as a haven for those seeking religious and political liberty, lost sight of that purpose in a time of fear. We became the thing we hated, a land where people could be persecuted for their political beliefs. That is a history worth remembering because at any time we could find ourselves living it again. When that day comes, or if it has come already today, let us pray that we have the saints and poets to raise a protest song.<br /><br /> <br /><br />So what gave a poet like Doris Plenn the courage to stand against the imprisonment of artists and thinkers? Raised in North Carolina, the poet had learned this song from her Quaker grandmother, who told her: “Honey, this is my favorite song, and I want you to always remember it. It was made up years ago when people like us were being thrown in jail for their beliefs." For people who are persecuted for their religious beliefs or for their political beliefs, Doris Plenn added this verse, because she could not keep from singing."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.firstconge.org/sermons/121607%20How%20Can%20I%20Keep%20from%20Singing%20%28LD%29.htm" rel="nofollow">Doris Plenn</a>Carriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16804061199499531440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12467883.post-25041143713242635742011-11-21T19:25:59.820-08:002011-11-21T19:25:59.820-08:00"When tyrants tremble, sick with fear,
And h..."When tyrants tremble, sick with fear,<br /> And hear their death-knell ringing<br /> When friends rejoice both far and near,<br /> How can I keep from singing?<br /> In prison cell and dungeon vile,<br /> Our thoughts to them go winging<br /> When friends by shame are undefiled,<br /> How can I keep from singing?"<br />--- Doris PlennArnonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12467883.post-85716913316351215752011-11-20T17:21:51.799-08:002011-11-20T17:21:51.799-08:00For those handful of Democratic politicians (&...For those handful of Democratic politicians (& Bernie Sanders) who vote like real Democrats, they have nothing to worry about from Occupy, Occupy is making a lot of other Democratic politicians squirm, & that's a good thing.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16567817295665099690noreply@blogger.com