Imagine all the people
John Lennon
Living life in peace
We previously featured “Give Peace a Chance” by John Lennon on a Songs of Peace post. “Imagine” is arguably his greatest song with or without the Beatles, and certainly one of the most loved and most played songs of the 20th Century.
Other “Songs of Peace” in this series:
“Let’s get together and feel all right”
–Bob Marley, “One Love”
There are many songs by Bob Marley that are considered “Songs of Peace.” Today we take a moment to consider “One Love.”
Other “Songs of Peace” in this series:
On Remembrance Day we honour the memory of those Canadians who have fallen in war. We do not celebrate or glorify war, but we pay respect to those that have paid the terrible costs of war.
It is important to remember that Remembrance Day is not one of the those holidays that is just a chance for rest and recreation. Please take some time to reflect on what Remembrance Day is all about. On November 11th at 11:00 AM, plan to take some time to honour those that have died and those that have served. Whether you attend a ceremony in person, or check out the television coverage of the ceremony in Ottawa or other parts of Canada, take some time for Remembrance.
“All we are saying is give peace a chance.”
–John Lennon
The antiwar movement of the 1960s and early 1970’s focused on the American war in Vietnam and other parts of Southeast Asia. Many songs became forever associated with this era, perhaps none more so than “Give Peace a Chance.”
Although he was still a member of the Beatles, this was John Lennon’s first single released without the “Fab Four.” Originally the writing credits went to both Lennon and Paul McCartney, however later Lennon claimed that Yoko Ono deserved a credit, not Paul. The song was the musical highlight of the “Bed-In” of Lennon and Ono in Montreal in 1969. “Give Peace a Chance” would become what many consider to be the ultimate antiwar anthem.
Of course, many others will argue the ultimate antiwar anthem is John Lennon’s masterpiece, “Imagine.” Look for that in a future “Songs of Peace” post.
Find out more:
Give Peace a Chance (Wikipedia)
Other “Songs of Peace” in this series:
Come down to the School Library to check out our display of antiwar fiction. Our November focus is on Peace and such related concepts as peacekeepers, non-violence, antiwar movements, conscientious objectors, pacifists, and alternatives to war and violence. Antiwar fiction can take many forms, often trying to separate the myths from the realities of war, exposing the horrors of war and celebrating those that offer alternatives to violence.
Veterans’ Week is November 5 to 11.
“Veterans want Canadians to understand the price of freedom. They are passing the torch to the people of Canada, so the memory of their sacrifices will continue, and the values they fought for will live on in all of us.”
Veterans Affairs Canada: Remembrance
Find out more:
Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, arose from the events of November 5, 1605, when a plot to kill the King and blow up Parliament failed. An official state holiday of celebration was established, and Guy Fawkes, the personification of the evil plot, was burned in effigy in bonfires all over England. The Gunpowder Plot was also very much caught up in the political and religious conflicts of the day, and in it heyday Guy Fawkes Night was also known as Pope Night as anti-Catholic forces used the holiday to burn the Pope in effigy along with Fawkes, preaching the evils of the Roman Church.
Over time the political and religious overtones have faded, and the prominence of Guy Fawkes Night has also faded. Some feel that Halloween has begun to overtake it in importance. However, Guy Fawkes remains an enigmatic figure world wide.
Guy Fawkes has even become a sympathetic figure. Since the publication of “V for Vendetta” comics, and especially since the release of the feature film of the same name, Guy Fawkes has become synonymous with anti-establishment revolution, and the Guy Fawkes mask, once an object of derision, has become a symbol of the struggle of the masses against the elites. The mask has become popularly known as the “Anonymous Mask” as it has become the symbol of the online hacktivist group Anonymous.
More:
The Economist: How Guy Fawkes became the face of post-modern protest
‘Tuhanu Diwali diyan boht both vadhaiyan’
Diwali is celebrated by millions of people in India, Canada and around the world. Hundreds of millions of Hindus celebrate “the Festival of Lights.” People of other faiths, including Sikhism, also celebrate.
For Sikhs the festival has added significance as it generally coincides with a Sikh celebration known as Bandi Chhor Divas.
Many people will celebrate a five day festival from November 2 to 7 in 2021, with the main celebration of Diwali on November 4. However, it may be celebrated at different times, and in different ways, by various groups in India and in the Indian diaspora.
Diwali may also be rendered as Deepavali or Divali.
For more information on Diwali, check out:
“This song is not a rebel song. This song is Sunday Bloody Sunday.” (U2)
Sunday Bloody Sunday, by U2, is one of the Irish band’s signature tunes, one of the greatest rock songs of all time, and amongst the greatest calls for an end to violence and war that can be found in popular music.
The title refers specifically to the events of Bloody Sunday during the height of “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. More generally the song is a denunciantion of the sectarian violence in Northern Ireland and a profoundly anti-war anthem.
Find out more about “Sunday Bloody Sunday”:
Other “Songs of Peace” in this series:
If you still haven’t come up with a good costume for Halloween, here is a classic bit from Adam Sandler on SNL that gives some great ideas.
Yes we’ve shared this one before but it is gold and demands another look again and again.
Teachers and staff at Lord Tweedsmuir share the stories that scared them the most. Use the comments below if you want to add your scariest story to the list.
Ms. Robinson shares:
“I literally slept with the lights on for WEEKS and ALWAYS look twice at storm drains…”
Ms. Miller says:
“The idea of being passive-aggressively locked in an amusement park against my will with a bunch of monsters is terrifying!!”
Welcome to Horrorland, part of the “Goosebumps” series by R.L. Stine
Mr. Eckert named this book..
No explanation given.
Must be too scary to talk about…
Mr. Buist tells us:
“Here is the Context: I was reading this in my grandparents old farmhouse on a windy night. My Aunt has a cat ( but I didn’t know that the cat was in the house or that its favourite sleeping place was the bed that I was sleeping in that night. I finish the story, am trying to sleep, cat jumps on my bed then crawls onto my back…
the horror… the horror…”
Ms. Harding shares:
“The scariest book I ever read was The Stand by Stephen King. I was in high school at the time, and was home sick with the flu when I read it.”
Ms. Nicholls adds:
Pet Semetary by Stephen King
Dr. Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, relocate from Boston to rural Maine with their two young children. The couple soon discover a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near their new home
Mr. Ferrier writes:
“What to Expect When You’re Expecting.
Just kidding.
The Ruins – by Scott Smith. I don’t really have a favorite scary book. I found this one entertaining enough, even if it is a little predictable. There’s even a movie!”
Mr. Cameron says:
“Definitely IT. I read the book while in University and I literally couldn’t read it at night if I was alone in my apartment.
What made it scary was simply Pennywise the Clown. King’s description of Pennywise was so vivid and just reading “Beep Beep Ritchie” terrified me.
Also, back then I read a lot of Stephen King novels and he would add Pennywise in a different novel (Tommyknockers) in just one sentence to let the reader know, Pennywise was still around even if it was a completely different novel.”
Ms. Barnes adds:
“Romeo Dallaire’s Shake Hands With the Devil is not traditionally scary. Took a long time to get through.
I will never forget it.”
Ms. Turgeon shares:
“Cujo was scary because of the reality of that scenario and Mr. King’s descriptive skills. I won’t ruin the ending but its emotional impact has stuck with me through the years. “
Mr. Ghuman reveals:
“This book scares me so much. Pigs, geese and other farm animals talking to each other is FREAKY. And a spider that can write? I can’t even.”
Mr. Hoelzley adds this classic of true crime:
Helter Skelter by Vincent Bugliosi
Come down to browse through our collection of books, playaways, DVDs, ebooks and audiobooks full of ghosts, vampires, zombies and all sorts of horrific creatures and terrifying villains. What a great way to enjoy Halloween– being scared witless.
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 