KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I'm speaking about what your views SEEM to be,based on what you say. No, I *don't* know whatyour views actually *are*, as I am not ableto read your mind and I do not claim to beable to read your mind. ^_~I'm glad that you possess sympathy and compassion(which perhaps you somewhat display but in areally strange way! ^_~). I'd be happy tocommend you for defending and speaking up forNative Americans, IF you ever appeared to beactually doing such a thing. (Not as yet! ^_~)
KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I guess what I really want to say is this:One does not *genuinely* defend the "trueinhabitants" by jumping all over their neighbors. Or their neighbors' descendants.Or whatever. (I don't like what the Englishdid to the Scottish in the 1700's [or to theAmerican settlers trying to become independent,either]. Shall I go and insult the present-dayBritish royal family [or better yet, ALL thepresent-day English people!] because of that?They aren't the same people any more!)
KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - No, we don't need to use the song as thenational anthem. (That would actuallyprobably insult the song anyway, sinceit was NOT written in praise of theAmerican government! ^_~)But...there's no need to get so crabby andangry and bratty about it...*maybe* next timejust TRY stating your opinions a bit morepleasantly/politely (less rudely/obnoxiously? ^_~).Okay, I think I've calmed down, more or less...for now, anyway...how about you? ^_~(Thanks for the apology!)
KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Correction to an earlier post...Only two, not three, of my grandparents wereborn in the United States of America. (I forgot,my maternal grandmother was born in Canada.Which is, of course, part of North America.But not part of the United States.)Anyway...so, that means, *two* of my grandparents(paternal grandfather and maternal grandmother)*actually were* immigrants. But I'm not one.I'm an American citizen by birth. I'm justnot a Native American. (Complicated, huh? ^_~)
KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Some of the Southern songs from the eraduring and before the American Civil Warcontain lyrics which could definitely beconsidered (not just by me!) to insult/demeanAfrican-Americans. Would you like me toconstantly jump up and down and yell andscream about it? I think not. ^_~("My Old Kentucky Home" has "it's summer,the darkies are gay", which later generationschanged to "the flowers are gay" [and NO,it does NOT mean that the people and/or theflowers are homosexual! ^_~].)
stevee0303 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I am finally at one with my american cousins now and forgive their ancestors for the atrocities they commited to the Native indians and continue to plague this eaarth with. Earning you and your fellow immigrant americans this wonderful song and the right to claim the land as your own. No harm done then...
KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Thank you. I appreciate your ability to change your mind if necessary.As far as "claim the land as our own":Well, SOME of us were *never trying to*claim, let alone "prove", *ownership*.As far as songs like this one, for*sensible* people it is really morea matter of *sentimental attachment*.(I cannot, of course, speak for everyone,and it is my understanding that there havebeen and still are SOME people in Americawith very grabby, greedy attitudes!)Anyway...thanks. Peace.
KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I'd still like to remind people that "thisland is my land" does not HAVE to mean "Iown it, the white man owns it, etc."But anyway, here is a nice new updated version...This land is not your land, this land is not my land,Our ancestors stole it from the Native Americans,But even so, now and forever,This land is LOVED by you and me! ^_^(There you go. ^_^ All nice and accurate now. ^_~)Okay...NOW can we relax and enjoy the song? ^_^=^___^=
KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Let's just all quit bickering and...Rise Up Singing(title of Pete Seeger songbook ^_^)(*most* of the songs in it were only *collected*by him, not *written* by him)The sun shines bright on my Colorado home...(and I don't wish I was in Dixie...but I havenothing against people who do ^_~)If Northerners can enjoy "Dixie" and "BonnieBlue Flag" and other Southern songs...I *think*Native Americans can *at least put up with*"This Land Is Your Land". ^_~
KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I guess what it takes to be not an "immigrant"is to have ALL your ancestors born in Americafor at LEAST the past THOUSAND years. ^_~(Yeah, I admit it, most of us who call ourselvesAmericans do not have such a long, LONGhistory here as a lot of people have inEngland and Europe. Lots of Australiansaren't aborigines, either. ^_~ (And, no,most people in most countries would *really*not care for it *at all* if some huge flockof immigrants suddenly came in and took over.)^_^
KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I really do sympathize with the Native Americans.They presumably THOUGHT that they were justwelcoming a *fairly small* group of peopleto live here *too*, and then the next thingthey know, this small group turns out to bea HUGE group AND acts as if the land were*not really already inhabited*, or at least,not by anybody important. Yeah. Not very nice,really.On the other hand, don't forget, the British Isleswere taken over by foreigners too...it was justlonger ago.^_^
KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Some people's ancestors came over withWilliam the Conqueror, other people'sancestors were already there *before* that...I *think* the *point* of thinking about thatkind of thing these days is, yes, that'sinteresting history, *but*, after *enough*years go by, it *eventually* starts to notreally *matter* all that much who was wherefirst (or who's on first ^_~) or whatever...they're all there together now. ^_^I celebrate ancient heritage AND everyonebeing here together now.
wardeleven Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - this is the 3rd pete seeger song I've seen/listened to on this site, and the comments on every one of them have had people fighting back and forth. I think people should just listen to Pete. He's singing about peace.
leemayh Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Seeger is simple, thats the beauty here no hidden agnedas. I recall this song as a child.This Land is Your Land.. was to instill national pride in all Americans. We could use a lot more of that today.
humanbruenig Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - This song is about classism.
SirCoughsalot Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - It's a beautiful song, even it has become a bit of a cliche.
blair227 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - God Bless Pete Seeger.
pyromanic78 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - "this land is your land, this land is my land" Sorry, i cant get my head around this song. To me it would be like hearing a bunch of english accents singing it on the streets of scotland. MY people dont have the dignity of governing ourselves and even got "given" a new national anthem, after they removed the verse which referred to killing Scots. Sorry, I ADORE bluegrass, pete seeger, and the ideal of an ignorance free society and a respectful one as to what "our" land really is.
pyromanic78 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - BUT i just dont feel this sits well with me. look at my page, its all americana/folk and bluegrass i upload...but i just keep thinking of native americans on reservations. a dark history not too unlike scotlands. dont mean any offence, not here to argue, just to say my thoughts. freedom of speech is "all" i got and even that can land my ass in guantanamo now. lol...what a world!
richc101 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Great to see Pete doing this but like many versions it doesn't have the 2 most important verses - This is a protest song after allAs I was walkin' - I saw a sign thereAnd that sign said - no tress passin'But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!Now that side was made for you and me!In the squares of the city - In the shadow of the steepleNear the relief office - I see my peopleAnd some are grumblin' and some are wonderin'If this land's still made for you and me.
jimmyn321 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - for some reason. this post made me laugh
JMannrdu Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Thank God that Pete is still doing his thing at age 90-something. He makes me cry every time I hear him sing.
KenCat1337 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - This song is so true -- PEACE.Politicians don't bring peace.
Phantomsbreath Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I happen to like one of the sarcastic verses I've heard. "This land is your land. It once was my land. Until we sold you, Manhattan Island. This land was stole by you from me."
KittyStarlight Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Well, no, actually maybe you *have* "neveractually stated" your views on REAL immigrants.What you kept doing was referring to peopleas immigrants who are NOT immigrants.People who were born in America are actuallyeven sometimes called "natives", just with alowercase "n". (Actually what I particularlymeant was, apparently in your view as soon aspeople from Scotland arrive in America, theybecome just thieves who don't care, but peoplestill in Scotland know all about America.)