Soweto Uprising – 1976.
Youth Month in South Africa.
Meadowlands – Spirit of South Africa
Give Us Power A.K.A. Ndiphe Amandla – Original Stage Show Cast of Sarafina!
Fire in Soweto – Sonny Okosuns
Mannenberg – Abdullah Ebrahim
Freedom is Coming Tomorrow – Mbongeni Ngema
Soweto Blues – Miriam Makeba
It’s Wrong (Apartheid) [- Stevie Wonder
Soweto Travels – Wouter Kellerman & Soweto Gospel Choir -feat. KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic & Angélique Kidjo
Soweto – Lalela Cape Town Choir
Bring Him Back Home – Hugh Masekela
Asimbonanga – Johnny Clegg & Savuka
Nkosi Sikelel’I Afrika – Mahotella Queens
Category Archives: Current Events
16 June 2026
Filed under Albuquerque, Antiracism, Current Events, Human Rights, Music, New Mexico, playlist
12 June 2026
Treadmill. Arterra Fitness Center.
Swimming with Lucy. Arterra Pool.
Remembering Pulse.
Remembering Medgar Evans.
Remembering Paul Robeson.
The Greatest – Sia (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Hands – Various Artists
Love Make the World Go Round – Jennifer Lopez & Lin-Manuel Miranda
Pulse – Chakra Khan
Not Myself – Sharon Van Etten
Razade Mi Colores – Ricky Martin
I Know a Place – MUNA
Misirlou – Kumbia Queers
Here in Spirit – Jim James
Beautiful Strangers – Kevin Morby
Pulse – Mel Hsu
Antonio – Bruno Toro
God Bless the Children – TT the Artist
La Yuta – Dani Umpi
Pulse (The City Beautiful) – Zen Fuse Box
Pulse – Melissa Etheridge
I Am Orlando – Alejandra Ribera
Medgar Evers Lullaby -Judy Collins
Ballad of Medgar Evers – Phil Ochs
Too Many Martyrs – Windborne
Mississippi Goddam – Nina Simone
Paul Robeson – Kay Benson
Paul Robeson – Frederick Douglass Kirkpatrick, Jeanne Humphries & Pete Seeger
Paul Robeson (Born to Be Free) – Black 47
Go Down, Moses- Paul Robeson
Filed under Albuquerque, Antiracism, Current Events, Exercise, Family, Music, playlist
11 June 2026
And just like that, I have returned to the treadmill – the one in the apartment complex fitness center – about thirty yards from our unit.
King Kamehameha Day.
Hawai’i 78 – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Kaulana O Hilo Hanakahi – Teresa Bright
Ioa I Ka Poi – Frank Kawaikapuakalani Hewett
‘Ahulili – Cyril Pahinui
Ka’iulili – Justin
Kaimana Hila – Makaha Sons
Sovereignty Song – Keali`i Reichel
Sovereign Land – Hawaiin Style Band
Kamalani O Keaukaha – Rocky Brown
Pua Tuberose – ALE
Kahua O Mali’o – Kahua
Ka Hanu O Evalina – Makaha Sons of Ni’hau
Kaulana Na Pua – Hawaiian All-Star Band
Hawaii Aloha – Ledward Ka’apana
All Hawai’i Stand Together – Dennis Pavao
Hawaiian Freedom Song – Kinimaka
Kaimana Hila – Makaha Sons
He Mele Lahui Hawaii – Tavita Te’o
Hawai‘i Pono‘i – Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus
Aloha ‘Oe – Ukelele Underground
Filed under Music, Current Events, Antiracism, Exercise, playlist, Albuquerque
06 June 2026
Invasion of Normandy.
Antifa action.
The Longest Day – The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
The Shores of Normandy – Jim Radford
The Road to the Isles – Rob Crabtree
My Head Is Filled with Music – The Real McKenzies
I’ll Be Seeing You – Harry Pickens
We’ll Meet Again – Johnny Cash
The Longest Day – Iron Maiden
A Nightingale Sang in Berkely Square – Vera Lynn
White Cliffs of Dover – The Checkers
Somewhere over the Rainbow – Ashanti
Elgar: Nimrod – Carl Davis & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Adagio for Strings from the String Quartet, Op. 11 – New York Philharmonic
Symphony No. 3 – “Liturgique”: 2. “De Profundis Clamavi” – Adagio – New Zealand Symphony Orchestra & Takuo Yuasa
Hymn to the Fallen – The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
The Longest Day – Mitch Miller
Filed under Antiracism, Current Events, Human Rights
23 May 2026
The Zinn Education Project notes that; “On May 23, 1838, the forced removal of the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Seminole, Chickasaw, Choctaw and other Native American nations officially began — a land theft, massacre, and attempted genocide known as the Trail of Tears. A petition was signed by close to every member of the Cherokee nation (16,000) in protest of the planned removal. This resounding, democratic voice was ignored.”
“
Trail of Tears Song, We Will Go Together – Joy Harjo
For Those Who Cried (Cherokee Removal) – Jack Gladstone
Cherokee Morning Song – Robbie Robertson & The Red Road Ensemble
Indian Reservation – Buddy Red Bow
Cherokee Tears – Jobel Star
We Are Still Here – Spirit Nation
Mourning Song for a Brother – Maggie Harry and Jenny Jack
Filed under Albuquerque, Antiracism, Current Events, Exercise, Music, playlist
1 May 2026
International Workers’ Day. Walking. North Domingo Baca Multicultural Center Track.
The Migrant Worker – Jim Croce
Working Man – Imagine Dragons
Chain Gang – Sam Cooke
Joe Hill – Paul Roberson
9 To 5 – Dolly Parton
Day O – Harry Belafonte
The Hands That Built America – U2
Bracero – Phil Ochs
Plane Crash At Los Gatos (Deportee) – Lance Canales & The Flood
Three Miles Down – Gil Scott-Heron
Solidarity Forever – Pete Seeger
Mr. President (Have Pity On The Working Man) – Randy Newman
She Works Hard For the Money – Donna Summer
Woman’s Work – Tracy Chapman
Work For Your Money – Howlin’ Wolf
Worker’s Song – Dropkick Murphys
There is Power in a Union – Entertainment Workers IU 630, Utah Phillips
The Internationale – Billy Bragg
Working Class Hero – Green Day
Working On The Highway – Bruce Springsteen
Immigrants (We Get The Job Done) – K’naan, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC & Residente
More Than a Paycheck – Sweet Honey In the Rock
Gotta Work – Amerie
Filed under Albuquerque, Antiracism, Current Events, Exercise, Music, playlist
15 April 2026
Tax Day. Jackie Robinson Day.
Taxman – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Ain’t Got No Money – Justin Townes Earle
Money – Mary Fahl
Money – Cheryl K,, feat. Awkwafina
Money Song – Gracie’s Corner
She Works Hard For the Money – Donna Summer
Take The Money And Run – Crosby & Nash
Work For Your Money – Howlin’ Wolf
Cash Money Blues – Kaiser Clifton
After Taxes – Johnny Cash
Income Tax Blues – Ralph Willis
You Never Give Me Your Money – The Beatles
Jackie Robinson – Radio Call (1956) – Bob Wolff
Eulogy For Jackie Robinson (/Steal Away Piano) – Rev. Jesse Jackson
Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? – Natalie Cole
Jackie Robinson – Mark Isham
Jackie Robinson – Troy Patterson
Jackie Robinson – Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra
Filed under Albuquerque, Antiracism, Baseball, Current Events, Exercise, Music, playlist
Pray for peace
I apologize for the lateness of this.
My friend, and former colleague, the Rev. Greg Allen Pickett posted on Facebook that he will be praying for peace tonight at 7pm Central Time at a park in Hastings, NE where he serves as a pastor. Greg noted that, “Anyone is welcome to join me.”
I can’t make it to Hastings but I can pray in Albuquerque at 6:00pm Mountain Time.
I invite you to join Greg and me if you are so inclined at 8:00pm Eastern Time or the equivalent time where you are. If you see this after that time and you are so inclined, you are invited to say a prayer or two or ten whenever you are able and wherever you are. Unity in prayer transcends all space and time.
Thank you, Greg, for this idea and for providingthis prayer to use.
Gracious and merciful God,
You are the source of all peace, the One who brings order out of chaos, light out of darkness, and hope out of despair. We come before you today with heavy hearts, lifting up the people of Iran and all who live in regions marked by tension, uncertainty, and fear.
God of every nation and every people, we pray for those whose daily lives are shaped by instability: families longing for safety, children yearning for a future free from violence, communities seeking dignity and justice. Surround them with your protection. Strengthen their spirits. Let your peace take root even in the most fragile places.
We also pray for leaders around the world whose words and actions carry great weight. In a time when messages can travel instantly and inflame quickly, grant wisdom, restraint, and humility. Soften hearts where there is anger. Temper speech where there is division. Guide all leaders to seek not power or posturing, but the well-being of all people and the preservation of peace.
Holy Spirit, move among us. Move across borders, across ideologies, across every line that divides. Where there is misunderstanding, bring clarity. Where there is fear, bring courage. Where there is hostility, plant seeds of reconciliation.
Make us instruments of your peace in our own lives as well: quick to listen, slow to speak, and always grounded in love. Remind us that every person, in Iran and beyond, is created in your image and held in your care.
We long for the day when swords are beaten into plowshares, when nations learn war no more, and when your peace reigns in every corner of creation.
Until that day, O God, hold us fast in your grace.
In the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we pray.
Amen.
Filed under Current Events, Friends, Prayer
A verse of a song
Where has all the money gone? Through hands passing.
Where has all the money gone? We want to know.
Where has all the money gone? Gone to grifters every bit.
When will we ever learn? When we will ever learn?
Filed under Current Events, Music, Poem
A reflection and a rewritten hymn verse on a day when bombs fall and missiles fly
This happened today:
Family members, friends from St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Ghost Ranch, Rio Grande Food Project, the Presbytery of Santa Fe, and life its own self, gathered at St. Andrew to celebrate the life and faith and witness of the Rev. Carl Soderbergh today.
The streets around the church were parked full when I arrived, a few minutes late. I found a spot in the parking lot.
I stepped out of the car and, for no reason I could understand at the time, a hymn came to my mind. “Eternal Father, Strong to Save“. Those first words need some work, but the overall theme of God’s protection is profound. One of many themes appropriate for a memorial service.
The words played in my mind as long as I could remember them. When memory failed, I hummed the tune.
Alex greeted me and observed that the sanctuary was full and the service had started. He showed me to a seat in the narthex.
The first thing I heard was the pastor, son Eric, telling the congregation that a team from the Coast Guard would present honors in recognition of Carl’s service. Neither I nor the people sitting with me, knew that Carl had served. The hymn I “heard and hummed” on my way into church seemed appropriate for this particular memorial service.
The closing hymn? “Eternal Father, Strong to Save. Straining to see the screen where the words were projected, I mumbled and hummed along.
On my way home, the hymn remained an earworm. I quickly went to the computer and pulled up the lyrics
And I rewrote the hymn’s fourth verse into a prayer for Iran, Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudia Arabia, Iraq, the United States, and any other countries affected by the madness of this armed conflict – which may be most of the countries of the world.
O Trinity of love and pow’r,
All people shield in danger’s hour;
From bomb and missile, death and woe,
Protect all where-soe’er they go;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on land, in air, on sea.
Amen.
Filed under Albuquerque, Current Events, New Mexico, Prayer
Along the Graybeard Trail 