OpEdNews - Article: Wanted Poetry and Music that Speaks to War and Other Progressive and Liberal Issues and Social Injustices

"The Spirit speaks directly to our hearts through music. That's why music has always had such power to move people into positive action." -- Kenny Loggins

Music and poetry were two very important devices which played significant roles in helping to bring the Vietnam War to an end.

There's been some disappointment in the lack of poetry and music in today's world promoting the antiwar movement and actually speaking to other social injustices.

It's said that poetry and music which reached the ears of the kids who were in line to be sent to Vietnam awakened them to the point of creating draft dodgers and deserters and even empowering active duty military personnel to mutiny against their commanding officers.

One obvious difference is that there are no kids who are anxiously awaiting to hear from the draft board in our present occupation of Iraq, in our on again, off again fighting in Afghanistan and in our build up to war with Iran. So the ears may not be as receptive.

Nonetheless, Neil Young has tried to get the musical part of this movement in gear with his Living With War Today Songs of the Times web site.

Poetry, narratives and essays are being written and published in such magazines as The American Dissident.

As was the case during the sixties and early seventies, poetry and music might raise the level of passion against the Iraq war and other social injustices.

OpEdNews thinks that promoting fresh, new anti-war and anti-social injustice poetry and music is important enough to publish. Subject matter might include environmental injustice, immigrant and other minority rights injustice, women's rights injustice and other injustices and others that you think are important.

If you are writing Music or Poetry that comments on today's world and issues, please feel free to submit it. We only ask that you include the word "poem" or "song" in the title so that the submission can be reviewed by the appropriate editors.

Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you.

Michael Bonanno

OpEdNews Music and Poetry Editor