Category: social justice

Description: This Is NOT Who We Are! Sadly, the level of incivility in the USA has risen to an all-time high in recent times, though it seems more appropriate to instead think of this as one of the lowest points in our country’s storied history. We're developing a show about the late Burl Ives (Uncle Burl), the multi-award winning and legendary singer, writer, Broadway performer, film and TV actor, environmental activist, and supporter of numerous worthwhile causes and charitable entities. In addition to showcasing Burl’s story, we are also imagining, given Burl’s small-town, midwestern upbringing and strong American core values, how he might respond to current state of the nation if he were alive today. Having now researched his life extensively, we expect he would react in a forceful yet much more civilized manner than we are experiencing today in many quarters. After all, Burl went high instead of low when he was accused of being a Communist sympathizer by Red Channels Magazine in 1950 and when he testified truthfully before a unit of the House Un-American Activities Committee, led by Sen. Joe McCarthy and Roy Cohn, in 1952. We’ve recorded two songs “We’re All Americans!” and “This is NOT Who We Are!” which we think would mirror Burl’s approach if he was among us today. He was a proud and patriotic American but he was not reluctant to speak out when he didn’t agree with the way things were going in the USA or when injustice occurred. We sure could use a lot less demonization and a whole lot more of Uncle Burl’s old fashioned civility these days to get us through these difficult times. This Is NOT Who We Are! ©2017 G C G A7 D7 A Part C G Let's begin by apologizing C G for all the pain and the suffering endured C G there’s a deadly cancer we're fighting A7 D7 won't stop 'til the cancer's been cured C G Our children's children deserve better C G than a future predicated on lies C G what kind of legacy will we leave them? A7 D7 if we ignore the facts, how will they survive? B Part G This is NOT who we are! C G This is NOT what we're all about! G This is NOT American! A7 D7 We don't surrender to fear or doubt C G We stand for justice, peace and hope C A7 With strength and courage, we win out G This is NOT who we are! D7 G This is NOT what we're all about! G This is NOT who we are! D7 G This is NOT what we're all about! Interval / Break x 2 A Part C G C G C G A7 D7 A Part C G Raise up your hands and your voices C G somehow, someway we’ll succeed C G For the will of the people is stronger A7 D7 than the forces of hatred and greed B Part G This is NOT who we are! C G This is NOT what we're all about! G This is NOT American! A7 D7 We don't surrender to fear or doubt C G We stand for justice, peace and hope C A7 With strength and courage, we win out G This is NOT who we are! D7 G This is NOT what we're all about! G This is NOT who we are! D7 G This is NOT what we're all about! G This is NOT who we are! D7 A G This is NOT what we're all about! G D7 G