Introduction
Pete Seeger is a legendary folk singer with controversial political views. His undoubted merit is the inseparableness of music and politics. Seeger managed to make folk music a fundamental civic unifying force. The harshness and uncompromising nature of his position made him a disgraced singer, but at the end of his journey, his talent and contribution to civic activism were accepted by the government and the public.
War
Pete Seeger has always been a pacifist, although, in his youth, he served in the army and repaired aircraft engines. During the Second World War, he was a very young man, but this did not prevent him from realizing the wrongness of the events taking place. His political position was fully revealed during the civil protest movement against the Vietnam War (Rr R, 2021, 01:05:00). Seeger demonstrated his position in songs, calling on the state to return all soldiers home, making the power of music a cry about the senselessness of mass killing. The singer sincerely believed that only peace could become the unifying force that would save the human race from destruction, despite the fact that people are constantly striving to come up with new ways to destroy each other (Rr R, 2021, 01:15:00). Seeger argued that by trying to eradicate hatred, people breed more hatred, and only love is the universal medicine (Rr R, 2021, 00:59:00). By promoting love and a sense of community, Seeger encouraged people to give up aggression and try to make the world a better place together. His music has become a way to proclaim peace and its universal importance for people, society and the state.
Communism
Commitment to communism is the most common accusation against Pete Seeger. He was harassed for displaying similar communist views, his concerts were banned, and his TV shows were discontinued. However, it is difficult to actually call him a communist since he did not adhere to a specific ideology but to a set of universal values. Seeger was against racial discrimination, and promoted the importance of the union and the protection of the labor rights of citizens, which was similar to communist ideology (Rr R, 2021, 00:10:00). Seeger stressed the importance of cultivating a positive attitude towards labor among young people (Rr R, 2021, 00:15:00). On his own, Seeger never admitted to sympathizing with communism, and believed that the persecution of him was unfair (Rr R, 2021, 00:37:00). These accusations are indeed unfair since adherence to some positive features of an ideology does not automatically make a person a supporter of it. Communism was not a universal idea for Seeger; he rather saw some important models in it that he would like to see in civil society. Seeger’s ideology was music, with which he found a way to carry his ideas about the importance of unification and civil rights to ordinary people.
Songs for Politics
Pete Seeger can be called one of the first singers who used folk music as a political force. A distinctive feature of folk is its universal ability to bring activism to the common public. For Seeger, it was important to promote the social significance of the association, and music has never been commerce for him (Rr R, 2021, 00:55:00). The singer made music a symbol of the struggle against civil rights violations, war and social injustice, which helps to survive even in the most difficult times (Rr R, 2021, 00:57:00-00:59:00). Despite the persecution and accusations from the authorities, he never stopped singing and bringing his values to people. His songs were political statements that were easily distributed among the population, expressed in an understandable and simple language. Seeger wanted to give everyone the opportunity to express themselves and state their point of view through music (Rr R, 2021, 01:22:00). The use of folk for political expression had an undeniable advantage, representing an easy way to convey ideas to a wide mass of the population. Sharp social ideas, a simple text and a bright motive made people sing his songs and thus carry the ideas of equality and peace to each other.
Patriotism
Pete Seeger was often accused of anti-American sentiments and dislike for his homeland, but these statements were not true. Seeger considered himself a patriot, contributing to the prosperity of his country (Rr R, 2021, 01:06:00). He believed that a person who loves their country will find a way to express their attitude towards its politics, making a contribution to civic activism and the development of society (Rr R, 2021, 01:09:00). Through his songs, the right words, his social activism, Seeger aimed to make America a better place (Rr R, 2021, 01:17:00). In fact, the singer loved America so much that he was especially disappointed when the political course deviated from democratic ideals. His protests were not anti-American; he always spoke for his country, for the development of democracy and against the harmful effects of wars and internal conflicts. His real goal was to unite the American people and make them capable of building an equal civil society in which there is no place for hatred and discrimination. As a civil rights activist, Seeger fought for the prosperity of American society. Seeger is an example of an exceptional patriot who is ready to make sacrifices for the well-being of his country and compatriots.
Conclusion
Pete Seeger is an exceptional example of a talented singer, politician and activist. He brought people the universal ideas of peace, goodness and mutual respect. Seeger was an ardent pacifist and adhered to the ideas of the need for popular unification. Being a patriot, the singer put in effort to make the lives of fellow citizens better. By making the song an instrument of expression, Seeger achieved recognition and respect.
Reference
Rr R. (2021) Pete Seeger: The Power of Song 2007, FULL VERSION! The voice of Pete must be heard! [Video]. YouTube. Web.