At John Kennedy's inauguration in a moment of pure elegance and class he had Robert Frost recite a poem. Trying to bask in that glow and cogingent of a truly unique moment in history I believe Obama will also try and reach out to a similar figure as Frost. Do you also think so? My choice would be Pete Seger whether singing or reciting a poem. What do you think? What would your choice be?


For John F Kennedy's inauguration as President of the United States Robert Frost wrote a new poem entitled, "Dedication". Like many others he conceived the new president as young Lochinvar, the perfect combination of spirit and flesh, passion and toughness, poetry and reality:

"... The glory of a next Augustan age
Of a power leading from its strength and pride,
Of young amibition eager to be tried,
Firm in our free beliefs without dismay,
In any game the nations want to play.
A golden age of poetry and power
Of which this noonday's the beginning hour."

But the poet was old (87) and he couldn't see the words because of the sun's glare that bright, cold January day. The poem's newness to him and his unfamiliarity with and uncertainty about the way it went caused him to stumble uncertainly with his voice and tone and he gave up. Instead he fell back on an old one he knew perfectly, and in the most splendidly commanding of voices, recited it impeccably:

~ The Gift Outright ~

The land was ours before we were the land's.
She was our land more than a hundred years
Before we were her people. She was ours
In Massachusetts, in Virginia.
But we were England's, still colonials,
Possessing what we still were unpossessed by,
Possessed by what we now no more possessed.
Something we were withholding made us weak.
Until we found out that it was ourselves
We were withholding from our land of living,
And forthwith found salvation in surrender.
Such as we were we gave ourselves outright
(The deed of gift was many deeds of war)
To the land vaguely realizing westward,
But still unstoried, artless, unenhanced,
Such as she was, such as she would become.

Rod Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> At John Kennedy's inauguration in a moment of pure
> elegance and class he had Robert Frost recite a
> poem. Trying to bask in that glow and cogingent of
> a truly unique moment in history I believe Obama
> will also try and reach out to a similar figure as
> Frost. Do you also think so? My choice would be
> Pete Seger whether singing or reciting a poem.
> What do you think? What would your choice be?
>

No input is necessary. Elizabeth Alexander, a teacher at Yale and from I understand NOT a member of skull and bones, has been chosen to read a poem at the inauguration.

Pardon me for trolling



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2009 08:17PM by Radiophile.

Pete would be a wonderful choice. He is near the end of his life...and it would a wonderful gesture to a man who refused to testify to the Committee of Unamerikan Activity.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2009 08:21PM by Vince(1).

I love his music though some might not think that I would

I got to see him at the Birchmere over almost 2 years ago....a great show!

Vince(1) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I got to see him at the Birchmere over almost 2
> years ago....a great show!

I understand the Obomination team has booked a musical act that
will be at the Birchmere later that night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLB15kBvn_c

I heard Obama will recite his own poem:

Thank you, oh ye liberal fool
For buyin' all my shit
I'll grease your palm and play your game
God knows I'm not legit.

My girls won't go to public schools
I'm black, but I'm no fool
They need a school with tennis courts
Does Sidwell have a pool?

I hate the fact that I'm half white
The New York Times agreed
But I don't speak ebonics
So I got a guarantee.

I'll become the President
I’ll end illegal wars
And tell the people they’ll be safe
Just listen to Al Gore.

I’ll talk to men who want us dead
Why don’t we understand?
That they are right and we are wrong
Their wish is our command.

I will change our racist ways
And, look for Europe’s sign
That we have bowed and curtsied
To our ultimate demise.

Alias Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I heard Obama will recite his own poem:
>
> Thank you, oh ye liberal fool
> For buyin' all my shit
> I'll grease your palm and play your game
> God knows I'm not legit.
>
> My girls won't go to public schools
> I'm black, but I'm no fool
> They need a school with tennis courts
> Does Sidwell have a pool?
>
> I hate the fact that I'm half white
> The New York Times agreed
> But I don't speak ebonics
> So I got a guarantee.
>
> I'll become the President
> I’ll end illegal wars
> And tell the people they’ll be safe
> Just listen to Al Gore.
>
> I’ll talk to men who want us dead
> Why don’t we understand?
> That they are right and we are wrong
> Their wish is our command.
>
> I will change our racist ways
> And, look for Europe’s sign
> That we have bowed and curtsied
> To our ultimate demise.


+1 Nuf said.

all of you are bitter...clinging to your guns...religion..the rebel flag and stupidity.

Pete Seeger would make Rush Limbaugh's head explode. Yeah, the guy was a Communist. But he was honored by the Kennedy Center and he did tell the Joe McCarthy crowd to shove it.

Pete was a true blue loyal American Communist!

Vince(1) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pete would be a wonderful choice. He is near the
> end of his life...and it would a wonderful gesture
> to a man who refused to testify to the Committee
> of Unamerikan Activity.


You mean to say "in my opinion, Pete would have been..." since I told you the decision has been made - and it is NOT Pete.

Vince(1) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pete was a true blue loyal American Communist!

He may have sang a Communist tune, but he laughed all the
way to the Capitalist Bank. Hypocricy!

McDonald Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Vince(1) Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Pete was a true blue loyal American Communist!
>
> He may have sang a Communist tune, but he laughed
> all the
> way to the Capitalist Bank. Hypocricy!


When I think of American excess, I think of Pete Seeger. C'mon. Get real!

McDonald Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Vince(1) Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Pete was a true blue loyal American Communist!
>
> He may have sang a Communist tune, but he laughed
> all the
> way to the Capitalist Bank. Hypocricy!

There is nothing wrong with making money in a communist society. Just look at modern China! Keep up...the communist of today isnt the communist of yester year. And besides Pete has done more good with his money then most people...and he never went commercial with his music.

,



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2012 07:45PM by Alias.