I had seen the Pete Seeger's special a couple of months ago. I was intrigued by his life story. He is celebrating his 90th birthday and I took a chance on writing him. I wondered if he had any feelings for the poor cows we incarcerate in factory farms called CAFOs. He did respond the second time I wrote him but he didn't answer my question - "Is there another song left in you to write?"
Obviously not or at least on the topic I chose, but he kindly responded with a form letter he had printed and also sent me an address where I could send my "lyrics" to people who may be compassionate. Among them may be someone who will write a song for a mother cow.
Pete said that he has been bombarded with letters and requests. God bless him! I hope he, Toshi his wife, and their 3 kids are managing despite this entrusion on their private lives in New York State to live in relative peace and do what they love to do. This is the last paragraph of Pete's form letter:
"I'm mainly busy in my hometown now, singing with kids. But I also sing in NYC or upriver occasionally, taking the opportunity to talk to people I disagree with, also. That's a skill we should all learn."
I can't agree more with his sentiments even though he and I differed on Vietnam. He probably was right but at the time I thought I was.
Here are the hastily written sentiments I wrote re a Mother Cow. How apropo this week of Mother's day. Why don't we celebrate animal mothers as well? I and certainly others do I'm sure.
A MOTHER COW'S LAMENT
I AM IN A SMALL STALL WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER COWS IN ADJOINING STALLS
WE ARE IN A LARGE AIRLESS FACTORY DAY IN DAY OUT-
HAVING TO ENDURE THE SMELL OF OUR WASTES
WE NEVER HAVE SEX WITH BULLS ANYMORE - ARTIFICIALLY INSEMINATED ARE WE
YEAR IN YEAR OUT - UNTIL WE ARE ALL USED UP.
OUR MALE CALVES ARE WRENCHED FROM US ALMOST FROM BIRTH
PLACED IN SMALLISH CRATES WHERE THEY CAN'T EVEN TURN AROUND-
DAY IN DAY OUT UNTIL MERCIFULLY PUT TO DEATH FOR PEOPLE WHO
WANT VEAL ON THEIR PLATE
WHAT KIND OF MONSTERS TREAT BABIES LIKE THIS? WHAT KIND OF MONSTERS
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