A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

[H2O Man]

And what did you hear, my blue-eyed son ?
And what did you hear, my darling young one ?
I heard the sound of a thunder, it roared out a warnin'
I heard the roar of a wave that could drown the whole world
I heard one hundred drummers whose hands were a-blazin'
I heard ten thousand whisperin' and nobody listenin'
I heard one person starve, I heard many people laughin'
Heard the song of a poet who died in the gutter
Heard the sound of a clown who cried in the alley
And it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard
And it's a hard rain's a-gonna fall.
-- Bob Dylan; A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall


A storm-related story:

Last week, in Sidney, NY, there was a candidates’ debate featuring the five men who are competing for two seats on the Town Board. Forum readers may recall that Sidney made the national news in late 2010, when Supervisor Bob McCarthy and two tea party board members attempted to force a tiny Sufi farming settlement to destroy its legal cemetery.

One of the two tea party councilmen would lose his seat in the 2011 elections. However, shortly after taking office, the newly elected member (from Sidney’s bi-partisan committee) would die unexpectedly. McCarthy, in a move that underscores his bull-headedness, would “appoint” the tea party loser as “deputy town supervisor.” He is, of course, one of the five current candidates.

I travel to Sidney from time to time, because the bi-partisan committee and the town and county Democratic Committees have requested my assistance. More, one of the five candidates is my nephew. More than twenty years ago, when my nephew was a young teenager, he attended local town board meetings where Onondaga Chief Paul Waterman and I led a six year struggle to protect Sacred Ground ( an ancient Native American burial ground, which the county’s political machine eventually destroyed for gravel to cover a toxic industrial waste dump site). Paul told me that when he came of age, my nephew would be the one to take over for us. So I attended this debate primarily to watch my nephew, who has come of age.

One of the questions the moderator, who is the editor of the largest area daily newspaper, asked was, “What lessons did you learn from the floods of 2006 and 2011 ?” Both of these floods caused severe damage along the Susquehanna River basin, including doing millions of dollars in damage to Sidney. Four of the five candidates gave rational answers. Then it was tea party time.

The tea partier said (approximately): “Oh, I kind of enjoyed the floods. In fact, I’m looking forward to the next one.”

The audience did not react favorably to those words. More, since the 90-minute debate has played a couple times on the Sidney radio station since, there has been a strong response. People have actually taken out ads in which they point out the heartlessness of a local merchant who “enjoyed” the floods, and “looks forward to” the next one. And when these ads play next to the weather updates, it is helping to define the sickness of the tea party candidate.

I hope that all forum participants are safe through the storm. Stay positive. We will get through this.

I plan to hang out in my cabin, along with my herd of dogs.

Positive vibrations!
H2O Man

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

1. Dylan is one of my favorites - thanks for quoting from a poet who was the conscience of society

when I was a young man and whose songs still stir the heart.

[H2O Man]

2. It's a great song.

One of Dylan's very best.

[H2O Man]

7. Speaking of Hurricanes ......

The tea party fellow was in my class in high school. In 10th grade, I introduced the class to the case of the only innocent hurricane -- Rubin Carter. Our class corresponded with Rubin while he was at Rahway State Prison in New Jersey in 1973-74.

Of our entire class -- which would be the largest graduating class in Sidney's history -- this future tea party member would be the only one who reacted negatively to Carter. A knee-jerk reaction from a real jerk ....

During the debate, among the many idiotic things John said was his response to a question about his thoughts on the town's future. He said that he was "happy to see different people moving into Sidney." He noted that he "enjoyed seeing blacks and Mexicans." Really. Then he said, "And I like the Muslims."

After the debate concluded, he approached one of the Sufi leaders and I. He asked my friend why he laughed at the "I like Muslims" comment? "Because you are funny," mt friend said.

Then it was my turn: "Hey, Pat, you remember your friend Hurricane?" Sure do. "Well, at the time, I figured he was guilty, and should be electricuted. But now I know I was wrong. I want you to tell him that." I assured this fellow that Rubin and I have, in discussing politics etc, talked about John's letter, in which he wrote, "You are a murderer. I can tell by looking at pictures of you." Seriously.

Dylan's song about Carter's case is outstanding. Although Bob didn't write the lyrics (he did create the music), it also ranks among the best of his career.

[hootinholler]

3. On the bright side when it's over

There will be new artifacts and fossils uncovered.

Stay safe Pat!

[H2O Man]

4. I've been thinking

about going out "surface hunting" for artifacts in a couple of corn fields that have been cut. If these old bones were a bit less sore, I probably would.

[coeur_de_lion]

5. Stay safe

This storm looks like a real mother.

Stay high and dry okay?

[H2O Man]

6. Yep.

I'm very high on a mountain, and there isn't much risk of flooding here. But the wind blows hard up here. The last big storm resulted in a couple dozen trees coming down.

I brought a load of good dry firewood to my older sister last night, and delivered some groceries to an elderly friend earlier today. Now I'll sit back and take it easy.

Should the electric go out here, we are okay. Our house is an old stage coach station, with a large central chimney and three fireplaces on the first floor. Also, a Dutch oven in the dining room's fireplace.

So I'm fine. And family & friends in the area know that, if need be, they can come and stay here. I count myself lucky in this type of situation -- there are a heck of a lot of people facing far greater hardships from this storm than me.

(Note: Although I am a non-drinker, I see that my wife has opened a bottle of wine. Maybe if she drinks a couple of glasses, she'll mistakeme for a younger, attractive version of myself!)

[coeur_de_lion]

8. LOL I bet Mrs. H2o doesn't need wine

to think of you as attractive.

Glad you have such a comfy home to ride out the storm. I'm reading about the Brooklyn Tunnel flooding. This one is bad.

I'm glad I don't live up there anymore but my niece lives in Manhattan. I'm worried.

[H2O Man]

11. A lot of people

were hit very hard by this storm. I'm glad that this area wasn't hit again. There are some tree limbs down, but nothing serious.

Hope you niece made out okay.

[coeur_de_lion]

16. My niece is good

She said New Yorkers always bounce back very well. She is bunking with a friend further uptown so she still has power.

She also said the upside is that in order to make the subway operable again they have to give it a bath -- wash all the salt water out. Clean subways will be very nice for a change.

A few trees down is fairly easy to deal with. The devastation elsewhere in your state is truly horrifying.

I feel so sad for NY and NJ.

[burrowowl]

9. Great song!

Thanks H20 Man!

[H2O Man]

12. Thanks!

One week until the election. Maybe this storm will bring environmental issues into the national discussion.

[Honeycombe8]

10. I love that song. nt

[H2O Man]

13. A great song.

It's withstood the test of time very well ..... almost too well, really.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

14. I think they just played the song on Martin Bashir's show

I was in the other room paying bills but I'm pretty sure I heard a short piece of it as they went to break.

[H2O Man]

15. My youngest daughter

is home today, as her school was closed. She has on the tv. Otherwise, I'd have Martin Bashir on. I think that he provides one of the very best programs that I've seen.