Someone posted a blurb on my Facebook page this morning about a crazy PETA-like stunt in which some equipment at a factory farm had been deliberately exploded in the middle of the night; the lone perpetrator of this stunt later wrote that he didn't expect to change the world, but was simply adding his personal statement to the never ending controversy over the needs of animals versus the needs of humans. (I neither condemn nor support this bit of activist theatre.) I thought of Dylan's ditty about giving names to all the animals and a few clicks later I landed on this forum about song meanings. Nice place, by the way; I think I'll be back. My personal views on the relationship between humankind and the animal kingdom are irrelevant to this conversation, as are my religious convictions.
When I first heard this song I was delighted with its catchy melody and simple lyrics. It carried a message that was as straightforward or as complicated as the listener cared to make it. I guessed, correctly I have later learned, that this song would take on different meanings at different times in my life and I immediately assigned it to my short list of songs to listen to every year or two throughout my life. As my children and my grandchildren came along, this song became part of their basic repertoire, along with Twinkle Twinkle and Mary Had A Little Lamb. I'm the kind of parent who likes to answer questions with questions, rather than dismissing wondering young minds with "this is what I know and this is what you shall believe as well." All those rites of passage; Dad, I just found this book by Kahlil Gibrahn, what is the meaning of life, how do I know when I'm in love, is it right to eat meat, does everyone deserve to live the good life or only those who work hard and make a lot of money . . . and I try to guide them toward discovering those answers for themselves, reminding them that I will never be absolutely certain about anything when my own times come to their inevitable end. "Man Gave Names" is a remarkable question raiser, a thought provoker on everything from our relationship with the gifts of nature to corporate greed, (or not, I'm being fair here.)
"I was reading some stuff that said I shouldn't eat meat because the meat industry is cruel to animals. But what if I get my meat from a company that uses humane practices? And what about hunting? That's fair, a one on one fight, isn't it?" What growing young mind hasn't asked these questions? My goto answer is usually, "In the beginning, the Genesis, if you must, humans were instructed, or decided on their own, to give names to all the animals. Did that mean we were also expected to care for them, or that we should eat them? Would you find it difficult to kill and eat a creature that you have named and nurtured through its life?"
"Aw, Dad, will you stop with the nursery rhyme crap?"
It gets better as the questions get more difficult, questions of human and civil rights, questions of poverty and wealth, questions of which political party to support. I mean, really, my 40 -some kid is trying to choose between two job offers in a field she is passionate about, but the two companies have very different business models. Heck, my decades of experience and, um, wisdom, haven't got a clue about which choice is best for her. I tell her so, and suggest we get together and listen to some music tomorrow night.
"Aw, Dad, will you stop with the nursery rhyme crap?"
"Daughter of mine, we've got to begin somewhere so why not begin at the beginning?"
I chuckle and shake my head; how did this sweet innocent get stuck with an Olde Hippie for her father.
Someone posted a blurb on my Facebook page this morning about a crazy PETA-like stunt in which some equipment at a factory farm had been deliberately exploded in the middle of the night; the lone perpetrator of this stunt later wrote that he didn't expect to change the world, but was simply adding his personal statement to the never ending controversy over the needs of animals versus the needs of humans. (I neither condemn nor support this bit of activist theatre.) I thought of Dylan's ditty about giving names to all the animals and a few clicks later I landed on this forum about song meanings. Nice place, by the way; I think I'll be back. My personal views on the relationship between humankind and the animal kingdom are irrelevant to this conversation, as are my religious convictions. When I first heard this song I was delighted with its catchy melody and simple lyrics. It carried a message that was as straightforward or as complicated as the listener cared to make it. I guessed, correctly I have later learned, that this song would take on different meanings at different times in my life and I immediately assigned it to my short list of songs to listen to every year or two throughout my life. As my children and my grandchildren came along, this song became part of their basic repertoire, along with Twinkle Twinkle and Mary Had A Little Lamb. I'm the kind of parent who likes to answer questions with questions, rather than dismissing wondering young minds with "this is what I know and this is what you shall believe as well." All those rites of passage; Dad, I just found this book by Kahlil Gibrahn, what is the meaning of life, how do I know when I'm in love, is it right to eat meat, does everyone deserve to live the good life or only those who work hard and make a lot of money . . . and I try to guide them toward discovering those answers for themselves, reminding them that I will never be absolutely certain about anything when my own times come to their inevitable end. "Man Gave Names" is a remarkable question raiser, a thought provoker on everything from our relationship with the gifts of nature to corporate greed, (or not, I'm being fair here.) "I was reading some stuff that said I shouldn't eat meat because the meat industry is cruel to animals. But what if I get my meat from a company that uses humane practices? And what about hunting? That's fair, a one on one fight, isn't it?" What growing young mind hasn't asked these questions? My goto answer is usually, "In the beginning, the Genesis, if you must, humans were instructed, or decided on their own, to give names to all the animals. Did that mean we were also expected to care for them, or that we should eat them? Would you find it difficult to kill and eat a creature that you have named and nurtured through its life?" "Aw, Dad, will you stop with the nursery rhyme crap?" It gets better as the questions get more difficult, questions of human and civil rights, questions of poverty and wealth, questions of which political party to support. I mean, really, my 40 -some kid is trying to choose between two job offers in a field she is passionate about, but the two companies have very different business models. Heck, my decades of experience and, um, wisdom, haven't got a clue about which choice is best for her. I tell her so, and suggest we get together and listen to some music tomorrow night. "Aw, Dad, will you stop with the nursery rhyme crap?" "Daughter of mine, we've got to begin somewhere so why not begin at the beginning?" I chuckle and shake my head; how did this sweet innocent get stuck with an Olde Hippie for her father.