My two-cents worth and then some. An online journal by LP Brown.
In their 1961 hit song, Peter, Paul and Mary sang “Where have all the flowers gone?” The folk-singing trio repeated that poignant line consecutively in each verse, and in turn they asked where have the young girls gone, and their husbands, the soldiers, and the graveyards.
During the sixties when that tune reached its height of popularity, it was regarded by many as a protest song which conveyed the pointlessness of war, particular the Vietnam War, but certainly the futility of war in general. Just as the cycle of history repeats itself that haunting melody, although mostly unsung now, is as relevant to the current war that is claiming the lives of U.S. soldiers as it was to the war in Southeast Asia four decades ago.
“When will they ever learn?” is the last haunting line of each verse of the group’s song,
and “When will we ever learn?” concludes the tune. In this twenty-first century, the song easily conveys aspects of current life, where in addition to war, terrorism, and countless other inhumanities of the world there is a loss of societal innocence and civility that begs the question not when, but will we ever learn?”
Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford were on Oprah today. It was their first interview together, 37 years after starring in the classic film The Way We Were.
For my two cents, today’s program proves that Oprah did not exaggerate when she said that this – the final year for her show – would feature the best programs she has ever broadcast. When the show goes off the air in 2011, there will certainly be a huge void left by a quality program that is as equally entertaining as it is informative.
But back to today’s show. As Oprah interviewed the two stars, scenes from their 1973 romantic/drama were being projected in the background, reminding viewers like me that The Way We Were was, and always will be, one of my favorite tearjerker films. And the sound track — OMG!
I own numerous Streisand CDs, several of them include Barbra belting out the title song. And I am suddenly reminded that I should probably upgrade my VHS copy of the movie to a DVD. Barbra failed to win the Best Actress award for which she was nominated for that film, but The Way We Were took the Oscar for the Best Music/Original Song.
If you are a boomer and you never saw the movie (Where the heck were you? There are only two acceptable excuses for you not seeing it – you were among the last U.S. soldiers in Vietnam or you were in jail stateside for social protesting.). So, if you didn’t see the film back in the day, then rent it and weep. You will see why it won two of the six Oscars for which it was nominated and numerous other awards, and why baby boomers, particularly women, loved the film. If you saw it, see it again for old time’s sake. It will help you remember The Way We Were when the world was a safer, saner, and more civil place.