Oye Como Va (listen to how)

[H2O Man]

https://www.playingforchange.com/videos/oye-como-va-ft-carlos-santana-cindy-blackman-santana-playing-for-change-song-around-the-world?fbclid=IwAR0kVIMR_jdXv0QasnXzm84sKhuUSeWTlLxQS08Ge6kZ4QKYzBo6mxfWS_I


Some news hits like a punch to the gut, and leave me feeling sick to my stomach. And a few times, it's more like a blow to the head, rendering me momentarily disoriented. But this isn't about boxing, or my experiences, for I am an old man simply watching the news.

I was getting ready to go pull weeds in the garden yesterday, when I heard the news of the 4th of July shooting. Although I had doubled my normal morning coffee intake -- two cups had me as fully alert as I can be -- the name "Highland Park" didn't click .... I thought of the Parkland High shooting until I was in front of the television.

The reality soaked in as I saw the image of a near-empty street, with lawn chairs and infant strollers scattered on both sides of the street, and knew that it had happened again. The national number for 2022 mass shootings is now closer to twice a day, than "merely" once daily.

After watching the report, I logged onto this forum. and learned this brutal attack took place in a liberal neighborhood with a significant Jewish population. Though I make an effort not to jump to conclusions, I know it takes a special type of brain-dead creep to fire an automatic weapon from a roof top into a crowd watching a July 4 parade headed by school students. For it is as cowardly a deed as planting explosives at the 16th Street Baptist Church, almost sixty years ago now.

That sickness in my stomach and confusion in my head were rapidly replaced by anger. It was an anger beyond that which I sometimes encounter in my on-going effort to try to be a good person, a goal I hope to meet. No, this was more like what I experienced in the locker room half a century ago, preparing to enter the boxing ring to fight some other young man. The last time I felt that, I was about to fight a previously undefeated amateur champion for the entertainment of 5,000+ people I didn't know. But, as I write this, I must remind myself this isn't about boxing, and as comfortable as that intense anger was yesterday, I must be beyond it now.

I pulled weeds. Fed the other living beings here. Mowed part of the lawn. Sat out at my pond, and realized that I'd be mighty sore in the next 38 hours. Went and set up a fire big enough that the heat was helpful in stretching what once were muscles, hoping to reduce that soreness. Watched the fireflies, and listened to the frogs in the distance. Looked at the stars until the last coals had burned out.

That whole time, I found myself thinking about the day's shooting. I checked the news when I came inside, and learned there was another shooting during fireworks in Philadelphia. It really doesn't matter where people are, or what they are doing there: innocent people are being shot, seriously wounded, and/or killed by emotionally disturbed, violent creeps.

It could be in a house of worship, a monie theater, the parking lot of a store, or watching a parade. It's enough to have people hesitant to go out.

Last night, about a half a mile from me, a neighbor woke up to find two strangers in his dining room, looking for things to steal. He chased them out of his house -- at gun-point, but without shooting -- before calling the police. In a sense, that's how I view the maga cult, the Q-ites, and the gun nuts. The Supreme Court wants to break into our bedrooms. These individuals have broken in, so to speak, to civilized society to steal our way of life, and sometimes our lives.

I'd rather fight them with the ballot, than the bullet. On two of the next four days, I'll be campaigning for the Democratic Party's candidate for the House. I am confident that, at the very least, I'll be safer doing that, than just about any other thing in public. Not that in the past, I haven't been threatened going door-to-door, or at rallies, or even had a board broken over my head on a march. I guess that is relatively secure compared to watching a parade these days.

I posted the Santana video (above) and quote (below) for a reason. Not to say don't be anxious or depressed, but to work through it. Channel it, not the way that a teenaged boxer once channeled nervousness into meanness in the ring, but rather, how an old man can channel anger into positive action. We can do this together, just as this amazing groups of musicians combined to make beautiful music.

"Music is the mystical medicine that heals the listener from the infection of fear, the infection of separation, the infection of thinking you’re not worthy." —Carlos Santana

[okaawhatever]

1. K & R

[H2O Man]

2. Thank you!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Well said, and well written as always, my dear H20 Man!

You write so damn well. Everything makes sense, everything lines up and I can see how things work.

Couldn't say it better about the power of music, either.

K&R

[H2O Man]

4. Thanks!

I really like how Carlos works with a lot of young musicians. I've loved his music from the first time I heard Santana.

[malaise]

5. When I heard that there will be other charges

I did wonder about hate crimes

Great read as always

[H2O Man]

8. It was horrible.

I saw reports the fellow in the recent shooting that your family member experienced has a history of mental illness. And I've read a few comments in the past 24 hours ago this freak's mental health.

In our legal system, there is the seldom successful "insanity defense." In this case, the gut had organized planning, that included women's clothing and an escape route. This documents that he had a firm graspn on right vs wrong.

I try not to jump to conclusions, but after reading a couple comments on an OP/thread here yesterday, I had a pretty good idea what ilk we were dealing with.

[malaise]

13. This monster will die in prison

I wonder what goes through their miserable unhappy, hateful minds.
They never think about consequences. I don’t get that part.
I can’t help thinking about the slaughter of the parents of that bloodied two year old boy. He stood on that roof and targeted them and a senior citizen in a wheel chair. The couple was Jewish. The senior was Mexican- American. This hurts so bad.

[H2O Man]

14. Interesting that

you mention that. My younger son stopped in briefly yesterday, and we discussed this. Not surprisingly, there is a model that I use that I think might be helpful in explaining this. But I'm too tired to do it justice today, and decided to put it off until tomorrow. Then I wrote this essay, which was easier.

[malaise]

15. I can wait for your model

Get some rest - alll that gardening is hard work.

[H2O Man]

24. It is.

However, some of the rose gardens are really beautiful this year. Plus with the price of groceries these days, the main garden will be a big help.

[Saoirse9]

6. I'm sad and tired. You tired?

Sickens me all these shootings and yet when the news comes across my screen my first reaction is "Oh. Another one?" That lasts until I hear about one more shattered family and then I break down.

I feel like we're fighting as hard as we can and we're being outmaneuvered by the Evil Ones.

I feel like we are a hair's breadth away from losing our country, and then where shall we live?

Not saying I give up. Just that I do not feel hopeful.

Great Santana song, my favorite actually. And this is a wonderful version of it. Just wonderful. I do love my Carlos.

Carlos also said, "If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment."

I'm still searching for joy in my heart. Got to be in there somewhere.

I'll let you know when I locate it. Music helps terrifically, so thanks for the suggestion H, and Carlos.

[H2O Man]

10. I am tired.

I'm tired and sore. I didn't get much sleep last night. Groggy enough that the thought, "I love Lennon's 'I'm so Tired'' popped into my head when I read your post.

An old co-worker stopped to see me today. He said that he wished that someone had shot the freak yesterday, as he was leaving the scene. That reminded me, in a tired and sore old man's way, of the anger I had when I was young .... before I really knew what tired and sore really are. In that sense, I'm glad I'm old.

[Saoirse9]

16. Being old

Just makes one more worried about the final outcome.

Contemplating a major move at my age is not fun.

If I were younger though I might be even more afraid. Not sure.

I say it is time to take us on one of your Walden Pond walks, Mr. Thoreau.

[H2O Man]

25. Right.

Every so often, my younger son turns to me and snarls, "What the fuck, Old Man! I thought your generation was going to save the world? What happened?"

So I say I did my best, but don't have enough time left this turn. Then tell him to get the mess cleaned up before I return.

[Saoirse9]

38. LOL what a sweet story

[MagickMuffin]

7. Ya know during Pride Month I had thoughts about rooftop shooters

I hated to have that thought but this is where we are as a "civilized" society.

There is nothing civil about weapons of mass destruction in the hands of emotional stunted white men. They are being recruited by very malicious people who know how to manipulate them. It appears to be extremely easy to do so.


Thank you for your thoughts on this.

[H2O Man]

11. One of my best friends

in life had expressed similar thoughts to me the morning she was going to a Pride march in Vermont. I couldn't lie and say "nothing to worry about," because these vile people look for what they consider a soft target, safe to unleash violence upon.

[MagickMuffin]

18. I really have a hard enough time believing this forced reality on us can't be corrected

The culture war was going strong when I was a teenager growing up. The jocks were violent against hippies.

I had a frozen can of beer thrown at me by a passing car as I was minding my own business walking down the street. It hit me in the arm and hurt like hell. I thought at that moment why would anyone want to inflict pain on someone you didn't know?

The hatred has escalated since then.

Maybe someday soon we can change the hearts and minds of the gullible, forgotten, lost boys.


I hope your friend enjoyed the day. And I wish that for everyone of us!

[H2O Man]

27. Yep.

I remember. My oldest brother was the first in our family to have "long hair" by the then-current standard. A few aduly men used to give him shit -- I remember the day a big, burly guy started a fight with him, when my brother was simply walking down our rural road. The guy did not know my brother was a professional fighter. Bad mistake on his part.

I've wondered if, after coming to in a ditch beside the road, he had second thoughts about his behavior? The funny thing was that his wife & kids were in his stationwagon watching.

I find myself looking through some of my books by and about Gandhi and King. I think that is the way.

[LoisB]

9. Thank you for this.

[H2O Man]

12. Thank you!

[livetohike]

17. Thank you H2O Man. The music and your thoughts are

comforting as always.

[H2O Man]

19. Thank you!

[Easterncedar]

20. Your perspective

Dear H2Oman, your perspective helps more than I can express. You are such a profoundly expressive writer. I’ve been looking at fireflies, too. Thanks.

[H2O Man]

21. Well, thank you very much!

I also like to listen to the rain, especially at night. Reminds me of being a homeless teen, sleeping in a barn with a tin roof and really enjoying thunder storms. It helps me think.

[gldstwmn]

22. He brilliantly closed CNN's fireworks broadcast last night with this very song.

I watched him and thought about how he had played Woodstock and here he was, still going and going good.
Trauma is a thief. These incidents are stealing from us all. It steals our sense of security, our joy, our self-worth.
Music can help us escape and heal.

[H2O Man]

23. I've been talking

with an old friend who lurks here about Santana. Loved him since I first heard his music. Great in concert!

[aggiesal]

26. Oye, Como Va? ...

Very good essay.

Oye Como Va direct translation is "listen what goes"
But this is more like "Hey, how's it going?"

That's why in the title, I placed a comma after Oye and a question mark after Va.

In this case, with all the mass shootings, not going too well.

Oye cómo va
Mi ritmo
Bueno pa' gozar

Hey, how is it going
My pace
good to enjoy

[H2O Man]

28. Thanks!

The literal translation is "listen to how," and mi ritmo is "my rhythm goes,."

[ChoppinBroccoli]

34. I Always Thought It Meant "Hear How It Goes"

But I only speak as much Spanish as I can remember from high school.

[H2O Man]

39. Yes.

I remember taking French in 1972 .... eventually dropped it. But one of my neighbors was born in Mexico, and came to the US. He taught at the state university in Oneonta. I go by his translation.

[housecat]

29. "broken into civilized society to steal our way of life" Thank you.

[H2O Man]

30. Thank you!

[Xoan]

31. The Playing for Change website ...

was a treat.
Thank you.

[H2O Man]

40. Thank you!

I really like the website, too.

[Martin Eden]

32. Anger needs an outlet

To channel our anger is to consciously harness its energy for a rational purpose.

The alternative is an uncontrolled explosion fraught with destructive consequence.

[H2O Man]

41. Exactly!

I was talking about this with my son in May, when we were preparing him for winning his third NYS Golden Gloves title. He is a social worker at a school near Binghamton, NY. Long story almost short: I helped my oldest brother run a boxing program in rural upstate New York, that had about 75 kids active. Over 50 had problems at home, in school, and/or the community. But none had trouble while they were active in the club, which was ranked #1 (north of NYC, which was separate). I have never seen a social program with that level of results in channeling young people's anger.

Besides boxing, I was becoming a social-political activist. Soon, my brother was attending some of the local government meetings with me. Then some of those kids showed up. Soon, lots of them. Always well behaved. But then the community closed access to the recreation center that the team used to train, ending the boxing club. And there were consequences.

[Martin Eden]

46. "But then the community closed access to the recreation center"

Our society fails our youth in so many ways.

The best investment we can make is to do everything we can to help them overcome their problems and disadvantages, to enable them become the best version of themselves within their potential.

This goes beyond an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure -- it is the key to a better and more sustainable human civilization.

[H2O Man]

47. Right.

My brother used to laugh and say, "We were supported right up until we started sitting in the audience when you were arguing with the town board." The rec center became the Civic Center, housing the police force. The only way young people were then entering the building was when wearing handcuffs. It took some time -- years -- but I researched the funding they got from the state to make the changes. The biggest thing was supposedly "to serve the youth." With a bit of pressure, they opened a tiny Boys & Girls Club, but it was a shallow effort that soon closed.

[LessAspin]

33. Carlos Santana collapsed at Pine Knob

tonight...

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

https://democraticunderground.com/103476632

[gldstwmn]

37. Oh dear. I hope he will be okay.

[H2O Man]

42. I saw this after

I had posted the OP. Scary. His manager says he is recovering from heatexhaustion and dehydration.

[ARPad95]

35. Danny O'Donoghue, front man for Irish band, The Script, had this to say about music

on June 11th in Amsterdam before performing "Hall of Fame" song:

Look at this. This is The Script family in full effect. You may have come here with a group of 7 people and you may have had the best time. You may have come here on your own, but I guarantee you...you left with a lot more friends and a lot more family than you ever thought because we are The Script family and we are here for each other.

Music is here for us. Music is the one true religion. It doesn't give a shit what color you are, what sex you are, how much money you have, where you're from, what you do. It is there for you no matter what. So in the spirit of that I'm dedicating this last song to the city of Amsterdam and how liberal you mother f'ers are and how the rest of the world can learn from you guys. I don't say these things lightly.

[H2O Man]

43. Thanks!

A cousin-in-law used to travel to Ireland back during The Troubles. He was friends with Bobby Sands and others. He used to bring me back music from the Old Sod. Music helped people deal with the stresses and horrors of that era.

One of the things that all my friends of my generation agree on is that music played such an important role back in the day.

[spanone]

36. Thank you H20 Man

This was just posted in another op...Carlos Santana collapses on stage during performance at Pine Knob in Clarkston

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/07/06/carlos-santana-collapses-on-stage-during-performance-at-pine-knob-in-clarkston/

[H2O Man]

44. Thanks!

His manager says that he is recovering from heat exhaustion and dehydration. I hope that he makes a full recovery, and takes his time in doing so. He has been working almost non-stop for so many decades. (It's a reminder to all -- especially our generation -- to be sure to drink a lot of water, and not over-do it in the summer weather.)

[kentuck]

45. Some one posted this on FB

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000087274470

[H2O Man]

48. Thanks!

[Kid Berwyn]

49. Listen to How It Goes

The dread we are feeling these days is because we care about others. Those who don’t, have no idea what they have missed.

The Information Environment we inhabit is so disgustingly polluted, one has to be nose-blind not to notice. The fascist bastards need their state of tension to rule, rip-off and reduce the goodness that is normal.

“The greedy, profit-seeking exploiter cannot see beyond the end of his nose. He can see a chance for an “opening”; he is cunning enough to know what graft is and where it is, and how it can be secured, but vision he has none-not the slightest. He knows nothing of the great throbbing world that spreads out in all directions. He has no capacity for literature; no appreciation of art; no soul for beauty. That is the penalty the parasites pay for the violation of the laws of life.” ― Eugene V. Debs, Works of Eugene Victor Debs

Thank you for bringing us a great song, another excellent analogy, and an important essay, H2O Man! Santana is profound as an artist and as a human being. And like how you practiced the Sweet Science, your pen delivers a knockout punch.

[H2O Man]

50. Thank you!

What a strange and dangerous time we are in! And I surely appreciate the Debs' quote!

I remember watching Santana in the last arena I fought in. Great concert. A couple years ago, my boys brought me there to watch Ringo and his All Star Band, featuring a former member of Santana. Heck of a show.

[live love laugh]

51. It's either be a shut in or work it off.