Category Archives: Peace

Royal Song of the Day: Saturday 8/6/2011

Merging two stories in the news — the S&P downgrading and the loss of 38 US personnel in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan — the song for the day is “We Hate To See Them Go” by Malvina Reynolds. The song is on  Rise Up Singing., page 187. It is about a dream that “the bankers & the diplomats” would be the ones to go to war.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdOQESKGenY] Continue reading Royal Song of the Day: Saturday 8/6/2011

Strangest dream of peace: The Royal Peace Song of the Day, 8/4/2011

Duchess Susanna writes: Oh, well. The Duke and Duchess of Peace strive to bring you at least one, new item about peace and justice everyday. Though, we both also have day jobs. So, we didn’t get to the Song of the Day yesterday. Apologies.

Still, we want to keep the song calendar going. So, here is some catch-up… Continue reading Strangest dream of peace: The Royal Peace Song of the Day, 8/4/2011

Royal Song of the Day: Wednesday, 8/3/2011

The Royal Song of the Day for Wednesday, August 3, 2011 is: “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley.

“Don’t worry about a thing…” says Bob Marley. And, you can say it, too. This is an easy song to get in your head and chant when needed for a sense of calm and assurance. Thank you to our friend Patricia Burkhart for the recommendation.

Continue reading Royal Song of the Day: Wednesday, 8/3/2011

Our Culture, Our Economy

The Duke and Duchess of Peace started this blog to highlight the values we all share, values that are not represented in the military-industrial media. The ideas in the article Win the Culture War describe the values we are talking about, but Duke Augustus does take issue with the name of the article.  The idea of a “war” is not part of the positive values described in the article.  It is not a “war”, not a competition, not destructive.  It is a creative act, a sharing, a coming together, a seeking of unity:

  • The human brain is wired to support creativity, cooperation and life in community. That is our nature. The prevalence of materialism, greed, competition and violence common in modern society is a symptom of severe cultural and institutional dysfunction.
  • We humans inhabit a wondrous but finite living planet with a self-organizing biosphere to which we must adapt our lives and economies.
  • Life, not money, is the true measure of value; money’s only legitimate use is in life’s service. An obsession with making money is a sign of psychological and social dysfunction.
  • Markets are essential to the function of a healthy democratic society. Their proper function, however, depends on proper rules implemented by democratic governments under the watchful eye of a strong and dynamic civil society.
As much as Duke Augustus agrees with these values, he takes issue with the name of the series where they are discussed:  New Economy 2.0.  These are not new values nor the updated version of values.  These are very old values They are basic to humanity.  they underpin every major religious tradition .

Royal Song of the Day: Interactive Version

Today, Susanna, Duchess of Peace, needed to hear one of those songs that proclaims, “It’s alright”. So, The Royal Song of the Day is “Revolution” by the Beatles. Not simply for the thought of a nonviolent shift in the universe, though, also for the refrain, “You know it’s gonna be alright”.

Can you think of a comfort song? Please send us an e-mail, or put in the comments, your favorite song that expresses the sentiment “Everything’s going to be alright”. We will choose one or more for future Royal Songs of the Day. Continue reading Royal Song of the Day: Interactive Version

Royal Song of the Day: Sunday, July 31, 2011

Easy AnthemsGo Back To Pittsburgh by Easy Anthems is the Royal Song of the Day.   Like the lives of the Duke and Duchess of Peace, this is a song that mixes the personal and the political. Unlike the relationship of Duke Augustus and Duchess Susanna, this is a  break-up song. (Duke Augustus has often said that their marriage is forever.) The song voices the feeling of an activist who is leaving a personal relationship and the activism bound up with it, but is struggling not to leave his moral convictions.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsiWxclW4PI]

Listen to the whole song for the pay-off. The video features a stripped-down, acoustic version of the band.  Is that the Duchess’ voice at the end? Continue reading Royal Song of the Day: Sunday, July 31, 2011