Blowin’ in the Wind
by Irwin Lengel
(Florida)
Funny how something that was written so long ago (55 years ago) can be so appropriate in today's times. If we look back in time to 1963 when Bob Dylan released “Blowin’ in the Wind” and think real hard about the lyrics to the song, it is amazing how some of the lyrics fit right in with today's world.
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man
When does a man become a man? When we graduate high school? College? When we marry? When we become a father? So many questions – who do we look to for answers?
And then there are lines thirteen and fourteen:
Yes and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn’t see
With all that is going on in the world today, are we truly looking at what is happening, or are we merely looking at what the Television, Newspapers, and Social Media are telling us is happening - accepting life as it is and not for what it truly is and can be?
Lines seventeen and eighteen also reveal that sometimes we must just look beyond our nose:
Yes and how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky
Looking closer at what is right in front of us may reveal something more beautiful than what we first thought we saw. Friends and family are what made this country and are what will keep it strong. And even though many of the families today live miles apart from each other, with the high-tech gadgets we have available to us - we are and can be closer than ever.
And then there were lines nineteen and twenty:
Yes, and how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry
Do we truly stop and listen to what others are trying to say to us or are we too wrapped up in our own little world and what might be minor problems when compared to what others might be going through?
Remember, no matter how tough any of us think we have it in today's world, there is always someone that has it much tougher.
Finally, lines 21 and 22 brings everything full circle:
Yes, and how many deaths will it take ‘til he knows
That too many people have died
In conclusion, allow me to end this article with a quote by Amelia Earhart who said:
"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life, and the procedure, the process is its own reward."
We need to open our eyes, listen with our ears, forge forward and make every effort towards making the world a better place.
Now that we are retired, we have all the time in the world to assist in making the world a better place.
It is time!
