Music with a purpose

Cabot Auditorium resembled a sit-in straight out of the '60s on Tuesday afternoon, as activist and singer Holly Near presented "Singing for Our Lives," a program highlighting the history of music used during the period of activism. Near's performance consisted of a powerful mixture of oration anecdote, and song.

Dressed in an olive green pantsuit, Near spoke of how she got involved in social activism and the peace movement of the '60s. One of Near's earliest ventures into activism came when she sang in the Philippines to protest the United States military involvement.

Despite her desire to be part of the activist movement, she still had feers about going to the Philippines. But a phone call from her father helped her put her fears in perspective. During the phone call he said to her, "I hear that you're afraid. You know you can get killed outside your house by a garbage truck so don't let that be why you don't go."

She went on to describe her dismay with the treatment of Filipino women, as many were forced into prostitution after being displaced from their family farms by military bases. She called her transition to feminism the "natural step" after her experiences with women in the Philippines and she also stressed the importance of feminism in the peace movement.

"If we don't have feminist thinking in the peace movement than we lose a good part of the fight," said Near.

Near described a brief period where she volunteered with Daniel Ellsberg, the man who released the Pentagon Papers, before going on tour with the Indo China Peace Campaign. She began her own record company to produce protest music which most likely would not have been produced elsewhere.

"I started to learn was life outside the mainstream," said Near.

One central point in Near's presentation was her emphasis on clear and critical thinking. She discussed the importance if understanding one's self and one's purpose and having a "moment of clarity" when these things are apparent.

While telling her stories, Near sang a few songs that were inspired by her encounters. She tapped her foot in a steady beat and sang without accompaniment. Her voice was warm and strong, filling the room.

"She was remarkably effective singing a capella. I wanted to stay here for another hour listening to her," said Music Department chair John McDonald.

The second hour of the program was opened up to questions and answers. "Do you think if the Democrats won there would have been a substantial change in foreign policy?" Near asked, after an audience member expressed frustration with the results of the recent elections.

Near, however, made her democratic sentiments clear. "If you become a do-gooder and you don't do any good you become a cynic and you start voting republican," Near said.



In another exchange with the audience, a graduate student expressed frustration with being able to see both sides of an argument in conflict. Near encouraged the student to seek a "third option," and this became a recurring point during the second half of her presentation.

Near's talk had a great impact on those in attendance.

Inspiring," said Somerville resident Laurie August, "and it really touches the heart. She talks about how you really need the heart and soul to be able to change the world and you can see she really has that."

Mike Brothers, who traveled form the University of Massachusetts at Lowell shared similar a sentiment. "It was an excellent presentation. She had a lot of important topics and a good discussion of critical thinking. Plus she's an excellent singer."