And I thought the first part was a cliff hanger!! You weave that story so well, theatre nerd. I had never even heard of it before. Can’t wait for part 3!
That’s a nice pairing right there. He’s got the logistics and you got the heart. Even if your primary reason for history lessons was to put you to sleep. 😂 The Battle of Athens has the makings of a great musical. Can’t believe broadway didn’t swallow that one up. Paging Gilbert and Sullivan! Stephen Sondheim? Any of those fellows still around? I think Sondheim died recently, actually.
Yes, he and I make a good pair. it's taken us a few decades to work out the kinks but I'm glad we did!
I TOTALLY AGREE on the musical concept. In fact, I almost wrote "it would make a great play" to you earlier -- but a musical is WAY, WAY better. Perfect, in fact. I wrote a musical with a friend that is moldering because the person who was going to write the music got busy with other things. Such is creative life! I'm putting "Battle of Athens, the Musical" on my ever-expanding list of things to write!! And yes, Sondheim did die recently.
Wow what a story. And they did - the GI's - exactly what our founders said we must when faced with a corrupt government. (I love also how a spontaneous speech sparked the decisive action. So much can come down to this kind of moment, the right person saying the right thing at the right time.)
Of course, now, the power hungry criminals are slick and not so obvious, ubiquitous and of course, media-covered. Big sigh, and the masses are a a bit sleepy still.
An important incident that I hope others will find inspiration from. When our very freedom is at stake - we have to risk it all. We could use more of that spirit right now. Thanks, Mary. Such an informative piece of our history and so well told!
Yes!! I'm so with you -- the perfectly timed speech is a trope in theatre and movies... but only because it WORKS. As you point out, though, the "audience" is not exactly primed for action these days. Sleepy, yes, and distracted and narcotized and traumatized and the list goes on...
When I come upon a story like this, one of courage and morality, I want to share it! It feels so important to our plight right now, creating a new reality through narrative, and it's SOMETHING I feel capable of doing. Thanks for the encouraging comment, Kathleen, as always...
I'm slowly catching up on all that I missed during my 'unplugged' time - and I'm thrilled to get a big dose of your writing today...
As I was reading this second part of the Battle of Athens (the one that was never brought up in school), I also thought of Orwell and this quote, “Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”
I knew about The Battle of Athens but not the book; I ordered it. Interestingly, there's a similar battle where the opposite happened - several thousand armed Democrats flooded the town and killed or chased out the honestly elected officials along with some businesses including a newspaper. It was the Wilmington Coup of 1898, also known as the Wilmington Massacre or the Wilmington Insurrection as about 60 people were killed.
These two citizen battles in America stand in stark contrast to each other, both successful - one for Good and the other for Evil.
Glad you're picking up the book -- let me know what you think. There is a lot of on-the-ground WWII battle description which was harrowing to read; I didn't include it because I wanted to keep the story as lean as possible. (Three parts seemed enough! :-)
I'm also glad to know about the Wilmington Coup of 1898!
Mary, I quite accidentally came across an announcement of World Labyrinth Day on Saturday May 6th. I’m sure you’re familiar with Labyrinth walking. The Labyrinth Project is co-sponsoring a day worldwide for people to walk a labyrinth with the single intention of bringing peace and reconciliation into our broken world, communities, families and relationships. The idea is for everyone around the world to Walk as One at 1pm local time creating a rolling wave of energy passing from one time zone to the next. Considering the division that has impacted our societies over these last few years, this is a timely and worthwhile endeavor for us to actually put our bodies into the act of walking to restore unity through the power of prayer.
We just gather a group of friends, neighbors, whoever and meet at a local labyrinth in time to walk at 1 pm. It can be just that simple or it can be expanded into a picnic or to include music and prayers for this single one intention of peace and reconciliation.
I’m just trying to spread the word. You can read more about it here: www.worldlabyrinthday.org Thanks.
What a beautiful event, Rocket. Thanks for bringing it forward to the AOF community! Now I need to find a labyrinth near me. I wonder what will happen when I google that??
Thanks, Mary. I had a feeling you'd be on board with this idea. So is Katie in NJ. I think you'll be surprised at how many labyrinths are near to you. This is getting to be very exciting. I'm working on a flyer to use as an invitation to email to various friends. When I came upon this idea, I thought I should definitely do it, rather than continue bemoaning the still tenuous/tentative conditions that persist with most of my friends. So, let's give it a go, right? xox
Mary, I have something I want to share with you and your readers, but I want to run it by you first, so I'm sending you an email. Please look for it, it's about an event taking place in a couple of weeks. Thanks.
"Do you hear the people sing? Singing the songs of angry men? It is the music of the people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"
I couldn't help myself listening to all this talk of a musical Battle Hymn. This one is my favorite. It is so thrilling, exhilarating, gripping and, and, and... well you get it. I don't know about anybody else, but it just makes my heart almost leap out of my chest when I hear it.
Yes, Mary, this is a real nail biter. You consistently surprise your readers by revealing yet another one of your many talents. Go ahead and write a play for us, I dare you!!! xox
P.S. Thank Peter for his contribution to this. Without his encouragement you would have missed this great story. You make a good team.
And I thought the first part was a cliff hanger!! You weave that story so well, theatre nerd. I had never even heard of it before. Can’t wait for part 3!
😂 Thanks, theatre nerd! I hadn't either. I'm grateful to my hubby for lots of things, including bringing history into my field of vision.
That’s a nice pairing right there. He’s got the logistics and you got the heart. Even if your primary reason for history lessons was to put you to sleep. 😂 The Battle of Athens has the makings of a great musical. Can’t believe broadway didn’t swallow that one up. Paging Gilbert and Sullivan! Stephen Sondheim? Any of those fellows still around? I think Sondheim died recently, actually.
Yes, he and I make a good pair. it's taken us a few decades to work out the kinks but I'm glad we did!
I TOTALLY AGREE on the musical concept. In fact, I almost wrote "it would make a great play" to you earlier -- but a musical is WAY, WAY better. Perfect, in fact. I wrote a musical with a friend that is moldering because the person who was going to write the music got busy with other things. Such is creative life! I'm putting "Battle of Athens, the Musical" on my ever-expanding list of things to write!! And yes, Sondheim did die recently.
!!!! Give it a month or so, and we can just ask chatGPT to write the music. 👀 don’t blacklist me. 😂
That's genius. And hilarious 😂
Wow what a story. And they did - the GI's - exactly what our founders said we must when faced with a corrupt government. (I love also how a spontaneous speech sparked the decisive action. So much can come down to this kind of moment, the right person saying the right thing at the right time.)
Of course, now, the power hungry criminals are slick and not so obvious, ubiquitous and of course, media-covered. Big sigh, and the masses are a a bit sleepy still.
An important incident that I hope others will find inspiration from. When our very freedom is at stake - we have to risk it all. We could use more of that spirit right now. Thanks, Mary. Such an informative piece of our history and so well told!
Yes!! I'm so with you -- the perfectly timed speech is a trope in theatre and movies... but only because it WORKS. As you point out, though, the "audience" is not exactly primed for action these days. Sleepy, yes, and distracted and narcotized and traumatized and the list goes on...
When I come upon a story like this, one of courage and morality, I want to share it! It feels so important to our plight right now, creating a new reality through narrative, and it's SOMETHING I feel capable of doing. Thanks for the encouraging comment, Kathleen, as always...
I'm slowly catching up on all that I missed during my 'unplugged' time - and I'm thrilled to get a big dose of your writing today...
As I was reading this second part of the Battle of Athens (the one that was never brought up in school), I also thought of Orwell and this quote, “Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”
Thanks for telling this story...
Jack, that is a fabulous quote. God love Orwell -- he was brilliant and frighteningly prescient. Thanks for sharing it here!
I knew about The Battle of Athens but not the book; I ordered it. Interestingly, there's a similar battle where the opposite happened - several thousand armed Democrats flooded the town and killed or chased out the honestly elected officials along with some businesses including a newspaper. It was the Wilmington Coup of 1898, also known as the Wilmington Massacre or the Wilmington Insurrection as about 60 people were killed.
These two citizen battles in America stand in stark contrast to each other, both successful - one for Good and the other for Evil.
Glad you're picking up the book -- let me know what you think. There is a lot of on-the-ground WWII battle description which was harrowing to read; I didn't include it because I wanted to keep the story as lean as possible. (Three parts seemed enough! :-)
I'm also glad to know about the Wilmington Coup of 1898!
Mary, I quite accidentally came across an announcement of World Labyrinth Day on Saturday May 6th. I’m sure you’re familiar with Labyrinth walking. The Labyrinth Project is co-sponsoring a day worldwide for people to walk a labyrinth with the single intention of bringing peace and reconciliation into our broken world, communities, families and relationships. The idea is for everyone around the world to Walk as One at 1pm local time creating a rolling wave of energy passing from one time zone to the next. Considering the division that has impacted our societies over these last few years, this is a timely and worthwhile endeavor for us to actually put our bodies into the act of walking to restore unity through the power of prayer.
We just gather a group of friends, neighbors, whoever and meet at a local labyrinth in time to walk at 1 pm. It can be just that simple or it can be expanded into a picnic or to include music and prayers for this single one intention of peace and reconciliation.
I’m just trying to spread the word. You can read more about it here: www.worldlabyrinthday.org Thanks.
What a beautiful event, Rocket. Thanks for bringing it forward to the AOF community! Now I need to find a labyrinth near me. I wonder what will happen when I google that??
Thanks, Mary. I had a feeling you'd be on board with this idea. So is Katie in NJ. I think you'll be surprised at how many labyrinths are near to you. This is getting to be very exciting. I'm working on a flyer to use as an invitation to email to various friends. When I came upon this idea, I thought I should definitely do it, rather than continue bemoaning the still tenuous/tentative conditions that persist with most of my friends. So, let's give it a go, right? xox
Mary, I have something I want to share with you and your readers, but I want to run it by you first, so I'm sending you an email. Please look for it, it's about an event taking place in a couple of weeks. Thanks.
I read it -- post away!! It sounds like a beautiful event and idea.
How 'bout this one?
"Do you hear the people sing? Singing the songs of angry men? It is the music of the people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"
I couldn't help myself listening to all this talk of a musical Battle Hymn. This one is my favorite. It is so thrilling, exhilarating, gripping and, and, and... well you get it. I don't know about anybody else, but it just makes my heart almost leap out of my chest when I hear it.
Yes, Mary, this is a real nail biter. You consistently surprise your readers by revealing yet another one of your many talents. Go ahead and write a play for us, I dare you!!! xox
P.S. Thank Peter for his contribution to this. Without his encouragement you would have missed this great story. You make a good team.
Rocket! That hymn gets me, too. When music meets meaning... magic!!
A play, eh? I just might do that. All it takes is someone like you to dare me.
I will tell him! He'll be delighted. Finally, his wife gives a rat's ass about history... :-)
xox!