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Friday, December 07, 2001

George Harrison and all things that passed

As we come to the end of this unforgettable year, I find myself reflecting on some of the "giants" that have left our good planet. Locally, there was Byrd Brown, Willie Stargell and Patti Burns. Nationally, we remembered Jack Lemmon, Carroll O'Connor and just recently Ken Kesey. Now the world grieves George Harrison.

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Undoubtedly, Mr. Harrison will be remembered as a musician and songwriter, but he contributed to humanity in much broader ways. In 1967, during the "Summer of Love," Mr. Harrison went to San Francisco (Center of Youth Culture) to join in on the experience. After spending some time there, he left feeling disillusioned by what he saw. He witnessed too many people of his generation becoming self-indulgent and narcissistic, lost to a drug culture that was making them selfish rather than giving and expansive.

Years later, as many from his generation got lost in materialism and consumerism, Mr. Harrison seemed to continue to search for deeper meaning, lasting values and never forgot to use his talents to benefit others. His authenticity stood the test of time.

He appeared to die as he lived, aware that "all things must pass." Perhaps one of his last statements summed up his journey well. "Everything else can wait, but the search for God cannot wait, and love one another." It seems that despite all the fame and tributes thrown his way, Mr. Harrison never lost sight of what really matters: dignity, friendship, kindness and love.

Thank you for the reminders, Mr. Harrison.

STEVE ZMIGROSKY
Edgewood

We'll always have the Beatles

Last night a friend called me with the news. I guess I had been prepared. I didn't feel as shocked as I thought I would. Not like the first time I heard bad news concerning George Harrison. I learned it when I got to school -- George got married! I remember feeling as if someone had kicked me in the stomach. Now all the Beatles were married! I had nothing left to live for, I walked through the halls feeling hopeless and lost. Well, that was then and now I know that all things must pass. Even feeling hopeless and lost.

The whole world is changing it seems. We're waving flags and supporting the military and police. It's quite confusing to a flower child. All ya need is love, ya know.

Every day we die a little and on some days more than others. On days like today I feel my own life passing away. I feel more and more not a part of this world. I feel more and more that the world I knew is slipping away. Lost to time and the ages. We will never see the like of it again. It was a heady time, exciting, exhilarating. We were full of strong feelings and ideas. And we had the Beatles -- I'm so glad I was there.

CARLA McNEIL
Squirrel Hill

Hiding behind the smoke

I have a problem with the death of George Harrison and his failure to do the right thing before he died. I had read in the past that dear old George was a smoker, and that the cancer that brought him to his demise was related to the smoking. He could have used a golden opportunity to speak to the youth of the world about smoking, and the "look what it's done to me" type of teaching. He did not, choosing to hide his weakness.

When Patti Burns died, I felt that she should have done the same thing, but she too chose to maintain her privacy instead of speaking out against the cause of her horror. She was so young, with so much to live for. To tell the world her story may have halted one smoker's journey to the same fate.

I realize that one voice cannot change the world, but a voice that belongs to a famous person, local or worldwide, has a lot of listeners.

BERNICE GOODALL
Bethel Park

Disenchanted with PSO

Last Friday, the Pittsburgh Symphony opened its program with "for 24 winds," an atonal piece of disconnected sound that kept the audience bewildered and disenchanted. Certainly this type of music, which has been forced on the audience all year, is not worthy of "the best orchestra on the planet."

The vast amount of empty seats was evidence of an increasingly discontented Pittsburgh audience.

Sadly, I must admit defeat to the effete symphony management. To spare myself further aggravation and disappointment I will not renew my subscription next year.

In lieu of the steadily declining attendance, I wonder how long it will take for the board of directors to realize a change in programming or management is warranted.

NICHOLAS C. MITCHELL
Gibsonia

Stone overturned

Perfect review of Mick Jagger's album by Ed Masley (Nov. 30). I love "Exile"-era Stones and when I read the Rolling Stone review my jaw dropped. Rushed out to buy it and was hugely disappointed. It's so transparent, the whole "working with up-and-comers" ruse. Anyway, it certainly ain't no "Love and Theft."

STEVE PENNELL
Bridgeville

What McGruder was talking about

	"Boondocks" strip from Thanksgiving Day.

I enjoy the comics in the PG. But I am always on the lookout for "Boondocks." The reason that I love it so much is that Aaron McGruder is not afraid to exercise his rights.

Now I noticed that Mr. Franciuk didn't quite seem to get what Huey was talking about at the dinner table on the Thanksgiving Day issue (" 'Boondocks' crosses the line," Feedback, Nov. 30). He even states in his letter, "What is he talking about?" So I thought that I would clear it up for him. Mr. McGruder was not thankful that President Bush was not his leader. He was making a comparison between two people: Mr. Bush and Osama bin Laden -- how their families are both rich, have had privileged lives and have the support of very religious people.

What Mr. McGruder writes is not trashy anti-American statements. What he is doing is making you think, something that I feel is not being done in this country enough. And because Mr. Franciuk could not get past the words enough to understand them he got angry. I think that is a shame when people go off on hissy fits when they don't even understand what they are angry about.

I would like to ask Mr. Franciuk, what is a True American? I ask this because I believe that I am a True American just like anyone else born here and I don't believe that I asked you to speak for me.

NICOLE McWHORTER,
Allentown