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When we were growing up, my sister was never very interested in the theatre or the fact that our mother was both an actress and a producer. I never knew why as I always found it fascinating. Going with mother to the studio at Radio Eireann and watching her record some of her radio programmes was always a great thrill for me as well as standing in the wings of the Gate or Abbey Theatres in Dublin during some of her performances or her productions.
Mother at one point in time was President of WAAMA (Writer's, Author's, Actor's and Musician's Association) which was the forerunner of the modern Equity - the Actor's Trade Union. Every year WAAMA held a huge Charity Concert in what was then the big Theatre Royal (now demolished) in Dublin and for that event came many of the then Hollywood and English theatre greats. As a young boy, I used to gaze in awe hardly able to speak when introduced to these stars when they came to Dublin. People like Jane Russell, Bette Davis, Dame Sybil Thorndike, Dame Margaret Rutherford, Ava Gardner, Betty Grable and Betty Hutton, as well as Fred Astaire, Sir Lawrence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope. To me they were always just photos in a glossy magazine or figures on the big screen. Great and famous people who lived in a different world, but meeting them face to face made me realize that they were real people with a real sense of humour.
One of the stars that became friendly with our family was the great English comedien - the late Frankie Howerd. He brought his show to Dublin to the Olympia Theatre several times and always came to our home for dinner at some point. When I was in my late teens - maybe 18 or 19 - I went to London for two days, and Frankie Howerd invited me to his home in Kensington for "early dinner" one evening. When I arrived, the door was opened by this elderly lady wearing an apron who looked familiar. She looked at me and said "You are nearly late. Come in - I am making omelet". That did it - it was her accent. I immediately recognized the one and only great Marlene Dietrich. I could not believe my eyes.
Miss Dietrich had apparently been friends with Mr. Howerd for many years, and that night was the opening night of her last appearance at the "Cafe de Paris" in London and also I believe (but I could be wrong) maybe her last cabaret show anywhere. I went with Frankie Howerd to see her amazing performance that night. When the lights went up Miss Dietrich was standing up and leaning against a large pillar dressed in an extremely tight-fitting gown which the papers described the next day as being made of "rhine stones and nothing". She opened the evening by singing her famous "Lilli Marlene" song and that was followed by "Where Have All The Flowers Gone". It was an extraordinary performance and although I never again met the lady after that evening, I will never forget either her or her performance.
That was a very long - maybe too long - introduction as I am not writing about Miss Marlene Dietrich. However, when I was thinking about the things happening in the world today her song "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" came to mind and has been buzzing around in my head ever since.
I do not remember all the words to the song and I haven't looked them up as perhaps I should, but I do know that the "flowers" mentioned in the song refer to the good and beautiful things in life that so often disappear and are lost without our realizing it.
The season of Thanksgiving (in the U.S.A.) has just finished, and immediately we are plunged into the turmoil of Christmas. In Cambodia, where I live, Christmas is more or less a non-event as it is a Buddhist country, but else where around the world Christmas trees are erected and lit up and shops blare out the inevitable carols (which is nice) and use all sorts of methods to persuade people to part with their money.
All of the above being fact, this year I saw very little of either the "thanking" or the "giving" in the reports of Thanksgiving. There seemed to be more anger and violence. It is sad when it gets to the stage where someone sprays pepper spray or whatever at people just because the person wants to buy a certain article and someone else might want it also. It is sad when a gunman opens fire (in more than one place) at a crowd of shoppers. It is sad when the New York police beat journalists covering demonstrations, because they don't want their actions against the protesters reported in the media. It is sad that money means so much that the stores decide to open at midnight on the holiday of Thanksgiving Day so they can make more money (and for whom, I wonder - certainly not their employees!). It is sad when I see people complaining and saying it is too much hassle to go home and see their families for the holidays. They would rather stay where they were. Where have all the flowers gone?
Turn to politics and the season of thanks and giving, as well as the Christmas season of peace and goodwill and you will find very little of any of those things and it is not just in America. In Australia the Prime Minister - Miss Julia Gillard - when she came to power last year, made a point of saying she would work for those who are in need and also work for the improvement in the economy of the country and that Government would hold back on its unnecessary spending. Methinks the lady has forgotten what she said, because just this week it was announced that the goodly Miss Gillard has accepted a salary increase of US$92,000.00. That is a nice little increase! Maybe it was just to her own economy she was referring. Where have all the flowers gone?
In the U.S.A., thousands of people are demonstrating right across the country on a daily basis - much the same as what the West smugly called "The Arab Spring" (though do not dare compare) - against the mega money paid out to company directors and CEO's, the proposed cut in medicare, pensions and the various benefits that the people with low incomes depend upon. Yet at the same time, the powers-that-be in Washington who do not have to worry about such things (because these things come automatically as perks of their jobs), pay little attention as they position for photo opportunities and continue to raise millions (and in one case $1+ billion) of dollars for election campaigns while caring not about the millions who barely have enough to feed their families. Where are their priorities or their so-called concerns? Where have all the flowers gone?
Baseball players who each earn millions of dollars a year go on strike or lock-out or whatever they want to call it because agreement cannot be made with management about an extra million or so each. Do they never consider their fans who try to survive on a great deal less not to mention the fact that many of them originally had little money themselves and had to struggle? That part seems to be something they have conveniently forgotten. Where have all the flowers gone? Methinks they may have died in the flood of selfishness.
Throughout the United Kingdom this week there was a strike of public workers including school teachers. These are people who have worked hard for years - decades - and now find that the benefits for which they worked are either going to be cancelled altogether or cut considerably. Their hopes for comfortable days in their retirement will no longer materialize. Meanwhile the city bankers are calculating their mega bonuses that they will receive at the end of the year with totally no thought for those less fortunate. Where have all the flowers gone?
I could bring up examples the same as above from countries all around the world, but I have written too much for now, and I am sure many will disagree with what I have said, but that is alright. Just email me and let me know.
I am lucky and thankful and I have a good life. My partner and I do not have an excess amount of anything. We can't afford a Lexus SUV or to stay in a 5+ Star hotel all the time, but we have enough for our needs and to do most of the things we want to do even if we have to wait a while and save. We have enough to share with others at times if someone needs assistance and that is good. So we are happy and thankful for all we have and for the fact that we live in a peaceful and happy country that is full of smiles and hospitality. Our hope is that somehow, the same thankfulness, peace and happiness can reach all people around the world.
