Standing Together on the Peace Train

Long line of peaceful protesters fill West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz

When the night has come, and the land is dark

And that moon is the only light we'll see.

No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid

Just as long as you stand, stand by me...

            -- original recording 1960 by Ben  E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, inspired by a spiritual written by Sam Cooke

By three o'clock tomorrow morning we will have completed our self-imposed 14-day quarantine since returning from the Hawaiian Islands. Based on social media reports from our island friends, life there goes on at the pace of the turning tides -- gradual and unimpeded -- with the same blue skies, billowing clouds and tropical atmospherics.

Do I miss Kauai? Absolutely. I am also happy to be home. We've been so busy restoring our household that two weeks have seemed to fly by. Thankfully, neither Barbara nor I have become physically ill. After nearly three months of being under the supervision of strangers, Frida, our 8-year-old German Shepherd, has comfortably adjusted to our schedule that includes early walks on the beach and through the neighborhood.

Yesterday afternoon we attended a Zoom graduation program for the fifth graders at Viewpoint Academy in southern California where our daughter Vanessa is a fifth grade teacher. Our grandson Samson was one of the students being graduated. The virtual production sparkled with short vignettes of students talking and acting out their impressions of their school memories, thoughts and aspirations.

They're on their way to middle school next year. Quite a contrast with my experience of being taught by nuns grades one through eight.

These kids are certainly privileged. But they are not all white. They come from diverse wealthy families, which affords them this educational opportunity. It does not mean that their families are happy or even functional. Wealth is not guarantee.

The program employed sophisticated graphics and production techniques, including a chorus of about six students singing individually from their homes synchronized to Vanessa's piano playing that was recorded at school.

They sang "Stand By Me," a song originally recorded in 1960 by Ben E. King. Inspired by a gospel hymn written by Sam Cooke, the song has become a spiritual anthem that has been covered by artists worldwide including John Lennon, Tina Turner and Miley Cyrus. Heavyweight Boxing Champion Cassius Clay (before he became Muhammad Ali) covered "Stand by Me" in a unique 1963 recording that hit the AM radio airwaves.

At that time the sport of boxing was big, and Ali was an outspoken black man from Kentucky who claimed: "I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee." He wrote poetry about his fighting prowess, and then proved his dominance in the ring and in popular social culture. His physical dominance eventually led to early Parkinsons and death at age 74.

Hearing the fifth graders at Viewpoint sing "Stand by Me" for their graduation number, I found myself asking, why did they choose this song?

"It's a simple three-chord song," Vanessa told me later. "It was easy to learn." Since early March, virtual teaching due to the pandemic had required an immense amount of learning on her part, not the least of which was coordinating the individual Zoom graduation performances so that they appeared to be one concert. The simplicity of the song made her job easier.

She said the choice of "Stand by Me" came from the school.

When I told her of its gospel roots she said, "I'm not surprised." She added that the school had used other "spiritual songs" for special occasions.

Watching and listening to the Viewpoint kids express themselves, it became clear that they were learning more than academics. They were learning how to be good citizens, take care of each other, build character. One boy announced, to my surprise, that he wanted to go into politics to help the world.

That seemed far advanced from what my fellow fifth graders were thinking about in 1958, or at least what I was thinking about.  Vanessa said it was the students who showed up with smiling faces for virtual class that spurred her on during a difficult period of sheltering during Covid.

"They inspired me," she said.

As the program was ending, we noticed people walking down our street toward the ocean. At first it was a trickle of one or two. Then more showed up. What was going on?

They were headed for West Cliff Drive, wearing masks and carrying signs. They were predominantly young white people.

I was shocked by their numbers. I estimate there were more than 2,000 people. Where did they come from? They were not social distancing, which I found troublesome. They were fired up about a concept more important in their minds.

"Black lives matter!" they chanted. "Black lives matter!"

Were they being foolish? Didn't they know that we marched years ago for peace and civil rights and look what we've got. Perhaps some were willing to sacrifice their health or even their lives for their cause.

The afternoon sun was still shining. The ocean was still blue. Peaceful activism was still alive in Santa Cruz. Kids were growing up with high-minded principles. It felt good to be home.

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me