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| Shaker gift drawings, which were inspired by spiritual visions. |
....when you are in a place just right
Judy Collins sings "Simple Gifts"
for the February 1963 TV broadcast of Dinner with the President, the
50th anniversary celebration of B'nai B'rith in Washington, D.C.
President Kennedy received a Democratic Legacy Award and spoke during
the broadcast.
JUDY COLLINS - "Simple Gifts" 1963
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| Abraham Lincoln, 11/15/1863 |
The United States has a rich heritage empowering the
individual to express beliefs through literacy and the arts.
We have a
strong connection to the diverse folks of our American past as we look
to Thanksgiving; singing the music, even preparing and eating the traditional foods of sweet potato
pie, turkey, pumpkin pie, secret-recipe family stuffing, biscuits and
gravy (and a new tradition for some, tofurkey.)
Our battles aren't much different than
our folks from the past: we stand for equality, education, religious
freedom. We validate those beliefs, and tell our young ones they will
inherit these battles. We work as partners with the past and the future
to provide a 'place just right.'
"Simple
Gifts" was written by Elder Joseph while he was at the Shaker community
in Alfred, Maine. These are the lyrics to his one-verse song:
'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
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- 'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
- And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
- 'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
- When true simplicity is gain'd,
- To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
- Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.
Several Shaker manuscripts indicate that this is a "Dancing Song" or a
"Quick Dance." "Turning" is a common theme in Christian theology, but
the references to "turning" in the last two lines have also been
identified as dance instructions. (per Wikipedia)
This is a documentary about the Shakers that is also available on Netflix.
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