It is somehow July already. Arriving with the new month, right on time, is the heat. It has been in the 90’s all week. I think we have already had more 90 degree days than we had all of last year. Unfortunately, the long-term forecast does not show any reprieve from the punishing conditions.
This oppressive weather always reminds me of Stevie Wonder’s “Hotter than July” album cover. Any of us who have dared to venture outside of the air-conditioned sanctuary of our homes on a stifling July afternoon can relate to the red, yellow and orange, background, the sweat streaming down his face and the sun’s reflection on his glasses.
Although not as recognizable, the album’s inside liner also has images that are immediately relatable to these current days. The liner is a collage of black and white images of the race riots of the 60’s. There are photographs of burning buildings, police brutality and peaceful protests. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it.
I have always admired Stevie Wonder. Not just because his music has brought so much joy into my life, but because he is a true humanitarian. Stevie Wonder has been an ardent activist for social justice, the creation of the Martin Luther King holiday, famine relief, AIDS awareness, the abolishment of apartheid and the support of the blind. The United Nations has even honored him with the title “UN Messenger of Peace”. Come to think of it, there is probably no other musician who has done more for love, except for maybe Barry White. Barry really did more to promote making love. Obviously, very different motivations.
One of my favorite Steve Wonder songs is “Love’s in Need of Love Today”. It is a simple song with very repetitive lyrics. It is one of those songs that you never want to end. Not surprisingly, it is also one of those songs that you find playing in the background of your mind hours later. For those not familiar with the song, I encourage you to seek it out for a listen. Otherwise, let me repeat the lyrics here:
“It's that
Love's in need of love today
Don't delay
Send yours in right away
Hate's goin' round
Breaking many hearts
Stop it please
Before it's gone too far”
I don’t pretend to have the answers to solve our problems. It is naïve to think that we can get all the world’s people to simply love one another. A handful of special people have been promoting this approach for thousands of years with limited success. What I do know is that it is the place to start.
