A great American passed away the other day. Ordinarily, I never indulge in such chauvinism, but how else can you describe Pete Seeger? Who else has contributed as much to the country’s emotional and spiritual well-being? I haven’t posted to this site for more than two months, devoting much of my time and energy to some serious health issues; but I felt compelled to put down a few words about Pete. If you’d like to read a comprehensive summary of his life, take a look at Jon Pareles’s obituary in the January 28 New York Times, “Pete Seeger, Songwriter and Champion of Folk Music, Dies at 94.” I’m just going to describe what it meant for me –...

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