Songs for Eva

So last weekend, Eva brought a horrible bug home and we all ended up very sick. Since then Eva doesn't want to fall asleep alone. So its meant a lot of creative efforts on Mom and Dad's part to get her to fall asleep but the one that works for me is singing her to sleep. Which I really enjoy so it’s more of a blessing than a curse. In light of that I thought I'd list my favorite songs to sing to Eva.


1) Godamn Lonely Love - by the Drive by Truckers. This really is a slow and beautiful song that might be my favorite song ever...I usually start with this song as Eva recognizes it.


2) Soulshine - by Gov't Mule (Warren Haynes). This also is a beautiful song with a good message and one of the two songs I hope Eva knows by heart when she's older. Heather likes this song too.


3) Simple Man - by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Good message to this song too and its pretty.


4) Katie Dear - by Radio Nationals. Good band from Seattle that no longer is playing. Great tune that’s a duet and a Romeo and Juliet kind of story.


5) Nothing but the Water - by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. A soulful song that is pretty and powerful...first heard it live before I ever heard it recorded.


6) The Devil is my Running Mate - by Jason Isbell. Very pretty yet dark tune that I enjoy and I usually sing it last.


7) Scream - by Radio Nationals - Very delicate song about frustration with someone you love, being with someone that treats them wrong.


8) Heart of Gold - Neil Young


9) Little Bonnie - by Drive by Truckers. This is a soft yet dark song about a little girl who passes away and the dad's grief. Sounds like a bad song to sing to a kid but it’s very pretty and reminds me what a special thing I got with Eva.


10) Long Haired Country Boy - Charlie Daniels

This is a old one, but not on my current blog:

So today a judge in DC decided that the lawsuit filed by a group of American Indians stating that the term "redskins" is racially offensive" was not racially offensive and this is large part because no one has challenged the name of the team in all the many years its been named the redskins.
Last time I checked Justice and equality did not have time limits. There are many instances in our country where wrongs are righted long after they were instituted. If this reasoning were applied to the Jim Crow laws in the south, African Americans would still be separate and not equal.
If you believe that "redskins" is not a racially offensive term, ask yourself, do you feel comfortable using the word outside of football talk? Would you use the term in the presence of an American Indian you did not know. Most likely not and just like the "n" word, "c" word and many other words, this one is wrong and not appropriate no matter who you are.
Our society’s willingness to turn a blind eye to things like this is sickening. Isn't it a little outrageous that the football team from our nation’s capital is named after a people that were almost wiped out by the government and European expansion/conquest?
Its time we stop using offensive mascots...and what makes them offensive like the "redskins" and not offensive like the "fighting Irish." Well many factors, including history, culture, style of mascot and overall...the feelings of the people being portrayed. Honestly if a number of Irish rose up and declared that the Fighting Irish symbol and mascot is a stereotype and offensive to them...I think they would have a point and we should listen, but I imagine they would be ignored as well.
Its time we follow the examples of many schools, sport franchises and the NCAA and start using non-offensive mascots...that’s right U of Illinois and Florida State, its wrong and stop trying to explain your mascots are ok simply because you think you "honoring" the tribes and people you've named your school after. Mimicry isn't always the best form of flattery.