As a young Marine turned subway cop in ’66, the ’69 Woodstock gathering of flower people turned me off. It was essential to just support our troops.

But as the decades passed and with the benefit of hindsight, I see Vietnam differently: Most importantly, when our leaders knew it was hopeless—we kept sending troops—and sounding Taps—over fresh graves.

I see now that the Woodstock mantra, “Make love, not war,” was a much better idea.

Of course, I still support our troops—I’m a Marine, always. But we must be skeptical of every effort to put our sons and daughters in death’s path.

Leaders don’t always speak the truth, so we must, as one president said about the Soviet Union, “Trust but verify.” For me, “Trust but verify” includes our own leaders.

But no matter where our troops deploy, we need to welcome home those who suit up and serve.

To put it succinctly, we asked—they served—we owe.

There is much divisiveness in America today, but it wasn’t always so. From the early 1900s to 1965 there was a steep upswing of Americans going from divisiveness to connectedness.

Before 1965, we were more trusting of each other; we joined bowling leagues and clubs of all kinds. But since 1965, we’ve become more socially and politically isolated. Since ’65 we began withdrawing from each other, becoming more isolated and lonely. The Surgeon General wrote a report about America’s loneliness.

In America today, divisiveness, fighting, and war get the media’s attention; If it bleeds, it leads—and feeds—our limbic systems.

We’ve seen too much of it on TV, and not enough people are at peace.

It is critical to gather in peace, especially now, in these most troubling days. Political scientist Robert Putnam recently said there are two kinds of social capital:

1) Binding social capital, “Ties that link people like yourself.” We sure have plenty of that.

2) Bridging social capital, “Ties to people not like yourself.” We’re averse to that.

Putnam says, “In a diverse society like ours, we need a lot of bridging social capital.”

There’s much to gain when we bridge and come together.

We have a local vehicle to help us. Long Beach Artists in Partnership, helmed by Johanna Mathieson, fosters a partnership between the arts and the community.

Artists, musicians, and poets thrive on love for their work. But their creations are not just for admiration but also for fostering unity and understanding. The Long Beach Arts in Plaza scene, from May 25th to October 26th, 2024, features these artists.

Diverse forms of expression are celebrated at Kennedy Plaza, Long Beach, New York’s town square.

The Grateful Dead cover band Half Step rocked at Arts in the Plaza this year:

If you join this gathering, you won’t know the politics of those near you; you just know they are neighbors, people with varying backgrounds and life stories. Underneath those stories is a common need, a sense of togetherness and unity.

Putnam said about coming together: “It ought to be fun. I am famous as the advocate of bowling clubs. (Putnam wrote Bowling Alone.) But you don’t bowl so you can build a better community; you bowl because it’s fun. And in the doing of the bowling, in a team, you’re hanging out with folks, and sometimes you’re talking about the latest TV show, or occasionally you might talk about the garbage pickup in town. And that’s democracy.”

So we need to come together—in fun—in peace.

This year, Arts in the Plaza will hold a “Back to the Garden” celebration of Woodstock on the fifty-fifth anniversary of that gathering for love and peace. There will be plenty to talk about in our common ground that has nothing to do with politics, race, or religion.

There will be healing flags—squares of cloth that can be decorated with messages of peace, hope, and love—or notes to lost loved ones. Anybody have lost loved ones? Anyone? Anyone?

These tiny message flags will be hung from cords tethered to the trees where the breeze will flutter their messages onward.

A Toro Nagashi lantern float will be held on our plaza’s reflecting pool. The float will coincide with Earth’s lantern d’amour—the full moon.

There will be music and vendors:

Arts in the Plaza is all about coming together to make a difference and to be part of a collective positive energy.

It will also celebrate the unveiling of Long Beach’s fine artist, Hedy Page’s gift to Long Beach—her final painting.

You might have read my first essay about Hedy. Hedy has helped people come together for decades in her paintings. Her theme is coming together and being part of a positive energy in her paintings.

Hedy has been bringing hundreds of people together in her paintings. She has only one requirement: She insists she must know someone and their kindness or good work before painting them onto her canvas.

Hedy’s deceased husband, Eric, suffered in a Nazi concentration camp. But he told Hedy we must show future people how good we are, not just how bad we were. Hedy works to let Eric live on in those words through her paintings.

There will be the appearance of our friends from Sweeden, friends of good heart and great laughter, Kent and Lars.

I’ve followed my good friend Hedy’s work as she paints this final piece, her Long Beach canvas.

Hedy worked for many decades using an easel on New York City streets…

…and the boardwalk of Long Beach.

I captured Hedy at her easel painting LAZAR, who died too young, into her canvas.

As the decades passed, Hedy’s hands became less steady.

But that has not stopped her relentless spirit. Hedy’s transitioned from easel painting to desk painting.

At ninety-five, it takes fervent resolve to continue unifying people on canvas.

Hedy can point out each person in her paintings and tell their story.

Hedy will soon have available prints of her Long Beach painting; stay tuned.  

Maybe if we lay down our blue or red flags, we can hoist together a flag of unity, a flag of healing—for a stronger, more connected America. When you get home, you can pick your flags up again, but they might not bring out the same smile you had before. You might have one like Allan Fox:

In 1776, there were 2.5 million Americans; we now have 334 million. This experiment has lasted 248 years, and we can keep it going only—when we come together.

So, please, all my neighbors in Long Beach and the U.S.A., consider turning off your TV news and turn on and tune in to your fellow Americans. Gather in your town squares, beaches, parks, promenades, boardwalks, gardens, and, yes, bowling alleys. But keep—coming together.

Be well,

Leebythesea