Hurricane Sandy -- devastation. The music community -- including some of the biggest legends in rock and roll -- responded in record time with the 12-12-12 Concert for Sandy Relief. Critical financial response. Critical empathy for the human condition -- and the creation of a moment-in-time broad sense of "community." Music served as a battle cry. Catharsis.
And now, the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma. Utter devastation. Terrible human suffering.
Time for another 12-12-12 type mobilization by the music world. And, this needs to happen now.
Obviously, music cannot stop the suffering. But, music certainly has the power to help heal. Music uniquely can create a shared experience and empathetic broad-based community. And, that means that music uniquely can serve as a "call to action" to all of us to respond any way we can -- financially or otherwise.
But, to maximize impact, a major music benefit must feed on the emotion of immediacy. The tornadoes are in the news now ... they are in our collective consciousness. That spotlight will soon fade away by press who will move on to other things while the Oklahoma suffering remains.
I heard today that country music superstar Toby Keith is in Moore, Oklahoma now -- a city devastated. Apparently his mother and sister live in Moore -- in fact, his sister's home was damaged. Maybe he and others already are organizing this kind of massive event.
But, if not, this should happen now at the highest levels in media and entertainment.
I grew up in the Midwest. I grew up with the constant threat of tornado devastation. And, now we see it. Middle America frequently is out of the spotlight. It is time to focus not only on the devastation, but also what we can do about it on the Coasts.
Maybe this will be country music's time to make it happen ...
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