Talking Story with Arlo: peace

Talking Story with Arlo

Come on people now....

By Arlo Agogo

The timeless call of "Get Together" by The Youngbloods still rings true today, just as it did back in the turbulent 1960s and early 1970s. Growing up during that era, the song felt like a much-needed balm amid the chaos.

The Vietnam War raged on, dividing families, generations, and the nation itself. Protests filled the streets, with young people clashing against "The Establishment" in a storm of anti-war fervor, civil rights struggles, and widespread distrust.

Violence was everywhere—in the headlines, on TV, and sadly, in real life. Yet here came this gentle folk-rock anthem, urging peace, unity, and simple human kindness.

The lyrics capture it perfectly:

♫ Love is but a song we sing

Fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wing
And you may not know why

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together

Try to love one another right now ♫

Released in 1967 (though it truly exploded in popularity with a 1969 reissue, hitting No. 5 on the charts), the song became a counterculture staple.

It wasn't aggressive protest music like some anthems of the time; it was hopeful, almost whisper-quiet in its plea for harmony. It reminded listeners that we are fleeting—"

♫ We are but a moment's sunlight

Fading in the grass"

and that love and fear both lie within our grasp:

If you hear the song I sing

You will understand (listen!)
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command ♫

That message resonated deeply then, offering a vision of a better world beyond war and division.

Fast-forward to today, and the struggle feels eerily familiar.

The headlines still overflow with conflict—global tensions, political rifts, and endless cycles of outrage.

But the real battlefield often plays out online.

Social media and much of modern media thrive on conflict. Posts about betrayal, divorce, cheating scandals, or heated arguments rack up likes, shares, and views.

Anger spreads faster than joy; negativity draws crowds.

It's the digital equivalent of a sensational headline or a blockbuster "kill flick." Movie theaters? Dominated by action-packed violence, revenge tales, and dystopian nightmares—even many animated films lean into battles and peril.

Why seek out peaceful, uplifting stories when outrage algorithms reward the dramatic and divisive?I see this contrast starkly in storytelling spaces like Facebook groups or blogs.

Some creators build audiences on tales of broken relationships, family feuds, or righteous indignation.

The more raw the anger, the bigger the numbers. Meanwhile, quieter voices focus on joy, small romances, light adventures, and happy endings.

In my blogs, nobody gets killed. There's always a thread of tenderness, a dash of fun, interesting real-life moments, and nods to modern science making the world better.

Stories end with smiles, reunions, and hope. When I share the lyrics to "Get Together," it's not just nostalgia—it's a quiet declaration:

These writings are about a good life, a joyful one, full of interesting things that lift the spirit.My parents' marriage lasted 67 years. They complimented each other, helped one another through thick and thin, and built a home filled with steady love rather than drama.

That's the model I carry forward—the world needs more families, more joyful reunions, more reasons to populate it with kindness instead of conflict. We need content that celebrates connection, not catches people in betrayal.

The choice is ours as readers and consumers. We can keep scrolling through the endless feed of sadness and hate, feeding the algorithms that amplify it. Or we can seek out—and support—stories that echo the kindness of life.

Choose blogs where adventure is gentle, romance is sweet, and conclusions are joyous. Opt for media that reminds us life can be peaceful and easy, full of wonder rather than war.

The 1960s dreamed of growing up into a world better than the one inherited—one of peace and prosperity. That dream flickered amid the violence, but hints of it persist today. Some leaders and movements push toward reducing hate between nations, fostering understanding over division.

It's fragile, but possible.Ultimately, the song's refrain repeats for a reason:

♫ Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now ♫

Right now. Not tomorrow, not when the world "fixes" itself. Right now, in the stories we tell, the posts we share, the media we consume.

By choosing joyful reads over angry ones, uplifting videos over outrage bait, we vote with our attention.

We unlock that key in our trembling hand. In a world quick to highlight what's broken, let's celebrate what's beautiful. Life's too short—a moment's sunlight fading in the grass—to waste on manufactured conflict.

Let's get together, love one another, and build stories worth living in.

Groove is in the Heart - Arlo

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