Song: Don't Laugh at Me

Many years ago, one of my favorite groups performed on Public Television.  Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, commented that an excellent way to judge political candidates would be to have them sing.  You can’t fake a message when you’re singing.

I’ve thought of that often over the years, wondering what song a candidate would choose.  Talent for singing is not relevant – the Irish, for instance, are famous for singing in public with little apparent talent.  The key is what song and how sincerely it is sung.

Peter, Paul and Mary performed many songs of love and justice.  One of my favorites is the anti-bullying song, “Don’t Laugh at Me.” 

I'm that kid on every playground
Who's always chosen last
A single teenage mother
Tryin' to overcome my past
You don't have to be my friend
But is it too much to ask

Don't laugh at me
Don't call me names
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
In God's eyes we're all the same
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
Don't laugh at me

(To hear PP&M sing the song, click here.)

A couple years ago, Patty and I had the privilege of hearing Peter Yarrow perform this song live in concert.  (To hear Peter Yarrow sing the song, click here.)  It was perhaps the best music event I have ever attended.  He and his son, Christopher Yarrow, talked about the anti-bullying organization called Operation Respect.  The organization, founded in 1999 by Peter Yarrow uses “Don’t Laugh at Me” as its theme. 

Bullying personifies intolerance.  Its victims are often portrayed as children, but adults are bullies and are bullied.  

Operation Respect.  What a great name for a group fighting intolerance and bullying. 

Many of us will not muster the courage needed to speak out against injustice – that is a very hard thing to do.  But ALL OF US can refrain from joining in the intolerant chorus.  If not, we enter into a downward spiral.

Not laughing at the less fortunate is, truly, the least we can do.  After all, someday, we’ll all have perfect wings.