Music has a history of bringing people together, not the opposite

To The Daily Sun,

Let's realize that sports have been starting to bring out the worst in people, athletes have to be drug-tested for a reason, there is corruption at every level, from coaches, to athletes, owners and bookies. People constantly get hurt during and after games because their team either won, or lost.

Music has a history of bringing people together not tearing them apart or putting them against each other. Music allows people to rise above conflict, health issues, despair and can promote healing, love and peace for individuals, groups, communities, countries and even the world.

So you see Fox canceling "American Idol" has had an impact far greater than any of us could have imagined (ha ha ha). On a serious note, you cannot remove this from our schools. This would be a mistake of immense proportion and we would see even more downward spiraling in our children's emotional state of being.

This will remove positive influences that help keep balance. Within 10 to 15 years they will be asking why our children treat each other the way they do and we can look back at this time and say, I told you so. This seriously needs to be reconsidered and we as parents, children, lovers of peace, solidarity and the arts need to make a stand, band together, sing together and state we will not go quietly into the night, not without our instruments, sheet music and our lyrics.

The most comforting and soothing thing I remember as a child was my mom singing to me when I was scared, hurt or in pain and it always provided relief and comfort, and my children have been saying that same thing too many of their friends and those in need, it is something that has rung true for many of us and needs to stay. Thank you for taking the time to listen and I hope this moves you to write, organize and act upon your feelings to help with this. A little support can make a big difference.

Richard Shepard

(Grew up in Laconia & Gilford)

Loudon