I am a Vietnam Veteran, I was in Army Intelligence, held a top secret clearance and worked at MACV Headquarters (Military Assistance Command) in Saigon for the year of 1969. Ever since my return from Vietnam, thirty-five years ago, I have been working for environmental, peace, social justice and anti-nuclear causes. I was and still am a member of Vietnam Vets Against the War, I am also a member of Veterans for Peace. In the 70′s and 80′s I was an organizer for the Clamshell Alliance (Anti-Nuclear Power) and have served on the Board of Directors of several environmental / recycling organizations. I was on the board of the National Recycling Coalition for five years, founder and past president of MassRecycle, the Massachusetts Recycling Coalition. I have worked in the recycling field for over 30 years (see bio). The newspaper reprints on the right give you the flavor of the work I do in recycling.
To read just click on the article
Along the way I have written many songs that reflect my committment to these causes. I have played at rallies, environmental and peace gatherings, concerts, coffeehouses etc.
We just released “Kennebunkport Songs of Peace” which is a live recording from the fund-raising concert the night before a very large Peace Rally and March on August 25, 2007. In Kennebunkport, Maine – the summer home of the Bush’s. This CD is sponsored by Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War and other peace organizations.
Prior to that I released my third recording “Blue State Liberal” as a response to the loss at the polls in 2004 when liberals were branded as political lepers. This song was meant to help lift the spirits of progressives.
“I’m a blue state liberal with progressive views
Watch PBS to get my news
Air America’s on all day long
It’s time were moving on
Liberal in not a dirty word
No matter what you may have heard
We’re gonna stand and shout out loud
We’re LIBERAL and were proud”
My second CD was “We Can Do It” – which I firmly believe we can. We just have to wake up, not be distracted by mis-information and smoke screens and get involved.
My first album, “Songs for Future Generations”was on Rounder Records and was co-sponsored byGreenpeace. This Greenpeace album was released in 1984 and I think was one of the last albums Rounder put on vinyl. Shortly after the release of that album I got so busy with my recycling and environmental work, serving on the board of directors of four state and national environmental / recycling organizations, not to mention raising a family, something had to give. Consequently my banjo gathered dust for over a decade.
Several years ago I started playing and writing again. A short while later we were back in the studio recording my “We Can Do It” CD. This is a folk CD with a definite bluegrass / country flavor with a pinch of Irish. We had some of the Boston’s very best bluegrass / country muscians playing on “We Can Do It”. This CD was only released locally in the Boston area.
As a singer / songwriter I am your basic banjo strumming troubadour, luckly it seems that a lot of people enjoy my music. I happen to be blessed with knowing and playing with many phenomenal musicians. My music is meant to make you think, tap your foot and move your spirit. Hopefully, my songs may also motivate you to get involved. It is amazing what one fired up individual can do. When we all get fired up we can change the world.
Please take a moment and visit the web sites listed above.
I am sure you will enjoy either of my CDs.
If you would like to contact me my e-mail address is:
Thanks for visiting, hope to see you again.
Peace,
Pat Scanlon
Lock Them Up – Peace and Tolerance
New video by Paul Rifkin
“Stand for Peace”
Including:
Sen. Ted Kennedy & Scott Ritter
Paul uses my song “We Can Do It”
Please watch – and join this fun yet
very meaningful effort
“On August 25, 2007 an unforgettable event took place in Kennebunkport, Maine. This CD will take you there again”.
Pete Seeger
New video using my song “Lock Them Up”
Go to: http://blip.tv/file/823111
This video is GREAT!
Pass the link on to others
On Saturday, August 25, 2007 the largest peace rally held in the State of Maine in over thirty years took place in Kennebunkport. Over 4,000 people gathered for the Peace Rally and March opposing the Iraq war. At the conclusion of the rally Cindy Sheehan, Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Colonel Ann Wright accompanied by Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace and thousands of peace loving patriotic people marched to Walkers Point, the summer home of the Bush family. The night before the rally a fund raising concert was held at theKennebunkport Town Hall. All of the songs (except “Young Soldier Welcome Home”) were performed at that concert. The Performers included Pat Scanlon with Holly Gettings, Bill Perry and Eric Kilburn, Emma’s Revolution and ten-year-old Keenan Beaudette.
Kennebunkport Songs of Peace is sponsored by: Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the war plus other peace groups. 100% of revenues will be used to help stop this illegal, immoral war in Iraq
If you are a veteran and are opposed to this war, please consider joining Veterans for Peace
www.VeteransforPeace.org
Click on the link to go to VFP’s Home Page
On Veterans Day, November 11, 2007 fifteen veterans from Veterans for Peace, Chapter 9, Smedley Butler Brigade (of which I am a proud member) and three supporters were arrested for a demonstration at Boston City Hall Plaza. We were excluded from participating in the Veterans Day Parade, hosted by the American Legion. We walked behind the official end of the parade, behind the street sweepers, even though we were the largest contingent of actual veterans walking that day. When we arrived at City Hall about twenty-five of us walked to the front, turned and faced the audience wearing signs that read “The Amercian Legion SILENCES messages of peace from veterans” We stood at parade rest with gags in our mouths. Please visit the following link to Fox 25 News http://tinyurl.com/2aktmq that had very good coverage when our case was dismissed on Friday, December 14.
For a free download of the song “Blue State Liberal” click here.
If you are a veteran and are opposed to this war please consider joining Veterans for Peace www.VeteransforPeace.org
Other good sites to visit include:
www.MoveOn.org and www.MediaMatters.org , Progressive Democrats of Americawww.PDAmerica.org
(Click on the sites above and go directly to their home pages)
“With Folks like you we have a chance” Pete Seeger
“Everything in your song resonates with me. Thank you for the sense of justice you bring into the world through music”. Charlie Clements, President / CEO Unitarian Universilist Service Committee
Invoking crowd rallying spirit of Pete Seeger and Woody’s son Arlo, Scanlon wears his politics, environmentasl activism and acute awareness on this workman’s sleeve and God bless him for it. He’s a Vietnam Vet whose sense of humor serves his songs, especially “I Love Singing” and “If I Only Played the Tuba” (Review – Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange)
“These songs are in the pain-wracked voice that can only come from someone who has suffered the consequences of a war built on lie after lie. When Pat sings people listen and music and singing the truth often touch people in the heart”. (John Schuchardt, House of Peace, Ipswich MA, member of Veterans for Peace – quote appeared in Boston Globe article “A Veteran Sings for Peace” Sunday, August 27, 2006)
“Your songs touched my spirit at the Peace Rally in Concord NH yesterday. I wanted you to know how effective you are. Keep up the good work”. (Stella Ramsay, participant at Decalaration for Peace March and Rally, September 30, 2006)
From a fellow Vietnam Veteran:
Pat:
Another VN type, three tours, SF, Maggot and ASA. Still crawling out from under the wreckage.
Just listened to your songs, Rage and Got Feeling – here at 4:00A, fucked up as always, functional but fucked up. Sitting here crying, something I never do – which is why I have had four-six years of therapy. Ain’t going away
Thanks for your songs. I will pass them on, with feeling.
Bill
For a free download of the song
“Where is the Rage?“
The following organizations are participating in the
“Where is the Rage?” Project:
Veterans for Peace
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
United for Peace and Justice
Military Families Speak Out
Gold Star Families for Peace
American Friends Serv. Committee
Unitarian Universalist Assoc.
Unitarian Universalist Serv. Committee
National Priorities Project
No More Victims
Code Pink
“Where is the Rage?” Project is a national educational outreach effort to 1,800 peace groups, 1,000 religious congregations and 500 college and public radio stations. The project is sponsored byVeterans for Peace.
Please take a moment to find out what “Where is the Rage?“ Project and the “Peace Packages” are all about
As a Vietnam Veteran I know the pain of war, I wrote “Where is the Rage?” to help people feel a connection to this war, a connection the the experience of the fallen soldier and their families. Without the “draft” many young people and their families are not connected to this war, they are not required to participate, therefore they are not threatened. Hopefullly “Where is the Rage?” will help folks feel a personal connection to this war, to the fallen soldiers and the pain of their families and friends. This war must become personal for all of us over here if it is to end a little sooner over there.
Please visit the rest of my home page below
Also visit my store for my other CDs: “Blue State Liberal” and “We Can Do It”
100% of the Proceeds from the sale of these CDs go to the Peace Movement to try and end this immoral and Illegal War as soon as possible.
For a free download of the song
“Where is the Rage?“
Click Here.
(The picture on the CD is of my best friend from high school, PFC Timothy McHugh USMC, at 30th Street Train Station in Philadelphia, as he arrived home from Vietnam in March of 1968. This CD is dedicated to all the fallen soldiers from Iraq and Vietnam and their families)
Click the CD to enlarge the image