Aunt Catherine Ponders the Furor Over the Mosque to be Built in NYC

There has been an enormous amount of press coverage lately regarding the building of a Mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. One can easily step back and see both sides clearly. There are those who equate the tragedies of September 11 solely with Muslim beliefs and then there are those who abide by the Framer's vision for our country and will stand up for religious freedom for all who seek it.

When looking at things from an outside perspective and having an understanding of the passions felt by all involved, The Buddha Song by Jon Anderson continues to flow through my mind.

On my end, this is not an endorsement for either camp, but simply an invitation to see things on a larger scale.

Jon's preamble is charming as is the music that follows:


You are the light
You are the love
This is your time
This is your time
I wanna thank you Buddha for being my teacher
I wanna thank you Jesus for bringing this love
I wanna thank Mohammed for being the prophet
And singing Hare Krishna from heaven above

The Buddha Song. By Jon Anderson. Bilston, England. 03 July 2009. Performance.

Aunt Catherine Loves Jon Anderson

What is it about this elven sprite that has held old Aunt Catherine's unwavering devotion for over 30 years? Is it his angelic voice? His ethereal lyrics? His professed love of life and spirituality? Yes to all of the above. (Pun most definitely intended.)

Jon Anderson was drawn to music at a very early age and formed Little John's Skiffle Group when he was just 10 years old. He played the washboard, which was a far cry from his now trademark harp. From 1963 to 1967, he shared lead vocals with his brother, Tony, in The Warriors and they had a hit in England with Don't Make Me Blue. Jon then joined Mable Greer's Toy Shop, and eventually went on to form Yes with bandmate, Chris Squire, in 1968. The rest is prog rock history.

In attempting to explain the beauty, complexity, and the overall wealth of talent that totals the Yes experience, mere words fail. Only a showcasing of one of their most hauntingly beautiful pieces performed live can give the reader the full impact. I would also suggest reading the "comments section" on You Tube to understand how deeply Yes music affects its fans. One poster says, "Can you get closer to God than this?" Another comments, "This isn't music, it's magic." Agreed.

The video below was filmed in Amsterdam in 2002. The piece is Soon, which is actually the epilogue to The Gates of Delirium on the 1974 album of the same name. Gates is a 22-minute prog masterpiece that was inspired by Tolstoy's War and Peace. Soon comes in at the end of an epic battle as the sun (often Anderson's spiritual centerpiece) rises and a holy man surveys the battlefield from on high, bringing messages of hope and peace. Enjoy.

"Soon, oh soon the light, ours to shed for all time, ours the right."


Anderson, Jon. Jon Anderson Online. Notes From the Edge. 12 March 2010. Web. 12 August 2010.

Soon. By Yes. Perf. Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe and Alan White. Amsterdam. 2002. Performance.