“The Power of Music” – Drew Cairns
Journey back with me through the past fifteen years. And while there may be pleasant
thoughts and memories, there are still terrible instances that come to mind. The 9/11 attacks. The
Boston Marathon bombing. The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. And even just this
past year, Paris attack, San Bernardino shooting and the list goes on and on and on. We live in a
broken and hurting world, yet we live on. And when all these national events happen, we, in
unity, rally together around our flag and our song. The land of the free and home of the brave.
Music binds us together in a way that nothing else can. A fanfare on the horn of freedom. A
strum on the guitar of justice. A bang on the drum of liberty. We the people unite as one through
the endless and timeless instrument of music.
Listen. Do you hear it? That’s the sound of a melody rising up to the heavens. Listen. Do
you hear it? That’s a choir of voices singing in harmony drifting through the breeze. Listen. Do
you hear it? That’s a nation brought together in pride with the playing of a single song. Listen.
Do you hear it? That’s a school united as one with the sound of horns and drums playing out
their fight song. Music. Music binds us together. Music speaks what cannot be spoken. Music is
the language of the lost and the weary. Music is the language of the strong and mighty. Music is
a common language that transcends all cultures, all languages, all peoples, and binds us together
as one. As one anonymous speaker proclaimed, “Music speaks what cannot be expressed, it
soothes the heart and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from Heaven to the
soul.” In times of distress and in times of peace, music breaks through every boundary and
empowers people to do great things. Whether it’s doing your homework with ear buds in, or
jamming out in the car, or singing songs of praise or mourning, music allows for all the emotions
and feelings to be poured out in a way that is indescribable.
Our world is far from perfect. In fact, our world is ransacked by evils that are meant to
destroy us. But I believe, that through the power of music, we as a community and as a state and
as a nation and as the world can unite together as one and combat the horrors of the world. One
day I have a dream that all children will be able to come together and sing “this land is your land
this land is my land” and unite together for a greater good. Music can bind us together. Music
transcends all things. Music is the language of every tongue and nation. And together through
this language, we can change the world.