♪[THEME MUSIC]♪
>>> HELLO, I'M 
RONNIE ELDRIDGE.
WELCOME TO
ELDRIDGE AND COMPANY.
IT WAS A SONG "DON'T 
LAUGH AT ME" 
THAT INSPIRED PETER YARROW, THE
HONORED SINGER, SONGWRITER,
ACTIVIST AND ADVOCATE TO END
SCHOOL BULLYING.
IN 1999 HE AND DR.
CHARLOTTE FRANK CO-FOUNDED
AND EDUCATIONAL NON-PROFIT
CALLED "OPERATION RESPECT"
TO MAKE HIS VISION REAL.
THERE'S NO ONE BETTER TO TALK
ABOUT ALL OF THIS
WITH THEN PETER
AND HE'S MY GUEST 
TODAY.
>> HI RONNIE. GOOD
TO BE WITH YOU.
MANY YEARS. MANY
YEARS OF ADVOCACY.
>> OH, YOU HAVE 
MANAGED TO USE 
YOUR MUSIC TO 
REALLY TRY TO 
CHANGE THE WORLD.
>> WELL, WHAT
WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN,
YOU AND I AND THE
PEOPLE WE KNOW FROM
THE GET GO IS TRYING TO
CREATE A CIRCUMSTANCE
IN WHICH THERE IS
EQUITY AND FAIRNESS
AND PEOPLE FEEL
ACCEPTED FOR WHO THEY ARE.
AND WE LIVE BY
THAT LEGALLY AND ATTITUDENLY.
THAT IS WHAT THE WOMEN'S
MOVEMENT WAS ABOUT.
AND DIVISIONS THAT
ARE CREATED IN SOCIETY
ARE TEARING US APART.
AND WHAT WE NEED IS
A NEXT GENERATION
THAT IS GIVEN AN ENVIRONMENT
TO GROW UP IN WHERE
THEY GET A CHANCE TO SAY
WE'VE ALREADY LIVED
IN A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE
WE ACCEPT EACH 
OTHER.
WHERE WE KNOW THAT
THE GIFTS OF 
GIVING TO ONE 
ANOTHER ARE 
SUBSTANTIAL AND 
MEANINGFUL.
AND THAT IS WHAT
OPERATION RESPECT DOES.
IT CREATES AN 
ENVIRONMENT WHICH 
IS KIND OF LIKE A
PEACEFUL CLASSROOM,
A CARING CLASSROOM,
IN WHICH BULLYING AND
RIDICULE AND VIOLENCE
ARE FAR LESS
LIKELY TO OCCUR.
ALTHOUGH IT'S SEEN
AS ANTI-BULLYING, 
IT IS REALLY PRO 
EVERYTHING WE'VE 
BEEN WORKING FOR 
AND TALKING ABOUT.
>> BULLYING IS 
REALLY AN UNEVEN 
DISTRIBUTION OF 
POWER. 
>> BULLYING IS -- EXISTS WHEN IT
IS REPEATED,
WHEN IT IS INTENTIONALLY
MEANT TO INJURE AND
WHEN THERE IS AN
INEQUITY IN POWER.
AND WE SEE THAT 
NOT ONLY AMONGST 
CHILDREN TODAY 
BUT -- 
>> ALL AROUND THE 
WORLD. 
>> -- WHAT'S 
HAPPENING IN 
AMONGST CHILDREN 
IS ALSO A 
REFLECTION WHAT'S 
HAPPENING IN THE 
ADULT WORLD AT
THIS POINT,
WHERE IT IS COMMON PLACE
AND ACCEPTABLE TO
BE RUDE, TO BULLY- IN BUSINESS.
CERTAINLY CONGRESS
IS -- THE LACK OF 
RESPECT IS 
TERRIBLE.
HENCE THE NAME
"OPERATION RESPECT"
AND THE ANTHEM FOR
"OPERATION RESPECT"
IS THAT SONG CALLED
"DON'T LAUGH AT ME."
>> WHY DON'T YOU
JUST PLAY A LITTLE BIT.
>> THIS WHOLE EFFORT
CAME OUT OF THIS SONG.
>> YOUR DAUGHTER BETHANY WHO IS
FOLLOWING RIGHT
WITH YOU NOT IN YOUR
FOOTSTEPS BUT THERE.
>> SHE IS.
>> SHE HEARD IT AND
SHE KNEW INSTANTLY THAT
YOU WOULD LOVE IT RIGHT?
>> SHE DID. AND
SHE SAID YOU HAVE
GOT TO BRING TO IT
PETER, PAUL AND MARY BECAUSE
IT IS PERFECT FOR 
THEM.
EVERYBODY IS
DEEPLY MOVED BY THIS.
AS I THINK YOU
MIGHT BE WHEN YOU HEAR IT.
♪ I'M A LITTLE
BOY WITH GLASSES ♪
♪ THE ONE THEY CALL A GEEK ♪
♪ A LITTLE GIRL WHO
NEVER SMILES ♪
♪ CAUSE I GOT BRACES
ON MY TEETH ♪
♪ AND I KNOW HOW IT FEELS
TO CRY MYSELF TO SLEEP ♪
♪ I AM THE KID ON 
EVERY PLAYGROUND ♪
♪ THE ONE THAT'S 
CHOSEN LAST ♪
♪ A SINGLE TEENAGE
MOTHER ♪
♪ WHO TRIES 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 ♪
♪ SOME DAY WE'LL
ALL HAVE PERFECT WINGS ♪
♪ DON'T LAUGH AT ME ♪
♪ I'M FAT ♪
♪ I'M THIN ♪
♪ I'M SHORT I'M TALL♪
♪ I'M DEAF ♪
♪ I'M BLIND ♪
♪ I'M DISABLED ♪
♪ HEY, AREN'T WE ALL ♪
♪DON'T LAUGH AT ME ♪--
>> THAT'S LOVELY AND THAT'S
PLAYED AS PART OF THE PROGRAM
AS THE CURRICULUM YOU DEVELOPED,
CORRECT?
>> YES. AND THAT CURRICULUM
INCLUDES SOCIAL
AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
>> IT'S NOW CALLED
SEL. 
>> S-E-E -- S-E-L, THAT'S RIGHT.
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
AND THE FOCUS IS 
WE HAVE TO DEVELOP
WHOLE CHILDREN, 
ETHICAL CHILDREN.
GOOD CITIZENS, 
WHO'S SOCIAL SENSE
AND EMOTIONAL 
SENSE IS ETHICAL 
AND CARE ASKING 
THAT IS IN 
ADDITION TO THEIR
INTELLECTUAL GROWTH,
TO THEIR STEM. THERE HAS TO BE
THE A,
WHICH IS ARTS.
AND THAT INCLUDES 
MUSIC AND ART 
WHICH WE KNOW 
WELL.
>> -- HIGH SCHOOL 
MUSICAL. 
>> THE FAME 
SCHOOL.
ONE OF THE TWO 
FAME SCHOOL.
>> IT ALSO TEACHES
CONFLICT RESOLUTION.
HOW YOU WORK OUT 
DIFFERENCES OF 
OPINION OR 
DISPUTES.
INSTEAD OF FIGHTING YOU TALK IT
THROUGH.
>> IT STARTS REALLY
WITH KIDS RECOGNIZING AND
IDENTIFYING THEIR 
OWN FEELINGS.
AND THEN ONCE THEY
HAVE DONE THAT, 
THEY CAN WALK IN 
EACH OTHER'S SHOES
AND SAY I 
UNDERSTAND HOW YOU
FEEL WHEN THIS
HAPPENS TO YOU AND ME.
EXPERIENCIAL 
LEARNING MEANS 
KIND OF LIVING 
TOGETHER RATHER 
THAN TALKING ABOUT
IT AT A DISTANCE.
AND IT ALSO MEAN 
OTHER ELEMENTS 
WHERE YOU HAVE A PEACE PLACE IN
THE CLASSROOM.
WHERE YOU HAVE 
KIDS INVOLVED IN 
DOING SERVICE 
LEARNING AND 
LEARNING HOW 
REWARDING IT IS TO
WORK FOR SOMETHING
YOU BELIEVE IN.
WHICH IS SOMETHING
WE KNOW WELL.
YOU KNOW, KIDS ARE
NOT EVEN TAUGHT CIVICS NOW.
>> I KNOW.
>> CIVICS WAS --
>> IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
SUBJECT I EVER TOOK I
THINK IN -- 
>> YEAH WE HAVE TO
KNOW WHY DO WE 
HAVE A GOVERNMENT.
HOW DOES THE
GOVERNMENT FUNCTION.
>> WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN IT.
>> EXACTLY AND HOW
DO WE SERVE IT.
SO WHAT "OPERATION
RESPECT" DON'T 
LAUGH AT ME, WHICH
IS THE PROGRAM.
AT ONE POINT WE 
TABULATED WE WERE 
IN 22,000 SCHOOLS.
WE'RE ALSO IN 
ISRAEL, 53% OF THE
SCHOOLS -- 63 
ACTUALLY.
A LITTLE BIT IN JORDAN,
PALESTINE, UKRAINE, CROATIA.
HONG KONG 
DEFINITELY WE'VE 
BEEN THERE FOR 
MANY YEARS.
JAPAN IS NOW 
WORKING THERE.
AND BECAUSE THIS 
IS ALL OVER.
THEY ARE DEALING WITH AN ABSENCE
OF EMPATHY.
AN ABSENCE OF --
>> DO YOU THINK
PEOPLE LEARN EMPATHY OR IS IT
SOMETHING INSIDE 
OF US THAT GETS 
AWAKENED IF IT IS 
NOT ALREADY?
>> I THINK IT IS INSIDE OF US TO
BE ARTICULATED.
>> IN OTHER WORDS WE I THINK
HAVE THAT PREDISPOSITION.
BUT WE CAN ALSO BE
TURNED AWAY FROM 
IT IF OUR BETTER NATURES ARE NOT
APPEALED TO.
I THINK THERE 
IS -- THE DILEMMA 
OF OUR TIME IS 
THAT THE APPEALS 
TO OUR CRUELTY,
OUR VOYEURISM,
OUR MEAN SPIRITEDNESS
ARE EVERYWHERE ON TELEVISION.
REALITY SHOWS.
WE SEE THAT NOW, 
YOU KNOW, IN -- 
IT'S BEEN GOING ON
IN ELECTIONS FOR A
LONG TIME BUT NOW 
IT IS REALLY, 
REALLY REALLY 
DEEP.
>> YEAH IT IS.
AND WHAT'S MOST 
DISTURBING IS TO 
SEE THAT IT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT 
PEOPLE DO WITH 
HESITATION.
IT IS SOMETHING 
THAT THEY GET 
PLEASURE FROM 
DOING.
AS IT SAY, DON'T GET YOUR
PLEASURE FROM MY PAIN.
BUT YOU SEE -- 
BULLIES UX DO YOU 
THINK THAT BULLIES
ARE OUTCAST?
ON THE CONTRARY.
THE CULTURE IS 
SUCH THAT BULLIES 
ARE IN MANY, MANY 
CASES. 
>> RESPECTED.
>> THEY ARE RESPECTED AND NOT
ONLY AMONG
CHILDREN BUT ALSO 
IN -- 
>> -- LOOK AT 
DONALD TRUMP AND 
SEE THE FOLLOWING. BUT NO.
THE RESULTS OF 
BULLYING.
AND WE HAVE 
FIGURES OF LIKE 
180,000 CHILDREN 
EVERY DAY STAY 
HOME FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY
ARE AFRAID OF IT.
>> THEY ARE AFRAID
TO GO TO SCHOOL,
AFRAID OF BEING BULLIED.
YOU HAVE 83% OF 
THE LGBT COMMUNITY
REPORTED HAVING
BEEN HARASSED OR --
HAIR-ESSED IS THE RIGHT WAY
ACTUALLY,
MY MOTHER WAS AN ENGLISH
TEACHER. YOU HAVE --
>> -- THE MASS SHOOTINGS
IN THE SCHOOLS.
>> IN ALMOST ALL 
THE CASES.
I DID A CONCERT AT
THE REQUEST OF 
NEWTOWN FOR 
HEALING.
AND AND ADAM LANZA
WHO CREATED THIS 
HORRIFIC ACT WAS BULLIED
AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY.
NOW WE DON'T KNOW
TO WHAT DEGREE IT HAPPENED.
BUT IT'S HAPPENED 
ALL THE TIME.
>> COLUMBINE.
>> THOSE TWO BOY WERE BULLIED.
>> THEY WERE CONSIDERED NERDS,
RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> THIS WENT OUT 
AND DID -- 
>> AND YOU KNOW 
THIS HAPPENS EVERY
DAY NOW IN OUR 
COUNTRY.
THAT THERE ARE
THESE KINDS OF EVENTS.
MAYBE NOT 
NECESSARILY MASS 
SHOOTINGS LIKE 
THAT.
>> -- ALSO.
>> AND ALSO SUICIDES.
AND WITH CYBER 
BULLYING THAT HAS 
BECOME MORE AND 
MORE CRITICAL. 
>> AND JUST THE 
GENERAL DEPRESSION
THAT SOME OF THESE
YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE 
TO LIVE WITH 
CAUGHT BY THIS 
FEELING OF 
INADEQUATE. 
>> THERE IS BULLYING IN THE
WORKPLACE.
IT IS REPEATED AND
IT IS DONE WITH 
INTENT TO INJURE.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO
IS NOT JUST 
ELIMINATE GUNS BUT
WE HAVE TO 
ELIMINATE THE KIND
OF -- WE CAN DO THIS.
WE ARE DOING NIT
SCHOOLS EVERYWHERE.
WHERE KIDS LOVE 
EACH OTHER AND 
THEY GET A VISION 
OF THAT.
NOW YES, THE WORLD
IS DIFFERENT BUT 
IF THEY ARE 
STRENGTHENED WITH 
THAT VISION AND 
LIVE IT, THEY CAN 
BE A NEXT 
GENERATION THAT 
CAN CARRY US IN TO
A TIME OF EMPATHY.
>> -- HOPE OF
CHANGING THE WORLD.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
BECAUSE WITH ADULTS IT IS VERY
HARD TO CHANGE
EMOTIONAL/SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE.
>> YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL WEBSITE.
I THINK IT IS ONE
OF THE BEST WEBSITES EVER.
BECAUSE YOU CAN GO
INTO SUCH DEPTH 
FOR EVERYTHING.
YOU LEARN THE 
CURRICULUM.
YOU SEE THE 
CHILDREN.
AND ONE OF THE 
THINGS I SAW OR 
HEARD IN IT WAS 
THERE WAS SOME 
PROBLEM IN A 
CLASSROOM.
AND ONE OF THE 
BOYS SAID I THINK 
IT IS TIME FOR 
DON'T BLAME ME.
>> DON'T LAUGH AT 
ME. 
>> DON'T LAUGH AT 
ME.
>> YES LIKE
TIMEOUT INSTEAD OF --
>> McCLUSKY WHO WAS
ONE OF THE MAIN LEADERS OF
THIS WHOLE CHILD 
EDUCATION. 
>> SEL.
>> -- INITIATIVE, YES, WAS
OUR CEO AND PRESIDENT AND
SHE HAS JUST COMPLETELY REDONE
OUR WEBSITE.
>> FABULOUS.
>> AND WHAT I KNOW
IS THAT SOMETIMES 
IN SOME SCHOOLS IF
THERE IS BULLYING 
GOING ON THE KIDS 
DON'T GO OVER TO 
THE BULLY AND SAY
ANYTHING THEY JUST SING.
♪ DON'T LAUGH AT ME ♪
♪ DON'T CALL ME NAMES ♪
>>AND EVERYBODY
STARTS SINGING IT
NOBODY 
CONFRONTATIONALLY 
AND THE CONSENSUS
IS DELIVERED AND IT STOPS.
MUSIC IN MY EXPERIENCE
GOING BACK TO PETER PAUL
AND MARY WHEN WE
WERE AT THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON,
MUSIC WHEN PEOPLE 
WITH SHARE IT, 
WHEN SING TOGETHER
A SONG AS WE DID THEN-
♪ THE ANSWER MY 
FRIEND ♪
♪ IS BLOWING IN 
THE WIND ♪
♪ THE ANSWER IS
BLOWING IN THE WIND ♪
>>AND THAT HAD JUST BECOME,
GONE TO ITS TOP POSITION IN
THE CHARTS NUMBER 2,
THE WEEK BEFORE.
EVERYBODY KNEW IT.
AND INSTEAD THEY
ARE JUST LISTENING.
THEY HELD HANDS.
I HAVE THE 
PICTURE.
IF YOU WATCH THE
PETER PAUL AND MARY
TV SPECIAL
YOU WILL SEE THEM
SINGING A SONG.
WHEN PEOPLE SING 
TOGETHER WHICH IS 
WHY MUSIC IS SO 
IMPORTANT IN THE 
DON'T LAUGH AT ME 
PROGRAM, THEY WILL
SING ALL KINDS OF
SONGS. THEY WILL SING:
♪ WHERE HAVE ALL
THE FLOWERS GONE ♪
♪ LONG TIME PASSING ♪
AND THEY WILL SING IT.
YOU WILL HEAR IT
IF YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE.
YOU WILL HEAR IT
IN HEBREW, IN UKRAINIAN.
YOU WILL HEAR IT
IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.
AND TOGETHER AND IN ARABIC.
YOU WILL HEAR IT IN ARABIC.
AND YOU WILL HEAR 
THE SONG 
♪ THIS LITTLE 
LIGHT OF MINE ♪
♪ I'M GONNA LET IT
SHINE ♪
♪ THIS LITTLE 
LIGHT OF MINE ♪
AND YOU WILL HEAR 
BASIC SONGS ARE: 
♪ IF I HAD A HAMMER 
I'D HAMMER IN THE MORNING ♪
♪ I'D HAMMER IN THE EVENING ♪
THESE SONGS STILL RESONATE.
>> AND THEY BRING THIS
SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
YOU ARE MAKING ME 
ALMOST CRY WHEN I 
THINK OF HOW 
EXHILARATING IT 
WAS TO BE IN A 
CROWD OF PEOPLE 
AND HEARING THE 
SONG AND SINGING 
ALONG WITH THIS 
UNIFIED VISION. 
>> IT IS 
EMPOWERING.
AND WHEN THE KIDS 
SING TOGETHER JUST
LIKE WE FELT THAT 
WE COULD MOVE 
FORWARD AND CREATE
A CIVIL RIGHTS 
MOVEMENT THAT 
WOULD ENTIRELY 
CHANGE THE DYNAMIC
BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES.
AND ALTHOUGH 
RACISM HAS 
REEMERGED IN A 
TERRIBLE WAY, 
ENORMOUS THINGS 
WERE ACHIEVED.
BUT WHEN PEOPLE DO
THIS IN THAT KIND 
OF CIRCUMSTANCE IT
IS REPEATED IN A 
LITTLE CLASSROOM 
WHERE KIDS SING 
TOGETHER AND THEY 
FEEL -- YOU KNOW, 
THEIR EMOTIONS 
SHOW.
IF WE SING TOGETHER THAT IS WHAT
HAPPENS.
IT IS REALLY QUITE
WONDERFUL WE ALSO DO
♪ GONNA LAY DOWN MY SWORD AND
SHIELD ♪
♪ DOWN BY THE 
RIVERSIDE ♪
♪ DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE ♪
I MEAN THESE SONGS
ARE CLASSIC. 
>> WHY DO YOU 
THINK WE DON'T 
HAVE AS MANY 
MOVEMENTS?
I GUESS WE DO IN A
WAY.
WE'VE GOT -- 
BERNIE SANDERS GOT
THE YOUNG PEOPLE 
REALLY.
WE HAVE TO WORRY 
ABOUT WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN WITH 
THEM.
>> YES WE DO. BUT
THE MOVEMENT REALLY HUGE.
MY DAUGHTER ONE OF
THE REALLY LEADING
PEOPLE IN THE
ANTI-FRACKING MOVEMENT.
RONNIE SHE JUST GOT ARRESTED
A WEEK AND A HALF AGO.
WE'RE PROUD OF 
HER.
>>AND SHE LIVES UPSTATE DOESN'T
SHE? 
>>SHE LIVES UPSTATE AND IN
NEW YORK. THERE SHE WAS
YOU CAN SEE HER
GETTING ARRESTED, SINGING
WHERE THEY GRANT THE PIPELINE
PERMITS-
♪ WE SHALL NOT ♪
♪ WE SHALL NOT BE 
MOVED ♪
AND YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT'S
LIKE FOR ME.
AND I GO AND I 
JOIN HER AND SHE 
LEADS AND THERE 
ARE MOVEMENTS AND 
THEY ARE POWERFUL 
MOVEMENTS AND THEY
ARE SINGING BUT IT
IS NOT AT THE TOP 
OF THE HIT PARADE 
THAT KIND OF MUSIC
AS IT WAS IN THE
'60s AND IN THE '70s.
BECAUSE MUSIC HAS
BEEN SO COMMODIFIED.
YOU CAN GET IT TO 
ON THE NET.
IT IS THERE AND 
THERE ARE MANY 
PEOPLE WRITING 
SONGS.
I JUST WROTE A NEW
SONG BY THE WAY.
I'VE BEEN WRITING 
SONGS ABOUT 
MOVEMENTS AND SO 
IT IS HAPPENING.
>> THE RAP -- DOES
RAP -- WHAT DOES THAT DO?
>> RAP AND HIP HOP
HAS TWO FACES.
PART IS NIHILIST 
AND FOR THE MONEY 
AND IT'S CRUDE AND
DEMORALIZING.
BUT, FOR INSTANCE,
THE PEACE POETS.
LUKE NEPHEW WHO'S 
DOING A VERSION OF
THE SONG "THE
CHILDREN ARE LISTENING."
HE'S DOING A HIP 
HOP VERSION OF IT.
THERE ARE LOTS OF 
PEOPLE IN THAT 
IDIOM WHO ARE 
DOING 
EXTRAORDINARY 
WORK.
THEY ARE PART OF
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
YES THERE IS A
FACE BUT ARE THEY COVERED?
YES THEY ARE 
COVERED IN A MINOR
WAY BUT THEY ARE 
NOT NOT AT THE TOP
OF THE CHARTS SO 
TO SPEAK.
>> YOU GO AROUND 
THE WORLD TALK 
ABOUT THE PROJECT 
AND OTHER PEOPLE 
SO YOU ALSO TRAIN 
EDUCATORS. 
>> WE DO. THAT IS THE
WAY WE FUNCTION.
WE HAVE MARK WEISS
WHO WAS AN 
EXTRAORDINARY
PRINCIPAL IN NEW YORK
WHO STARTED TWO EXTRAORDINARY
SCHOOLS.
ONE IN THE SOUTH 
BRONX FOR 
TEENAGERS WHO WERE
CONSIDERED 
INEDUCATABLE THAT 
DID BETTER THAN 
THE SO CALLED "REGULAR" SCHOOLS
NEXT DOOR.
AND HE'S TRAINED
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS.
WE TRAINED OVER 
50,000 EDUCATORS.
AND WE HAVE
TRAINERS OF TRAINERS.
SO I MEAN WE CAN'T
SEE OVER IN ISRAEL.
BUT OVER THERE HE
HAS TRAINED THE TRAINERS.
AND NOW WE HAVE 
THIS DON'T LAUGH 
AT ME PROGRAM IN 
HEBREW, IN ENGLISH
AND IN ARABIC, IN 
THE ARABIC SCHOOLS
AS MUCH AS IT IS 
IN THE JEWISH 
SCHOOLS THAT IS 
NOT ONLY USED TO 
CREATE A CARING 
ENVIRONMENT IN 
WHICH VIOLENCE AND
BULLYING WILL 
OCCUR LESS OR NOT 
AT ALL BUT ALSO 
USED TO DIMINISH 
THE HATRED AND THE
FEAR THAT SPIKED 
AND ALWAYS SPIKES 
WHEN THERE IS
A CONFLICT, IN THE LAST GUISE
OF WAR, AND WHEN THAT 
HAPPENS IT
CREATES SOMETHING AT
THE GROUND THAT MAKES
IT VERY DIFFICULT
TO SEE THE PEACE
BECAUSE THAT CYCLE
OF RETRIBUTION HAS TO
BE INTERRUPTED AND
IT CAN THROUGH CHILDREN.
>> NOW IS THIS AN
ACCEPTED PART OF CURRICULUMS?
OR IS IT STILL CUTTING EDGE IN
THE SCHOOLS?
LET'S TALK ABOUT 
THIS COUNTRY.
>> IN THIS COUNTRY
IT IS TO A CERTAIN
DEGREE CUTTING
EDGE. BUT THROUGH ASCD,
ASSOCIATIONS OF SUPERVISION
AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT,
IT'S BECOME A
MOVEMENT OF ITS OWN.
MOLLY WAS ONE OF THE LEADERS IF
NOT THE TOP LEADER OF THAT.
SO THAT IN SCHOOLS
THERE ARE NOW STANDARDS
FOR A CLIMATE THAT IS
HOSPITABLE.
AND THAT IS ALL 
NEW.
AND IT'S COME OUT 
OF THIS MOVEMENT 
THAT MOLLY WAS 
LEADING. 
>> AND PART OF IT 
WOULD BE A 
PARENT'S DEMAND OF
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
>> THAT WAS NOT AS
EFFECTIVE AS 
COMING FROM THE
EDUCATIONAL MODEL ITSELF.
A GREAT FRIEND IS 
ABSOLUTELY A HUGE 
SUPPORTER OF THIS.
AND TOLERANCE.
AND IT IS ALL ABOUT --
LOOK, OPERATION RESPECT.
THINK ABOUT IT.
IF WE HAD RESPECT 
FOR EACH OTHER, 
REALLY RESPECT AND
EVEN EMBRACE, WE 
WOULDN'T HAVE TO 
BE MARCHING.
WE'D CARE ABOUT 
EACH OTHER.
WE'D CARE ABOUT
THE NEXT GENERATION.
WE WOULDN'T ALLOW
OURSELVES AS A HUMAN RACE
TO BE FACING THE KIND
OF ENVIRONMENTAL, IRREVERSIBLE,
CATASTROPHE CHANGE THAT WE'RE
FACING. WE WOULDN'T SEE
BLACK LIVES MATTER BECAUSE WE --
>> WE WOULDN'T NEED IT.
>> -- WE RESPECT
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
SO WHAT WE 
INCULCATE IS THE 
VOICE THAT PUSHES
AGAINST THESE NEGATIVE --
>> SO MUCH THE
COUNTERCULTURE TO FINANCE
AND RICH AND --
>> IT IS TO EXCLUSIVITY.
THE DIFFERENCE 
BETWEEN THE HAVES 
AND THE HAVE NOTES
IS EVER INCREASING.
>> DID YOU KNOW 
THAT 20 FAMILIES 
OWN THE WEALTH OF 
90 -- NO.
50% OF THE WEALTH 
THAT'S BEEN 
CREATED IN THE LAST DECADE OR
SO. 20 FAMILIES.
TALK ABOUT -- IT'S
THE GUILDED ERA. IT'S MIDIEVIL.
>> AND THIS WHOLE
PROGRAM TAKES US BACK TO
WHAT WE EXPECT OF HUMANITY.
>> WHAT WE EXPECT 
AND IT GIVES 
CHILDREN A SENSE 
THAT WHAT THEY 
SHOULD REACH IS 
NOT THEIR NAME ON 
A BUILDING AND SAYING HOW
BIG YOU ARE OR A BIG --.
BUT THEY SEE THE 
JOY OF BEING THERE
AND LOVING EACH OTHER AND
HELPING EACH OTHER.
I SING IN A 
HOSPICE.
NOBODY THERE IS
TALKING ABOUT THEIR MONEY.
ALL THEY WANT IS
GENTLENESS AND KINDNESS.
I'M ON THE BOARD
OF THE CONNECTICUT HOSPICE.
WHAT WE REALLY 
WANT IS TO BE 
LOVED AND 
RESPECTED.
AND IF WE CAN GET 
THAT BACK INTO THE
CHILDREN'S HEARTS 
AND BRAINS, WE CAN
HAVE A HUGE 
EFFECT.
>>THEY ALWAYS SAY, YOU KNOW,
IT'S A LITTLE PAT BUT THAT 
CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE BUT THIS
IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE 
WE WANT THE CHILDREN TO MAKE THE
FUTURE A BETTER PLACE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THEY HAVE TO
GROW TO BE NOT ONLY THE 
LEADERSHIP BUT THE VOTERS WHO
SAY WE HAVE A CIVIC
RESPONSIBILITY AND A CIVIC JOY.
FOR ME, WHY AT THE AGE OF 
77 DO YOU THINK 
I'M STILL DOING 
THIS AND ENJOYING 
IT LIKE CRAZY?
>> BECAUSE IT 
COMES FROM YOU.
>> -- LET'S GIVE 
THAT VISION TO 
THOSE CHILDREN ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY.
THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF SCHOOLS.
AND WE'RE DOING 
IT.
AND THAT IS WHY 
THIS WORK IS SO 
IMPORTANT AND HOW 
IMPORTANT IT IS 
FOR US AS ADULTS
TO SET ALSO THE EXAMPLE
BECAUSE, SING YOUR SONG-
>> OH YES.
THIS IS CALLED THE
CHILDREN ARE 
LISTENING AND LET
ME SING THIS FOR YOU.
I JUST WROTE THIS 
I MAY HAVE TO 
REFER TO THE
WORDS. OKAY?
YOU WILL FORGIVE 
ME IF I DO. 
>> IT'S FUN.
♪ THE CHILDREN ARE LISTENING ♪
♪ THE CHILDREN ARE LISTENING ♪
♪ WE SAY SOMETHING
CRUEL AND HARSH ♪
♪ THEY WILL DO THE SAME ♪
♪ THE CHILDREN ARE LISTENING ♪
♪ THE CHILDREN ARE LISTENING ♪
♪ IF THEY GROW UP
TO BE BULLIES ♪
♪ WE'LL HAVE
OURSELVES TO BLAME ♪
♪ MIRACLES CAN 
HAPPENS EVEN ON 
THE DARKEST DAYS ♪
♪ WHEN WE FEAR THAT ALL IS LOST
AND THAT HOPE IS GONE ASTRAY♪
♪ SOMETIMES WE DROP 
OUR WEAPONS ♪
♪ WHEN THE PRICE WE PAY'S TOO
GREAT ♪
♪ WHEN THE DAMAMGE TO THE ONES
WE LOVE ♪
♪ IS GREATER THEN OUR HATE ♪
♪ WELL IT'S TIME TO COME
TOGETHER ♪
♪ ACROSS THE DIVIDING LINES ♪
♪ WITH THE PAIN THEY ARE
SUFFERING IN THESE HARD TIMES ♪
♪ IT'S NOT JUST RIDICULE AND
TAUNTS AND BULLYING
BY THEIR PEERS ♪
♪ GROWN UPS RAGE AND HATEFUL
WORDS ARE RINGING IN THEIR EAR ♪
♪ THE CHILDREN ARE LISTENING ♪
♪ THE CHILDREN ARE LISTENING ♪
♪ WE SAY SOMETHING CRUEL AND
HARD THEY WILL DO THEY SAME ♪
♪ THE CHILDREN ARE LISTENING ♪
♪ THE CHILDREN ARE LISTENING ♪
♪ THEY GROW UP TO BE BULLIES ♪
♪ WE'LL HAVE OURSELVES 
TO BLAME ♪
>> THANK YOU SO
MUCH PETER YARROW.
AND THANK YOU FOR SPENDING YOUR
LIFE TO MAKE THIS WORLD 
A BETTER PLACE. 
>> YOU KNOW IT IS THE
GREATEST JOY. PEOPLE
SHOULD KNOW THAT I AM THE ONE
WHO GIVES THANKS.
THAT'S THE JOY OF LOVING AND
GIVING. KIDS LEARN
THAT THE JOY OF LOVING AND
GIVING IS LIKE THE JOY OF 
PARENTING BUT INSTEAD OF IT
BEING YOUR OWN KIDS IT'S
EVERYBODY AND SOME HOW THAT
GOT THROUGH TO ME VIA PETE
SEEGAR AND HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC
AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU RONNIE.
♪[MUSIC]♪
