MEET GUMBO SQUARE BAND MEMBERS….. AMY ZAHEDI, MARKUS RUFFING and GERD VOGEL
Keeping it global, Germany leaves its mark on the music of the Gumbo Square Band through the talents of Amy Zahedi (Lead and Backing Vocalist, Songwriter), Markus Ruffing (Hammond B3, Keyboards, Sound Engineer) and Gerd Vogel (Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Slide, Dobro). All three, established in their own careers, bring their talents into the mix of the original tunes, with some written by Amy Zahedi and Serge Grad. Germany has joined us, placing their art on the pulse of social issues that affect us all.
Drummer Grazy Coral (Spain, former drummer for The Supremes/Steve Lukather, etc.) plays for the sound check to lay the tracks for “Fly Away” lauching the newest recording by the Gumbo Square Band, aimed at bringing attention to the feelings of those who are victims of Human/Sex Trafficking. Recorded in Spain.
“Fly Away”
Words and Music by Amy Zahedi and Serge Grad
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Today, 3 February, is National Missing Persons Day in America. But we believe that this day of remembrance should cover the world. The absence of a beloved family member or dear friend is devastating to so many still waiting for the door to open, and their arms to be filled once again.
We at The Gumbo Square Band hope with all of our hearts that those missing will soon come home……..
#nationalmissingpersonsday #humanandsextrafficking #paedophelia #oneheartoneglobeonehumanity #gumbosquareband
BEHAVIOUR UNAWARE…
Sex Slavery & How We Might Be Permitting It
#SEXSLAVERY #HUMAN TRAFFICKING #BEHAVERESPONSIBLY #VOICE4THEVOICELESS
BY MELONY BENTON FOSTER
WE ARE ALL AWARE OF IT BY NOW: SEX TRAFFICKING. BUT WHAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORDS, “SEX TRAFFICKING”? FRANKLY, I DON’T LIKE THE WORD, “TRAFFICKING,” BECAUSE IT NUMBS US TO THE HORROR OF WHAT THIS EVIL TRULY IS. I PERSONALLY SEE PROSTITUTION AND SLAVERY AS “PROPERTY LAW TO PEOPLE, WHERE ONE HAS COMPLETE POWER OR CONTROL OVER ANOTHER.” IN MY MIND’S EYE, I CLEARLY SEE SAD, BROKEN, TORMENTED INDIVIDUALS, BOUGHT AND SOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR SEXUAL PLEASURE.
ISN’T THAT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT? THEN LET’S CALL IT WHAT IT IS: SEX SLAVERY. THIS EVIL PLAGUING THE ENTIRE WORLD IS SEX SLAVERY. NOW THAT WE KNOW WHAT IT IS, WHAT IS IT TO US?
DO WE NEED TO BE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST IT, TO STOP IT? WHAT CAN WE DO, AS AVERAGE PEOPLE, TO IMPACT THIS PROBLEM?
I BELIEVE THAT A SIMPLE AND EASY WAY FOR US TO START IN THE FIGHT AGAINST SEX SLAVERY IS TO TAKE STOCK OF OUR OWN ACTIONS AND BEHAVIOURS. WHILE IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT ANY OF US IS A PIMP, AND PROBABLY NONE OF US HAVE SOMEONE CHAINED TO THE FLOOR IN THE BASEMENT (COLLECTIVE SIGH OF RELIEF!), I DO THINK THAT WE CAN UNKNOWINGLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE TRAFFICKING SLAVERY PROBLEM. AT THE VERY LEAST, WE FAIL TO SEE WHAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
HAVE YOU EVER EATEN IN A CHINESE RESTAURANT, THAT HAS PRICES THAT YOU KNOW ARE WAY TOO LOW, AND THE SERVERS SEEM FEARFUL TO LOOK AT YOU OR SPEAK TO YOU?
EVER OCCASIONALLY WATCHED A PORN FLICK WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT HOW IT WAS PRODUCED OR HOW THEY GOT THOSE VERY YOUNG GUYS AND GIRLS TO DO WHAT THEY DO?
WHAT ABOUT BEING IN CHURCH (YES, CHURCH!), OR IN A PLACE OF BUSINESS OR PERHAPS SOMEONE’S HOME, WHERE A CHILD SEEMS TERRIFIED AND AN ADULT SEEMS A LITTLE TOO CLOSE AT HAND, ALL OF THE TIME?
HAVE YOU EVER PAID FOR SEX? THE REALITY IS THAT EVEN IF IT WAS JUST IN GOOD FUN FOR A PARTY FOR A BUNCH OF YOUR MATES, YOU HAVE A MADE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
SEX TRAFFICKING, SEX SLAVERY IS FOUND IN EVERY COUNTRY, IN MOST CITIES OF THE WORLD, AND APPEARS TO BE GROWING MORE AND MORE AS A PROFOUND PROBLEM. ALL OF US CAN BEGIN TO END THIS TERRIBLE BLIGHT BY DETERMINING TO NEVER EVER BE PART OF THE PROBLEM AGAIN.
FOR SOME OF US THAT WILL MEAN A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOUR. IT WILL MEAN THAT SAYING “NO” TO OBVIOUS THINGS. FOR ALL OF US, IT SHOULD BE A NEW AWARENESS AND A DETERMINATION TO SPEAK UP AND STAND UP FOR THOSE CAUGHT IN THIS HELLISH TRAP.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN STOP SEX TRAFFICKING, SEX SLAVERY…….BUT WE ALL HAVE TO BE IN THE FIGHT. WE ALL HAVE TO SEE THOSE BEING BOUGHT AND SOLD AS CHILDREN OF GOD, AND DETERMINE THAT IT IS UP TO ALL OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
MELONY BENTON FOSTER IS A MARRIED MOTHER OF 3 CHILDREN, AND A GRANDMOTHER OF 3. SHE IS A TIRELESS ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN WORLDWIDE AND THEIR RIGHT TO SURVIVE, THE UNBORN FORWARD, PRESERVING THE WELFARE OF OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. MELONY’S WORK AS AN ELEMENTARY MUSIC TEACHER, AS WELL AS A COMPOSER OF AN UP AND COMING CHILDREN’S MUSICAL IS KEEPING HER BUSY DOING WHAT SHE LOVES…TOUCHING OUR CHILDREN’S LIVES.
PHOTOGRAPH “REACH” BY AKILYN KUROSON
