Robert F. "Rod" Merrill
Where is the Freedom?
© 2000 Robert F. Merrill
CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.
These original freedom songs are powerful snapshots of Rod Merrill's ten year vigil experience in York, PA, in support of asylum seekers detained by the INS in York County Jail.
tracks
- 1 Where is the Freedom?
- 2 Sometimes I Think I See a Tragedy Unfolding
- 3 Oh, America, How I Dreamed Ya
- 4 As This Old Earth Turns into a New Year
- 5 It's the Waiting
- 6 Oh My Soul
- 7 Oh, Yesterday I Met Harry Wu
- 8 Just Trying to Kill Her Soul
- 9 Oh, What's This?
- 10 Still Burns the Notion
- 11 Well, There She Was, She Just Burst Up
- 12 Over in China Some People are Listening
- 13 Even as We Speak
try this
albums you will love
genres you will love
By Location
links
notes
Regarding the evolution of Where is the Freedom?
In the summer of 1993, after more than one hundred Chinese undocumented immigrants were sent by the Immigration and Naturalization Service to York County Prison in York, PA, to be detained for an indefinite period of time following the grounding of their ship, The Golden Venture, off the coast of New York, a group of concerned York citizens began conducting weekly vigils outside the prison on behalf of fairness and justice in the hearings on these asylum seekers' claims to asylum. At this time, Rod Merrill, now a retired teacher and Navy pilot, joined the group as its ever ready guitarist and soon began writing his own freedom songs for the weekly vigils of the People of the Golden Vision, as the group came to call itself. He found his song writing, inspired each week by the group's selfless support of the detainees, including, especially, its stupendous pro bono legal efforts (the largest such work in the U.S.) in successfully resisting the government's attempts to immediately deport them, highly satisfying. He was also greatly moved by the varying plights and struggles of the Chinese detainees in particular and by that of asylum seekers throughout the world in general, as well as by thoughts regarding many aspects of freedom.
In Where is the Freedom? Rod has assembled thirteen of his favorite original freedom songs, each reflecting a different aspect of the asylum seeker's struggle for freedom as well as the history of this struggle in York, PA. In these poignant songs we see the dismay of the asylum seeker who, on having fled oppression in his own land, now finds not only that his freedom hopes have been dashed, he must also now be detained in America, the vaunted land "of the free." We see the anguish of unjust incarceration, the frustration of not knowing how to cope or when one will be released, and the loneliness and bitterness of being basically lost to family, friends and the world.
After more than four years, the last of the Chinese detainees was released. However, not all of the detainees obtained asylum in the U.S. Some were deported back to China. Some found asylum in other countries.
The vigils continued for another six years then, on a monthly rather than weekly basis in support of asylum seekers from all over the world; and even today vigils and educational or fund-raising events in support of asylum seekers are occasionally held.
The People of the Golden Vision bought a large old home in the city of York, renovated it, and in 1999 opened it as the International Friendship House, a temporary shelter for asylum seekers newly released from prison. This is the first such home in the United States.
Rod Merrill was born in New Jersey, attended Cornell University (class of '64), taught thirty years in the York City Schools, and served twenty years in the US Navy as an officer and pilot. He and his wife Jane have three children and five grandchildren. Now retired, Rod is writing a novel based upon his experiences with the People of the Golden Vision. Rod welcomes comments from all who buy Where is the Freedom? His email address is: ro3d1@suscom.net
reviews
Please log in to review this album.
Heartfelt.....real.....
author: Vickie HallIt was my pleasure to have met Rod Merrill as a Red Cross Volunteer Helping with Hurricane Katrina Relief.....we worked together and he hummed and sang and entertained many of the Red Cross Volunteers working to save a part of AMERICA......his CD ...his music....his mind....his humor and his sensitivity left it's mark on many of us. His CD can be identified not only with the topic written about but after spending our time helping the people of the Louisiana.....it could very well have been written with them in mind. Thank you for the pleasure. The CD is enjoyable, meaningful and one that makes us all think. Good job dear friend!