Mrs. McGrath and the Tin Soldiers

The tragic life of Mrs. McGrath and her son Ted. Recording by Pete Seeger. Accompanied by a photocollage of toy soldiers, people dressed like toy soldiers for fun, and other images which seem to show, sadly, how much we, as a species, seem to love war. Although the song was written about one particular war, it applies to all wars. Remember Wilfred Owen's words from the war that was to end all wars, world War One: "The old lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori." Note: the "Mrs McGrath" image is actually of a Frenchwoman (I think the painting is by Degas), but it seemed to fit. Apologies to art, war, naval, and other historians, because there's defintely some poetic license used in this little film. Other images do not fit the times of the song, being from other times, wars, or armies; but war is war. This song apeaks to today because of the high percentages of amputees, on all sides, in the current war in Iraq: a situation resulting directly from the U.S.A.'s illegal invasion and occupation of that country under the misguided (at best) "leadership" of George W. Bush. May this war end soon.