Two musicians with two very different styles died this week. You might not have heard of them (well, you've probably heard of the one, even if you haven't heard his songs.) They were both important in my musical education.
Lemmy Kilmister, from Motorhead, is the more famous of the two. Motorhead was a huge influence on many heavy metal musicians, and many bands have covered one of their biggest hits, Ace of Spades. I was never a big metalhead, but I had friends who were and I heard plenty.
Around the same time I was discovering heavy metal I became aware of a more laidback musical style, reggae, that would stick with me for longer. One of the first reggae songs I remember hearing was "Ghost Town" by The Specials. I'm surprised I haven't included it in earlier reggae posts. Their drummer, John Bradbury, just died.
Both of these guys were fairly old and still playing music. They'll be remembered.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Tell Me Who You Vote For, And I Will Tell You Who You Are
Sigh. How did a sleazy reality star become the Republican party's leading candidate? Well, they did run a B-movie actor in 1980...
I'd like to ask Trump's supporters: what do you like about him? What does "make America great again" mean? At least, to you? What is bad about it now? What time period would you go back to? As for me, as much of a history buff as I am I don't want to go back- I want to go forward. But you want to go back. "We want our country back." You know, the one you miss so much- where you could make fun of colored people, and fire fags, and burn women at the stake for talking back.
I mean, are they just ignorant? No gay or Muslim or black friends, so they are unaware of that great big world outside of their inbred neighborhood? I'm sure that's part of the truth. But it's not just ignorance that drives his supporters- it's selfishness, paranoia, xenophobia. " Yeah, I know a black guy, but I don't like him" (Or- "he's one of the good ones.") "I know a Muslim guy but I don't trust him." "I know a gay guy but don't think he deserves special rights" (i.e., the ones I have...)
To the Trump supporters who say "he says what he's thinking, he doesn't pull any punches, he's a straight talker unlike all these other politicians who just tell you what you want to hear." You do understand that he's a politician who's telling you what you want to hear, correct? And since you want to hear that nastiness, I am going to assume you are a nasty person.
Trump is all flash, no substance. He always has been. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and has done nothing useful for the country or world. And he's a dick. I don't know what people like about that. He talks a big game. He likes to stir stuff up. He's divisive. And as bad as he is as a candidate, he would be a far worse president. Someone who doesn't stop his supporters from beating people up now will, given more power, encourage them to attack more people. He is a jerk. If you support him, I will assume you are one too.
There are plenty of Republicans who can't stand him, and are speaking out against him, and I respect that. But who would they prefer? Cruz? Huckabee? Fiorina? There are a few "moderate" Republicans, Kasich/Rubio/Bush. Do you want them?
To Republicans who don't support him now, my question is: Will you vote for him if he wins the nomination? Is he what you really want? Do you hate Hillary so much that you would hold your nose and vote for this doofus?
I'm not a huge fan of Hillary; I'm not a huge fan of politicians in general. However, when I weigh the choices, the outcome is clear. Look at foreign policy- I think Clinton would generally continue Obama's foreign policy, which has been middling but not awful. I think Trump would piss off our allies and enemies all at once (aside from maybe being buddy-buddy with Putin.) Frankly, I think she would be tougher, and better, at foreign policy than Trump. Domestically, I also see her staying the course for the most part, and him being a fucking nutcase. Economically, he would ruin this country. He has ruined plenty of companies and people. He is a self-centered bastard. Again, a lot of politicians are, but he has proven in the past, jeez, four decades that he has been in the public eye, that he is more self-centered, and more of a bastard, than most.
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Religion, pt 1: In The Beginning
Verily, though I'm not very religious I know a lot about religion.
As a kid I went to church with many of my friends, who were of various (Christian) sects. My parents weren't religious, but they encouraged us to experience different churches and cultures. At holidays and some other times we went to church with family, which meant Methodist and Roman Catholic services. My friends were Baptist, Mormon, Catholic, etc., and I went to church with them a lot. As I got older I was exposed to other religions (Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) and went to Unitarian Universalist churches. UUers are technically Christians, but it is a very non-dogmatic sect. In general, I was encouraged to think for myself. I read assorted texts, I ended up taking comparative religion classes in high school and college, and I thought about things a lot. I still think often about the meaning of life, etc., and experience spiritual moments in various places. I am most definitely not a fan of organized religion in general, but I find a lot to like in the teachings of many religions. I have had my most profound religious/spiritual experiences not in churches but in nature. Looking at the wonders around us, or imagining our place in the universe, makes me feel the divine more deeply than any sermon.
And I do think there's something out there (well, and in here, and everywhere.) I think there's a force for good in the universe, or at least a "motivating force." I don't think of it as having a very concrete form or name; Richard Bach referred to it as The Great Is. That kind of accounts for the idea of omnipresence, and omnipotence, and karma, and a lot of other concepts in mainstream religions. I don't see a guy with a white beard sitting on clouds making things happen, or answering prayers. It's more of a force in everything, or not even that much of a separation- it's not in everything, it IS everything.
Sometimes, of course, it's hard to see much evidence of any "force for good" in this world. Bad things happen, to good people. Some explain this away as "well, they did something wrong, or weren't faithful enough." I call bullshit on that "he deserved it, even if we can't tell why" attitude. And don't get me started on Pat Robertson and his ilk, who spout vicious things about "gays causing hurricanes" and whatnot. Their brand of religious leadership, and of religion in general, are what drives people away from organized religion. And they don't seem to see how much they have in common with the vile fundamentalists of other religions, but they are all the same; just the targets of their hate differ (well, sometimes differ.)
Sorry for that digression. I believe we should treat others as we would like to be treated; that seems to be a common thread in many religions' teachings, but forgotten by many of their followers. I don't believe in heaven or hell, except as they exist in our lives. I don't think you should act good now so that you can get rewarded later, or to avoid punishment. You should be decent because it's the right thing to do. And we do create "hells" for ourselves, and others, right here on earth. Anyway, you never know how long you have, so you should do what you can now. I've seen too many promising people taken away too soon.
Some of the best people I've known have been religious. And some of the best have been non-religious. I don't think decency or morals have anything to do with religion, or whether you call yourself religious. Some of the worst people I've known, and in history, have been religious, or at least claimed that mantle for themselves (and used it was a weapon, and excuse, to do nasty things.)
I recently saw a quote: "The Lord uses the good ones, and bad ones use the Lord." And among my other beliefs, I believe that strongly. If you tell me how religious you are, and that you do things because of your religion, I am suspicious of you. And if you tell me I should do things because of your religion, well, you can probably guess what I think of that. I do not think other people should follow my spiritual beliefs. They work for me; they won't necessarily work for you. Let me live by them. Don't expect me to follow yours.
Look: let's all respect each others' views and beliefs, but not try to impose them on anyone. I appreciate the good in this world, the amazing people, and the wonders of nature. I try to treat people decently. I try to live the best life I can. I hope you do too.
Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect.
Chief Seattle, 1854
As a kid I went to church with many of my friends, who were of various (Christian) sects. My parents weren't religious, but they encouraged us to experience different churches and cultures. At holidays and some other times we went to church with family, which meant Methodist and Roman Catholic services. My friends were Baptist, Mormon, Catholic, etc., and I went to church with them a lot. As I got older I was exposed to other religions (Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) and went to Unitarian Universalist churches. UUers are technically Christians, but it is a very non-dogmatic sect. In general, I was encouraged to think for myself. I read assorted texts, I ended up taking comparative religion classes in high school and college, and I thought about things a lot. I still think often about the meaning of life, etc., and experience spiritual moments in various places. I am most definitely not a fan of organized religion in general, but I find a lot to like in the teachings of many religions. I have had my most profound religious/spiritual experiences not in churches but in nature. Looking at the wonders around us, or imagining our place in the universe, makes me feel the divine more deeply than any sermon.
And I do think there's something out there (well, and in here, and everywhere.) I think there's a force for good in the universe, or at least a "motivating force." I don't think of it as having a very concrete form or name; Richard Bach referred to it as The Great Is. That kind of accounts for the idea of omnipresence, and omnipotence, and karma, and a lot of other concepts in mainstream religions. I don't see a guy with a white beard sitting on clouds making things happen, or answering prayers. It's more of a force in everything, or not even that much of a separation- it's not in everything, it IS everything.
Sometimes, of course, it's hard to see much evidence of any "force for good" in this world. Bad things happen, to good people. Some explain this away as "well, they did something wrong, or weren't faithful enough." I call bullshit on that "he deserved it, even if we can't tell why" attitude. And don't get me started on Pat Robertson and his ilk, who spout vicious things about "gays causing hurricanes" and whatnot. Their brand of religious leadership, and of religion in general, are what drives people away from organized religion. And they don't seem to see how much they have in common with the vile fundamentalists of other religions, but they are all the same; just the targets of their hate differ (well, sometimes differ.)
Sorry for that digression. I believe we should treat others as we would like to be treated; that seems to be a common thread in many religions' teachings, but forgotten by many of their followers. I don't believe in heaven or hell, except as they exist in our lives. I don't think you should act good now so that you can get rewarded later, or to avoid punishment. You should be decent because it's the right thing to do. And we do create "hells" for ourselves, and others, right here on earth. Anyway, you never know how long you have, so you should do what you can now. I've seen too many promising people taken away too soon.
Some of the best people I've known have been religious. And some of the best have been non-religious. I don't think decency or morals have anything to do with religion, or whether you call yourself religious. Some of the worst people I've known, and in history, have been religious, or at least claimed that mantle for themselves (and used it was a weapon, and excuse, to do nasty things.)
I recently saw a quote: "The Lord uses the good ones, and bad ones use the Lord." And among my other beliefs, I believe that strongly. If you tell me how religious you are, and that you do things because of your religion, I am suspicious of you. And if you tell me I should do things because of your religion, well, you can probably guess what I think of that. I do not think other people should follow my spiritual beliefs. They work for me; they won't necessarily work for you. Let me live by them. Don't expect me to follow yours.
Look: let's all respect each others' views and beliefs, but not try to impose them on anyone. I appreciate the good in this world, the amazing people, and the wonders of nature. I try to treat people decently. I try to live the best life I can. I hope you do too.
Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect.
Chief Seattle, 1854
Sunday, December 13, 2015
We're Jammin'
I've touched on my love for reggae and ska before, and lately I've been into it more. My interest waxes and wanes, but never goes away. Clapton's cover of "I Shot the Sheriff" was probably the first reggae-ish song I heard, but jeez, there were a lot of songs in the '70s and '80s that were influenced by ska and reggae. The Police were very into those sounds; think of "Can't Stand Losing You," "Message In A Bottle,"or "Walking On The Moon"- reggae is front and center, even if at the time I didn't know what to call it. There was The Clash, of course, and there were others bringing reggae into the mainstream- Paul Simon with "Mother and Child Reunion," even Led Zeppelin. I quickly moved on to Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff, and then got into ska, and the rest is history.
Musical Youth- Pass The Dutchie
A sanitized cover of "Pass the Kutchie" by the Mighty Diamonds, an early reggae group. I heard this a lot when it came out in 1982, and it, along with other songs of that era, brought reggae into the mainstream for me and others.
Eddie Grant- Electric Avenue
A big hit, again in 1982.
The Police- Walking on the Moon
One of many Police songs with strong reggae influences.
Led Zeppelin- D'yer Mak'er
I would have had no idea this was essentially a reggae song, and I bet most early listeners were oblivious too. But it helped plant seeds, and the roots infiltrated pop pretty quickly.
Musical Youth- Pass The Dutchie
A sanitized cover of "Pass the Kutchie" by the Mighty Diamonds, an early reggae group. I heard this a lot when it came out in 1982, and it, along with other songs of that era, brought reggae into the mainstream for me and others.
Eddie Grant- Electric Avenue
A big hit, again in 1982.
The Police- Walking on the Moon
One of many Police songs with strong reggae influences.
Led Zeppelin- D'yer Mak'er
I would have had no idea this was essentially a reggae song, and I bet most early listeners were oblivious too. But it helped plant seeds, and the roots infiltrated pop pretty quickly.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Divide and Conquer
The divisiveness in American politics and society is crazy. There has always been bickering, disagreement, and outright distrust between the two parties, and across the spectrum of views. But until the last 20 years or so there has been at least an ability and desire to work together. A willingness to compromise- not give up one's ideals or goals, but to work something out to keep the country moving forward. "I want this, you want that, we'll come to an agreement somewhere in the middle." Since the rise of Fox "News" and Rush Limbaugh, et al, many people and politicians refuse to accept anything short of everything they want. That doesn't work in real life. Not among individuals, not among groups, not among nations. It's not solely conservatives who refuse to compromise at all, but let's face it, it's mostly them. They want to talk, for example, about how "divisive" Obama is. He is not. They don't agree with him, and they get pissed off and refuse to do anything he wants. That's not him being divisive- that's them. I guess he's polarizing, maybe, but not purposely divisive. Conservative "outrage" about every single thing he does, even when it's things they would normally support? That's what's divisive. They want to divide us, make it us against them. Democrats against Republicans, Christians against Muslims, black against white. That world of division, fear, self-righteousness? That's a conservative world.
The rise of talk radio, Tea Party nutballs, and big money in politics have made our differences into divisions. We demonize each other. We don't talk to each other. For example, I have mostly weeded conservatives out of my Facebook feed. I do not want to see the nasty, angry, often false things that far too many conservatives post. I certainly don't want to see apologists for traitors, as with the Confederate flag issue. I don't want to see people defending the shooting of children (cf. Tamir Rice and many others.) I am conservative on some issues. I am glad to read, and talk about, conservative ideas with reasonable people. I love conversations that get deep into stuff like that, about reality. But I am fed up with the reposts of things that are blatantly false, and are often moralizing on top of that. I have kicked people who post stuff like that off my page, and often also out of my life. If you keep telling me Obama is buying up all the ammo so you can't have it, and getting ready to take all the guns, and the UN is going to take over, well, you're crazy. And frankly, I've dialed back or booted some liberals too. I don't want to see wacko right-wing things, or wacko left-wing things, all day. Say something stupid and I will probably call you out on it; keep saying stupid stuff and I will boot you. If you hold uninformed, unreasoned views on things, or think violence is okay (left-wing or right-wing,) or repeat things that are not true (and don't try find out if they're true,) I don't have time for you. I'll kick you off my FB page, and I probably don't even want to talk to you in person. And for the next year, I will probably be unfriending people online and in real life over their support for Trump or any other idiot
And that's sad. I try to talk to them, reason with them, but I don't have the patience to do it forever. The thing is, that hurts us. It hurts our society and country. We get into an echo chamber, don't see what other people think, don't engage with them and move forward. Which leads to a vicious circle that just makes things worse. We've lost something important. I feel like I've lost something. If I don't have conservative friends who I can talk to in a reasonable way, how will I be able to think clearly? How will I learn if I don't hear new things?
We don't have to be divided. We need to engage. I am not optimistic about our ability to do that. I don't know if we've had a failure in our education system, or just too many people who refuse to think critically, or this is all just part of a natural cycle, but it's bad. And I look at the current presidential candidates, and I see it getting worse. I don't see anyone on the Republican side even trying to bring us together. And while the Democratic candidates at least try to do that, I don't see many conservatives capable of listening, and thinking clearly.
The rise of talk radio, Tea Party nutballs, and big money in politics have made our differences into divisions. We demonize each other. We don't talk to each other. For example, I have mostly weeded conservatives out of my Facebook feed. I do not want to see the nasty, angry, often false things that far too many conservatives post. I certainly don't want to see apologists for traitors, as with the Confederate flag issue. I don't want to see people defending the shooting of children (cf. Tamir Rice and many others.) I am conservative on some issues. I am glad to read, and talk about, conservative ideas with reasonable people. I love conversations that get deep into stuff like that, about reality. But I am fed up with the reposts of things that are blatantly false, and are often moralizing on top of that. I have kicked people who post stuff like that off my page, and often also out of my life. If you keep telling me Obama is buying up all the ammo so you can't have it, and getting ready to take all the guns, and the UN is going to take over, well, you're crazy. And frankly, I've dialed back or booted some liberals too. I don't want to see wacko right-wing things, or wacko left-wing things, all day. Say something stupid and I will probably call you out on it; keep saying stupid stuff and I will boot you. If you hold uninformed, unreasoned views on things, or think violence is okay (left-wing or right-wing,) or repeat things that are not true (and don't try find out if they're true,) I don't have time for you. I'll kick you off my FB page, and I probably don't even want to talk to you in person. And for the next year, I will probably be unfriending people online and in real life over their support for Trump or any other idiot
And that's sad. I try to talk to them, reason with them, but I don't have the patience to do it forever. The thing is, that hurts us. It hurts our society and country. We get into an echo chamber, don't see what other people think, don't engage with them and move forward. Which leads to a vicious circle that just makes things worse. We've lost something important. I feel like I've lost something. If I don't have conservative friends who I can talk to in a reasonable way, how will I be able to think clearly? How will I learn if I don't hear new things?
We don't have to be divided. We need to engage. I am not optimistic about our ability to do that. I don't know if we've had a failure in our education system, or just too many people who refuse to think critically, or this is all just part of a natural cycle, but it's bad. And I look at the current presidential candidates, and I see it getting worse. I don't see anyone on the Republican side even trying to bring us together. And while the Democratic candidates at least try to do that, I don't see many conservatives capable of listening, and thinking clearly.
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