Rage against what?
Woo-hoo, post #100!
Before I get started, I wanted to let you, my audience (all 2 of you) know that the feed truck still isn't starting due to the cold weather. I might try removing the fuel line, blowing it out with air, and seeing if that does anything to alleviate possible gelled fuel.
I have rage against my machines.
Which brings me to the main topic of this post - While I am a conservative, white, Christian male with family, I really dig Rage Against The Machine (the band). I've had Evil Empire, and last week (right before the Hillary sighting) I got used CDs of their 1992 debut and The Battle of Los Angeles. I've been jamming out to Bombtrack, Testify, Township Rebellion and Guerilla Radio for the last few days in my muddy Chevy 4x4.
But RATM's lyrics and beliefs are leftist/Marxist; they are openly anti-capitalists, and beyond the music, the members have advocated for groups like Shining Path in Peru and the Zapatistas in Mexico.
Now, I don't pay attention word for word the lyrics - heck, if you can understand half of what Zack de la Rocha is rapping you're doing well. But, upon reading the lyrics on a web site, you start to see that these guys are advocating a Socialist system of government.
So, it leads me to think - do I agree with these guys' views, or do I just like the energy of the music and that's it?
I think the latter - while I'm not against people struggling to be free, and I don't like some of the things our government does, especially in other countries, I'm not at all in favor of turning ourselves into a Marxist Worker's Paradise. Capitalism, with all its flaws, is still the best system we have at this point. Sure, we could do better, but we don't need a heavy handed Big Brother forcing us to get along - we have that already and it's not getting us very far. I agree that some of our trade policies are detrimental to natives of other countries - NAFTA and CAFTA are two examples. RATM is good at bringing these issues to the forefront. But Karl Marx and I don't get along too well.
So, while I might consider the ideals of RATM, I'm not going to join them anytime soon to destroy capitalism and hoist up banners of Uncle Karl. Instead, I'll continue to listen to the music and use it to imagine it as being the soundtrack to a conservative/libertarian revolution, where we destroy the IRS, privatize schools, and people can walk safely down the street with a 9mm pistol at their side without being harrassed by the politically correct police.
Before I get started, I wanted to let you, my audience (all 2 of you) know that the feed truck still isn't starting due to the cold weather. I might try removing the fuel line, blowing it out with air, and seeing if that does anything to alleviate possible gelled fuel.
I have rage against my machines.
Which brings me to the main topic of this post - While I am a conservative, white, Christian male with family, I really dig Rage Against The Machine (the band). I've had Evil Empire, and last week (right before the Hillary sighting) I got used CDs of their 1992 debut and The Battle of Los Angeles. I've been jamming out to Bombtrack, Testify, Township Rebellion and Guerilla Radio for the last few days in my muddy Chevy 4x4.
But RATM's lyrics and beliefs are leftist/Marxist; they are openly anti-capitalists, and beyond the music, the members have advocated for groups like Shining Path in Peru and the Zapatistas in Mexico.
Now, I don't pay attention word for word the lyrics - heck, if you can understand half of what Zack de la Rocha is rapping you're doing well. But, upon reading the lyrics on a web site, you start to see that these guys are advocating a Socialist system of government.
So, it leads me to think - do I agree with these guys' views, or do I just like the energy of the music and that's it?
I think the latter - while I'm not against people struggling to be free, and I don't like some of the things our government does, especially in other countries, I'm not at all in favor of turning ourselves into a Marxist Worker's Paradise. Capitalism, with all its flaws, is still the best system we have at this point. Sure, we could do better, but we don't need a heavy handed Big Brother forcing us to get along - we have that already and it's not getting us very far. I agree that some of our trade policies are detrimental to natives of other countries - NAFTA and CAFTA are two examples. RATM is good at bringing these issues to the forefront. But Karl Marx and I don't get along too well.
So, while I might consider the ideals of RATM, I'm not going to join them anytime soon to destroy capitalism and hoist up banners of Uncle Karl. Instead, I'll continue to listen to the music and use it to imagine it as being the soundtrack to a conservative/libertarian revolution, where we destroy the IRS, privatize schools, and people can walk safely down the street with a 9mm pistol at their side without being harrassed by the politically correct police.
posted by bgunzy at 2/04/2007 12:25:00 PM
5 Comments:
I have been toying with doing a post like this, but with the 180 point of view. I have found myself staying away from bands I used to like, because I am tired of hearing their politics.
I have really latched on to Coheed and Cambria along with Kamelot, because their albums tell an overarching story. Tool used to be one of favorite bands, but I got sick of hearing Maynard James Keenan's politics.
I find showbiz liberals tend not to be the best source of wisdom.
True - they should stick with what they do best - entertain, and not preach.
Save us from musicians trying to make grand political and social statements through their music. I've had the opportunity to hang around with lots of musicians and even interact with a few big names ones at length on a few occasions. We're just not dealing with top flight intellects here for the most part. Oh there are exceptions. I've met some that are exceedingly bright...in fact a couple I would call brilliant, one in particular was the only person I've ever met in person who I'd gladly switch brains with.
If you avoid bands because of their views, where do you stop? Do you eat foods from companies because of their donations to polititans, or skip movies because one of the actors may be an idiot? (George Clooney anybody?)
For me it's a mixture. I don't care if an actor, or musician is a flamming liberal.. It's America, it's their right to be wrong. :-) But what I do care about is if they are a constant in-your-face liberal person.
You know, the kind who are always in the news acting all stupid and saying stupid liberal things about the country and the prez and stuff. It's their right to do that, of course, but see, the more they are "in-your-face" doing that crap, the more you are reminded of that every time you see them.
As much as I wanted to see Mission Impossible III in the movie theater, I just couldnt look at Tom Cruise and think of anything but his alien loving, body thetan freakazoid religeon.
It's his right to be like that, but it is my right to avoid his stuff.
Same goes for the Dixie Chicks.. I loved their music, but they went too far, too outspoken and for me, I had to quit them. Streisand is the same thing. (NOT FOR ME, I NEVER LIKED HER MUSIC!!) :-)
On the opposite side (for me anyway, ya'll may differ.) But take Alan Alda and probably Mike Farrel. (The M*A*S*H guys) I know these guys are libs, but they don't seem to be the hyper screaming libs like the Clooney's or Streisands of the world. So I can watch some old M*A*S*H shows without yelling "Shut up Hippy!" at the TV. :-)
Woah, I think I said enough.
When I was a kid, I stopped listening to Neil Diamond because I heard he was a junkie. But then I realized if I stopped listening to these people because of (insert social reason here), I'd soon have no one to listen to.
WAR Alice in Chains!
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