Well I'm back after a bit of laziness. Today folks we talk of Joe Strummer. His band the Clash and a theme brought up in some of his lyrics. Police brutality,inequality, the concept of his idea of America being Urban Vietnam. With the stories every week coming in. Of police in military gear, tasing, beating, macing and sadly killing people. For what seems if news is correct misdemeanor stops gone awry. SWAT raids for silly things like illegal gambling. While the old guard berates protesters. Claims victims of police violence should obey commands,etc. Whilst supporting beer gut so called sovereign citizens pointing rifles at Federal Officers a few months ago. Odd.Amurica'cry for the Bill of Rights while refusing to acknowledge it's government. Ok, Back on topic now.
In the late 70's and early 80's Strummer wrote lyrics of "junkiedom USA" and "Urban Vietnam". This was his way of describing American Cities as he encountered them. Well I hate to prop up the words of a punk rock celebrity. However, life at times imitates art. And fiction is often speculative. Police often times trained questionably running about in war gear. Beating,and sometimes killing people in stops for petty crime. Being condoned by a mid American citizenry. That is lambasted with hyped up propaganda made for ratings. To hell with facts, let us yell and scream our opinions over it. (Happens on all sides of spectrum). Taking into account the lack of critical thinking. Which even I am guilty of at times. Seeming to cause a culture of fear, paranoia and confusion.
And no I do not think that every police officer is evil. I have had several bad encounters though in my day. And with current climate, I may have been a victim of a bullet myself. Let us hope that ultimately good prevails on all sides. While I do not condone looting,etc. You can not push and prod and not expect an eventual reaction.
Now as mentioned let us hope that the current unrest may yield some common sense, compassion, and empathy. And bring light to how we must change our paranoid, confused fear culture and treat each other with mutual respect and empathy.
"You have the right not to be killed, murder is a crime, unless it is done, by a policeman, or an aristocrat"...The Clash from this song below
What will it take to get a common movement against excessive force and over militarization of police? A SWAT raid gone bad at a VFW Hall poker game?
Oh and not to mention. The heroin epidemic Junkiedom USA Sadly.
http://youtu.be/bL0CCphgmZ8
http://youtu.be/yU7DbA82xEc
More on Strummer and the time some old friends spent an evening with him at Bogart's in '99 another day.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment