Politics

I finally saw Fahrenheit 9/11. It’s not in theaters here any more so I had to use “alternate” means to watch it. Needless to say, I’m going to watch it again, just to absorb the information that was thrown out there. It wasn’t all a surprise to me, thanks to the internet having plenty of information about the Bush family and the bin Ladens. Doesn’t make me any less pissed off, however. And it’s not even being enraged; it’s a slow burn that may even move me to some kind of activism. I’ve got a friend that’s going to be deployed in three months. I can’t imagine anything happening to him, especially if he’s getting sent overseas for some lame-ass, bullshit reason. It’s mind blowing how badly we’ve all been played. Yes, vengeance was in the air after 9/11. How could it not be? Afghanistan, OK, I can buy into that. But Iraq? Please.

Certainly there are flaws in the movie; what movie doesn’t have flaws? The important thing is the fact it raises a lot of questions — questions I’m not sure how any intelligent person can dismiss. Neo-cons have tried to pass off the film as liberal propaganda. Let’s talk about their propaganda and why we’re occupying Iraq. I’m not a scholar on the subject, and I should do more reading. But people need to open their eyes; only problem is, Dubya’s wrapped himself up in the flag and god and probably will get re-elected. And that sucks.

Anyway, more tunes for the car to ramp up for the election and help feed the activist in me.

War (Single Version) ~ Edwin Starr ~ Motown 1’s
One of the quintessential ant-war songs. Iraq could turn into the Vietnam of our generation. But unlike with Vietnam, a lot of people do still support the troops, just not the reasons they’re over there. Being against the war doesn’t make you unpatriotic, especially when you look at the toll it’s taken since major combat operations were declared over. Mind boggling.

War means tears
to thousands of mothers eyes
When their sons go to fight
and lose their lives

Make Love Fuck War (Dirty Version) ~ Moby & Public Enemy ~ Make Love Fuck War
Chuck D wrote the words, Moby did the music. Naturally, I bought the dirty version.

Wake Up ~ Rage Against The Machine ~ Rage Against The Machine
It’s a shame these guys broke up. I think they’d have some pretty interesting things to say. Zach De La Rocha has a single, but it just doesn’t pack the same punch the whole group does.

Movements come and movements go
Leaders speak, movements cease
When their heads are flown
‘Cause all these punks
Got bullets in their heads
Departments of police, the judges, the feds
Networks at work, keepin’ people calm
You know they went after King
When he spoke out on Vietnam
He turned the power to the have-nots
And then came the shot

Sunday Bloody Sunday ~ U2 ~ Elevation 2001: Live From Boston
Another song from the Elevation DVD, and a great version of this tune. This song is incredible live, and this version is better than when I saw U2 back in the day. A good reminder of what happens when a government has too tight a grip on people or a situation.

And the battle’s just begun
There’s many lost, but tell me who has won
The trench is dug within our hearts
And mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart

Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday

How long...
How long must we sing this song?
How long? How long...

Rockin’ in the Free World ~ Neil Young ~ Freedom
I’m not a huge fan of Neil Young... there are a few of his songs I really dig, and this is one of them. This was a fitting choice for the credits; I chose to buy this version, not the one from the film with Dubya talking over it. Sheesh.

There’s colors on the street
Red, white, and blue.
People shufflin’ their feet
People sleepin’ in their shoes
There’s a warnin’ sign on the road ahead
There’s a lot of people sayin’ we’d be better off dead
Don’t feel like Satan, but I am with them
So I try to forget it any way I can.

Rock the Casbah ~ The Clash ~ The Singles
One of my favorite Clash songs. I remember listening to this one a lot during the first Iraq war.

The king called up his jet fighters
He said you better earn your pay
Drop your bombs between the minarets
Down the Casbah way

As soon as the shareef was
Chauffeured outta there
The jet pilots tuned to
The cockpit radio blare

As soon as the shareef was
Outta their hair
The jet pilots wailed

Revolution ~ Stone Temple Pilots ~ Revolution
Alas, this song is stuck in iTMS download limbo. I liked the 30-second snippet of it I heard. A lot of band try to cover Beatles songs and fail, but this one seemed decent.

You say you got a real solution
Well you know
We’d all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well you know
We’re doing what we can
But when you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Don’t you know it’s gonna be alright
Alright Alright

It Takes Time To Build ~ Beastie Boys ~ To The 5 Boroughs
These guys have been political for a long time, but they’ve been singled out for taking shots at Dubya. Good for them.

So step up to the window and place your bets
Is the US gonna keep breaking necks
Maybe it’s time that we impeach Tex
And the military muscle that he wants to flex
By the time Bush is done what will be left
Selling votes like E-pills at the discotheque
Environmental destruction and the national dept
But plenty of dollars left in the fat war chest
What the real deal why you can’t connect
Why you hating people that you never met
Didn’t your mama teach you to show some respect?
Why not open your mind for a sec?

We’re Not Gonna Take It ~ Less Than Jake ~ Goodbye Blue & White
OK, OK... it’s a Twisted Sister song. But LTJ makes it sound political — and angry.

We’re not gonna take it
No, we ain’t gonna take it
We’re not gonna take it anymore

We got the right to choose it
There’s ain’t no way we’ll lose it
This is our life, this is our song
We’ll fight the powers that be just
Don’t pick our destiny cuz
You don’t know us, you don’t belong

Freedom ~ Rage Against The Machine ~ Rage Against The Machine

It’s set up like a deck of cards
They’re sending us to early graves
For all the diamonds
They’ll use a pair of clubs to beat the spades
With poetry I paint the pictures that hit
More like the murals that fit
Don’t turn away
Get in front of it

Fortunate Son ~ Pearl Jam ~ 06/03/03: North America - #42 Irvine
A more energetic version of the CCR song. And another carryover from the Vietnam era.

Some folks are born
Starspangled eyes
Ooh they send you out to war
And when Australia asks
‘How much do we get?’
Ooh they just ask for more and more and more and more and more and...

It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no millionaires son, no
It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no fortunate one, one, one
It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no CIA son, no
It ain’t me, it ain’t me
I ain’t no fortunate son, son, son

Where is the Love ~ Black Eyed Peas ~ Elephunk
Maybe a little simplistic, but I like the message: Take care of things at home before you try and fix the world.

What’s wrong with the world mama
People livin’ like ain’t got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that’ll bring ya trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists hea livin’ in the USA
The big CIA, the Blood to the Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for ya own race
Then ya only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when ya hate then you’re bound to get irate, yeah
Badness is what ya demonstrate and that’s exactly how ANGER works and Operates
Nig, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love y’all, y’all

People killin’ people dyin’
Children hurt, you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach?
Or would you turn the other cheek
FATHER FATHER FATHER help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cuz people got me got me questionin’
Where is the love (where is the love)
Where is the love
Where is the love, the love, the love

Higher Ground ~ Red Hot Chili Peppers ~ Greatest Hits
A good remake of a really good Stevie Wonder song. I really dig the bass line. I seem to recall this kicked much ass live as well (I think I saw them the second year they did Lollapollooza... the lineup was pretty amazing that year).

People
Keep on learnin’
Soldiers
Keep on warrin’
World,
Keep on turnin’
Cause it won’t be too long.
Powers
Keep on lyin’,
While your people
Keep on dyin’
World,
Keep on turnin’,
Cause it won’t be too long.

I’m so darn glad He let me try it again,
‘Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin.
I’m so glad that I know more than I knew then.
Gonna keep on tryin’ till I reach the highest ground.

The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out/Screws Fall Out ~ Less Than Jake ~ Anthem
Heh... as if there ever was a brightest bulb in the White House...

You said the hole in your head
Has gotten bigger than the hole in your chest
And you’re stuck between the past and present tense
You said you’ve been waging a war against so many years of lies
With stronger drinks and longer lines
It’s not that big a surprise
That you’re feeling more dead than alive
You’re feeling more dead than alive

Killing Zone (Bonus Track) ~ Rancid ~ Indestructible
Couldn’t find lyrics to this one unfortunately. But it’s a good song. Really.

Testify ~ Rage Against The Machine ~ The Battle Of Los Angeles

The movie ran through me
The Glamour subdue me
The tabloid untie me
Im empty please fill me
Mister anchor assure me
That Baghdad is burning
Your voice it is so soothing
That cunning mantra of killing
I need you my witness
To dress this up so bloodless
To numb me and purge me now
Of thoughts of blaming you
Yes the car is our wheelchair
My witness your coughing
Oily silence mocks the legless
Boys who travel now in coffins

Kinder Words ~ The Mighty Mighty Bosstones ~ Question The Answers
Someone needs to listen to the Bosstones.

No time now for losing tempers
or filling up with rage or anger
flying off the handle could be detrimental
calmer hands are called for here
a breath or two might be applied
we’ll count to ten and then decide
a rash decision - crash collision
damage done beyond repair

Megalomaniac ~ Incubus ~ A Crow Left To The Murder
Recently found out this song is directed at Dubya. That made me laugh, given the lyrics.

I hear you on the radio
You permeate my screen
It’s unkind but if I met you in a scissor fight
I’d cut off both your wings on principle alone
On principle alone...

Hey megalomaniac
You’re no Jesus
Yeah, you’re no fucking Elvis
Wash your hands clean on yourself, baby and
Step down
Step down
Step down

American Errorist (I Hate Haters) ~ NOFX ~ The War On Errorism
Another band that’s taken a strong stance against the president. This whole CD was basically directed at the White House. Pity they don’t care.

It’s okay
Allow yourself a little hate
Hatred is not so bad
When directed at injustice
You can turn the other cheek
Just don’t turn the other way


Enemy of the planet
We finally have a common hate
A reason to forget about our differences
And stand as a united front
It’s up to us, we must expose, humiliate
American Errorists
We’ll start with one

((THE...WAR...HAS...JUST BEGUN))
((THE...WAR...HAS...JUST BEGUN))

American Idiot ~ Green Day ~ American Idiot (album)
I’ve got a love-hate relationship with this band. I hated them when my cousin tried to introduce them to me, then loved them in college and bought a lot of their old stuff. Then I hated them when they were against online music stores. I’m still not a big of a fan as I was before, but I do love this song. They seem to have regained their edge. I know they claim Berkeley or L.A., but they’re from El Sobrante, Calif. And my cousin went to school with at least one of them. Lyrics in full.

Don’t wanna be an American idiot.
Don’t want a nation under the new media.
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mind-fuck America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn’t meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow.
For thats enough to argue.

Well maybe I’m the FAGGOT America.
I’m not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along in the age of paranoia.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn’t meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow.
For thats enough to argue.

Don’t wanna be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information Age of hysteria.
It’s going out to idiot America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Where everything isn’t meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow.
For thats enough to argue.

The Star Spangled Banner ~ Jimi Hendrix ~ Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix
What to say about Hendrix? This is good shit. That’s why it’s here.