[FM] Political Songs - Beyond the Gray Line

[SPOOKTUNES@aol.com]

       A while back I wrote that we as performers have to be respectful of 
other people's space and not "impose" our viewpoints on them.  And while I 
still believe that to be true, I believe that there is a higher expression of 
that same principle.  It is that one's freedom ends where another's begins.
       
       So the question for me is:  Where is that gray line dividing MY 
freedom and ANOTHER'S freedom?  This is a question that must constantly be 
asked.  And the answers can change as the world around us changes.

       Although we have been moving in this direction since George W. 
announced he was running for President, I believe that in the past few months 
this nation has clearly crossed the line to where the mass consciousness is 
infringing upon mine and most others' freedom.  By "mass consciousness" I do 
not mean the collective will of the individuals that make up our American 
society - that's what the mass consciousness should be in a nation that calls 
itself a democracy.  Rather, I am talking about the prevailing thought 
patterns of this society.  And these are mostly controlled by the media.  And 
these thought patterns lead us to believe the most horrible and logically 
ridiculous things.  I could spell them out but this is not a forum for 
politics.  
       
       However, one of them must be stated here.  That is the thought that we 
have a right to "protect our interests" by waging this particular war we 
about to wage.  The President is probably going to make another, "I am a Man 
of Love" speech on Tuesday and he is probably going to shortly thereafter 
send in troops to "Liberate" another nation.  And, I believe, we as a nation 
will again take on just a little bit more national karma and we will again 
pay for it with more American lives in more terrorist attacks on our soil.  
Now, while this is only my opinion, I firmly believe that I properly surmise 
the infringement upon MY freedom by the Mass Consciousness.  And, again, the 
Mass Consciousness is not the individuals in our audiences but it can be 
profoundly influenced by all individuals.

       If this is true, then we are at a time when our rights to sing 
political songs are not only justified but probably mandated by the 
responsibilities that go along with living in a democracy.  What powers do we 
have over the actions of our government?  We can protest.  We can write 
letters to the editor.  We can write letters to our peers - e.g., F_M Digest. 
 We can vote - and at certain times in certain localities these votes will be 
counted.  But as singers, we can also sing.  As long as we don't "impose."

       Finally, about the "imposing" thing.  I think we all just saw an 
example last week of one person expressing frustration in a particular way 
that while understandable was maybe a little too much in the face and a 
little too insensitive to other viewpoints.  Not that his viewpoint was 
invalid.  Nor were the viewpoints of those who responded to him.  But, isn't 
the real enemy the act of fighting itself?  Doesn't the solution begin by 
learning to listen and have civil discourse?  What quality did the terrorists 
of Sept 11 have that made them act to hurt so many people?  Was it that they 
were all male?  Or was it that they were all Muslim?  Maybe it was that they 
were Arabs.  I don't think so. These are equally ridiculous answers.  I think 
it was that they were all intolerant fundamentalists - the key word being 
"intolerant."  So while, our political leader openly expresses his 
intolerance and his losing his patience - as did his father who got us into 
this mess in the first place - and as he expresses his "loathing" of other 
national leaders - as his father before him openly expressed his hatred of 
the same - let's instead sing songs.  But, let's do it in a way that invites 
civil discourse and free thinking and leaves room for other viewpoints.  Just 
my two cents.  :->

       Sing those songs!

- Spook :->

Spook Handy 
songwriter/performer
Co-coordinator, Nashville Songwriters Association - Princeton, NJ Chapter
www.spookhandy.com
Winner:  "Friend's Choice Award"  - 
       for Best Concert Performance at the Congregational Coffeehouse, 
       Woodbridge NJ 2002
Winner: Just Plain Folks Nomination for  Best Traditional Folk Song 2002