It's been a while since RATM broke up and gave birth to Audioslave. This little blast from the past is truly shocking in it's intensity when contrasted to the backlash recieved by the Dixie Chicks for their comments, in it RATM is shown actually shuting down the New York Stock Exchange in order to perform their concert on Wall Street and Michael Moore is shown being arrested. At the end of the clip a detractor of the band is heard claiming they are an "Anti-Family and Pro-Terrorist" Group.
Yeah, right!
Just consider the reports that have come out in just the last 24 hours.
The FBi is now able to listen to us using our Cell Phone Mics even when they're turned off. Anyone wonder if they're getting warrants for that?
- Probably not since BushGov has vilified the Federal Judge who order that their warrantless taps be stopped and completely ignored the Congressional Research Service which has repudiated all their excuses for the program.
- Newsweek has reported that BushGov is attempting to surpress evidence that an American Citizen was held without a hearing or bail and tortured for three years.
- Another report has been received that indicates that another American Citizen has just received a $2 Million Settlement for his being mistakenly connected to the Madrid Train Bombing by the FBI.
And yet those such as RATM who spoke out loudly about the failings of our Government - and remember, they were mostly talking about the Clinton Era Government since they broke up in October of 2000 - shouldn't speak out?
Just listen to what Evangelical Christian Crooner Pat Boone has to say about those musicians and artists who Dare to dissent with the Government.
The right-wing Heritage Foundation held an event this week with “soul singer turned conservative evangelist” Pat Boone. Boone warned of the “new order of Armageddon,” and spoke of the “malaise and apathy of today’s youth. Tears began to fall as Boone lamented: ‘It grieves me the way young entertainers are deriding our leaders.’” He also announced he has written an anthem for the National Guard since “Nelly, Eminem and Diddy and Piddy and Poopy and whoever the other rappers are” had not.
Ironic that I can't recall Nelly, Eminem or Piddy-diddy (whose "Vote or Die" campaign was particular non-partisan) saying anything about "our leaders". I somehow doubt he was talking about Tupac Shakur's Masterful "Letter to the President" which was released posthumasly in 1999.
(Wrong President Again or was he simply being prophetic?).
Then again, there was Kanye West - the author of the Grammy Winning Christian Rap Song "Jesus Walks" did once say...
"George Bush doesn't care about Black People"
Too bad Kanye was wrong. George Bush dispenses his dispassion with equal oppurtunity - even with Evangelicals - and everyone else except the powerful "captains of industry" - y'know - "His Base".
That very same "Base" happens to be the same people who write checks to the Dixie Chicks (while people who listen to Evangelicals like Boone are sending them Death Threats), let alone any other would-be RATM's who might seek to speak out. And syncophants like Boone - whose done his own share of screwing over Black people like Little Richard - continues suck up to his Christo-Facist Corporation masters.
If anything we should expect - no Demand - more artists to do their civic duty and speak out - not less.
Vyan
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