ok it's official, my head is about to start spinning ala Linda Blair...

[Reverend_Smitty]

My dad thinks that the MoveOn.org artists should keep their mouths shut, but right now he is watching a PBS program on Peter, Paul and Mary (and his favorite musician is Bob Dylan). He claims that they were real activists and the MoveOn people are not and that times have changed. The MoveOn people were just rockers and just became activists. Well hell I wasn't an activist 2 years ago, but an issue came up that moved me emotionally (granted I can't possibly know what moves anyone else) and I became an activist.

Ohhh ohhh ohhh heres another dosey...my dad just said they weren't trying to elect a president, they were trying to change the course of America...ummmm wouldn't electing another president by default change the course of America (unless you elect a Bush clone) and then he said causes were not political, they are two different things...that statement was too stupid to respond to.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (sorry for the ranting) but my head is gonna pull an Exorcist in a few minutes if I don't get this off my chest!!!!!!!!!!!!

on edit:
one more thing...THE HYPOCRACY OF IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! ok I'm done, I swear!

[daligirrl]

1. Off topic, but. . . .

funny you should mention Linda Blair on the day that Rick James died. He turned her out, big time!

Anyway, I understand what your father is saying, but he himself admits that times have changed. Artists today are finding themselves becoming activists because the time before they became artists didn't necessarily warrant activism (not in the extreme sense, at least). Take a chill pill. I don't want to see you blow a gasket.

[Reverend_Smitty]

4. lol

that is ironic, I didn't even realize that!

I know I shouldn't even bother argueing...I know better, it's like yelling at a brick wall, but my feelings are so strong that I can't help myself sometimes. It's not like his vote will even mean anything come November...I live in a blue state. I was listening to Malloy and he gets me all excited and ready to fight. Me getting a call to action at 1am is not a good thing, I think I should stick to listening the archives at a more reasonable hour.

But this is why I love DU, I have this outlet to blow some virtual steam off into, so it doesn't happen literally!

[Spinzonner]

2. Oh lighten up

Be happy that you're on the same team.

Let him have his memories even if the passage of time dulls clarity and blurrs objectivity.

You'll likely be there someday yourself reminiscing (G willing) with how you saved the country from GWB.

[Reverend_Smitty]

5. when the Vietnam war was at its height...

he was too young to really be affected by it. He came of age in the 70's. He never really had a war staring him in the face that I now unfortunately have. I just think that he is missing the big picture because of that.

[Jerseygirltoo]

3. Springsteen has been an activist his whole career

Donating money to the homeless, the Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, he helps out on all kinds of local issues here in NJ.
I used to see Peter, Paul & Mary at all the Vietnam War demonstrations, and he's saying they were not political?

[Reverend_Smitty]

7. You're preaching to the choir

I'm getting the impression that he enjoys the music of these bands, but I don't think that he really ever "got" or just didn't want to think about the meanings of the lyrics...thats the only explanation I can come up with

[ChoralScholar]

6. Sadly enough

it goes back to the 'its only valid if I agree' stand. Too many people view things this way.
Activists in the 1960's protested the Vietnam War and Protested the racial wrongs in the country. But, what we're fighting for now is just as important. Don't ever lose sight of that.

[Reverend_Smitty]

8. Yeah I know it's stupid to argue

when someone takes a stubborn stance like that...but somewhere deep inside I still think I can change his mind, god knows I've tried!

[bleowheels]

9. Maybe you should tell your dad about the full page ad that...

R.E.M. took out in Rolling Stone in 1988 (right before the election) that said "Don't get Bushwhacked." That ad came out during the time of R.E.M.'s "Green" album that promoted environmentalism. I, for one, am glad to see R.E.M. putting politics front and center once again even if they have always been there.