HOW-OF-WHY
Friday, January 25, 2008
WHERE BEAUTY GOES UNRECOGNIZED
Some were friends, loves, peers, my own daughters. Some were artists, comedians and grifters.
Some I never met, the dead heros and heroines. And, of course rock n' roll has saved my life again and again.
The new and old poem/songs of Bob Dylan continue to bring me solace, courage and even hope in sometimes hopeless times and situations... Do you hear Patti Smith. I listen to her as often as I am able. And even for her, I have to thank Bob Dylan.
In 1995 Patti was lost and hiding. A widowed housewife, with two young son's, who had once surfaced as American Music’s Princess Punk Poet and Rocker, blasting out soul searing poetry set to music so it would mainline right into the listener’s heart.
Life brings you heartbreak as a wonderful/hideous choice. When your heart is broken you can hide it and armor it and close your self to all of life's lessons and gifts. You will then grow cold and adopt ways that maintain and deepen a living death...
Or you can see that the heartbreak miraculously has opened you and your heart and let the Pain, Confusion and Healing expand you and your understanding and capacity to love unconditionally and with indefinable but amazing compassion.
Sometimes you need an act of kindness to open the door. And that is when the savior comes in, often thru a window accidently left open rather than the front entrance.
Patti Smith's friend and mentor, the controversial artist Robert Mapplethorpe, had died. Her partner in life and rock, Fred "Sonic" Smith and her brother Todd had died within two weeks of each other. Her parents had also recently passed away. She was hiding out in Michigan. She didn't drive a car. That is not so remarkable in NYC, but in the upper midwest, it is a serious brach of Americanism. And then there were her two boys.
Patti had not performed for close to 15 years in NYC. Bob Dylan invited her to do a show with him. He arranged for her to get to NYC and the Beacon Theatre.
As a 12 year old New Jersey girl she had been schooled as a Jehovah's witness. "I quit the Jehovah's witnesses," she said, "because they said the Museum of Modern Art wasn't going to be around after Armageddon." She heard James Brown. She dropped out of teachers college. No teen boyfriend matched her desires, so she adopted Rimbaud as her fantasy boyfriend.
Then she heard Bob Dylan singing with Joan Baez. Better a live poet than a dead poet as a fantasy lover.
She studied Buddhism, and prayed every day for the Dalai Lama, She saved up money and traveled to Paris with her sister, learned to be a street busker and a pickpocket, met more poets.
She studied Buddhism, and prayed every day for the Dalai Lama, She saved up money and traveled to Paris with her sister, learned to be a street busker and a pickpocket, met more poets.
Once in NYC, Sam Shepherd would bring her onstage to yell her poems while he banged on drums. Sam taught her how to tune her guitar and gifted her with a '30s black Gibson, that she still plays. She swam in the shallow pool of NYC celebrity for a time. In 1977 she fell off a stage while performing and her eyesight was damaged.
Patti Smith disappeared off the scene and the map.
Fast forward to 1995. Bob Dylan finds out where she is and arranges to get her to NYC to perform once again.
Fast forward to 1995. Bob Dylan finds out where she is and arranges to get her to NYC to perform once again.
Patti, barefoot, in a long baggy T-shirt was back and was better than ever. After their set’s her teen fantasy lover, her idol, her savior, Bob Dylan asks her to sing a duet of his song DARK EYES.
“They tell me to be discreet for all intended purposes,
They tell me revenge is sweet and from where they stand, I'm sure it is.
But I feel nothing for their game
“They tell me to be discreet for all intended purposes,
They tell me revenge is sweet and from where they stand, I'm sure it is.
But I feel nothing for their game
where beauty goes unrecognized,
All I feel is heat and flame and all I see are dark eyes.”
Patti was born the same year as I was, 1946. In 2007 she was inducted into The Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame. At the end of the induction the gathered musicians sang Patti’s anthemic song, PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER. Every time I hear it, to paraphrase Lou Reed, my life is saved by Rock N’ Roll.
All I feel is heat and flame and all I see are dark eyes.”
Patti was born the same year as I was, 1946. In 2007 she was inducted into The Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame. At the end of the induction the gathered musicians sang Patti’s anthemic song, PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER. Every time I hear it, to paraphrase Lou Reed, my life is saved by Rock N’ Roll.
Labels: bob dylan, patti smith, saviors
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
THE SHOW BIZ
Saturday, January 19, 2008
IN MEMORY OF REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR
(Originally published on 01/17/05, I have republished my essay each year on whatever online space I am allowed to. - mjm)
"No man is an Iland, intire of its selfe: every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine: if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were: any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde: and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls: it tolls for thee." - John Donne
Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke the above verse during Nobel Lecture, on December 11, 1964. His lecture was entitled “The Quest for Peace and Justice”, delivered in the Auditorium of the University of Oslo, Norway. At the age of thirty-five, he was the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.
Each year one Monday designated as a American National Holiday commemorating the birthday of Dr. King. He was born as Michael Luther King, Jr. in Atlanta on January 15, 1929 (his father was also originally named Michael). He was renamed when he was about 5 years old when his father decided that they should both change their first names to Martin.
The authorized, sanitized version of Dr. King’s life story is that he fought for racial justice in America. The reality is, in the last years of his life, Dr. King articulated a far bolder, broader and radical American revolutionary vision, encompassing a clear minded analysis and a severe criticism not only of the role of the United States in the world, but of the very nature of our political and economic system.
Dr. King’s vision was articulated most powerfully in his “Beyond Vietnam” speech delivered at Riverside Church in New York City. He gave the speech on April 4, 1967, at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in New York City. He was quickly condemned by the NAACP, civil rights leaders, the Democratic Party (he had campaigned for Lyndon Johnson) and the mainstream media.
It is doubtful that Dr. King would even be allowed to speak at any of the memorial events being held in his name were he alive today. But he does speak to us still as we again find ourselves at a time, well as he said in 1967:
“When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”
He also said:
“These are revolutionary times. All over the globe men are revolting against old systems of exploitation and oppression, and out of the wounds of a frail world, new systems of justice and equality are being born.
The shirtless and barefoot people of the land are rising up as never before. The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. We in the West must support these revolutions.”
Others much more experienced and articulate than I have pointed out that these are still revolutionary times.
Our country was born of revolution.
I would argue that our democracy can only be served by continuing the American Revolution each day. But we have given in and given up. The shirtless and barefoot people of the world continue to rise up. But we do not support them and in fact, in many places, we support and are the very forces who use our overwhelming military power to enforce the conditions of poverty, insecurity, and injustice.
I would suggest that we revisit Dr. Kings words and read them in the light of the present day.
“…A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”
Dr. Kings words are as meaningful, powerful and dangerous as they were in 1967. At least half of adult Americans condemn anyone speaking out against the Bush/Cheney administration's invasions and war.
Exactly to the day, one year after breaking his silence and speaking out against his nation’s injustice, materialism and war waging, Martin Luther King, Jr. was silenced.
Assassinated on April 4, 1968.
Those who call for us to celebrate his birthday but dishonor his life and work and spirit dishonor all human beings. King spoke well to use Donne’s poem to remind us of who we can be, who we need to be.
“…therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls: it tolls for thee.”
`
"No man is an Iland, intire of its selfe: every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine: if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends or of thine owne were: any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde: and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls: it tolls for thee." - John Donne
Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke the above verse during Nobel Lecture, on December 11, 1964. His lecture was entitled “The Quest for Peace and Justice”, delivered in the Auditorium of the University of Oslo, Norway. At the age of thirty-five, he was the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.
Each year one Monday designated as a American National Holiday commemorating the birthday of Dr. King. He was born as Michael Luther King, Jr. in Atlanta on January 15, 1929 (his father was also originally named Michael). He was renamed when he was about 5 years old when his father decided that they should both change their first names to Martin.
The authorized, sanitized version of Dr. King’s life story is that he fought for racial justice in America. The reality is, in the last years of his life, Dr. King articulated a far bolder, broader and radical American revolutionary vision, encompassing a clear minded analysis and a severe criticism not only of the role of the United States in the world, but of the very nature of our political and economic system.
Dr. King’s vision was articulated most powerfully in his “Beyond Vietnam” speech delivered at Riverside Church in New York City. He gave the speech on April 4, 1967, at a meeting of Clergy and Laity Concerned at Riverside Church in New York City. He was quickly condemned by the NAACP, civil rights leaders, the Democratic Party (he had campaigned for Lyndon Johnson) and the mainstream media.
It is doubtful that Dr. King would even be allowed to speak at any of the memorial events being held in his name were he alive today. But he does speak to us still as we again find ourselves at a time, well as he said in 1967:
“When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”
He also said:
“These are revolutionary times. All over the globe men are revolting against old systems of exploitation and oppression, and out of the wounds of a frail world, new systems of justice and equality are being born.
The shirtless and barefoot people of the land are rising up as never before. The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. We in the West must support these revolutions.”
Others much more experienced and articulate than I have pointed out that these are still revolutionary times.
Our country was born of revolution.
I would argue that our democracy can only be served by continuing the American Revolution each day. But we have given in and given up. The shirtless and barefoot people of the world continue to rise up. But we do not support them and in fact, in many places, we support and are the very forces who use our overwhelming military power to enforce the conditions of poverty, insecurity, and injustice.
I would suggest that we revisit Dr. Kings words and read them in the light of the present day.
“…A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”
Dr. Kings words are as meaningful, powerful and dangerous as they were in 1967. At least half of adult Americans condemn anyone speaking out against the Bush/Cheney administration's invasions and war.
Exactly to the day, one year after breaking his silence and speaking out against his nation’s injustice, materialism and war waging, Martin Luther King, Jr. was silenced.
Assassinated on April 4, 1968.
Those who call for us to celebrate his birthday but dishonor his life and work and spirit dishonor all human beings. King spoke well to use Donne’s poem to remind us of who we can be, who we need to be.
“…therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls: it tolls for thee.”
`
Monday, January 14, 2008
THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE
YOU HAVE TO SEARCH FOR IT.
Saeed Sheikh linked to Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaeda, Pakistan’s intelligence agency - the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the CIA, mujaheddin guerrillas in Afghanistan, the Saudi Arabian government, 9/11 and our own government.
All of it has been documented on the London Times, Time Magazine, CNN, The New York Times, The Nation, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Times of India, The Wall Street Journal, and others.
"Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the son of a wealthy Pakistani clothing manufacturer. He grew up in London, a brilliant student attending the best private schools. He studied mathematics and statistics at the London School of Economics. While still at school, he started a successful shares and equities business and also was a chess champion, world class arm wrestler, and martial arts expert—a rare combination of physical and mental prowess." - The South Asian Outlook, 3/02
Seek and You shall Find.. Knock and it will be opened to you... ETC.
Labels: Bush/Cheney, corruption, government, money talks, war and money
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