Scary moment for America

[justinsb]

For those of you who don't know me, aren't familiar with my posts, and/or haven't looked at my profile. I'm an American expat living in Canada. I just came from one of my kids end of school parties (not THE end of school party - that's next week but an after school party for their French class). Anyway, to the point, I just saw a room full of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders bouncing around and singing along with American Idiot by Green Day - I didn't get the impression that it was just the hit of the day, they all knew all the words and played it over and over it was actually, originally a request from my daughter, who was in the states until 3 years ago.

For those of you unfamiliar with the song
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/greenday/americanidiot.html

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. ah song and music, this is how revolutions start

I just passed them lyrics to the email list... now to a point this is a hopeful day... revolutions first start in song

[justinsb]

7. Yep

It's how revolutions start, but while a revolution against Bush and his corporate vampires lurks just under the surface in the US a revolution against the US seems to be lurking just under the surface in much of the world...not against Americans themselves, but against American corporations, media and other interests - one that could force a much more isolationist reality on the US. The amazing thing is that if you listen to these kids, it is not just a cool song, they will tell you what they think about things like Iraq, homophobia, Guantanamo, religious fanatacism, greed etc...and they are 9,10 and 11 year olds. Also you have to keep in mind that some of these children immigrated to Canada from places like Veitnam, Iraq, Mexico, Panama, and Somalia.

[jojo54]

2. Holy shit!!

It's not the fact that 4th, 5ht and 6th graders are singing a song with the word f*ck in it (that's for another discussion). I'm saying Holy Shit about the song. I thought that Jackson Browne said a lot in his songs but this is right on the head!!

Ssssoooooo, how's Canada treating you? Any room for me and mine?

[justinsb]

8. 2nd Largest country in the world

and if Chechnia leaves Russia we'll be first, but we have a population lower than California - there's a bit of room left = )

The scary thing to me isn't that these kids know the word f*ck or that they know what it means, the scary and sad thing to me is that they know what a bunker buster is.

[BeTheChange]

3. The other day my 14 year old little sis call me up..

and says.. have you ever heard of this band called Green Day? I about busted out laughing. They were one of my favorite bands before everyone had ever heard of them a decade and some change ago.

It's nice that they are still around and American Idiot is a great song. If my little sister has heard of them, even though the inlaws dont allow mtv, non christian radio, etc. That gives me some hope.

[justinsb]

9. lol me too...

I remember the start of bands like Green Day, U2, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, etc...it's been my music (that which is now called alternative) since the late 70s. Now I see kids 13-14 year olds walking around Toronto in T-Shirts for the Exploited, Clash, Joy Division, Bauhaus ... the whole album "Jesus of Suburbia" is great.

[enigmatic]

4. You're an expat, too?

Right on; I am as well, just got approved for permanent residence. It's a very scary time in the US now..

[justinsb]

10. Congradulations!!

I know that was a huge deal for me. I apply for citizenship in February.

[enigmatic]

12. That's my next step

And I can't wait. I've been here 4 years (Edmonton) this July, and this country feels like home. I want to bring my wife down to the US to show where I grew up, but I don't know what the US going to look like soon, sadly..

[justinsb]

14. I haven't been any further into the states

than Buffalo (for an afternoon) since I arrived. I'm home too, it's weird, I felt home from the day I arrived. Although there is quite a bit of Anti-American sentiment I was greeted with a small party by friends and some of my new neighbors who I'd never met but who brought beer and rye to welcome me to the country, city and neighborhood.

[enigmatic]

16. That's great!

Me too; everyone's been very, very nice to me. Hell, I'm even taking up Curling when the season starts next Winter:)

We should have an Expat Group in DU; I wonder if it's ever been considered?

[justinsb]

17. I've no idea really...I don't even know how we do that?

[enigmatic]

19. I'll E Skinner and see if we can set it up...

you can PM me if you've got any ideas as well; I'm sure we can get this rolling..

[justinsb]

20. Cool...sounds good

[leftofthedial]

5. both of my kids (11 and 17) love it

and they love it precisely because of what the lyrics say

[ClayZ]

6. Now they will all learn "Let them Eat War"

by Bad Religion

http://www.badreligion.com/titles/?id=14


"Let Them Eat War"

There's a prophet on a mountain and he's making up dinner
With long division and writing crop
Anybody can feel like a winner
When it's served up piping hot

But the people aren't looking for a handout
They're America's working corps
Can this be what they voted for?

Let them eat war
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war

There's an urgent need to feed
Declining pride

From the force to the union shops
The war economy is making new jobs
But the people who benefit most
Are breaking bread with their benevolent hosts

Who never stole from the rich to give to the poor
All they ever gave to them was a war
And a foreign enemy to deplore

Let them eat war
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war

There's an urgent need to feed
Declining pride

We've got to kill 'em and eat 'em
Before they reach for their checks
Squeeze some blue collars
Let them bleed from their necks
Seize a few dollars from the people who sweat
Cause it's freedom or death and they won't question it
At a job site the boss is god like
Conditioned workhorses park at a stoplight
Seasoned vets with their feet in nets
A stones throw away from a rock fight
But not tonight, feed ‘em death

Here comes another ration (feed them death)
Cause they're the finest in the nation (feed them death)
When there's nothing left to feed them
When it's freedom or it's death

Let them eat war
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war

There's an urgent need to feed

[justinsb]

11. and/or Union

by the Black Eyed Peas


(One for all, one for all)
(It's all it's all for one)
Let's start a union, calling every human
It's one for all and all for one
Let's live in unison, calling every citizen
It's one for all and all for one

We don't want war- can't take no more
It's drastic time for sure
We need a antidant and a cure
Coz do you really think Mohammed got a problem with Jehovah
We don't want war – imagine if any prophet was alive
In current days amongst you and I
You think they'd view life like you and I do
Or would they sit and contemplate on why
Do we live this way, act and behave this way
We still live in primitive today
Coz the peace in the destination of war can't be the way
There's no way, so people just be 'em wanna be a man
Realise that you can't change the world by changing yourself
And understand that we're all just the same
So when I count to three let's change



Got no time for grand philosophy
I barely keep my head above the tide
I got this mortgage, got three kids at school
What you're saying is the truth, but really troubles me inside
I'd change the world if I could change my mind
If I could live beyond my fears
Exchanging unity for all my insecurity
Exchanging laughter for my tears



I don't know, y'all, we in a real deposition
In the midst of all this negative condition
Divided by beliefs, different sink and religion
Why do we keep missing the point in our mission?
Why do we keep killing each other, what's the reason?
God made us all equal in his vision
I wish that I could make music as a religion
Then we could harmonise together in this mission
Listen, I know it's really hard to make changes
But two of us could help rearrange this curse
Utilising all the power in our voices
Together we will unite and make the right choice
And fight for education, save the next generation
Come together as one
I don't understand why it's never been done
So let's change on the count of one

It takes one, just one
And then one follows the other one
And then another follows the other one
Next thing you know you got a billion
People doing some wonderful things
People doing some powerful things
Let's change and do some powerful things
Unity could be a wonderful thing

[BeTheChange]

13. That is a great song too..

One more.. I really wish the young girls of America would listen more to Ani and less to Brittney and the rest.

http://www.danah.org/Ani/Evolve/Serpentine.html
(snip)
....
and i must admit
today my inner pessimist
seems to have got the best of me
we start out sugared up on kool-aid and manifest destiny
and we memorize all the president's names
like little trained monkeys
and then we're spit into the world
so many spinny-eyed t.v. junkies
incapable of unravelling the military industrial mystery
preemptively pacified with history book history
and i've been around the world now
and i can see this about america
the mind control is steep here, man
the myopia is deep here

and behold
those that try to expose the reality
who really try to realize democracy
are shot with rubber bullets and gassed off the streets
while the global power brokers are kept clean and discrete
behind a wall
behind a moat
and that is all
that's all she wrote

...

[justinsb]

15. It's a little older now, but those same kids know and can sign along with

this one - again, black eyed peas

What's wrong with the world mama?
People living like aint got no mamas
I think the whole worlds addicted to the drama
Only attracted to the things that bring you trauma
Overseas yeah we tryin to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin
In the USA the big CIA the Bloodz and the Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And if you hatin you're bound to get irate
Yeah madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
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

People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?(where is the lovex3)(the love2x)

It just ain't the same all ways have changed
New days are strange is the world the insane?
If love and peace so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations dropping bombs
Chemical gases filling lungs of little ones
With ongoing suffering
As the youth die young
So ask yourself is the loving really strong?
So I can ask myself really what is going wrong
With this world that we living in
People keep on giving in
Makin wrong decisions
Only visions of them livin and
Not respecting each other
Deny thy brother
The wars' going on but the reasons' undercover
The truth is kept secret
Swept under the rug
If you never know truth
Then you never know love
Where's the love y'all?(I don't know)
Where's the truth y'all?(I don't know)
Where's the love y'all?

People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father father father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?(where is the lovex3)(the lovex2)

I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm getting older y'all people get colder
Most of us only care about money makin
Selfishness got us followin the wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting their young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what the see in the cinema
Whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality
Instead of spreading love, we're spreading anomosity
Lack of understanding, leading us away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feeling down
It's no wonder why sometimes I'm feeling under
I gotta keep my faith alive, until love is found

People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?(fade)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

18. "Green Day" nailed it, that's for sure. Been a fan for more than a decade.

[Roxy66]

21. My nine year old loves Green Day....I'm a little concerned. Should I be?

I have always loved Green Day...especially now that they are getting politically active in their music. My son heard "American Idiot" one day and has loved them ever since. His Dad had to drive 45 miles to get him the CD, because this town didnt have a store that carried it.(Very Republican). Anyway, my kids know Bush is a nut job, just by their own observation, and my son loves the songs that make a statement against this Administration, but I think he mostley just loves the Music . It's fun, but there is cussing and I am very active in monitoring what they watch on T.V and Video. Should I not let him listen to Green Day, or am I being parinoid. What if this music gets him rebelious? Any input?

[justinsb]

22. No, don't be concerned...

be aware. I'm going to repeat myself here but I'm more concerned that they know the words Bunker Buster than that they know the word Fuck. But don't understimate what these kids know. They grow up much faster than we did, and are more media savy. I've had conversations, not very in depth conversations but still suprising conversations for the age group about Afghanistan, Iraq, hate crimes, terrorism, homophobia, and more.