Happy Birthday America, here are some protest songs to help celebrate!

[naturegeek]

Hank's vlog about the 4th of July celebrations doing classically American stuff like baseball and fireworks got me thinking...

There are things I love about this country, and things I don't love about it. I actually do consider myself patriotic, but I think peace and protest are some of the highest forms of patriotism - I believe in the sentiments behind "Question Authority" button I still have from the 70's. I believe we have a great constitution and wish our "selected" officials of the past 8 years felt the same. Bill of Rights, anyone?

Pointing out flaws doesn't mean you don't love your country, but that you care enough to want it to be better. You want it to make you proud of it, not "just because" but for real reasons, because it truly IS great. Protesters have faith that we CAN be great, even if we aren't being great currently.

So happy birthday, America - here are some protest songs to make you think and change direction and keep you on a better track. Because I love you.


This one is interesting because it is from Madrid, and the intro is in Spanish, but the sound quality is great and omg the guitar. THIS is the Bruce Springsteen that I like best. I love this song done acoustically because you can hear the words and realize it is a protest song, or a song about stuff that's wrong with the country. I think pointing out what's wrong is patriotic. Because it implies faith that we can fix it. And we can. Disfrutalo (enjoy):

And, from "Body of War," Eddie Vedder doing the great Phil Ochs protest song, "Here's to the State":

And here's one - a classic Bob Dylan protest song "Masters of War" done in YouTube Collab style by an international force of 8 musicians - the "More Info" link on the YouTube sidebar has lots of details.

I also like John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change" - I loved it when I first heard it and recognized the irony. Don't wait. Make it happen.

Making the world a batter place is everyone's business. Making our country a better place is part of that. Helping people wake up, open their eyes, and see what they might be able to do is the best kind of patriotism.

Anyone else have some great songs to share? Post the YouTube embed links in your replies and they'll show up!

[unicornceiling]

Hi naturegeek!
Woah, I've been away for awhile... apparently you have an abbreviation now? NG? This is very cool but makes me slightly sad, seeing as my grandpa would label things in the refrigerator NG or G and NG was "Not Good."
......aiiinyway..

I really like this post (and the responses to comments; i think blowing up stuff is a great way to celebrate! also, you are amazing at putting wise things into words. ) I think that's the best stance to take on the whole madness surrounding "Who's more patriotic!" right now with the flag pins..
I feel like the truest sort of care can be determined, righteous, anger. Except if it's in response to someone taking your pudding or something.

[LAly]

I can't find an embeddable version so here is the linky. This is the Dixie Chicks song with multiple interpretations after that controversy.

And, of course, Joan Baez.

[naturegeek]

I just got this from my sister-in-law, and I thought it would be appropriate to post it here!!



To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II:

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately .

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections. ***Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
(You should look up 'revocation' in the Oxford English Dictionary.)

1. Then look up aluminum, and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.

2. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'colour', 'favour', 'labour' and 'neighbour.' Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters; and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise'. Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels (look up 'vocabulary').

3. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as 'like' and 'you know' is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let M*crosoft know on your behalf. The M*crosoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of -ize.

4. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

5. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists.The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not ready to shoot grouse.

6. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

7. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

8. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

9. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar .

10. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting Nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

11. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialogue in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

12. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. All Chicago Cubs fans will as of today support CHELSEA, the best soccer team in the UK.Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body Armour like a bunch of nancies). Don't try Rugby - the South Africans and Kiwis will thrash you, like they regularly thrash us.

13. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

14. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

15. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

16. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 pm with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God Save the Queen!

[naturegeek]

More Bill Zimmerman!!

Is America Ready?


Conservative Christian Right Wing Republican Straight White American Males, by one of my favorites, Todd Snider, set to a fun little animation by a YouTuber:

[naturegeek]

Yay Canada!! Happy belated Canada Day, btw.

[kdot (keeley)]

oh, and here's a follow up article re: Sgt. Corey Glass, as reported by the CBC.

U.S. war resister granted stay of deportation order
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 | 3:37 PM ET

A federal court on Wednesday granted a U.S. war resister a stay of removal, allowing him to remain in Canada while his legal case unfolds.

Corey Glass, an Iraq veteran who deserted the National Guard and fled to Canada in 2006, had been scheduled to be deported to the United States on Thursday.

Glass can stay in Canada while the court reviews and decides on his applications for leave and judicial review — processes his lawyer said could take months.

Meanwhile in Washington, a group of protesters gathered Wednesday outside the Canadian Embassy in Washington to support Glass and fellow war resisters who have sought refuge in Canada.

The demonstrators called for Canada to end its efforts to deport the war resisters and wanted to thank Canadians who support their cause.

On the CBC website you can see comments left by readers, and there can be some heavy debating going on at times. Mostly from geeky Ottawa politico types. (kidding) Regardless... there was one anonymous comment that was, well, amazing. And so I will add it here as well... If you wanna see it, it's on the original CBC site that's linked above :)

" Some brand the U.S. war resisters as cowards and criminals. They have broken U.S. laws by deserting. George Bush and his cronies may have broken a few laws too, but they are still welcome in Ottawa.

Before the Civil War, many thousands of American slaves reached the safe haven of Canada via the Underground Railroad.
Escaped slaves were considered criminals.
Should Canada have turned the runaway slaves away?

The law evolves as society evolves. Laws are struck down when society recognizes their injustice. As society marches towards justice, its laws become more just. As a society, we should strive for and demand justice, not obedience to unjust laws.
Law is the means, justice is the end. Law is servant, justice the master. When law becomes the end, justice becomes perverted.
A law enforcing a soldier's participation in unjust acts in an unjust war is itself unjust. A soldier is justified to break that law. He does not have the law on his side--but he does have justice.

If the war resisters broke unjust orders and unjust laws, they are heroes, not criminals. When we offer them refuge, it is not the law we defend, but justice."

[kdot (keeley)]

and of course i had to add in my own little canuck reference to the mix :)
not musical, sorry... but news worthy!! and fyi: we're not to keen on our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. He's a total pinhead. And another FYI - i say anyone who wants to flee here, come on over.

peace, friends

[kdot (keeley)]

nice group of videos you have going here!!! Protesting is the way we get to have an impact, have our voices heard individually and as a collective. I remember a couple of years ago (2004?) when the G8 meeting was nearby and they closed downtown (where I worked at the time) for the protesters marching on the streets. We watched it all from above, it was amazing. I was so proud to be canadian. Sorry - this might not be the forum for that, but i do!!! I was watching the one Deb posted, the one of woodstock, and it makes me think of my wonderful neighbour who burnt his draft card, mailed it back in pieces, and fled to canada in june of 68, right before he was to report to the army. luckily..... who knows if he would have come back if he had gone to vietnam... anyway, i love your country too, i do, i just happen to really dislike and fear the current administration and the path they have led us all down. i sure love the gerds, geography is a minor detail.
:)

[Gabrielle]

Woo hoo, it worked!! That song is "Superdelegate."

[Gabrielle]

K, I'll try, I've never done the "embed" thing before...