Political Song of the Day ... Come Join Us by Bad Religion

Come Join Us by Bad Religion

so you say you gotta know why the world goes 'round
and you can't find the truth in the things you've found
and you're scared shitless 'cuz evil abounds
come and join us

well I heard you were looking for a place to fit in
full of adherent people with the same objective
a family to cling to and call brethren
come and join us

all we want to do is change your mind
all you need to do is close your eyes

so come and join us
come and join us
come and join us

don't you see the trouble that most people are in
and that they just want you for their own advantage
but I swear to you we're different from all of them
come and join us
I can tell you are lookin' for a way to live
where truth is determined by consensus
full of codified arbitrary directives
come and join us
all we want to have is your small mind
turn it into one of our own kind
you can go through life adrift and alone
desperate, desolate, on your own
but we're lookin' for a few more stalwart clones
so come and join us
come and join us
come and join us

we've got spite and dedication as a vehement brew
the world hates us, well we hate them too
but you're exempted of course if you
come and join us
independent, self-contented, revolutionary
intellectual, brave, strong and scholarly
if you're not one of them, you're us already so
come and join us

I like almost all Bad Religion songs, but especially those that touch on religion.

Political Song of the Day - Robin Hood in Reverse by Bad Religion

Bad Religion has always been the standard bearers for thinking man's punk rock.  They obviously frequently sing of religion, but this song hits upon the Supreme Court and the ridiculousness of the Citizens United decision.  That monumentally inconceivable ruling opened the floodgates of even more dark money into the already corrupt political process.  Despite his apparent love of his own voice, Antonin Scalia will not be looked up kindly by history.  In his eyes, money is free speech.  And the more money you have, the more speech you get.

Robin Hood in Reverse by Bad Religion

 Here is the church 
There is the steeple 
Open up the door 
Corporations are people 
Wait what did he say? 
What the fuck did he say? 

It couldn't last 
They had to crash 
Some parties are just made that way 
But when the bell rings 
The boys will sing 
Swing low sweet precariat 

Let's say we try to get this right 
Said the plutocrat to jesus christ 
And when the old fox fearing the worst 
Made his entrance in a hearse 
Then the nine in black robes all went berserk 
This is a tale of robin hood in reverse 

Citizens united 
I was excited 
When the kids are united they can never be divided 
But that was yesterday 
There's a brand new sham to today 

Let's say we try to get this right 
Said the plutocrat to jesus christ 
And when the old fox fearing the worst 
Made his entrance in a hearse 
Then the nine in black robes all went berserk 
This is a tale of robin hood in reverse

Philosophy/Religion Song of the Day: "New Dark Ages" by Bad Religion

Yeah can you hear the call in our rambling land
Susurrations that can expand beyond all hope of light
and plunge us into into unrelenting night

A pall on truth and reason,
It feels like hunting season
So avoid those lines of sight
and we'll set this right

Welcome to the new dark ages
Yeah, i hope you're living right
These are the new dark ages
And the world might end tonight

Now come ye children one and all, let's heed Ezekiel's call
And bide until the word is good and ripe and get plucked clean out
of sight

The world will be erased
Our kin will be immaculate ejaculate in space
Before the kind of king's love, he'll snatch us
From above, brothers help me sing it

Welcome to the new dark ages
I hope you're living right
These are the new dark ages
And the world might end tonight

So how do you sleep? “ there's nothing to keep“
This is deep
Because we're animals with golden rules
Who ... who can't be moved by rational views yeah

Welcome to the new dark ages
I hope you're living right
Welcome to the new dark ages
And the world might end tonight

"An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it." -- James Michener

Political Songs of the Day: American Jesus by Bad Religion

American Jesus by Bad Religion

I don't need to be a global citizen,
'Cause I'm blessed by nationality,
I'm a member of a growing populace,
We enforce our popularity
There are things that seem to pull us under and
There are things that drag us down,
But there's a power and a vital presence
That's lurking all around

We've got the American Jesus
See him on the interstate,
We've got the American Jesus
He helped build the president's estate

I feel sorry for the earth's population
'Cause so few live in the U.S.A,
At least the foreigners can copy our morality,
They can visit but they cannot stay,
Only precious few can counter the barbarity,
It makes us walk with renewed confidence,
We've got a place to go when we die
And the architect resides right here

We've got the American Jesus
Bolstering national faith
We've got the American Jesus
Overwhelming millions every day

He's the farmers' barren fields, (In God)
He's the force the army wields, (We trust)
He's the expression on the faces of the starving millions, (Because he's one of us)
The power of the man. (Break down)
He's the fuel that drives the Klan, (Cave in)
He's the motive and the conscience of the murderer (He can redeem your sin)
He's the preacher on TV, (Strong heart)
He's the false sincerity, (Clear mind)
He's the form letter that's written by the big computer, (And infinitely kind)
He's the nuclear bombs, (You lose)
He's the kids with no moms (We win)
And I'm fearful that he's inside ME (He is our champion)

We've got the American Jesus
See him on the interstate
We've got the American Jesus
Exercising his authority
We've got the American Jesus
Bolstering National faith
We've got the American Jesus
Overwhelming millions every day

One nation under God(x10)

Creationism: God's Gift to the Ignorant

I know this one will surely rile JC up ... and that is not my intent. So bear with me. An article written by Richard Dawkins earlier this year does a really good job of exposing the obvious problems with Creationism and with how those that believe it seek to justify it.

Creationism: God's Gift to the Ignorant

I have no problem with people that believe in God. I understand that it's a matter of faith and as such you do not need to have proof. My problem is with people that use intellectual dishonesty to justify their belief. Especially, Intelligent Design believers. That dishonesty is distinctly non-Christian. An example from Dawkins' article:

It isn’t even safe for a scientist to express temporary doubt as a rhetorical device before going on to dispel it.

“To suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.” You will find this sentence of Charles Darwin quoted again and again by creationists. They never quote what follows. Darwin immediately went on to confound his initial incredulity. Others have built on his foundation, and the eye is today a showpiece of the gradual, cumulative evolution of an almost perfect illusion of design. The relevant chapter of my Climbing Mount Improbable is called “The fortyfold Path to Enlightenment” in honour of the fact that, far from being difficult to evolve, the eye has evolved at least 40 times independently around the animal kingdom.

Most scientists will readily admit what they do not know. That "ignorance" is what feeds science. They are always seeking new answers. Creationists are the opposite. Wherever there is a so-called "gap", they will insinuate God into it's place.

Intelligent Designers would have you believe that that by teaching it in school, children are being given more choices. But what they are getting is the exact opposite. Where once there was the thirst for knowledge, there is now encouragement to stop looking if you don't find the answer. Where once there was awe of the wonder of nature, there is now a blind acceptance of the unknown. Again, from Dawkins:

The creationists’ fondness for “gaps” in the fossil record is a metaphor for their love of gaps in knowledge generally. Gaps, by default, are filled by God. You don’t know how the nerve impulse works? Good! You don’t understand how memories are laid down in the brain? Excellent! Is photosynthesis a bafflingly complex process? Wonderful! Please don’t go to work on the problem, just give up, and appeal to God. Dear scientist, don’t work on your mysteries. Bring us your mysteries for we can use them. Don’t squander precious ignorance by researching it away. Ignorance is God’s gift to Kansas.

"Sorrow"

Heard a great Bad Religion song on the radio today called "Sorrow". Here's a snippet of lyrics from it:

• "... When all soldiers lay their weapons down,
  Or when all kings and all queens relinquish their crown,
  Or when the only true messiah rescues us from ourselves...
  It’s easy to imagine there will be sorrow no more ..."

They are a great punk band that's been around for a long time. They are very talented, very liberal and write very intelligent lyrics.

I challenge anyone to name a single right-wing artist who has ever written a single intelligent lyric. Ted Nugent ... wrong. Toby Keith ... try again. Godsmack ... please!!

You wonder why all true artists are liberals? Those two things that make you a good artist ... empathy and intelligence ... also make you a good liberal. To be a true liberal, you must care about the least fortunate among us and those unable to defend themselves. Additionally, you must have enough intelligence to look at all sides of issues and to listen.

An artist without empathy is a drafter. A musician without empathy is a jingle-writer. A politician without empathy is a Republican.

And to those who criticize artists for expressing their political beliefs, what do you think rock music has always been? It's always been rebellious music. It's always been about changing the world. Don't be a hypocrite and hum along to the Clash, to Steve Wonder, to Marvin Gaye and then still pull that lever for your local fascist. I'm amazed when I've went to shows for contemporary artists like Tool, A Perfect Circle, Rage Against the Machine, Foo Fighters, Ministry, Pearl Jam, etc. that a good portion of each audience evidently have no clue to what the artists are trying to say or what the meaning of any of their lyrics are. It slays me every time I see a bunch of frat boys jumping up and down and singing "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" at a Rage show.