Damn Scott. This is amazing! It's time to start a serious disarmament movement. It's always the "Eddies" of both sides that end up in the meat grinder on behalf of arrogant and self serving elites and armchair warriors.
What a beautiful column, Scott. I really look forward to hearing you again on Sunday evening on "The Long Way Around." I know that every minute of the two-hour program will be of great value to listeners, many whom probably don't get such unique opportunities to be exposed to alternate ways of viewing our world and its peoples. It is my opinion that the show's format is unique among the multitude of shows out there whether they are on terrestrial radio (or TV) or on the internet. It's an accessible format that everyone can enjoy while also absorbing important information and insight. Thank you for giving so generously of your time!
thank you for this powerful column that wove music of our spirits about the truth of wars....and a special thank you for discussing the courageous and compassionate women of Ireland especially Mairead Maguire who I met and stood with outside shin bet prison for hours one day in April 2004 awaiting the long hoped for release of nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu that rare day..She/they have traveled far and wide to give heart and attention to places filled with violence..bless them and you !!
War, however, is not about the individual, but rather the collective—the team. People who try and act as individuals end up dying.
I feel that the reason that America has lost the ability to prevail is that the cult of the individual has become so prevalent that it precludes any effective communal action.
The real hard part is that both of the primary modes of think (for simplicity's sake we will refer to them as "republicans" and "democrats") have just pitched differing means of exalting the individual over the collective.
How this plays out is anyone's guess. But it sure looks to be a mess upcoming.
Eric Bogle's "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" has made me cry every time I've heard it since a child only a few years after Eric wrote it. Being half Scot in decent ... ironically the other half German .... I prefer his Scots voice and original rendition to the Irish Pouges version.
The Gallipoli campaign is the Australian equivalent of the Serbian Battle of Kosovo in 1389. After referencing it through out the tune he finishes it off with the refrain from our much loved national song about stealing sheep which just seals the deal.
Unfortunately ANZAC Day has became overtly Nationalistic thanks mostly to ex-PM John Winston Howard who Scott would remember as the lying rat in charge when he was here prior to the invasion of Iraq.
Thank you, Scott; wonderful choices and thoughts. Do not forget Shostakovich's Symphony 7, "Leningrad," although too long for a playlist. January 27 will be the 79th anniversary of its official end, although the damage, loss and scars remained. I was there on a college group tour years ago. The tour did not include Piskaryovskoye Cemetery, but I went on my own. (The KIev tour included Babi Yar.) Western ignoring - hence ignorance - of history is a factor in the current situation.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. Music is one of those things that frequently reminds me of the contradictory nature of our existences - both beautiful and horriffic at the same time.
Great selection of war songs Scott and I love "The Pogues" and Shane McGowan, a lyrical genius with the song "A Pair Of Brown Eyes" capturing the hell of war and the affects of artillery strikes on humankind and ordinary people suffering the terrible results.
Damn Scott. This is amazing! It's time to start a serious disarmament movement. It's always the "Eddies" of both sides that end up in the meat grinder on behalf of arrogant and self serving elites and armchair warriors.
What a beautiful column, Scott. I really look forward to hearing you again on Sunday evening on "The Long Way Around." I know that every minute of the two-hour program will be of great value to listeners, many whom probably don't get such unique opportunities to be exposed to alternate ways of viewing our world and its peoples. It is my opinion that the show's format is unique among the multitude of shows out there whether they are on terrestrial radio (or TV) or on the internet. It's an accessible format that everyone can enjoy while also absorbing important information and insight. Thank you for giving so generously of your time!
This man knows things! He is not only a marine. Great article💪
thank you for this powerful column that wove music of our spirits about the truth of wars....and a special thank you for discussing the courageous and compassionate women of Ireland especially Mairead Maguire who I met and stood with outside shin bet prison for hours one day in April 2004 awaiting the long hoped for release of nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu that rare day..She/they have traveled far and wide to give heart and attention to places filled with violence..bless them and you !!
I think your phrase that struck me as truth was:
War, however, is not about the individual, but rather the collective—the team. People who try and act as individuals end up dying.
I feel that the reason that America has lost the ability to prevail is that the cult of the individual has become so prevalent that it precludes any effective communal action.
The real hard part is that both of the primary modes of think (for simplicity's sake we will refer to them as "republicans" and "democrats") have just pitched differing means of exalting the individual over the collective.
How this plays out is anyone's guess. But it sure looks to be a mess upcoming.
Eric Bogle's "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" has made me cry every time I've heard it since a child only a few years after Eric wrote it. Being half Scot in decent ... ironically the other half German .... I prefer his Scots voice and original rendition to the Irish Pouges version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnFzCmAyOp8&ab_channel=undercovermusicvideo
The Gallipoli campaign is the Australian equivalent of the Serbian Battle of Kosovo in 1389. After referencing it through out the tune he finishes it off with the refrain from our much loved national song about stealing sheep which just seals the deal.
Unfortunately ANZAC Day has became overtly Nationalistic thanks mostly to ex-PM John Winston Howard who Scott would remember as the lying rat in charge when he was here prior to the invasion of Iraq.
For those interested.
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/gallipoli/august-offensive/suvla-bay
https://www.navy.gov.au/history/feature-histories/1st-royal-australian-naval-bridging-train
Great playlist! Will tune in. (How sad many of these great musicians are fully boosted and... )
Thank you, Scott; wonderful choices and thoughts. Do not forget Shostakovich's Symphony 7, "Leningrad," although too long for a playlist. January 27 will be the 79th anniversary of its official end, although the damage, loss and scars remained. I was there on a college group tour years ago. The tour did not include Piskaryovskoye Cemetery, but I went on my own. (The KIev tour included Babi Yar.) Western ignoring - hence ignorance - of history is a factor in the current situation.
Beautiful, Beautiful. You are very special, Scott! Thank you for who you are!
Thank you for sharing your experiences. Music is one of those things that frequently reminds me of the contradictory nature of our existences - both beautiful and horriffic at the same time.
Who is Jeff Norman?? I just left a donation but received no receipt.
One of the greatest anti war songs you will ever hear.... And it also happens to be written by Eric Bogel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntt3wy-L8Ok
Damn... This is a really good post. You're definitely NOT just a "dumb marine". Respect!
Scott meloman. Unbelievable!
Great selection of war songs Scott and I love "The Pogues" and Shane McGowan, a lyrical genius with the song "A Pair Of Brown Eyes" capturing the hell of war and the affects of artillery strikes on humankind and ordinary people suffering the terrible results.
'' I was denied the opportunity to die for my country.'' What? Great post otherwise, Scott.