written in 1987, and as relevant today as it was then. Maybe more so.
Help save the youth of america
Help save them from themselves
Help save the sun-tanned surfer boys
And the californian girls
When the lights go out in the rest of the world
What do our cousins say
They’re playing in the sun and having fun fun fun
Till daddy takes the gun away
From the big church to the big river
And out to the shining sea
This is the land of opportunity
And there’s a monkey trial on tv
A nation with their freezers full
Are dancing in their seats
While outside another nation
Is sleeping in the streets
Don’t tell me the old old story
Tell me the truth this time
Is the man in the mask or the indian
An enemy or a friend of mine
Help save the youth of america
Help save the youth of the world
Help save the boys in uniform
Their mothers and their faithful girls
Listen to the voice of the soldier
Down in the killing zone
Talking about the cost of living
And the price of bringing him home
They’re already shipping the body bags
Down by the rio grande
But you can fight for democracy at home
And not in some foreign land
And the fate of the great united states
Is entwined in the fate of us all
And the incident at tschernobyl proves
The world we live in is very small
And the cities of europe have burned before
And they may yet burn again
And if they do I hope you understand
That washington will burn with them
Omaha will burn with them
Los alamos will burn with them
– Copyright Billy Bragg
Monday morning. Some folks are heading back to the picket lines, while some of us are greasing up the cogs in the corporate machine for another week. Heads down, plowing forward, hoping we’re not the next ones to be pitched into the street.
I’m not a political person. I don’t believe in Utopia’s. Every attempt I’ve ever seen at creating heaven on earth has unleashed nothing but horror on mankind. But I know that the path we are currently on is heading the wrong way. Changes need to be made. Not wholesale, revolutionary, tear down the system changes, but the more difficult kind. Thoughtful, constructive, and fruitful changes that bring the system into control, and put it back to serving us.
I don’t know exactly what the answers are, but I know this. If we continue to serve the system as it now exists, it will consume us.
Also? My final edits arrived for my upcoming article in the International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship. (Not to be confused with the National Journal of Social Entrepreneurship apparently). I’m also back to teaching again, so for the next 5 months I’ll be doing my best to corrupt the minds of tomorrow’s youth as a part time adjunct instructor at a local institution of higher education that shall remain nameless, lest I besmirch their reputation.
No, not really. My students are all adult learners, ranging in age from late 20’s to mid 50’s. I honestly learn as much from them as they do from me. Maybe more. Sshhhh… don’t tell anyone, or they’ll start charging me to teach, instead of paying me.
Billy Bragg is a genius, and I would love to know him.
I agree with you. Things have to change — but the old guard will not let the status quo go without a fight…
Pearl
I suppose you’re right. History is definitely on your side.
Just when I thought I might be able to coerce you into blowing something up you pull the “thoughtful change” card. I’ll just pit this C4 away now * kicks it under bed*
Anyway….
You know how much I love Billy so there’s no need for me to go on and on but I will put on my Don’t Try This At Home CD just for kicks.