I don't judge folks on what they wear, how much money they make, or what they think about life as long as they are honest with themselves and have their own thoughts. We all have flaws. What I do judge people on are their actions, especially how they act when they truly believe that no one is paying attention to them.
I stopped at a local gas station and leaned against my car while my car filled up, and just looked around people watching as I always do. Some kid about mid 20's comes out of the convenience store part and apparently went in to get an item while his car filled up over on the next island. I watched him saunter out of the store, throw a piece of paper half ass at the outside garbage can and miss the can completely. I watched him observe the piece of paper fall next to the can, and he looked at it, and proceeded to put the pump away, and get into his car without any attempt at picking up the piece of paper. I watched then as he sat in his seat and lit a cigarette (apparently the item he bought) and then threw the smoldering match(yes match) out onto the cement where of course gas fumes, and Diesel fuel residue reside. he then turned on his car, and proceeded to blast some God awful "music"(Term I use loosely) at unbearable volume, as he apparently had a whole surround sound system in his car that was equivalent to the ones they use in today's movie theaters. And then he drove off, spinning his wheels in the process, as if he owned everything around him. As I went to go pick up the piece of paper that would've taken him all of a second to pick up, I thought about the amount of complete lack of caring about anything but himself that just occurred, and unfortunately how the ratio of these people is increasing dramatically.
Because we as Americans have everything, and I mean everything ready at our fingertips, it is so easy to be self absorbed especially the young people who are growing up knowing only that particular aspect of "Life On Demand" Now people have every aspect of technology and information ready and accessible so much that the rest of the world and the critical thinking that is needed to figure out your place within it, is being lost. People become so wrapped up in whatever information they need that pertains to them, and only them, that they become selfish, and totally oblivious to how they are impacted, and just how they impact. Just a piece of paper that the kid missed? Yes, but there is a bigger picture. all of the actions that I observed in that 45 second window of watching this kid tell me that he cares about absolutely no one. He has deemed himself in his mind as center of the universe, and anyone else doesn't matter. Driving out of there with his music blasting beyond any decent volume, he did not care that someone else had to pick up his garbage. He did not care that the smoldering match could have ignited a minor mushroom cloud at the gas station. he did not care that no one wanted to know just what music he was listening to. So in my mind as I picture this kid going about his life and daily journeys I picture him as being a tremendous problem, as he cares not what kind of wake he leaves, or the consequences of minor or major actions, because in his mind, it is all about him.
That is what is being created right now, as this country becomes more dependent upon results "on demand", and patience and thought of life beyond that which one inhabits goes right out the window. I know that I sound like every generation before, where each generation starts off a rant of their children with "Ya know kids today...." But this applies even more so now. There are individuals within the "On Demand" generation who are more selfish, more impatient, more rude, more disrespectful of everything around them than most of some generations put together. It all comes down to what society subliminally puts within the minds of a particular generation, and what is put in these minds is money, fashion, material things such as the latest cell phones, and the no attention span dynamics of existence. You would think with the access to historical archives on the internet, that this would be the most historically aware generation ever, but no. Their needs for information are fluff, and the rate with which they turn from focusing on one thing to another is akin to just changing channels in the TV of their minds. You would think that this generation would know more about the world, its geography, the people and actions going on than any generation in history. But they can't even point out Japan on a map. With all of the crap around them, they are still bored and unmotivated to explore themselves or examine how the world of nature works around them. Everything is thought for them, and nothing is a consequence.
Do I mean everyone from this "On Demand" generation? No. I am not blanketing, but I do see a common thread evolving from this crop of American kids. "Me, Me What about me, and my needs, and enough about me, let's talk some more about me.." Now there are quite a few kids that care about others, about the environment, about their and others' impact upon the world, but this kid at the gas station is slowly taking over. The selfish, unaware, and uncaring kid that will grow up to be the most obnoxious whining adult, who will make problems up to bitch about. I am usually very positive in my writing, but I believe in telling what I see. And when I went to pick up this kid's garbage and put it in the trash for him, I was pissed. Because for him, this is just the beginning of people cleaning up after him and his mess, and it is just the beginning of him not caring. And the more he doesn't care, the better at not caring he will become, and the less things that pertain to the lives of others matter to him, until his life becomes just one big vacuum of what he can get for himself, and how others don't matter.
No one kid defines a generation, but this just made me look closer at what I've already seen taking place. That one instant just made clearer to me the common denominators of just what kind of individuals will be running this joint in years to come. That is what we are headed for within this "On Demand" generation, and if you are young and reading this, and not one of those kids, then you have a very tough road ahead of you, because unlike the message in The Bible, the way it works now is that the selfish inherit the earth. The rest of us are there to listen to them complain.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Pre Post Racial: Gabby Vs. Utopia
Now that the Olympics are over, and done, and we are celebrating American athleticism at its finest, some disturbing conversations to me that don't employ common sense were reverberating from different mouths. The spectacular young lady Ms. Gabby Douglas became the first African American to become the individual all around champion in Gymnastics, and proudly America embraced her as they should because she is a spectacular individual full of positivity, passion for what she does, and embodies the spirit of perseverance to the max, as she is quite a lesson in the attitude of "Go out and get it if you want it." What she did took "Balls", "Intestinal Fortitude", "Courage", whatever you want to call it, she has it, and is truly someone who at this early stage in her life, should be looked up to for inspiration. What disturbed me were cries of people complaining and wondering just why we have to announce that she is the first African American to accomplish what she accomplished. Most people have good intentions in their minds because they want a world where that notation doesn't have to be stated, but it is truly a horse blinder statement of not malice, but ignorance. And it is in the ignorance that I have the problem with.
To be absolutely truthful, that is the ultimate utopian goal in our society which is to honor achievements based upon non color categories. A great portion of Americans are truly hoping for that wonderful day when all barriers have been broken, and no one sees race as a wall, but a bridge where people and what they accomplish becomes a referendum of the individual, and not a whole race of people whom the individual that accomplishes shares the yolk of. It's obvious as this is the 21st century, and no longer 1947 where Jackie Robinson had to endure major suffering to ensure that his race would have an opportunity. Many people argue that since there is now a Black president in office as of this writing that all is well in America, and we can now stop talking about race. That is absolutely the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard, dangerous, and complete nonsense to anyone whose eyes are wide open. It would be nice, but it is not realistic of the America, and world that we live in. Yes there have been major steps forward, and yes there is a more rainbow like landscape of some aspects of America as it pertains to achievement and position, but there are still barriers to be broken, and still hurdles to be jumped, and over 300 years of systemic oppression and laws of the paper and mind will not be wiped out by just 48 years of a law preventing such acts. 48 years..That is not even half a lifetime, and many grandparents remember just what they couldn't and weren't permitted to do, and that pertains to North AND South of the Mason Dixon line.
Race has been the tricky fault line of America ever since people came to this land. Whether it be what happened to Native Americans, African Americans, Irish Immigrants, Chinese rail workers, or Japanese in Internment camps. Race is the big red blotch on the history of this country that we are still feeling the effects of, but Blacks have a special notch in that situation because of just how they ended up here, the brutality that it took to keep them from achieving anything, and the residual impact of broken families, and no sense of identity during the process. This is not whining. This is reality, and I challenge someone to put themselves and their families through those things willingly for generations and have a better outcome..Not gonna happen, so with that information, of course there will be extraordinary individuals who rise to the surface, and achieve, but those incidents will be slow and steady. Just imagine if those brilliant folks like Benjamin Banneker, or Frederick Douglass had been given the equal tools of achievement..
So as we trample into the 21st century, yes we still have things that have not been achieved. So when Ms. Gabby Douglas does something that hasn't been achieved by someone of her race, it is equivalent of making a note of reference such as the first woman in space, or someone who might be a first Hispanic head of neurology in a hospital, and the list goes on and on. The fact is that there were systematic limitations. Now there are not, so when the first of something happens, it is our duty to remind ourselves not only how far we have come, but how far we still have to go. Someone has to be the first to do something. As it pertains to race, yes there will be more. We are all Americans, but let's not have selective memory, and forget that we were all not treated equally. I know that people either mean well in their attempts to "De Race-ify" events, or they are sick of hearing about race, and want it to go away under some ignorance cloak that if they just don't say anything everyone will be considered equal. Not going to happen. The playing field is full now, but some people just within a lifetime have just recently seen what the ball even looks like.
Do I sound angry? I am at the ignorance of people whether it be unintentional or not. Race issues have not left this country. We have not given race problems walking papers, and now it is looking for another job in another country. Race problems and the accompanying uneasiness, and rip in the American fabric that were created over 300 years ago in this country still exist. Is it better? Yes absolutely! Is it over? You take a look, and ask yourself the hard question, and if you live in a fantasy world, your answer will be much different than if you live in the world of reality. And in that world of reality lives Gabby Douglas and her achievement. And in that world of reality she deserves to be recognized as an American, AND as an African American. That is truth, and often America dodges the truth like it is playing "Hide and Seek". The real world is where America needs to be, and in America's real world Gabby needs to be honored as a person, a Gymnast, an American, and an African American. Why? Because we all still have work to do, and things to achieve. Because of her, there is now one less. Because of her, we are just a little closer to the true idea of America.
To be absolutely truthful, that is the ultimate utopian goal in our society which is to honor achievements based upon non color categories. A great portion of Americans are truly hoping for that wonderful day when all barriers have been broken, and no one sees race as a wall, but a bridge where people and what they accomplish becomes a referendum of the individual, and not a whole race of people whom the individual that accomplishes shares the yolk of. It's obvious as this is the 21st century, and no longer 1947 where Jackie Robinson had to endure major suffering to ensure that his race would have an opportunity. Many people argue that since there is now a Black president in office as of this writing that all is well in America, and we can now stop talking about race. That is absolutely the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard, dangerous, and complete nonsense to anyone whose eyes are wide open. It would be nice, but it is not realistic of the America, and world that we live in. Yes there have been major steps forward, and yes there is a more rainbow like landscape of some aspects of America as it pertains to achievement and position, but there are still barriers to be broken, and still hurdles to be jumped, and over 300 years of systemic oppression and laws of the paper and mind will not be wiped out by just 48 years of a law preventing such acts. 48 years..That is not even half a lifetime, and many grandparents remember just what they couldn't and weren't permitted to do, and that pertains to North AND South of the Mason Dixon line.
Race has been the tricky fault line of America ever since people came to this land. Whether it be what happened to Native Americans, African Americans, Irish Immigrants, Chinese rail workers, or Japanese in Internment camps. Race is the big red blotch on the history of this country that we are still feeling the effects of, but Blacks have a special notch in that situation because of just how they ended up here, the brutality that it took to keep them from achieving anything, and the residual impact of broken families, and no sense of identity during the process. This is not whining. This is reality, and I challenge someone to put themselves and their families through those things willingly for generations and have a better outcome..Not gonna happen, so with that information, of course there will be extraordinary individuals who rise to the surface, and achieve, but those incidents will be slow and steady. Just imagine if those brilliant folks like Benjamin Banneker, or Frederick Douglass had been given the equal tools of achievement..
So as we trample into the 21st century, yes we still have things that have not been achieved. So when Ms. Gabby Douglas does something that hasn't been achieved by someone of her race, it is equivalent of making a note of reference such as the first woman in space, or someone who might be a first Hispanic head of neurology in a hospital, and the list goes on and on. The fact is that there were systematic limitations. Now there are not, so when the first of something happens, it is our duty to remind ourselves not only how far we have come, but how far we still have to go. Someone has to be the first to do something. As it pertains to race, yes there will be more. We are all Americans, but let's not have selective memory, and forget that we were all not treated equally. I know that people either mean well in their attempts to "De Race-ify" events, or they are sick of hearing about race, and want it to go away under some ignorance cloak that if they just don't say anything everyone will be considered equal. Not going to happen. The playing field is full now, but some people just within a lifetime have just recently seen what the ball even looks like.
Do I sound angry? I am at the ignorance of people whether it be unintentional or not. Race issues have not left this country. We have not given race problems walking papers, and now it is looking for another job in another country. Race problems and the accompanying uneasiness, and rip in the American fabric that were created over 300 years ago in this country still exist. Is it better? Yes absolutely! Is it over? You take a look, and ask yourself the hard question, and if you live in a fantasy world, your answer will be much different than if you live in the world of reality. And in that world of reality lives Gabby Douglas and her achievement. And in that world of reality she deserves to be recognized as an American, AND as an African American. That is truth, and often America dodges the truth like it is playing "Hide and Seek". The real world is where America needs to be, and in America's real world Gabby needs to be honored as a person, a Gymnast, an American, and an African American. Why? Because we all still have work to do, and things to achieve. Because of her, there is now one less. Because of her, we are just a little closer to the true idea of America.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
For The Sake Of Music: Message to young players
I was working out in the gym the other day, when I saw a young dude staring at me. I actually noticed that he was looking at my shirt. I was wearing my Hendrix 9 to the universe shirt, and it has Jimi in a side silhouette. You have to look very hard to see that it's him, but once you do, you can see how the whole picture makes sense. I said "Hiya doin' man" to break the ice a little. He smiled and asked if that was Jimi Hendrix. I told him yes, and he responded with a nodding head, and saying "Cool". I was surprised because he was a young kid very early 20's and most young kids his age don't know who the hell Hendrix is. I asked if he liked Hendrix, and he said yes. I then asked if he was a musician, and he stated that he was just starting out, and had been playing bass for about 3 months. I told him I am a bass player, and he wanted to know if I gave lessons. I stated that I am not really qualified as a teacher to give proper Bass lessons, and I recommended a friend that does. We started to talk music, and I asked him who he liked. He rattled off some contemporary artists that I really fought rolling my eyes when I heard them. But in some of his choices, there was hope. I asked about one of those, and questioned why he liked them. He kind of shrugged and said that they were cool. I was really curious, and pressed him a little further, and asked what in their music makes them cool. He stated that he wasn't sure, but the music in his words "Felt powerful". Exactly what I was hoping he would say. I asked if he liked The Blues. He said, "You mean like Stevie Ray Vaughn right?" I smirked a little, and said "Yeah but further back than that..Where Stevie Ray got his ideas". He had no idea, so I rattled off some names myself. We talked for another 10 minutes about Blues and music in general, and I gave him a disc of my band and thanked him for talking to me,and wished him luck. I thought about our conversation, and was hoping that I made an impact on a young player. I started to think about just what I would say to all young players if I had the opportunity to talk to them. In my opinion, there are 5 starting point rules that a young musician should follow. So these are the 5 things I would say if I was to make up a manifesto for young players to follow:
1) Play music for the love and reward of music itself. Do not venture into music to get laid, or to become famous or rich. If none of that stuff happens, you still have to have to have the pure desire and love of music to sustain you. Whether it be onstage or in your room, the absolute love of music has to be total, and consuming in order for you to learn, and execute honestly. If you approach it this way, practice will not be a chore..It will be a challenge that you willingly take on daily.
2) Don't just listen to something and like it without knowing the reason. ask yourself why do you like it?..What is in it that makes you desire to hear it? What is in it that fills your soul? As you create a library of music that you like, figure out the common denominator of just why you like different pieces of music or songs, or artists. Figure these aspects out, and that knowledge will help you gravitate towards more inspiration like that, and help you become the musician you see yourself as.
3) Get your ears on everything you can get them on. There is so much music, and so little time in life, but one thing is certain..There is great music from every era, every genre, and every time in history, and you as a musician should want to hear it all. Why? because it adds to the library of your reference points. When you approach playing, writing, or listening and learning, if you listen to different music you have great ideas that you can pull from, and put in your own arsenal of yourself. Originality is nothing except a conglomerate of ideas gathered from the past, and forged towards the future. It's so much easier now with Youtube, and computers to look up yur favorite legends. I had to listen to a record 33's or 45's and move the needle back to the spot I was listening to figure out what was going on. Tedious but worth it. There is no excuse for a young musician now to not be able to at least set the foundation for the fundamentals of playing.
4) Play like you mean it. Don't dick around. Play like it will be the last time you ever get to do so. It very well could be. Don't be some stupid poser, or someone who is more concerned with looks than with skill. Keep time, play, and play with passion. If you are just going through the motions, it will show big time. The best musicians in history played with a passion and desire that not even recordings could contain. Whatever you do, and whatever you play, make that a part of yourself, and your persona. Do it, or not. It's that simple. People will call you obsessed, and consumed, but I prefer the term "dedicated." For you are not only dedicated to what you do, but who you are, and how you want to leave your mark. Let nothing or no one stand in the way of that. If someone thinks that you are nuts for wanting to play music, then just smile, and keep on. The true reward the music within you. Attitude over aptitude. Write your own stuff..You will eventually write something good for its own sake.
5) Have fun. Take your music seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously. Music is your escape, and the thing that makes you feel good. Don't let that experience be a miserable one. If you are in a band or playing with musicians that you don't want to play with, then don't. Period. Make your musical experiences joyous, and pleasurable. Life itself has enough bad crap in it. Why make the thing you love most something bad too. Playing music for me is the most spiritual thing that I have ever experienced. Communicating without words to other people with the sounds and feelings each of you make to make a greater conversation. Priceless. You should come away from that experience completely drained, because you have given yourself, and taken parts of others. But the drain should be invigorating, like a jogger's high.
Those are the things I would say to a young musician today. There are a million other nuanced things, but the 5 that I would start off with are those. I love being a musician and playing music is who I am. I am opinionated beyond a lot of people's belief because I know what I like and what I don't like, instantly, and I can tell you exactly why. But a new musician at least has to find their way..I hope for this young man that I talked to, I gave him something to ponder, and if he sticks with it 20 years from now, he can take pieces of it, and tell someone his story..Music is the bridge..Always. Just glad that I could connect.
1) Play music for the love and reward of music itself. Do not venture into music to get laid, or to become famous or rich. If none of that stuff happens, you still have to have to have the pure desire and love of music to sustain you. Whether it be onstage or in your room, the absolute love of music has to be total, and consuming in order for you to learn, and execute honestly. If you approach it this way, practice will not be a chore..It will be a challenge that you willingly take on daily.
2) Don't just listen to something and like it without knowing the reason. ask yourself why do you like it?..What is in it that makes you desire to hear it? What is in it that fills your soul? As you create a library of music that you like, figure out the common denominator of just why you like different pieces of music or songs, or artists. Figure these aspects out, and that knowledge will help you gravitate towards more inspiration like that, and help you become the musician you see yourself as.
3) Get your ears on everything you can get them on. There is so much music, and so little time in life, but one thing is certain..There is great music from every era, every genre, and every time in history, and you as a musician should want to hear it all. Why? because it adds to the library of your reference points. When you approach playing, writing, or listening and learning, if you listen to different music you have great ideas that you can pull from, and put in your own arsenal of yourself. Originality is nothing except a conglomerate of ideas gathered from the past, and forged towards the future. It's so much easier now with Youtube, and computers to look up yur favorite legends. I had to listen to a record 33's or 45's and move the needle back to the spot I was listening to figure out what was going on. Tedious but worth it. There is no excuse for a young musician now to not be able to at least set the foundation for the fundamentals of playing.
4) Play like you mean it. Don't dick around. Play like it will be the last time you ever get to do so. It very well could be. Don't be some stupid poser, or someone who is more concerned with looks than with skill. Keep time, play, and play with passion. If you are just going through the motions, it will show big time. The best musicians in history played with a passion and desire that not even recordings could contain. Whatever you do, and whatever you play, make that a part of yourself, and your persona. Do it, or not. It's that simple. People will call you obsessed, and consumed, but I prefer the term "dedicated." For you are not only dedicated to what you do, but who you are, and how you want to leave your mark. Let nothing or no one stand in the way of that. If someone thinks that you are nuts for wanting to play music, then just smile, and keep on. The true reward the music within you. Attitude over aptitude. Write your own stuff..You will eventually write something good for its own sake.
5) Have fun. Take your music seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously. Music is your escape, and the thing that makes you feel good. Don't let that experience be a miserable one. If you are in a band or playing with musicians that you don't want to play with, then don't. Period. Make your musical experiences joyous, and pleasurable. Life itself has enough bad crap in it. Why make the thing you love most something bad too. Playing music for me is the most spiritual thing that I have ever experienced. Communicating without words to other people with the sounds and feelings each of you make to make a greater conversation. Priceless. You should come away from that experience completely drained, because you have given yourself, and taken parts of others. But the drain should be invigorating, like a jogger's high.
Those are the things I would say to a young musician today. There are a million other nuanced things, but the 5 that I would start off with are those. I love being a musician and playing music is who I am. I am opinionated beyond a lot of people's belief because I know what I like and what I don't like, instantly, and I can tell you exactly why. But a new musician at least has to find their way..I hope for this young man that I talked to, I gave him something to ponder, and if he sticks with it 20 years from now, he can take pieces of it, and tell someone his story..Music is the bridge..Always. Just glad that I could connect.
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