October 2001

After the Destruction Comes More Evil

As a child of the 1980's and an avid media observer, I find myself often unable to appreciate violence because I am so overwhelmed by the media and TEEvee to take time to contemplate it's damage to my world.

I watched the big Friday night Tribute to Heroes show on and off between pitches of the Mets-Braves game. I liked Neil Young, Mariah Carrey, Wyclef Jean, Tom Petty and Paul Simon's performances. Alicia Keys was good as well. Their performances were heartfelt and sincere - and good music. Please don't think that I did not like all other performances, I did not see them all.

But my stomach was turned by the performance by the guy from the Goo-Goo Dolls and Fred Durst. They tried to sing Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here." They did that song no justice. Well, they gave that song the High School treatment.

Usually when a white kid dies in high school, the lyrics to a touching song are printed in the yearbook. Sometimes, a band dedicates a song to the dead kids memory. "Wish You Were Here" is an easy choice for the unthinking high school kid.

So it comes as no surprise that Durst and the Goo-Goo guy chose to sing "Wish" with their additional lyrics. I wonder if Roger Waters is going to hire a hit man to kill those two. Maybe he will hire a few lawyers to keep that version off the CD that will no-doubt be released soon.

The question I have to ask is: Who made the decision for them to sing THAT song? Neil Young chose John Lennon's "Imagine" and Wyclef chose Bob Marley's "Redemption Song." Both songs are appropriate for the time and circumstances.

Maybe I am not supposed to understand the world sometimes.

* * *

On the Friday after the attacks, while driving home from work I took a different route than normal. At around 7pm, I saw people sitting on their porches with candles lighted in memory of those who dies in the attacks. I saw families sitting together holding American flags. I saw individuals silent in prayer.

For the most part, the large concentration of people with candles was not on the porches of the homes of America. I found that the greatest concentration of people were outside of bars and taverns.

Here is the low-down: for every ten houses I passed with five or six people with candles there was a bar with ten or fifteen people with lighters or candles in hand.

I guess that is from where America's strength will come.

AND WHAT'S MORE…

Another mile down the road I saw a family: Mother, father, daughter and grandmother. They all held candles and flags. I did not hear what the grandmother was yelling until I passed her. Her voice came through my open car window with a message clear and unmistakable :

"BURN IN HELL! BURN IN HELL! BURN IN HELL!"

OH, NO! IT'S NOT OVER YET…

Another mile later, an old, rusted Chevy Camaro appeared behind my car. On the antenna hung a confederate battle flag (real classy.) The driver cracked me up so bad that I almost ran a red light. He was driving with his knee while holding a tea candle in each hand.

Osama bin Laden don't know what he's up against, does he?

* * *

"God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood
Why does this song have to be played at a baseball game, or anywhere, for that matter?

You know the song I am talking about: I proud to be in America, where at least I know I'm free.

I hate this song. I hate Lee Greenwood.

Sure, I love the United States, and I am lucky to have been born here, but I am damned unlucky to have to hear this awful song all the time.

As I scanned the radio for news and views I kept hearing it playing in and out of news segments. Oh yeah, the stadium DJ at Camden Yards played that song after "The Star Spangled Banner" before an O's game. I wanted to puke.

And on top of all that, they did not play "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at the O's game. What is that crap? Since when does "God Bless America" replace "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"? I tell you, some times it looks like the terrorists are winning.