An Iranian ExperimentWritten by Ed Howes
Most White early Baby Boomers in United States, heard very little of Blues on their radios before Rock and Roll step child took hold. White authority, especially parents, saw music as corrupting. They were correct. Cold war tensions were high and nation was gripped by fear and civil defense, fifties equivalent of Homeland Security. The new subversive music was a pressure relief valve for White youth. The music did not incite rebellion in a direct way. It was spirit of music that moved young hearts. It had hope. It was OK to have a good time with world going to hell. We needed to know that. As we gained mastery over fear that gripped authority, we became less fearful of Black culture that produced music. Most White youth knew without question that something big was happening. There was a generation wide excitement that should have been shared with Black youth of same age group because their culture was gaining badly needed exposure. So began United States' Civil Rights movement. It was a violent fight that would have been far worse, if not for music coming first. The very same thing happened a little differently in England. I never asked an English War Baby or Boomer if they shared same exuberance in mid fifties that we did. This may have been an international phenomenon as it likely occurred in Canada as well. It could be argued that many elements had to come together at time to create Civil Rights movement and disregard of presumed authority that followed, but I am not sure. It was music and spirit it evoked in young hearts that was still there and strengthened in 1963 with British Rock Invasion. For next seven years, freedom was real issue in "land of free". College professors began explaining to students what was happening to freedom in U.S. and methods elitists used to control and manipulate people. Rebellion soon spread to challenge elitist agendas wherever they were exposed. There was just enough violence to keep rebels focused on change. The early years of Rock and Roll were mostly feel good music. It was rhythmic romance. It had to reach late sixties to become protest music. Everything happens faster now - perhaps twice as fast. What took eight to twelve years to develop in America back then, could take four to six years in other places today.
| | Greed and Selfishness ... Knowing the difference and loving yourself!Written by Edward B. Toupin
I hear many people discuss how selfishness leads to greed, or that being greedy is part of being selfish. I simply have to say that "greed" and "selfishness" are not same things. These are "value words" and are based on ideas and information drilled into our heads when we were younger as something known as "basic morals."As you grow and change, you find that these value words don't seem to fit any longer and, instead of providing a basis from which we can learn, they begin to hinder progress. If you learned that being selfish meant not doing for others and that selfishness was bad, then all your life you will be taken advantage of and used by those that have come to realize that it is okay to be selfish with oneself. However, this basic idea of selfishness preempts definition of love. What this means is that, if we're selfish of ourselves, we can never love. This too is untrue! If we are selfish with ourselves, we seek that which is right and true for ourselves. In this search, we can find that person that is right for us and we love them because they provide feelings that we seek for satisfaction.
|
