Benj

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:23:24 -0600

Dude, you nailed it. I was at the same show, the third Rollins spoken word event I've been to. My only problem with Hank is my major beef with most of the people we've allowed to be spokespeople for the 'left of center': vitriol against the herd, but, you know, individuals are just trying to get by. They're just like you and me. Uh, no they're not. The 'they're just good people' is the same ruse that gave us W, the same ruse that (God forbid) might give us Palin. Why is 'Joe Six-Pack' the golden goose? The very archetype is described by the quality of being intoxicated. McCain-supportin' Bubba might be a truck driver just trying to keep a roof over his kids' heads, but why do I have to publicly kowtow to his ignorance? To his hawkish desire to bomb brown children? Why is elitism bad? We watch public figures repeat all this tongue-in-cheek rhetoric about how the Iraq war is criminal, and yet the troops need to be supported...? Do you remember why they got rid of the draft? Because some potential 'troops' called bullshit and set their cards on fire. Bad P.R. Today, without those demonstrations, we forget that these people volunteered to kill whoever the president tells them to, and we have a president who caters to Mr. Six-Pack. Nobody sees a problem here? I remember a Rollins who said the only good cops are the ones pushing up daisies. But then, I guess Reagan-era nostalgia is in vogue on both sides.

Austinist: Live Review: Henry Rollins at La Zona Rosa

Benj