"We're all Americans now." (French magazine Le Monde, September 2001,
in aftermath of 9/11 attacks)
"You're either with us or against us...." (George W. Bush, November 2001)
"We're all subhumans now." (myself, September 2006, in the aftermath of Israel's attacks on Lebanon)
7 comments:
Good stuff Gerry. I am writing because I love the song :Living eith the lies" that appeared on AT's "Terminal City Riccochet" soundtrack, did you ever record any other songs that sound like this - I heard there was an accoustic album but I could never find it. Thanks...
Yeah Spuzzum, it's pretty pathetic that no military superpower has agreed to step up to the plate and provide some real security for the refugees in Darfor, even though numerous NGOs, human rights activists and journalists have been asking for help there for a long, long time. Meanwhile, in places like Afganhistan, Iraq and Lebanon, where virtually no one asked for their help, they're in there like flint shooting and bombing the be-jesus out of everybody. Go figure. Where's the devil when you need him?
In answer to your question Dave, I released a cassette a long, long time ago titled "Songs From Underground" on which "Living with the Lies" first appeared. And yes, the whole recording had kind of a folk sound to it. Sadly, I have no extra copies of this cassette left. I may re-release it some day though. Let me get this Subhumans stuff out of the way first.
True Spuzzum. I don't have an answer for that question. In fact, I'm not sure I understand the question. Could you elaborate?
That seems highly unlikely Spuzzum. If indeed there is a god, it seems more likely she's tearing her hair out watching us tear each other apart. I think maybe to say religion is at the bottom of the whole problem allows certain parties to avoid taking responsiblity for their actions. One could just as easily say that the continuing illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel is at the root of the problem. Or that hot-headed machismo or the cult of martyrdom is at the root of the problem. Or that the arrogant, arch-conservative nutbars at the Project for a New American Century are at the root of the problem. Or all of the above. It's a complicated situation that takes discipline and committment to understand. I think that it's important to understand how the inherent weaknesses in humanity (or their spiritual beliefs) may be contributing to the situation, but it's equally important to be aware of the specific causes. After all, we are more likely to be able to address those in the short term.
Did you Cabnadian Subhumans originally get your name from Orwell's 1984?
Actually, our first drummer Ken Montgomery (aka Dimwit), named the band back in 1978. I'm not sure where exactly he got the name from and he's dead now (heroin overdose) so we can't ask him. I don't remember there being a reference to "subhumans" in 1984, but I haven't read the book in a long time so maybe there is. I always assumed Ken liked the name because the nazis used the word "untermenchen" (subhumans) to refer to pretty much everyone they didn't like(socialists, jews, gypsies, gays, anarchists, etc.) and it seemed pretty likely that the nazis wouldn't like us either. Obviously the word was meant as an insult, but sometimes if you take an insult and wear it as a badge of honour, you take away the power of the insult and beat the person making the insult at their own game. I think this may have been part of Ken's intention in using the name and it's certainly part of the reason we still use the name today.
Hi Gerry,
It's Lynne and Barb from the old house on William St. in East Van from 93.
I knew you would still be around, much needed in this world.
Much metta,
Lynne and Barb
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