Nice choice Mark. 10 years seems so very long ago now... I feel like if we don't unite and do something soon, we are all just going to continue to watch an iron curtain close on our own country. Just look at the bickering going on about RFK Jr.
Yes I wish the bickering would cease. We need to remember we’re all human and part of that means we are imperfect. Robert Kennedy isn’t perfect just like you and me. And he’s not a savior either. But he’s smart and he puts decency and honor ahead of his own glory and personal gain. I was really hoping that more people would feel the way that I do about his candidacy. When his father and uncle were killed back then, I felt so crushed and confused even though I was oblivious to the degree of darkness that existed and still does. But we have to start somewhere and having someone who can convey our concerns and fight power with truth and God’s love is a giant step forward. If you have a similar POV, stand tall and consider yourself fortunate.
I remember as a 7 yr old how devastated my mom was watching JFKs funeral. My first impression of how important “other” people are to us. Watch Trump simply destroy Kennedy over his voice. This will be a telling moment if he does this and I believe a huge mistake. There’s something pure about RFK Jr and I’m excited about the possibilities he offers.
I had just turned 13 on November 13 (Watched the Oswald hit live on TV at my Rabbi's house while practicing for my Bar Mitzvah) and like everyone else was devastated. As a kid, there was nothing quite like it that had ever happened in my young yet very impressionable life. But it was watching the funeral on Monday and weeping that was the part of the dreadful weekend that stood out the most. Before that crying was mostly a response for not getting my way or being bullied or other typical stuff - but this time it was due to a deep meaningful sense of loss and something I was unable to fully grasp. Bar/Bat Mitzvah is celebrated as the passing from childhood to the first stage of becoming an adult. What a powerful experience it was to manifest this way.
And on another red letter moment, the night I graduated from high school, RFK was gunned down. I heard it on the car radio while driving home from the afterparty. I was already drunk.
I don't remember either, but I think of those murders, and the murder of MLK, as a point of no return. Of interest, I have always been a fan of studying history. My mother attended JFK's inauguration, and I still have the button she got. I will be attending RFK Jr.'s kickoff for his presidential bid in Boston this coming Wednesday. I live in Boston so it's a no-brainer for me to go.
Beautifully said, Mark. I have faith and my spirit has been lifted BECAUSE he stepped forward and is risking his life to do this. We need to be stronger in love and hope right now than we are in righteous anger which has its place but not before we see the moves in the chess game between the anti fascists versus the eugenicists and assorted psychopaths.
I don't know if they'll let me hold up my signs, but I'll have two that I will be waving around on my way in and out of the Park Plaza Hotel. One of my signs says "coerced injection is forced injection" and the other says "where there is risk, there must be choice." If you see, me please say hello.
My husband is good friend with Simon and Garfunkel They were childhood buddies and played baseball (Hoderson ATHLETIC CLUB. and Miller Bread)together in Queens NY, and their mothers played Mahjong together for many years. When I first met my husband I thought he was kidding because I absolutely loved them and had all their albums. One day were going to Kennedy airport to pick up
tickets and there was a huge limo in front of our car at the terminal. My husband saw Simon in the car but Simon got out of the limo to say hi to my husband. I was really quite shocked.
We all went to the counter together to pick up tickets. Simon was going to South Africa. I remember one thing about him. He was one of the most genuine celebrity I ever met. He asked me what I did for a living but more than that he looked directly in my eyes when I explained my teaching handicapped children. I had the privilege of telling him that I thought he was the spokesman of an entire generation. He actually blushed. Outstanding gentleman soft spoken humble and my husband said he was a good baseball player too.
This song was always my favorite however the poignant feeling still runs deep in America as we the “elders “ now can actually remember a time we were all young fresh faced and loved our country with all our hearts regardless of its faults because we descendants of European grandparents knew what oppressive worlds we managed to escape. Bittersweet memories now.
Most if not all of the younger people in America now are like children born of privilege; to parents who came from nothing but worked their way up the ladder of 'success' through lots of blood, sweat and tears; and their children did NOTHING to earn that privilege; but they THINK they DESERVE it. And worse; they sometimes scoff and mock the wealth AND the parents; not understanding the groundwork that was laid FOR THEM through THEIR PARENT'S hard work.
So MANY people who came here so long ago (And some who come here now); including some from my own family; left their home countries because of famine or war or tyrannical governments; or just simply to have a better life overall than what they had in their home countries. The children; Grandchildren; and Great-Grandchildren of those people are like those kids of the rich couple; they have NO IDEA of ALL that was sacrificed for them; of the horrors of Communism/Socialism/Maoism/Marxism, etc.; they think it's a joke.
Until THEIR LIVES are forever changed; and EVERYTHING is TAKEN AWAY from them; they won't get it. They will not...can not...truly comprehend that though this country; like a worn-out ship; does have leaks in it and needs LOTS of repairs; it's STILL (For now) ONE of the safest places on earth to be; with little exception. One day though; all of their mockery and horrible attitudes will be shaken out of them (I hope; for their sakes); when all that they have been so graciously given is stolen from them; and they are left begging or fighting for a scrap of food.
If we don't appreciate WHAT WE HAVE NOW; then it WILL be taken from us. We are UNDESERVING of such riches. Slap the hand of grace and mercy and provision and love; and one day, That Hand will not only withdraw; but will be held up to strike.
If we don't wake up now; we will be condemned to forever live the nightmare we have created for ourselves.
Good one…my community is now being taken over by the brats, entitlementarians, and the ones who don’t want to volunteer, just let me pay for it. Walk off with parts of the comty newspaper, tear out articles before end of day, and talk back to security, staff et al. Louder music for karaoke events, not pleasant. We want it now, why can’t we have it now?! Oh well, the economy, what’s that?! Lots to look forward to, which….
I think the scenario you wrote about; which makes me feel so sad; is happening or will happen possibly throughout the world. I believe we are living in the end-times; because the things that are happening are all of the things that are descriptive of the last-days in the Bible:
3 But understand this, that yin the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
Those traits sound VERY much like what we are seeing today. It's bad enough when lawbreakers break the law; but when law MAKERS; or those who are SUPPOSED TO uphold the law; flout the law and allow lawbreakers to go free; THEN we KNOW we are in DEEP trouble.
Beautiful and at the same time crushingly sad. I don’t know what or whom to trust anymore. But we’ll persevere and figure things out for the better. There is no other choice.
Well, I am not tearing up. I am angry. America is, and always has been, here---but it is being willfully, systematically and maliciously destroyed and those of us that know what it COULD be are aching. And dumb, NEA- and Hollywood-corrupted, young people--teamed up with goofball, self-indulgent and clueless 60- and 70-somethings, Republican and Democrat, "educated" and uneducated, male and female, religious and non-religious, as well as all the maliciously obedient and supercilious, are aiding that destruction by consenting to tyranny. What a vapid trashcan of lyrics. (B.t.w., I have their vinyls from my teen-fan days.)
With all do respect for you and your excellent work, please do not condescend to tell me to "lighten up." (I did confess that I have S&G vinyls---doesn't that get a smile?) I have had my life absolutely ruined by these monsters who are remotely running this world-train wreck like "Gomez Addams" playing with his model set in the attic. It has been ruined generally like we all are experiencing (which is enormous enough), but I have also have taken lots of it personally in a directed way. I can only salute those who have been imprisoned or murdered and who have suffered much more torture. I could care less about the performer class---yes, many of them controlled by the CIA as you aptly point out. Much of the supposed arts that we have been abused by, has lots of very subtle propaganda baked into it: manufactured self-identity angst, ethnic pride for all but one, anti-familial values, male hatred, you know the routine---'The Authoritarian Personality' mind twister. I'll admit, I do not use music on my Substack and probably I should. And you are correct, we cannot vacuum up every bit of inconsistency and "impurity." That leads to a pretty humorless life. I did use music and film clips on my old WordPress homepage and I still use it for my private, email-blast audience. Thanks. I will ponder your comment. Keep up the attack.
look into John Steppling’s Aesthetic Resistance podcast. A great group and John is among other things a dramatist of the highest order. He discusses with three others where we are headed. Also his blog is often brilliant. www.john-steppling.com
Thanks. I opened it in my tabs. And I do apologize to Prof. Miller and everyone here. I was grouchy. He has a very good site and the Suddenly-Died work is amazing. (Sorry Mark, you were trying to give us some needed emotional refreshment and I impulsively trolled your good-will attempt.)
Yep. But come on anyone with an ounce of common sense who is not in deep denial that they’ve allowed harm to themselves and their children needs to get a grip and let go of the Santa Daddy fixations. Accept responsibility. You were FOOLED. You’re forgiven. so now start screaming Enough is Enough.
Thank you MCM, but darn you’ve got me crying! And mourning our great nation. Interesting that Swedes sang that song. My parents came from Stockholm to look for America in 1949. They toured and embraced their new country before my father entered medical school in Iowa that year. Two of us were born in Iowa and two at Mayo Clinic in MN, where dad got his pathology credentials. Funny- none of the four kids were given citizenship until my parents gained citizenship. We ended up in California, where “the grass is greener”, as it was for many years. My parents are lucky to be gone, I hate to say. Thus my tears.
A song from a time when America was a place to discover, when there was possibilities and hope. Simon has another song that turned out to be more apropos, that also had "America" in the title, American Tune:
I don't know a soul who's not been battered
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
Or driven to its knees
Oh, but it's all right, it's all right
For we've lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road we're traveling on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong
And of course also begging a listen is "Sounds of Silence", which is universally regarded as the best song ever written. Take a listen to the Disturbed's version of it, it underscores the poetry of the song very dramatically.
Ha! our comments are almost totally similar. I've never seen something like that. I'd say "Great minds think alike", but you already thought of that didn't you?
Lovely. Yes me too. So nice to hear real haunting, soaring harmonies…so much now is so loud and jarring. I still wish to save my ear drums. Yes, I treasure these songs, was it only that long ago? ~~~ A sweet delivery; on this I can close my eyes and picture myself leaning against some store windows on a sidewalk, enjoying the musician set up, an instrument case open for tossed donations. ~~~ i do wish singers would not cover their mouth with the mic though, seems rather rude.
Lovely harmony. Sometimes I go to bed ODing on the Carpenters or America, even Elton John. American music has been deliberately dumbed down by removing melody so that it appeals to lower IQ people. Who is doing this to us? I think it is clear.
It's funny how subjective music can be. Paul Simon's first solo album after splitting with Art Garfunkel featured a poignant piece called "Armistice Day". I was surprised to read in an interview that Paul considered it the weakest song on the album. I loved it - especially the killer lines:
Nice choice Mark. 10 years seems so very long ago now... I feel like if we don't unite and do something soon, we are all just going to continue to watch an iron curtain close on our own country. Just look at the bickering going on about RFK Jr.
Yes I wish the bickering would cease. We need to remember we’re all human and part of that means we are imperfect. Robert Kennedy isn’t perfect just like you and me. And he’s not a savior either. But he’s smart and he puts decency and honor ahead of his own glory and personal gain. I was really hoping that more people would feel the way that I do about his candidacy. When his father and uncle were killed back then, I felt so crushed and confused even though I was oblivious to the degree of darkness that existed and still does. But we have to start somewhere and having someone who can convey our concerns and fight power with truth and God’s love is a giant step forward. If you have a similar POV, stand tall and consider yourself fortunate.
I remember as a 7 yr old how devastated my mom was watching JFKs funeral. My first impression of how important “other” people are to us. Watch Trump simply destroy Kennedy over his voice. This will be a telling moment if he does this and I believe a huge mistake. There’s something pure about RFK Jr and I’m excited about the possibilities he offers.
I had just turned 13 on November 13 (Watched the Oswald hit live on TV at my Rabbi's house while practicing for my Bar Mitzvah) and like everyone else was devastated. As a kid, there was nothing quite like it that had ever happened in my young yet very impressionable life. But it was watching the funeral on Monday and weeping that was the part of the dreadful weekend that stood out the most. Before that crying was mostly a response for not getting my way or being bullied or other typical stuff - but this time it was due to a deep meaningful sense of loss and something I was unable to fully grasp. Bar/Bat Mitzvah is celebrated as the passing from childhood to the first stage of becoming an adult. What a powerful experience it was to manifest this way.
And on another red letter moment, the night I graduated from high school, RFK was gunned down. I heard it on the car radio while driving home from the afterparty. I was already drunk.
I don't remember either, but I think of those murders, and the murder of MLK, as a point of no return. Of interest, I have always been a fan of studying history. My mother attended JFK's inauguration, and I still have the button she got. I will be attending RFK Jr.'s kickoff for his presidential bid in Boston this coming Wednesday. I live in Boston so it's a no-brainer for me to go.
Amen!
Beautifully said, Mark. I have faith and my spirit has been lifted BECAUSE he stepped forward and is risking his life to do this. We need to be stronger in love and hope right now than we are in righteous anger which has its place but not before we see the moves in the chess game between the anti fascists versus the eugenicists and assorted psychopaths.
I’ll be coming up from New Jersey on Wednesday
🙌
I don't know if they'll let me hold up my signs, but I'll have two that I will be waving around on my way in and out of the Park Plaza Hotel. One of my signs says "coerced injection is forced injection" and the other says "where there is risk, there must be choice." If you see, me please say hello.
My husband is good friend with Simon and Garfunkel They were childhood buddies and played baseball (Hoderson ATHLETIC CLUB. and Miller Bread)together in Queens NY, and their mothers played Mahjong together for many years. When I first met my husband I thought he was kidding because I absolutely loved them and had all their albums. One day were going to Kennedy airport to pick up
tickets and there was a huge limo in front of our car at the terminal. My husband saw Simon in the car but Simon got out of the limo to say hi to my husband. I was really quite shocked.
We all went to the counter together to pick up tickets. Simon was going to South Africa. I remember one thing about him. He was one of the most genuine celebrity I ever met. He asked me what I did for a living but more than that he looked directly in my eyes when I explained my teaching handicapped children. I had the privilege of telling him that I thought he was the spokesman of an entire generation. He actually blushed. Outstanding gentleman soft spoken humble and my husband said he was a good baseball player too.
This song was always my favorite however the poignant feeling still runs deep in America as we the “elders “ now can actually remember a time we were all young fresh faced and loved our country with all our hearts regardless of its faults because we descendants of European grandparents knew what oppressive worlds we managed to escape. Bittersweet memories now.
I think it was the biospirit of those European grandparents that made America America.
Most if not all of the younger people in America now are like children born of privilege; to parents who came from nothing but worked their way up the ladder of 'success' through lots of blood, sweat and tears; and their children did NOTHING to earn that privilege; but they THINK they DESERVE it. And worse; they sometimes scoff and mock the wealth AND the parents; not understanding the groundwork that was laid FOR THEM through THEIR PARENT'S hard work.
So MANY people who came here so long ago (And some who come here now); including some from my own family; left their home countries because of famine or war or tyrannical governments; or just simply to have a better life overall than what they had in their home countries. The children; Grandchildren; and Great-Grandchildren of those people are like those kids of the rich couple; they have NO IDEA of ALL that was sacrificed for them; of the horrors of Communism/Socialism/Maoism/Marxism, etc.; they think it's a joke.
Until THEIR LIVES are forever changed; and EVERYTHING is TAKEN AWAY from them; they won't get it. They will not...can not...truly comprehend that though this country; like a worn-out ship; does have leaks in it and needs LOTS of repairs; it's STILL (For now) ONE of the safest places on earth to be; with little exception. One day though; all of their mockery and horrible attitudes will be shaken out of them (I hope; for their sakes); when all that they have been so graciously given is stolen from them; and they are left begging or fighting for a scrap of food.
If we don't appreciate WHAT WE HAVE NOW; then it WILL be taken from us. We are UNDESERVING of such riches. Slap the hand of grace and mercy and provision and love; and one day, That Hand will not only withdraw; but will be held up to strike.
If we don't wake up now; we will be condemned to forever live the nightmare we have created for ourselves.
Good one…my community is now being taken over by the brats, entitlementarians, and the ones who don’t want to volunteer, just let me pay for it. Walk off with parts of the comty newspaper, tear out articles before end of day, and talk back to security, staff et al. Louder music for karaoke events, not pleasant. We want it now, why can’t we have it now?! Oh well, the economy, what’s that?! Lots to look forward to, which….
I think the scenario you wrote about; which makes me feel so sad; is happening or will happen possibly throughout the world. I believe we are living in the end-times; because the things that are happening are all of the things that are descriptive of the last-days in the Bible:
***************************************************************************************
2 Timothy 3:1–9
English Standard Version
Godlessness in the Last Days
3 But understand this, that yin the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
***************************************************************************************
Those traits sound VERY much like what we are seeing today. It's bad enough when lawbreakers break the law; but when law MAKERS; or those who are SUPPOSED TO uphold the law; flout the law and allow lawbreakers to go free; THEN we KNOW we are in DEEP trouble.
Thank you for responding Sharon; take care.
Beautiful and at the same time crushingly sad. I don’t know what or whom to trust anymore. But we’ll persevere and figure things out for the better. There is no other choice.
Yep. Got the tears rolling. Witnessing human genius and beauty does that to me. WTF?
Me, too, Steve. All the more reason to keep creating beauty and upping our intake of it. :-)
This is a wonderful song but there's no America to find anymore. American Tune is more like it, also Simon and Gar.
I don't know a soul who's not been battered
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
Or driven to its knees
Oh, but it's all right, it's all right
For we've lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road we're traveling on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong
Well, I am not tearing up. I am angry. America is, and always has been, here---but it is being willfully, systematically and maliciously destroyed and those of us that know what it COULD be are aching. And dumb, NEA- and Hollywood-corrupted, young people--teamed up with goofball, self-indulgent and clueless 60- and 70-somethings, Republican and Democrat, "educated" and uneducated, male and female, religious and non-religious, as well as all the maliciously obedient and supercilious, are aiding that destruction by consenting to tyranny. What a vapid trashcan of lyrics. (B.t.w., I have their vinyls from my teen-fan days.)
You need to lighten up. Also, you're blaming the victims here. This whole thing is a military/CIA operation.
With all do respect for you and your excellent work, please do not condescend to tell me to "lighten up." (I did confess that I have S&G vinyls---doesn't that get a smile?) I have had my life absolutely ruined by these monsters who are remotely running this world-train wreck like "Gomez Addams" playing with his model set in the attic. It has been ruined generally like we all are experiencing (which is enormous enough), but I have also have taken lots of it personally in a directed way. I can only salute those who have been imprisoned or murdered and who have suffered much more torture. I could care less about the performer class---yes, many of them controlled by the CIA as you aptly point out. Much of the supposed arts that we have been abused by, has lots of very subtle propaganda baked into it: manufactured self-identity angst, ethnic pride for all but one, anti-familial values, male hatred, you know the routine---'The Authoritarian Personality' mind twister. I'll admit, I do not use music on my Substack and probably I should. And you are correct, we cannot vacuum up every bit of inconsistency and "impurity." That leads to a pretty humorless life. I did use music and film clips on my old WordPress homepage and I still use it for my private, email-blast audience. Thanks. I will ponder your comment. Keep up the attack.
look into John Steppling’s Aesthetic Resistance podcast. A great group and John is among other things a dramatist of the highest order. He discusses with three others where we are headed. Also his blog is often brilliant. www.john-steppling.com
Thanks. I opened it in my tabs. And I do apologize to Prof. Miller and everyone here. I was grouchy. He has a very good site and the Suddenly-Died work is amazing. (Sorry Mark, you were trying to give us some needed emotional refreshment and I impulsively trolled your good-will attempt.)
Yep. But come on anyone with an ounce of common sense who is not in deep denial that they’ve allowed harm to themselves and their children needs to get a grip and let go of the Santa Daddy fixations. Accept responsibility. You were FOOLED. You’re forgiven. so now start screaming Enough is Enough.
Thanks for sharing that, Mark. We are not giving up on America.
Good one Mark. Paul has a new album out...recorded at my cousin-in-law’s studio near Austin: “Seven Psalms”
Thank you MCM, but darn you’ve got me crying! And mourning our great nation. Interesting that Swedes sang that song. My parents came from Stockholm to look for America in 1949. They toured and embraced their new country before my father entered medical school in Iowa that year. Two of us were born in Iowa and two at Mayo Clinic in MN, where dad got his pathology credentials. Funny- none of the four kids were given citizenship until my parents gained citizenship. We ended up in California, where “the grass is greener”, as it was for many years. My parents are lucky to be gone, I hate to say. Thus my tears.
A song from a time when America was a place to discover, when there was possibilities and hope. Simon has another song that turned out to be more apropos, that also had "America" in the title, American Tune:
I don't know a soul who's not been battered
I don't have a friend who feels at ease
I don't know a dream that's not been shattered
Or driven to its knees
Oh, but it's all right, it's all right
For we've lived so well so long
Still, when I think of the road we're traveling on
I wonder what's gone wrong
I can't help it, I wonder what's gone wrong
And of course also begging a listen is "Sounds of Silence", which is universally regarded as the best song ever written. Take a listen to the Disturbed's version of it, it underscores the poetry of the song very dramatically.
Lac, I had same thought and posted the same lyrics before I scrolled through the comments and saw yours. Alas, alack...
Ha! our comments are almost totally similar. I've never seen something like that. I'd say "Great minds think alike", but you already thought of that didn't you?
Yes, but I have a dear friend who always answers that with, "Fools never differ." ;-)
So to agree with "Fools never differ" would make one a fool...
;-) and you're clearly not that!
Beautiful and has me going back to look at the lyrics.
Lovely. Yes me too. So nice to hear real haunting, soaring harmonies…so much now is so loud and jarring. I still wish to save my ear drums. Yes, I treasure these songs, was it only that long ago? ~~~ A sweet delivery; on this I can close my eyes and picture myself leaning against some store windows on a sidewalk, enjoying the musician set up, an instrument case open for tossed donations. ~~~ i do wish singers would not cover their mouth with the mic though, seems rather rude.
Lovely harmony. Sometimes I go to bed ODing on the Carpenters or America, even Elton John. American music has been deliberately dumbed down by removing melody so that it appeals to lower IQ people. Who is doing this to us? I think it is clear.
Mr. Simon has written many, many beautiful songs. I've been a fan since Sounds of Silence.
But this is probably his most poignant and beautiful song, and this duo (with an orchestra!) does a superb job (11 years ago!).
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiDc4DbFQZY
Laura maybe it can be turned areiund to Psalms 7 😉
The Mark Twain of American pop music
It's funny how subjective music can be. Paul Simon's first solo album after splitting with Art Garfunkel featured a poignant piece called "Armistice Day". I was surprised to read in an interview that Paul considered it the weakest song on the album. I loved it - especially the killer lines:
"I'm weary from waiting
Down in Washington DC
I've come to see my congressman
But he's avoiding me"
As true now as it was then.
Mark, thank you for that........yes, tears.
Thanks for sharing this incredible vid. Brought tears and smiles both to me.