A New Beginning?

When I first started this blog, I had no idea where it was going to go. My main idea for it was to invite discussion, comment and possibly exert influence. In the times of regular postings I was starting a discovery of my political beliefs. I have reached a conclusion upon where those lie.

The main tenet of my political philosophy is in personal responsibility. It is not for the politician, scientist, 'expert', lobbyist, teacher, philosopher, parent or friend to tell you how to live your life. It is up to the individual to listen to what these people have to say and, from it, determine the best method for living. No one gets "their money for nothing, and their kicks for free." This is also why I disagree with what David Cameron's 'Big Society' appears to me. There should be no 'big' entity that dictates the appropriate method for conducting ones life. I do think that a big society is better than a big government, but it is the 'Big' aspect that I disagree with.

The next comes in the form of a, probably very incorrectly worded, quote:

"One should be free to do what isn't illegal, not what is legal."

If it isn't a quote then I want to claim it, but I'd rather know what the correct wording is (I know that was the gist of the statement) and who said it. I don't want to claim credit for what wasn't mine. I'm pretty sure I read it somewhere. No one should be persecuted for part-taking in something that is not illegal. If you find it immoral, then that is to do with your morals, they are not necessarily the other persons.

These are probably the two most important aspects of my political philosophy. I also feel that these are two that will not change because I age or anything else. They do not hold to one specific item and they are not mutually exclusive.

A return to the title of the post requires me to answer that question. I have stated what has been achieved through what I first started. I found this a useful method of thinking through ideas, as the words I write will mark down, on a more permanent basis, my thoughts and beliefs. Though I stopped posting on here, I do not think it would be in my interests to stop completely. I do realise I pretty much did.

So to answer the title of this post I shall mark today as a new start. Not really Volume II or Book II, more Chapter II. I feel that anyone who has read this blog may well have an small understanding of my character, and introduction. You have met me once or twice but do not yet know me.

Henceforth I shall write far more on the whimsical side than the irate side, flaming politics. There may be book reviews possibly music reviews as happens on my good friend Kyle's blog, Opinionated and Vocal. There may be short musings on a previous 'Food For Thought', that shall restart. I fear though that the poll shall die a death for a time, maybe to be resurrected like a magician's assistant, only time will tell. So, until I have time tomorrow (which reminds me, I need to clean my room the cleaner is coming around and he hasn't been in here for a couple of weeks and he needs to now), to quote a very favourite person of mine...

TTFN

Ta Ta For Now

Apathetic

I am currently in a bout of apathy. This post may well end up being one of the most reasonable post that I do. I have recently been relieved of my duty as a barman. This is not due to any fault of mine, apart from being the last person they hired (last in first out). It is due to the owners of the pub where I was working purchasing a new venue which had lots more staff that they had to take on than than they had been led to believe. For me this comes with some rather poor timing. It is now the Easter break for all the universities, so all those potential jobs in pubs that I had before going to work for the one that let me go have now pretty much disappeared.

It is this, in combination with the dearth of astute political leadership and situations at home, that has led to my current levels of apathy. That or a crash after a sugar rush, though I cannot establish when I had that if I did.

...

Apparently I need the ire to actually write a post. So I shall leave here some poetry that I have written.

I've been without a woman for cold long years.
I've felt familiar passions turning red my ears.
I've had the Icy Claw grasping at my fears.
I've need for love is what I tell my peers.

Time the healer, I thought had closed these scars.
Time believer, my faith was drowned in bars.
Time the dealer, would spare me this impasse.
Time the carer, don't leave me in this farce.

You were a Lightning bolt, a sudden strike of form.
You were the sight of land, safety from this storm.
You were a flight of geese, flying somewhere warm.
You were the rainbow, new hope in me was born.

Now it's here I stand, breaking in this rain.
Now it's here I stop, shouting in this pain.
Now it's there I run, demons in this flame.
Now it's there I roar, "By the Gods not this again!"

I quite like it, even if it was myself being a bit soppy after being dumped. To tell the truth, these are actually the verses in the song. Below is the chorus.

I've been alone,
For far too long,
I thought I'd found:
Someone to care with me,
Someone to share with me.

But now you've gone,
Left me all alone,
Just a passing note:
Thanks for the memories,
Thanks but it's time to leave.

If I manage to record the song in a fashion that allows me to put it up here I may well do so...

Well, the apathy continues, and as I have no other whims at this moment I shall leave things there.

Music of the Revolution

I may be biased on this subject and am pretty sure of at least one dissenter to this view. I have been thinking on what would be the music best suited to support a popular uprising against this current authoritarian government should it somehow manage to obtain power in the upcoming election. I shall list as many genres as I can think of an attempt to argue both sides for each genre.

House/Techno/Garage... the rave/club music.
Pro: When the rave scene first came about Thatcher made laws to stop it such was the fear the establishment felt of it. Connected with a disregard of authorities.
Cons: Disconnected from politics, its disregard of authority is through apathy and ignorance rather than deliberate.

Classical
Pro: Music that can inspire people to great deeds, from a time before current politics, disconnected from politics
Con: Seen as an elitist genre of music, can be too complex for many people, too long

Musicals
Pro: Written for groups songs, some very connected to the people's struggle against power 'Les Miserables', populist and catching
Con: Popular contemporary musicals are mechanically produced, contrived, escapist and fail to engage with any principles of a liberal revolutionary.

R n B (rhyme n beatz)
Pro: Large popularity base to access
Con: Complete absence of politics, escapist, contrived by suits

Hip Hop
Pro: Politically motivated music genre, real passion in music, about struggle against authoritarian power
Con: Modern version (krunk) is contrived and removed from politics, struggle was not just liberal but also racial

Pop
Pro: Popular
Con: Contived by men in suits, only apolitical if no threat to status quo that wasn't contrived by the suits

Jazz
Pro: Apolitical
Con: Elitist, lacking emotion necessary for revolution

Blues
Pro: Music of political struggle, extremely emotive, popular not populist
Con: Already music of a political struggle, struggle more racial than political

Punk:
Pro: Very political, extremely passionate
Con: Used in prior political struggle, declined since end of Thatcher

Metal
Pro: Sometimes political, extremely passionate, continuous hard-core large fan-base over all generations
Con: Lacks huge support, politics vary

The last three genres are listed in order from 3rd to 1st.
I believe that metal would be the correct candidate. Blues was for the black man against the white master. Punk was the middle finger at Tatcher. Metal has yet to really have its fight against the authority. The lyricists of metal bands may vary from left to right, but when you tell them what to do they will casually light up a fag, flip the fingers at you, blow smoke in your face and tell you in so many words to "go away and leave us alone or unpleasant things will happen to your body." Metal does have its softer side, its remorseful side, its melancholic side. The songs that are sung to remember the beloved deceased, but come battle what other genre is there to compare. There is no 'Battle Punk' or 'War Blues'. I doubt there are any other genres so popular that are so inclusive either. How many popluar/significant genres had their 'dress code' decided by a gay man. This is a genre that simply demands respect, give it and you shall be shown an equal measure, show intolerance and you shall be scorned.

Please do disagree, this has been written when tired and tipsy, and I know that I have forgotten rock, I shall do it as an editorial tomorrow or something. But in the war of the liberals against the authoritarians, I know which genre should own the anthem for the liberals.