When I came home from school the other day, I started taking to my father. We talked about many things. I brought up the fact I found and inspected volumes III and IV of his Chicago at Carnegie Hall album. When I was looking at the album, I found the insert developed by the band to education fans, mainly the ones between 18-years-old and 21-years-old that just got the right to vote. (My father happened to be someone that fell into this new pool of voters).
The insert was interesting. From Robert Lamm's lyrics and this album insert, it was clear that the band did not like Nixon. And Chicago wanted to make sure he didn't get re-elected in 1972. However, Chicago did not explicitly express in this insert that Nixon was the scum of the earth. Not once did I see Nixon being insulted in the insert. The closest it got to being hateful to Nixon was the math expressed stating what could have happened in 1968 had the Twenty-sixth Amendment been in effect back then. Instead, Chicago's displeasure was turned around to encourage the new block of voters to register to vote. This insert contained the vital information for these new voters to register to vote in their home states, cities, and counties. It wasn't just a speech; this insert was something to prod for change.
I told my father that this is wrong with the world today. We should embrace and be proud of political discontent with the establishment and the need for change. After all, it's in our blood. Chicago did this with the insert. And it still happens today. But what's missing from this discontent is civility. No, today, we get both sides of the political spectrum insulting each other and going for the throat. It saddens me and sickens me. Whatever happened to civility?
If you wonder why I'm apathetic to politics some days, it's because of how we're all ready to go for the throat instead of talking and listening to each other in a calm manner. We don't take positive and active ways to change the world. We're content to sit back and insult.
In Savannah, we have a mayoral race coming up. The upcoming mayor race in town should be interesting. I wonder if it will just will be about change or another case of hate disguised as a chance for change.
Finally, don't comment on current politics on this post. I am not in the mood for it. I have seen too many entries devolve into name calling and hate. I am tired of playing that game. If you want to comment on current politics, do it on your blog, not mine.
[♪ Listening to: "Take Me Back To Chicago" - Chicago]
Posted by Shawn at August 26, 2007 6:25 PM in General.
