Posted on 05/16/2004 10:31:25 AM PDT by mattdono
Such as storming the beaches at Normandy?
Good points.
-Eric
I might add, there is a large portion of conservative punks who are in the military, fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, and facing the war on terrorism square.
Its not the same as WWII, but it's just as heroic in my opinion.
For one thing, the original punk rock was one of many passing genres that emerged in the late '70s as a backlash against the insincere, corporate formulaic music that was dominant at that time [Disco mostly, but also there were some cash-driven rock bands as well].
We also called it New Wave or New Muzik, whatever. I know, I was there listening to the Ramones, Iggy & the Stooges, Generation X, Television, Talking Heads, Devo, etc.
For the most part, the cultural side of this movement was apolitical -- really was more sure of what it was AGAINST than what it was for. That is, necessarily a transitional stage. Eventually one must step up to the plate and offer cogent analysis leading to solutions [see the website in my tagline].
The political evolution that is described was certainly the case for me personally. I saw even in those days that the Left were not the 'Progressives' they purported themselves to be.
Many of my contemporaries saw them as Medievalist reactionaries who harbor a fundamental disdain for the general population. They are elitists who believe that a cadre of Philosopher Kings should be more equal than others, running a benign tyranny for our own good.
I was deeply impressed by Ronald Reagan's rhetoric and, although he seemed to have little chance of winning [the media was extremely hostile], I voted for him in 1980 at age 21.
This was the beginning of the time when college students were tending to be to the right of their professors. The hippies -- a decade our senior -- were baffled at why we were not going to carry the torch, continuing America's 'progress' toward National Socialism.
A classic representation of their perspective of my generation was the TV show 'Family Ties.' There we had the conniving, greedy Alex Keaton and his airhead sister Mallory. Offering a hopeful 'alternative' [Leftist bromides] was the younger sister [played by Tina Youthers].
Perhaps the author is using the punk rock appelation today, because youngsters now are actually thinking much as we did 20 years ago -- even their music is sounding similar [much more positive and optomistic than the dreary 90s grunge drivel].
Further, today's youngsters are more patriotic than their 30-something elders.
That's not at all the kind of thing he's thinking. I've noticed many times that the young seem to think that their generation was the first to discover sex, drugs, rock & roll and a fear of dying young.
When I tell them about duck and cover drills, the original Woodstock (no, I wasn't there, but I remember the time), Kent State and how I came very close to being beat up in school because I supported Nixon, they usually say something like, "I've heard of that stuff, but my folks are so straight they never even knew it was happening!" - Which is obviously ridiculous.
Let them think they're special. I see no problem at all with a few "gonzo" conservatives, as long as they really are Conservatives.
;^)
Their reaction to that bafflement was, and continues to be, rage. And they grow ever more baffled at people who, rather than being intimidated by that righteous rage, just turn away, like the author of this piece.
Is it true? Double ping to gonzo..
I saw a pole the other day organized by age bracket. It's true. 18-25. YES!
writ good. bravo.
These bands were for the most part nihilistic and or drug-addled (eg: Iggy - "Now I wanna be your dog.", "Fun - I'm gonna get stoned and run around") - hardly embodiments of conservative sensibilities. Television, however, especially Marquee Moon, was great art!
"These bands were for the most part nihilistic and or drug-addled"
Well, as I said it was a transitional stage...some just never left it. Most of us moved forward, but there were times of despair, especially when Bubba was in office.
And they have come back in full force this year.
Xer/Rock & Roll double PING!
"Just Say No!" to drugs was a heavy message promoted by Nancy Reagan (along with Ronald).
AIDS activists think he didn't do enough to help the homosexual community (because of their hedonistic lifestyle choice).
Tipper Gore was the one leading the charge for music censorship, however.
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