by David Burn | Sep 7, 2005 | Music
I saw Femi Kuti open for String Cheese in Council Bluffs a few summers ago. At the time I knew nothing about Nigerian sensation Fela Kuti, nor his son, Femi. Later I learned about Fela, or “The Black President” as he was known to his fans. I learned that he was in the middle of a political war that simultaneously fueled his music and quite literally, arrested it.
Tonight we’re watching Femi Kuti: Live at the Shrine on DVD and learning more about Femi.
I found this article on Femi, which is a few years old, but lucid nevertheless:
You have just released a new album and launched the political movement MASS, “Movement Against Second Slavery”. Are you trying to prove that you are Fela’s heir?
I launched the MASS in Lagos last October at a huge concert celebrating Fela’s sixtieth birthday. I had already released my album a short time before in Nigeria. It is true that I am determined to carry on my father’s struggle. The MASS pays homage to him, but it is not a remake of his party, the Movement of the People, which he set up at the end of the Seventies. The MASS is not a political party. It aims to support and relay the population’s demands to the authorities.
What is the “second slavery” you are fighting against?
Slavery is not over yet, it has taken new forms, that’s all. France celebrated the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery this year, but it’s a total hypocrisy! Over the last five centuries, Africa has never been given the chance to rule itself. During the independence era, Europe and the United States set up and supported the governments who respected their interests. The external attributes of slavery have gone: the capturing of slaves, their forced exile…. But Africans continue to work in offices for the West today. The American and European multinationals help themselves to our natural resources as and when it suits them. They pump our oil and enrich a handful of individuals who enslave their people. That’s what I mean by second slavery.
Do you think you can change things?
I’m going to try. N’Krumah tried, Marcus Garvey, Malcom X, my father all tried. I am going to try too. Will I succeed? Who knows, but in any case I will try to! And my son will do the same. And his son too… Lots of people will keep on trying until the day when… and that day will end up coming.
by David Burn | Sep 5, 2005 | Music
At this tough and chaotic time for the Crescent City, I have to wonder aloud about all the New Orleans-based musicians. Is everyone accounted for? The Radiators? The Nevilles? The Marsalis clan? Dr. John? Leo Nocentelli? George Porter, Jr.? Anders Osborne? Galactic members? I could go on all day with this list, but what I’m trying to say is, if you hear anything please leave a comment here.
by David Burn | Sep 4, 2005 | Go Big Red
My friend, Lori Cotton, forwarded an e-mail today from New Orleans attorney, Mark Morice.
Dear Friends,
I want to thank all of you for your heartfelf responses of love, encouragement and offerings of shelter. I also want to thank all of you have offered employment. I am with my mother and brother at his house in Morgan City, Louisiana, only 87 miles West of N.O. My father is doing fine as he was able to evacuate as well.
As many of you know, I have spent the last four days living in the second floor of my neighbor’s home on Napoleon Avenue with 8 1/2 feet of water on my doorstep. I was blessed to have two good friends stay with me who recognized the needs of our neighbors, and accepted the dangers and perils of being a volunteer during a time of mass tradgedy, compounded by confusion, poor planning and an inconconceivable response. Their names are Beaux Whalen and Paul Gonzalzles and I am eternally greatful for their company, encouragement and ideas.
Beaux, Paul and I spent four days in boats going from house to house in the immediate flooded areas around my home. We started at daylight and drove our boats home at sunset. We were able to rescue over 100 neighbors, but we had to leave thousands behind. We focused on areas where no other water-based rescue operations were taking place and we could not travel more than one block without hearing the cries for help, people beating from the inside of attics and the pleas for supplies. These people were confused, scared, dehydrated, hungry, tired, elderly, disabled, people needing oxygen, needing dialysis.
The wealthier neighbors kept tabs on which neighbors were staying. They also had communication equipment and plenty of essential supplies. The poorer neighbors were not as organized. They had water for only a day or two. Sixteen people to some houses. The poor continue to suffer the most. They have no idea how to swim and many are taught that playing with a pit bull would be safer than going into the water for fear of drowning. So they have stayed in their houses, baking, dying.
We had a radio at night to keep us “informed.” Our local news radio station, WWL, failed miserably. They were not broadcasting where the drop off stations were. They were not informing the locals stuck in the water of the best escape routes. While we heard screams at night and banging on rooftops from trapped survivors, WWL was entertaining political debate discussing fault, blame and rebuilding New Orleans. Why weren’t they discussing volunteer efforts and relief? Still today, where is their leadership?
While I don’t think it is an appropriate time to share share the sad realities of what I’ve seen in N.O. as I type this message to you all, I say that I am glad to share the details if you want to know.
I am very greatful to be alive and I am deeply troubled and saddened that I left. I never met one aggressive person. I was never intimidated. I felt no threat of violence, other than the mass hype being proliferated by the media. The reports of the media caused me and many other volunteers to leave the city in fear of our lives – maybe this was good, I just don’t know.
I am in Morgan City and I can mobilize over 100 people who will be happy to participate in saving lives TODAY. They are local fisherman and sportsman who have boats and are willing to go into the city with me – but we can not get any clearance. No response from the Mayor’s office. No response from the federal agencies I have contacted. My friends in Morgan City report that over 400 volunteer fisherman from the St. Martin, St. Mary and Lafayette area have been turned around and told they could not go into the City of New Orleans because is was “too dangerous” or for some other reason. I have been sending a video and details of this disaster to news agencies around the country. I am hoping that someone can get through to the “brass.” My fear is that it is all too little and too late.
For all of my friends who live in other cities around our country, please don’t let this happen to you. Make sure your Mayor has a plan. Make sure your Governor has a plan. You don’t want to be walking around your home town FIVE DAYS AFTER a national emergency wondering why you, as a private citizen, can still see with your unaided eyes hundreds of people trapped, dying slowly, with no hope of survival.
The day I can return to New Orleans, I will. I will help clean the streets, remove the debris and rebuild my city according to the historical codes that are in place. I will help the displaced and assist in relief efforts. The spirit of New Orleans will not be broken. Our natives are strong, generous and carry the same passion for the Crescent City that I have shared with you all.
I thank our Lord for guidance and support during those solitude and lonely nights on “lake Napoleon.” I thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers and text messages of encouragement. I thank Beaux and Paul for making our small volunteer effort possible.
Again,
Thank you and God Bless you all,
Mark Morice
In addition, The Washington Times makes mention of Mark’s rescue efforts.
by David Burn | Aug 28, 2005 | Literature
Jay McInerney likes to read first novels. While reviewing Benjamin Kunkel’s Indecision in today’s Sunday Times, he reveals:
I devour first novels, particularly coming-of-age novels. In its modern form the American bildungsroman (the novel of formation) descends from ”The Catcher in the Rye” (1951). Reinvigorated by feminism in the 70’s, urbanized and coked-up in the 80’s, it was grunged-down and nonfictionalized in the memoir-mad 90’s (not necessarily a terrible development since most first novels are quasi memoirs anyway.)
Though often disappointed and frequently bored senseless by the antics of Holden’s progeny, I still believe there’s a type of cultural news that can be delivered only by those who’ve recently crossed over from the riotous country of adolescence, as well as a new spin on the literary traditions that have long since become reified in the minds of older writers. There are certain zeitgeist frequencies to which young ears are more attuned.
I suppose this is to be expected from the writer of Bright Lights Big City, arguably my generation’s Catcher In The Rye. At any rate, he makes Indecision sound like a book to read.
Indecision seems at times to have been constructed from a kit in which all the ingredients of the modern American bildungsroman have been laid out methodically and chosen after deep deliberation. (Dead-end job? Check. Wanderjahr? Check. Walking eccentrically down street in a bathrobe? Check.)
By the way, the novel draws its name from the main character’s abulia—an inability to make decisions.
by David Burn | Aug 27, 2005 | Politics
Bill Moyer, 73, wears a “B.S. Protector” flap while President Bush addresses the Veterans of Foreign Wars at their 106th convention Monday in Salt Lake City. Moyer served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
by David Burn | Aug 27, 2005 | Politics
“Why of course the people don’t want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don’t want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” – Hermann Goering, April 18, 1946
Metafilter points to this story about the American Legion’s efforts to quell dissent.
The American Legion will stand against anyone and any group that would demoralize our troops, or worse, endanger their lives by encouraging terrorists to continue their cowardly attacks against freedom-loving peoples,” Thomas Cadmus, national commander, told delegates at the group’s national convention in Honolulu.
The delegates voted to use whatever means necessary to “ensure the united backing of the American people to support our troops and the global war on terrorism.”
Cadmus recalled: “For many of us, the visions of Jane Fonda glibly spouting anti-American messages with the North Vietnamese and protestors denouncing our own forces four decades ago is forever etched in our memories. We must never let that happen again.”
“We had hoped that the lessons learned from the Vietnam War would be clear to our fellow citizens. Public protests against the war here at home while our young men and women are in harm’s way on the other side of the globe only provide aid and comfort to our enemies.”
This Cadmus is a smart one. He understands that every war protestor’s ultimate aim is to encourage terrorists to “continue their cowardly attacks” against us. With geniuses like this defending the cause, there’s really very little to worry about.
by David Burn | Aug 24, 2005 | Politics
photo courtesy of Heather B. Armstrong
I’ve also seen a t-shirt with the question, “Who would Jesus torture?”
by David Burn | Aug 24, 2005 | Politics
Hartford Courant: Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition and former Republican presidential candidate, sounded like he belonged to the Goodfellas Club Monday when he advocated the assassination of Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez.
Mr. Chavez, a populist and a harsh critic of the United States, poses “a terrific danger” and ought to be eliminated, opined Mr. Robertson on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s “The 700 Club.”
“I don’t know about this doctrine of assassination,” said an incensed Mr. Robertson, “but if he thinks we’re trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it. … We don’t need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator. It’s a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with.”
Two years ago, he suggested that the State Department be blown up with a nuclear device. On another occasion, he critiqued feminism as a movement that encourages women “to kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.”
by David Burn | Aug 23, 2005 | Go Big Red
Associated Press: Getting a 34-year Harvard man to abandon one of the nation’s most prestigious business schools for an Idaho church college seems like a task that would demand divine revelation.
For Kim Clark, who left his post as Harvard Business School dean last week, it came down to the next best thing.
A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Clark took a call in May from Gordon Hinckley, the 95-year-old president of the Mormons. Hinckley asked the economist to head Brigham Young University-Idaho, in Rexburg, which just five years ago was a two-year junior college.
“You have to appreciate what this is like,” the 56-year-old Clark said. “We behold him (Hinkley) to be a prophet. Imagine yourself getting a call from Moses.”
Clark’s move, viewed from inside the church, could be seen as a promotion: Some say this establishes Clark, a former Mormon bishop, as a rising star. His predecessor as university president, David Bednar, was named in 2004 to the “Quorum of the 12 Apostles,” a church governing body considered by Mormons to have the same authority as the 12 Biblical apostles.
Clark earned $407,000 a year as HBS dean. BYU-Idaho officials won’t say how much he’ll earn in Rexburg.
by David Burn | Aug 19, 2005 | Digital culture, Literature
USA Today: Books are losing the battle for attention, especially with anyone born after about 1975. From 2003 to 2004, the number of books sold worldwide dropped by 44 million. True, there are still 2.3 billion books sold each year, but the bottom line is that people are flocking to the Web, TiVo, cell phone screens, PlayStation Portables and DVDs while buying fewer books.
Books risk becoming the equivalent of pot roast in a world full of ethnic foods. There will always be a place for pot roast, but it sure isn’t the place it occupied 30 years ago.
To avoid that fate, the concept of a book might have to change. But how?
Author and activist Cory Doctorow hopes to find out. In June, he released his latest novel, Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town, online for free on the same day his publisher released printed copies to bookstores. On his Web site, Doctorow encourages fans: “When you download my book, please: Do weird and cool stuff with it. Imagine new things that books are for. Then tell me about it … so I can be the first writer to figure out what the next writerly business model is.”
He’s not thinking that the future of books is simply reading book-length text on a screen instead of on paper pages. He’s thinking it’s something that happens when you decouple the content from the medium.
“For almost every writer, the number of sales they lose because people never hear of their book is far larger than the sales they’d lose because people can get it for free online,” Doctorow says. “The biggest threat we face isn’t piracy, it’s obscurity.”
