I went to see Rancid at the Henry Ford Theater on Tuesday evening (they will be appearing at the Ford all week with some other great opening acts). Left Alone opened the show with their high energy punk and ska punk, then The Adolescents charged forward with awesome vintage Orange County punk, then Rancid Rancid Rancid!!! took the stage. I was blown away by how great they sounded. I mean I know that they are good, but they are getting even better with age.



Here's the reason why I'm writing this in the blog. I saw more civility, community, and brotherhood at this show than what is being shown by our so called "leaders" in Washington. OK, it's a given that at a punk show testosterone is mixed with raw aggression (aggression that often comes from disappointment/disillusion with the status quo) and the pit is that aggression in action. Ironically, there was real beauty in the pit at the Rancid show. Anyone that fell down in the pit was helped up, no one had a problem, even the security was pretty much hands off as they let punk nature take it's course. There it was, a swirling, skanking, mass of people. People of all ages and colors that were free to express themselves as the music of Rancid rocked us all. I really needed a break from all of the "Wall Street" crap. The news media has been bombarding us with so much bad news that it seems like we have no control over our lives, our futures, and certainly our government. Then I heard Tim sing the chorus to The 11th Hour, "do you know where the power lies? and who pulls the strings, do you know where the power lies, it starts and ends with you". Long live punk rock. MDM

I have a hard time revisiting the events of September 11, 2001. Don't get me wrong, I'm aware that there are many tragic moments in the history of the world. I've always felt safe in this country, but I knew we weren't immune to an attack. I guess I'm still in shock at how a normal day, a beautiful day in New York City, Washington DC and in Pennsylvania, during what was perceived as peace time, could change so quickly.

Today, Instead of remembering the horrors, I'm going to focus on the part of the tragedy that gives me hope, and reassurance. I appreciate that as people sat in airplanes that had been commandeered by terrorists, or trapped in burning office towers, and even right before a brave group of people decided to fight back against the hijackers, that many people grabbed their cell phones and called their loved ones. They called to say things like "don't worry", "don't be sad", "things will be alright" and "I love you". Simple gestures of love in the face of a nightmare. Emphasis on LOVE.
MDM

History is in our midst tonight. The souls of patriots, soldiers, freedmen, slaves, and slave owners look down from the heavens and rejoice at the spectacle in Denver, the American dream personified. An always proud America is even more proud. MDM