Rules are for weak people. As a society we keep adding on to the number of rules we imply because we are afraid of that which we can not control. From fear we strive to limit what may possibly happen attempting to steer all situations into our comfort zone. In the mean time, we are eliminating the creativity, the breathing room, the random moments of unexpected joy.
We need guidelines not rules. Guidelines are flexible. Rules are limiting. i really do not like having things stolen from me, therefore, i try to live a lifestyle were i do not cause others to lose possessions. i do not want someone to end my life, therefore, i try to live a lifestyle were i do not lead to other's death. i do not enjoy living in filth, therefore, i try to live a lifestyle where i leave things as pristine as possible.
Rather than coming up with a rule to dictate what you want to see happen in every given situation a few general guidelines can be applied to every situation. What religion does not include something to the effect of treating others as you would like to be treated? Should not that statement alone eliminate the need for rules about not killing, not stealing, and not cheating? With all the people on this planet who claim to be religious, you would think that this would be enough.
By establishing rules we are basically saying that you are too stupid to be left to your own decision making skills and need to be told what to do in any given situation for the betterment of society. How insulting? Maybe the better question to address should be fact that if you can not be trusted to to make appropriate decision maybe you should not be allow to participate in our society?
All these rules are punishing and limiting those who do what they should in an attempt to rein in the few who can not be trusted. Should not those who can not be trusted be addressed in a more individual and productive manner?
The other day i accidentally almost cut someone off in traffic. He was in my blindspot. He honked, i pulled back over, and he flipped me off yelling. All is good. i made a mistake and if someone almost cut me off i would probably have done the same thing. i realized i would have done the same thing so i was not mad at his reaction and no one got hurt. No property was damaged. Steam was released.
We need to be understanding of those around us but not foolishly tolerant of unacceptable behavior. When that player on the soccer pitch is getting a bit too physical, knock him on his ass. No hacking, no injury, just a nudge to remind him where the line is. Letting people know where your line is can be far more effective than trying to set up rules for individual situations.
...and a well placed OUP can work wonders...
Nov 16, 2006
Nov 14, 2006
Irish-Punk
Whooohooo... the computer's back up and running. My ideas have been backlogged so here comes...
i've been wanting to write about this for some time but it hasn't been the right time... but now appears to be the right time... so here it is.
i'm a fan of the recent wave of irish/punk bands so i wanted to give a bit of a intro to the three more notable such bands: Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, and The Tossers. Here they are in order of my preference. Give 'em a listen, but to really enjoy these bands you've got to see them live.
1) Dropkick Murphys. On the irish-punk spectrum they are a punk band first and foremost that is influenced by the member's irish ancestry. i've got to admit i'm am largely partial to this band due to geographic upbringing. Irish-American culture, although having much in common across the country, has regional subtleties. Having spent almost all of my pre-kindergarten weekends in the greater Boston area, scally caps and working class sing-a-longs hold a sentimental spot in the heart that pumps my Irish-American blood.
In high school i snuck down to Boston, any excuse i could get, in my green Dr. Martens. Getting a ride in to see the Red Sox, then blowing off the game to hang out in the city worked for me. Later in college (still wearing the same green boots) i'd head to Boston whenever i could scrounge the money to take the train to see a show. Blend my liking of punk shows, my earliest memories of music (my Grandfather playing the piano, accordion, and tin whistle) and it's no wonder i listen to Dropkick and go to their St. Patrick's Day shows every year.
A punk band peppered with traditional irish instruments like the bag-pipes, tin whistle, and accordion, Dropkick mix working class punk arm-in-arm sing-a-longs with some traditional covers to create a sense of united brotherhood. Recommended songs: Version of "Rocky Road to Dublin", "Boys on the Docks", and "I'm Shipping Up to Boston". Recommended first cd: Sing Loud, Sing Proud.
2) Flogging Molly. This LA based band leans more towards the traditional side of the irish-punk spectrum. The songs are primarily written by the older Irish lead singer giving them their distinct irish feel with several members of the band bringing in the more punk edge to the sound. This is a larger, 7-piece band with full time accordion, mandolin, and fiddle players keeping the pub sound against the more punk driven drum, guitar, and bass.
A bunch of irish punk pirates, this is another band that puts on an amazing live show creating a sense of brotherhood within the audience. After seeing a show, or seeing their recent documentary style dvd, you'd be hard pressed to not enjoy this band. i recommend falling asleep to "The Son Never Shines (On Closed Doors)". Their album Within A Mile of Home stands out a bit for me but you can't go wrong grabbing any of their albums. We all go the same way home.
3) The Tossers. Out of Chicago i've only recently started listening to these guys. They seem mostly to be the lead singer's band. They again lean more towards the traditional end of the irish-punk spectrum. The music is more of an irish pub sound with a punk swagger in the lyric's attitude. Again this is a larger band with a full-time mix of punk and traditional instruments. Recommended songs: the acapella "Purgatory" and "Good Morning Da".
There you have it. You don't have to be irish to enjoy these bands (although as a child i was told there are only two types of people in the world: those who are irish and those who wish they were), nor do you have to be punk. These are all-inclusive bands you can't help but enjoy. Give 'em a listen.
i've been wanting to write about this for some time but it hasn't been the right time... but now appears to be the right time... so here it is.
i'm a fan of the recent wave of irish/punk bands so i wanted to give a bit of a intro to the three more notable such bands: Dropkick Murphys, Flogging Molly, and The Tossers. Here they are in order of my preference. Give 'em a listen, but to really enjoy these bands you've got to see them live.
1) Dropkick Murphys. On the irish-punk spectrum they are a punk band first and foremost that is influenced by the member's irish ancestry. i've got to admit i'm am largely partial to this band due to geographic upbringing. Irish-American culture, although having much in common across the country, has regional subtleties. Having spent almost all of my pre-kindergarten weekends in the greater Boston area, scally caps and working class sing-a-longs hold a sentimental spot in the heart that pumps my Irish-American blood.
In high school i snuck down to Boston, any excuse i could get, in my green Dr. Martens. Getting a ride in to see the Red Sox, then blowing off the game to hang out in the city worked for me. Later in college (still wearing the same green boots) i'd head to Boston whenever i could scrounge the money to take the train to see a show. Blend my liking of punk shows, my earliest memories of music (my Grandfather playing the piano, accordion, and tin whistle) and it's no wonder i listen to Dropkick and go to their St. Patrick's Day shows every year.
A punk band peppered with traditional irish instruments like the bag-pipes, tin whistle, and accordion, Dropkick mix working class punk arm-in-arm sing-a-longs with some traditional covers to create a sense of united brotherhood. Recommended songs: Version of "Rocky Road to Dublin", "Boys on the Docks", and "I'm Shipping Up to Boston". Recommended first cd: Sing Loud, Sing Proud.
2) Flogging Molly. This LA based band leans more towards the traditional side of the irish-punk spectrum. The songs are primarily written by the older Irish lead singer giving them their distinct irish feel with several members of the band bringing in the more punk edge to the sound. This is a larger, 7-piece band with full time accordion, mandolin, and fiddle players keeping the pub sound against the more punk driven drum, guitar, and bass.
A bunch of irish punk pirates, this is another band that puts on an amazing live show creating a sense of brotherhood within the audience. After seeing a show, or seeing their recent documentary style dvd, you'd be hard pressed to not enjoy this band. i recommend falling asleep to "The Son Never Shines (On Closed Doors)". Their album Within A Mile of Home stands out a bit for me but you can't go wrong grabbing any of their albums. We all go the same way home.
3) The Tossers. Out of Chicago i've only recently started listening to these guys. They seem mostly to be the lead singer's band. They again lean more towards the traditional end of the irish-punk spectrum. The music is more of an irish pub sound with a punk swagger in the lyric's attitude. Again this is a larger band with a full-time mix of punk and traditional instruments. Recommended songs: the acapella "Purgatory" and "Good Morning Da".
There you have it. You don't have to be irish to enjoy these bands (although as a child i was told there are only two types of people in the world: those who are irish and those who wish they were), nor do you have to be punk. These are all-inclusive bands you can't help but enjoy. Give 'em a listen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)