Reactions and responses

All of our actions and words are responses to the situations in which we find ourselves.  An undesirable situation will elicit some sort of action on our part, the more disagreeable, the more aggressive the response.  So, when we see someone acting in some sort of desperate or extreme manner, we must realize that whatever it is they are going through, it is not according to their wishes or desires. Should we not have mercy on that person, regardless of rightness or wrongness of the action?

Rock-n-roll

Communication of worldview is inevitable.  It very well may be that one cannot understand, fathom or make sense of what is being communicated.  One very well may not understand one’s own worldview, i.e., not even understand what one is communicating.  But communication takes place in everything we do.   

I bring this up due to my recent exposure to the band “The Swans”.  I have heard their name over the years but never listened to their music.  It occurred to me that when someone makes “music” like the Swans, they are not doing so in order to make excellent music that communicates excellence.  They are doing so, in my opinion, to communicate their worldview, deliberately.  Music like the Swans, the Sex Pistols, GG Allin, Napalm Death, etc., etc. is not made in order to be good music. It is made to challenge, to provoke and to indulge. 

I think this is important to realize when listening to this category of entertainment.  Some may be entertained by this sort of thing, but musically, it becomes boring quite quickly and is simply vulgar.  Sure, they may be challenging the status quo, they may be pointing out and articulating some things that are wrong with our society, but I think that there are better ways to achieve these goals. 

This music is provocative, ugly, violent and aggressive.  But that is the goal.  But it is not meant to be long lasting, good music.  We need to seek out the motivation of the artist in order to be responsible and have understanding of what is taking place. 

When it comes down to it, this is really an examination of rock-n-roll.  Rock-n-roll was started as a medium for rebellion.  Rock bands do what they do (at least the ones who are not in it for the money), the idea is to create a new form of music that is contrary (and really) the opposite of what is currently popular.  The idea is to push the boundaries, to break the barriers, to fight against that which is currently acceptable. 

I really don't have an end goal in all of this but only to say that any kind of involvement, on our part, in any form of entertainment or art ought to be done with understanding.

How Things Are?

There is the reality of “how things are” and the hope/passion for “how things should be.”  There is the recognition of “how I think things should be” and the reality of recognizing my own limitations of knowledge and understanding.  Therefore, what I perceive to be “how things should be” and what may actually be the truth of “how things should be” may be different.  Resolving the difference between them is difficult, as 1) one needs to recognize one’s own limitations and 2) one needs to learn to see where to turn for help in order to find the actual “how things should be”. 

Then there is the problem of addressing or not addressing someone else’s “how things should be”.  All versions of the truth are influenced by our own desires, passions, interests and sinful inclinations. No one has perfect vision or understanding, so we are left in a position of doing the best we can, while trying to be humble but at the same time “wise” with what we have to work with.