a musical dilemma
-
Artist:
-
Album:
-
Track:
I’ve posted before about religion and music. Since I’ve already touched on one distasteful subject I might as well hit another – politics and music. I am very particular about my politics and, unfortunately for me, a lot the musicians whose music I enjoy do not share my political beliefs. I won’t monetarily (or otherwise) support things I don’t believe in. I find it very difficult to overlook things like that. For example, I was given a burned copy of System of a Down’s Mezmerize. The first time I heard B.Y.O.B. I thought it was brilliant. Then, I caught the lyrics and took exception. When the cd was given to me, I tossed it. I couldn’t bring myself to play the music - I felt it was irresponsible.A couple of days ago I caught the video for Rise Against “Prayer of the Refugee.” From the first few notes, I knew I was going to love it. I got excited – hearing something new that was really, really good. But, as the video kept going I realized it was an indictment of the Western way of life, our box stores, and the cheap labor that supplies them. It was a 3-minute advertisement for fair trade. I was instinctively suspicious, because – well, I am a “capitalist (pig in training).” I like money, I like making money, and I like spending money. I also believe that the free market (assuming it is approached with integrity) is the answer to, well, almost all of the problems in the world. So, I wrote off the song.Today, my husband and I were shopping and, as we were browsing cds, I told him about it. How I saw the video and loved the song but that I couldn’t buy it and it pissed me off. He goes “Oh yeah. Rise Against – they’re awesome. Don’t you remember they did that song where the video was against animal cruelty?” And, I did remember. I refused to watch that video because I was afraid it would be graphic and I didn’t want to see that. So, then I was doubly pissed. My husband had just confirmed that (1) their music was great and (2) they have vastly different beliefs than I do. (I should point out here that I don’t believe in animal cruelty. But, I also don’t believe in not eating meat and I think hunting is less cruel than death by car due to overpopulation.)Anyway, I got home tonight and I really, really wanted the Rise Against album. So, I decided to read about the band and their beliefs. Then I read a little about fair trade – and fair trade vs. free trade. From what I gathered, fair trade is an answer to unethical free trade in a global market. I still think that working for less than would be acceptable in a developed country is better than having no income at all - which would be a potential outcome of aggressive fair trade. But, I think that even if it’s not the most feasible solution to the problem it is, at least, an honest approach to a real problem. And, if it can be incorporated into a free market (companies freely choosing to follow fair trade practices rather than gov’t imposed fair trade) it could greatly benefit, not only the poor in underdeveloped countries, but the rest of us too – by increasing competition and decreasing aid.I need to learn more. I don’t think I’ll change my stripes because of this. But, I learned a little and I felt ok about it. Which worked out in my favor, because I now own a kick ass album.
Comments (53)