Ronald Reagan is the New Satan

Presidents have always been respected throughout history, although everyone knows in their head that not all of the 43 were very good people to be president. A rapper named Killer Mike not so recently released a song about Ronald Reagan and Reaganomics. The title of this song is “Reagan” and it is a single from the R.A.P album. I don’t think this song is very famous, but it was released in May 2012. It definitely deserves a listen from anyone living in the US.

The song argues that the war on drugs which was allowed by Reagan, should be stopped because it’s allowing people in power to enslave people by using drugs as an excuse. He’s also arguing that the drug war was provoked by the US government. Below are lines that really capture the strong message Killer Mike is trying to spread to us.

Reagan Music Video (youtube has it blocked on the chromebooks)

Line #1:

“Cause free labor is the cornerstone of US economics

Cause slavery was abolished, unless you are in prison

You think I am bullshitting, then read the 13th Amendment

Involuntary servitude and slavery it prohibits

That's why they giving drug offenders time in double digits”

Here Mike not only argues that the prison system is basically a slavery business, it provides evidence just in case the listener doubts mike. Most songs just make arguments and don’t provide specified evidence about an argument. It’s also interesting because the way that mike approaches this situation makes it sound like he doesn’t expect people to believe him.

Line #2:

“But mostly black boys, but they would call us "niggers"

And lay us on our belly, while they fingers on they triggers

They boots was on our head, they dogs was on our crotches

And they would beat us up if we had diamonds on our watches

And they would take our drugs and money, as they pick our pockets

I guess that that's the privilege of policing for some profit”

Here he gives the listener a picture to look at in their head as they listen to the song. It uses pathos by putting the listener into the situation without having to say “what would you do if this was you?”.

Line #3:

“Ronald Wilson Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan

Ronald (6) Wilson (6) Reagan (6)

Ronald (6) Wilson (6) Reagan (666)”

This ending line is especially powerful because Mike compares Reagan to the devil himself. No where else in the song does he talk about religion being the solution to the problem, but rather he insists that no matter what the listener believes, the real devil we should be afraid of is Reagan and other higher authorities who control our people.

Changed man

In the song Silent Homecoming it talks about how a man has changed from a innocent boy to a man that all he sees is war. It also talks about how when he was young he used to play and fake about war, but then so suddenly he actually became one of those army men that he was playing with. It also talks about the physical appearance of the guy and what they think he will look like. They said hopefully his eyes don't look like death like the others. This song is a powerful song because not only does it talk about the war and how it changes people, but it also talks about how fast everything could change. Like he went from a little boy playing with army men to an actual army man.







://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAHxaapvFxc

http://www.metrolyrics.com/silent-homecoming-lyrics-ringo-starr.html

Why Phil Ochs Isn't Marching Anymore.

“I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore” is a song and album by Phil Ochs. The song is about how Phil thinks that the old man are getting us into wars and how the young people have to fight and die in said wars and how he isn't willing to march into war anymore. He talks about the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and the Cuban `Missile Crisis.

“Look at all we’ve won with the saber and the gun.”
This line shows that weapons are the key to power and how people will do anything to get power.

“The young blood started flowing.”
This line is about how the young people were being sent to war to die because the old people wanted power.

“I ain’t marching anymore.”

This line is important because it shows how popular it was to protest the war at the time and how many people were doing it.

Dear Mr. President, come take a walk with me

“Dear Mr. President” from the album “I’m Not Dead” by Pink and the Indigo Girls in 2005, was a song about Bush’s administration and terms in office, including the Iraq War. This song was effectively an open letter from Pink to George W. Bush, who was President when this song was released.. It criticizes several areas of Bush’s administration, including the war in the middle-east and the failed “No Child Left Behind” Act.

"How do you dream when a mother has no chance to say goodbye?"

How can he sleep peacefully while the mothers have no chance to say goodbye to their sons that were sent to a meaningless war.

"Let me tell you 'bout hard work"
"Rebuilding your house after the bombs took them away"
The specific example is an issue that Bush didn’t do enough to solve: The destruction caused by the wars he started in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"How do you sleep at night?"
Pink is asking how Mr President slept at night knowing about all the bad he has done for this world.

Is There Still Love in This World?

¨Where Is The Love¨ was a top hit song by the Black Eyed Peas released on June 16th, 2003. The song is a very inspiring song that features Justin Timberlake. There was a 2016 remix of the song that came out after the original was produced. In the lyrics the main idea of it is about we have major problems here in the United States, but we are overseas trying to help get rid of terrorists in a war that we really don´t why it is going on. In America we have the: CIA, KKK, Bloods, and Crips all described as terrorists groups and we aren´t fixing the problems here first. Children are dying and growing up without mothers and fathers, which is not good for the future of America. The most powerful line is ¨Madness is what you demonstrate and that's exactly how anger works and operates Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight, Take Control of your mind and meditate, Let your soul gravitate to the love, y´all, y´all.¨ What is inspiring about this line is that all you need in this world is love and there should be no more hate. Love your own race and don´t discriminate other races, be equal to everyone.  They are suggesting to take control of your own mind and make love and find your inner self by meditating. Another key point to this song is they say people are dying including children, so is there really love in this world?

War

The title of the song is War the song from War & Peace album. Edwin Starr preformed this song. The song was recorded in 1970 during the Vietnam war. The song is using Vietnam war for a specific event. The song is arguing that war is not a good thing and the younger generation is dying over it. The main point is that there is a better way to solve this then with war.

The reason why this line is powerful because he is talking about how college students are the un rested generation. The next line is who wants to die in war because war comes and goes and the only thing to remain is the values of culture.

This line is on repeat throughout the song giving us a powerful message saying war is not a good thing the world.

Edwin Starr is trying to tell his audience that there is a better way than going to war and we should find the solution.

Into War

In the song, "American Blood" by Reckless Kelly on the album Bulletproof is an anti-war song with clarity about war. Reckless Kelly is the one who first performed it in 2008, released with his album. This song is arguing that war is horrible. It is not a good thing all of this is for a silver or golden or bronze star or medal, they can keep this star. For the war or not, the main idea is that the troops of war deserve a little more respect and support for the job they are doing. This song is helping appreciating the sacrifices and work men and women in uniform did as well as their families. This song also calls out Washington getting money for the expense of 30,000+ american lives.The very first line provided a new perspective of war was when he said “Johnny can't drink 'cause Johnny ain't twenty-one.Yeah but he's eighteen and he's pretty handy with a gun. They sent him off to a foreign land”. Johnny is young, he is not even in his twenties yet but they sent him to war. It just a demonstration of crazy it is in America, you basically do not have a choice for whether you wanted to go or not back then. It is like striking you of your rights. In the third verse he says, “Well Johnny can't walk but the medic said he's okay to fly. And the newspapers tell us he's a hero and hell of a guy”
This is extremely powerful because Johnny fought in war and lost his legs and all he gets for the work he did was tell the world he is a hero. It does make you think of how the world actually treats the people who fought and lost their limbs and other parts and all we can say is wow he is so brave and all that and give them a piece of copper or something. I know we have a day to celebrate them but we can do better than that.

We´ll meet again: Vera Lynn

The song: We´ll meet again performed by Vera Lynn in 1939, involves in the soldiers saying goodbye to their loved ones before they left for war. 

¨Let's say goodbye with a smile, dear

Just for a while, dear, we must part

Don't let this parting upset you

I'll not forget you, sweetheart¨

The line itself stated the army saying their final goodbyes before leaving, even if they died in the war, it´s still their final goodbyes.

´´We'll meet again
Don't know where
Don't know when
But I know we'll meet again
Some sunny day´´

The Loved ones will see the soldiers again in the afterlife to be happy once more.

´´And I will just say hello
To the folks that you know
Tell them you won't be long
They'll be happy to know
That, as I saw you go
You were singing this song´´

the soldiers that were still alive, write letters to their families and sweethearts to say hello to their friends for them, letting them know they´re doing alright.

Nobel Prize Worthy Lyricism by Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan recently won a Nobel Prize for Literature, but for his music. This caused some outrage for some writers, who argue that this is like an author winning a Grammy. But once you take a look at Bob Dylan's lyrics in his songs, you understand why. Specifically in his song Blowin' In The Wind, the simple at first glance lyrics actually make you take a look at the war, and figure out the deeper meaning of it. This song is actually one of the most covered and reviewed songs, of all time. The song subtly talks about the Civil Rights Movement, and subtly brings up many other things related to war. He also literally brings up cannonballs, and asks how many more must fly before peace. The answer, Dylan sings, is "Blowin' in the wind". What Dylan means by this is that the answer to all the questions of war is out there for anyone who tries to find them. They're not hard to find according to Dylan. Dylan also brings up the Civil Rights Movement many times in the song, as this was going on at the same time as the Vietnam War. He asks when people will be free and exist peacefully in America. This song has a lot going on, but at the same time, is very simple. This song is one of the greatest protest songs ever, yet Dylan has been quoted as "This here ain't no protest song or anything like that, 'cause I don't write no protest songs". If you want to listen to this powerful song, I included it below.

21 Guns

The song 21 Guns is asking if we thing the war is worth fighting because of all the pain, suffering and sacrifice that results from it. The song point out some things like "does the pain out weigh the pride" or " do you know whats worth fighting for when its not worth dying for" and I think that these are good points. The war on terror in the middle east has been going on for a long time and many people on both sides have died and more will die if we don't think about stopping soon. I think at some point we just need to see how much pride weighs and try to stop this war that has been going on for too long.

21 guns

In the song 21 Guns it emphasizes how the war is not worth it and we're losing more than we're getting and the lives were losing just aren't worth it. It is a war that is still waging and I completely agree with the songs stance 100%. This is the longest war ever in american history and it's still going on. It needs to come to a stop eventually because plenty off innocent people are dying and good soldiers are dying out on the battlefield. We should just let it all go at this point. War is rarely ever a good thing.

Vietnam Veterans: Heroes or Villains?

After soldiers returned from Vietnam to the United States, they received a lot of bitterness from people and were blamed for fighting in a war in which a majority of people viewed as pointless. No gratitude was shown to these men, despite them risking their lives and fighting for a country who did everything short of dragging them to Vietnam. These men actually received quite the opposite. They were attacked by anti-war groups, spat upon, shunned, and in some instances refused service at restaurants. This was the first time veterans of any American war were treated so poorly. Before the Vietnam War, men returning from combat were met with glory, parades, and citizens viewed them as heroes. So why were Vietnam veterans treated so differently?

The song ¨Born in the U.S.A.¨ written by Bruce Springsteen comments on just that. He criticizes the United States for their treatment of the men who were serving their country and doing their duty as citizens of the United States. In the song he refers to how much these soldiers already had to deal with when they came back home, to then have to deal with the attacks of the American media and public. Springsteen refers to this in the line ¨The first kick I took was when I hit the ground.¨ In his song he also speaks upon how it was not only hard for veterans to get jobs after the war, but they also did not received adequate support from the government transitioning back into their lives. ¨Went down to see my V.A. man He said "Son, don't you understand".¨ The message of this song is still very strong and important. What happened to these soldiers happened and cannot be changed, however it is a great opportunity for the United States to learn from its mistakes and treat veterans of war as what they are, heroes.

Buffalo Soldier

"Buffalo Soldier" is a reggae song that was written by Bob Marley and Noel "King Sporty" Williams.  The song was performed by Bob Marley & The Wailers on Bob Marley's album call Confrontation. The song is about the black cavalry fighters who were sent to take over the west, and to get rid of the Native Americans during the American Indian wars.

In the first verse Marley says "Buffalo soldier, dreadlocked rasta, There was a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America, Stolen from Africa, brought to America, Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival." The term Buffalo Soldier is what the Natives Americans called the black cavalry fighters. They compared the soldiers physical features to a Buffalo. The line "I'm just a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America" has mean because he is saying that the slaves who are fighting in the war are the ones who built America. The last lines in the Verse, "Stolen from Africa, brought to America, Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival," are powerful because whites had captured Africans to make them into their slaves. This line means that black slaves were fighting as soon as they arrived in America and before. "

Marin Gaye Protest

Whats Going On?





In the early 70's we have faced a lot of adversity with different things in the world. Some examples were police brutality and being forced to be in the war. Marvin Gayes' song, Whats going on? tells a lot about police brutality and what we should protest for to make things better. 

One of the most important lyrics Marvin Gaye had in his song was, "Picket lines and picket signs, don't punish me with brutality." This is powerful because Marvin Gaye is trying to say that when us black people protest everyone needs to listen, make a stand and make it powerful to a point where the police they need to listen too. Instead of injuring and hurting someone protesting. Another important line was, "We don't need to escalate, you see, war is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate." This is very important because he is saying violence and war is not the answer. Also, he is saying there is one way to defeat hate and that's to love. If only everyone loved and had respect for each other then the world would be a way different place and more organized. And that is what he is saying. Lastly, one more last lyric he stated was, "There's far too many of you dying, you know we've got to find a way." This is powerful because Marvin Gaye realizes how many people are being punished and killed just for protesting. He is trying to send a message to everyone saying there is a way to stop this mass murder rate. We can’t just ignore this, we have to make a change fast!

A not so happy holiday

In most facets of our culture war and soldiers are often portrayed as glamorous and respected by the country and people of the United States, however on closer exception of our actual society we see the opposite happen. The song Holiday by Green Day addresses the neglect and aggression of war that in recent years has become more apparent. One of the more memorable lines "Hear the sound of the falling rain, coming down like an Armageddon flame, The shame, those who died without a name" talks about how so much life is lost in war that the people could become nameless and forgotten among the bloodshed. The song is clearly also a critique of America's love it or leave it attitude during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the line "Pulverize the Eiffel tower who criticize your GOVERNMENT" since Americans for a while called the french cowards for not wanting to help us in Iraq.
    

Christmas is A Time for Peace

The war in Vietnam was a very controversial war for Americans.  The population was split on the decision of the United States to send troops over to Vietnam to help the South Vietnamese fight the North Vietnamese and the spread of communism along with the Soviet Union.  Tensions were high in the United States with many anti-war protests started mostly by young college students.  British musician and Beatles icon John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, wrote a song in late 1971 to protest the war.  The song that later became a huge hit was released in the United States on December 1, 1971.  It was called Happy Xmas (War Is Over).  The song uses the christian holiday, Christmas, as a symbol of peace in a time of war.  The song uses this sign of peace to call for an end of the war and all fighting.

The Bottom 100 Million and A Rigged Economy: This Is How it Works

In Bernie Sanders campaign ad, The Bottom 100 Million he explains why the economy is rigged. He says the fifteenth riches Americans  made more money in two years than the bottom 100 million people combined. To fix the economy Bernie plan is to make wall street pay a fair share of taxes, raise the minimum wage so families could survive, and give equal pay to women.  In another Bernie Sanders ad about the economy he says that the new money America receive goes straight to the 1% and that wall street and billionaires buy elections. Bernie's campaign is mostly made up of donations. Bernie Sanders uses Logos through out his ads. He makes a plan on how he could fix the Economy.