Take the Tape Off

Censorship has plagued our society for centuries. People have been losing their lives, their dignity and basic rights to freedom under the guise of speaking their mind.
When did Freedom of Speech and One Nation Under God become so trivialized by a government who searches for new ways to quiet those who don't say what is deemed appropriate?

Case in point:

Last week there was a Q&A Forum involving the 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry at the University of Florida. Here's what happened as quoted from the Fox online news source:

"Andrew Meyer, a journalism student, trying repeatedly and heatedly to ask Kerry why he conceded the 2004 election after multiple reports of disenfranchisement of black voters and rigged electronic-voting machines.

Click here to watch the video of Meyer's arrest from MyFOXNewYork.

Meyer was asked to leave the microphone after his allotted time was up but he refused. Campus police officers responded and tried to pull Meyer away in a struggle that lasted several seconds."

When I first saw this video, it reminded me of every "end of days" movie I've ever seen. Perhaps maybe even a throwback to the "government conspiracy" flicks that I used to roll my eyes at as if to say "I wonder if that REALLY happens". More and more I'm starting to see that....IT DOES!

A couple of weeks back, Sally Field was censored in her Emmy speech because of her take on this war we are in. Her words were simply opinion and should never have been taken from her. Watch it below.

">Sally Field

What did she say that dozens of political anylists don't say every day? Why CAN'T she say what she wants to say?

A few months back, one of my favorite bands, Pearl Jam, were a victim of just such censorship when they played live via the internet for an AT&T special event. They blasted through their set and during an extended portion of the song ">"Daughter", they had something else to say about their feelings on the war and the current administration. Rather than uphold our constitution, the network decided to shut them down. They have always been a band who has done nothing but stick behind their beliefs and move forward as a culture and society.

Last Friday, the Colorado State University newspaper "Rocky Mountain Collegian" published an article that said "Taser This....Fuck Bush!!!". Personally, I think that there are better ways to communicate your disdain for this administration, but it doesn't mean that their opinion shouldn't be heard.

Break down the communication barriers! We all have differing opinions and that's what makes us great as a nation....our ability to have differing opinions without oppression....but are we living that? I think the real question here is...are YOU living that? Do YOU respect other people's opinions even though they may not be congruent with your own even if they don't respect yours?

Ponder. Think. Choose for yourself.

INERTIA

INERTIA

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged…a week to be exact. There’s really no reason for it other than the fact that I’ve been so dang tired. I know you know exactly what I’m talking about. It happens when you’re so tired that you start seeing everything in a surreal light. It’s like everything you’re experiencing at that point in time is merely a dream amidst a conscious world and air in my lungs.

However, I heard some words this weekend that clicked in an equally surreal way.

“Sometimes you have to go backward to go forward” – Craig Groeschel

He actually used an analogy of a slingshot. In order to gain forward momentum, you have to be pulled backwards first. For me though, it’s a little different. This is why I made my own personal analogy of a pinball machine.

In order to get the ball moving you have to put the right amount of force behind it.

Tonight at my weekly group gathering, we were talking about what lies that we personally buy into every day about ourselves. I knew mine from the beginning, but I waited until my turn to completely spill it all….I’ve always felt like I couldn’t do anything. It was as if I could never do anything worth while in this world because I would never be able to finish it. I’ve lacked a vision.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish” ~ Proverbs twentynine:eighteen

Ok, so, let me Tarantino this back to where I’ve been for the last few weeks. I have this vision that will NOT leave me alone. Wait, did he just say vision? Yes he did. It’s probably one of the purest things that have ever pooped its way into this young mind of mine. I want to create a sense of musical purity and integrity into the Nashville community. This could ONLY be accomplished by creating community.

Community? Community.

Here’s what I mean by community.

~Achieving and assembling an ever growing number of people using the best, most creative & innovative music, people and technology while establishing a repertoire in the community as a place full of growing acceptance regardless of race, religion, financial or social backgrounds.

Literally….people loving people while listening to great music.

Why can’t we have such a place that strives to beat out the industry at its own game while at the same time having a BLAST doing so?

I know that this is quite an undertaking, but I will have to say that I’m not alone. Among the small conversations I’ve had with friends and strangers, there are already people wanting…dare I say NEEDING to be a part of something like this.

For all of you Nashvilleans:

When was the last time that you went to a show (other than bonaroo) and felt like someone actually gave a crap that you were there? Have you ever gone to a show alone and felt like you were alone, even though you were in the middle of hundreds of others?

I have and that’s why I started hating the scene.

We’ve needed something this refreshing for a long time. Something that is so liberating that when you walk in, you feel like there are real people developing real communities. Something that is so diverse that it mows down all cultural barriers and embraces people for people. Something that you’re not afraid to tell people about because you KNOW without a doubt that they will be welcomed with open arms….no matter what. Something downtown that you’ll NEVER have to hear a p.o.s. cover of some band playing “Pour Some Sugar On Me” (they have their place too, but just not here J). Something with enough pull behind it to get everything moving. Community IS that pull. We need….

INERTIA

More than just a clever name, we need people. A vision is nothing without people to fuel it. If you would like to participate in any aspect of INERTIA, then why are you waiting?

JOIN INERTIA

GET MOVING…INERTIA