Day: November 1, 2008

I talked to my brother yesterday, and somehow, the discussion wandered off into music, and then to John Prine. We grew up with a huge variety of music–from folk, country, and classic rock to heavy metal, glam, and disco. And our step-dad listened to a lot of public radio, so there was a good bit of classical added to the mix, too.

Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore by John Prine

Jesus don’t like killing, no matter what the reason’s for.

When we were kids, the grown-ups would hang out, playing guitar and singing folk songs. John Prine’s music was always a favorite. It’s just as good–and relevant–today as it was then.

Sam Stone by John Prine

I was listening to this one in the car this morning, as I was driving out to Unionville. It made me weepy.

Jesus Christ died for nothing I suppose.

I’m not particularly religious, but that line has always struck a chord with me. All those men and women who volunteered to go to Iraq. All because of a big, fat lie told by petulant, little men. And they’ll all come home–the ones who aren’t killed–damaged. Whatever their personal reasons for going to Iraq, and whatever your personal feelings about wars and the ethics of volunteering to fight them, those soldiers deserve to be told the truth about why they’re fighting.

And those petulant, little men want the world to think that they’re good Christians, while all the while they’re lying and stealing and killing tens of thousands of men, women, and children. It’s mind boggling to think that, if the polls are remotely accurate, roughly half the voters in this country are prepared to put our people, our soldiers, and the people of Iraq, through four more years of this nightmare.

I’d like to wake up from this bad dream on Wednesday morning.