This song seemed rather poignant for me today for some reason – especially that first verse. How many revolutions, both literal and figurative, will be fought over hard and fast definitions of morality and doctrine?
Battle lines are drawn and blood is shed – literally and figuratively. And for what? For the pleasure of being in the right; to lord it over those who don’t believe the same things we do; to claim victory; and to revel in another’s defeat.
We’ll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song
Out From Under the Umbrella 
June 5, 2014 at 9:30 am
A simply brilliant album.
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June 5, 2014 at 12:44 pm
Indeed!
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June 5, 2014 at 9:55 am
Powerful lyrics. I am reminded of an article from the Psychology Today series “This Is Your Brain On Culture”
“Our biology has become mismatched to the world that surrounds our biology. We are no longer a well-adapted organism, and therefore natural selection dooms us as a species.
The frontal lobe created financial instruments so ingenious only a computer (also created by frontal lobe intellection) can master them. But the limbic system harnessed that ingenuity to an unsatiable greed. And we find ourselves in the pickle we are in today with financial systems crumbling, nuclear weapons proliferating, the environment being pillaged, and religious fanatics unleashing terror on us all.
In short, I think we humans have come to an evolutionary dead end. On the positive, adaptive side, the evolution of our huge frontal intelligences made us the most successful, widespread, and populous species among the already quite successful primates. But on the negative, maladaptive side, the emotions that provide the guidance system for the deploying of intelligence doom us to using that magnificent capacity to self-destruct.”
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June 5, 2014 at 12:46 pm
In short, I think we humans have come to an evolutionary dead end.
Well that’s a little gloomy. Seems a little “chicken little” ish.
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June 5, 2014 at 1:01 pm
True, it just might but then again, religion has spread like a cancer that has metastasized. Given that most religious function primarily from their limbic system, I think the guy was on to something.
“Worldwide, more than eight-in-ten people identify with a religious group. A comprehensive demographic study of more than 230 countries and territories conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life estimates that there are 5.8 billion religiously affiliated adults and children around the globe, representing 84% of the 2010 world population of 6.9 billion.”
http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/
Since the population has risen, primarily due to the religious producing like rabbits, I suspect the number is even higher now.
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June 5, 2014 at 11:01 am
“For the pleasure of being in the right.” Yes, I’m right, so you are wrong. End of story. Sadly, what they feel they are in the right about is a delusion.
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June 5, 2014 at 12:47 pm
And they certainly seem desperate to hold onto their delusions. Or, in a more cynical view, they seem desperate to have others hold onto their delusions.
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June 5, 2014 at 11:32 am
“It may help to understand human affairs to be clear that most of the great triumphs and tragedies of history are caused, not by people being fundamentally good or fundamentally bad, but by people being fundamentally people.” – Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
If you haven’t read it, I cannot recommend it too highly. It’s an awesome book.
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June 5, 2014 at 12:48 pm
I will definitely check it out! Terry Pratchett has been recommended highly.
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June 6, 2014 at 9:10 am
Agreed. A brilliant read.
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June 5, 2014 at 2:33 pm
That sounds very Who ish for want of a less clever comment. You know the religion thing goes over the top of my head.
Pritchett may do too, read one book and haven’t rushed back for more.
Music. Books. Beliefs. How ever do we agree about anything.
Wait, there is a poor abandoned dog down the street or in the bin. I’ll meet anyone halfway on that one.
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June 5, 2014 at 2:45 pm
I like all sorts of books. I haven’t read any Pratchett, yet so I may not be a big fan either. I understand people either love his work or hate it. For some it seems to have been a more acquired taste. Like smoking cigarettes. I only tried it once and it nearly choked me half to death. I wondered why anyone would try it a second time? *shrug*
Truly I’m glad the religion thing goes over your head. Means you weren’t exposed and/or indoctrinated by it. That’s a blessing, really.
Been in discussions this morning with a facebook friend who has a little lost dog that showed up at her house. He’s a cutie pie. I advised her to take him to her vet to see if he’s chipped. If not, and I can talk TheBrit into, we may have another furry friend. I hope she finds his real owner, though, provided they are up to the task of taking care of him.
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June 5, 2014 at 2:57 pm
Being given free books and internet books has made me open to lots more books that wouldn’t choose. But why not give them a go. If I did a Pratchett review I’ll try and find it.
I’ve never smoked cigarettes. Maybe comes of parents filling the car with fumes or ruining my breakfasts.
Religion screws with logic. It makes no sense. So therefore I think it is rubbish. Sounds trite, but just why?
I’m not really totally stupid. Three years of ancient and medieval history and archaeology did have the odd bit of religion in it. Enough to switch me off even further.
Since moving to Spain, we take street dogs. Far too many of them around. If only I had money and land …
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June 5, 2014 at 3:13 pm
We don’t get too many street dogs here. Animal Control patrols and they get taken to a shelter. The outlook at the shelter for them isn’t too good unless some pet rescue comes and bails them out or they get adopted. The pet rescues here do a pretty good job of finding them foster homes even if they aren’t adopted straight away. Cats are a completely different story. Though there is an operation here that located feral cats and spays/neuters them and then relocates them if they are in an area where they might meet their demise.
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June 6, 2014 at 9:09 am
Pratchett is a genius; granted some of his books are stronger than others and I confess I didn’t enjoy the first two, but once he got into his stride…phew…brilliant. – try TheTruth.
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June 6, 2014 at 9:37 am
Can’t remember which I read. It was about little people. The Borrowers revisited. I’ll be reading nothing but ebooks over the next goodness knows how long. Can’t hop to library.
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June 5, 2014 at 3:46 pm
This is a really nice post.
My time reading it was worth it 🙂
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June 6, 2014 at 12:46 am
Well said Ruth and I love their music. Great taste! 😀
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June 6, 2014 at 8:31 am
😀 *hugs*
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June 6, 2014 at 8:28 am
we keep to shed blood because of very flimsy things, and morality or the supposed moralists seem to have no problem with it. People always talk of a cause. A cause they are willing to die for and especially if it includes phantoms, the much better
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June 6, 2014 at 8:31 am
… and morality or the supposed moralists seem to have no problem with it…
Not only do they not have a problem with it, they either are the first to pick up arms, or are standing on the sidelines goading others into it.
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June 6, 2014 at 8:33 am
They pick up arms in the first lot and fire the first volleys then encourage others to do the same in the name of whatever cause they are supporting at that time.
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June 6, 2014 at 8:35 am
Then are the first to stand in judgement over the very people they encouraged to fire their weapons.
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June 6, 2014 at 8:35 am
Case closed!
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