Rage Against?

I recently read about some shenanigans that occurred at Lollapalooza last weekend. Apparently, according to some reports, hundreds or thousands (depending on your source) of Rage Against the Machine fans crashed the gates at the festival.

Correct me if I'm wrong, since I've never seen Rage against the Machine, but the impression I get from RATM fans, is that they're really not too different from Limp Biscuit fans...Young, testosterone-filled, and probably wouldn't know the difference between Chiapas and Chia Pets.

Break some shit!

Sorry about my gross broad generalization about a populace, but that aggressive testesterone stuff doesn't float my boat.

Maybe it's my hangover from the hippie festival (10,000 Lakes Festival) that I just attended, where people were polite, gracious, and far-from-aggressive. If people bumped into you at a show, they would apologize relentlessly. They weren't trying to bulldoze you with their chests stuck out like a rooster in a cock-fight. Seeing the photos of the gate-crashers and the people being suffocated really didn't seem like it was too much fun, but then again, maybe I'm getting old.

(Sipping on a Lemonade on a front porch) Sure...I remember being young and enjoying "slam-dancing" at Soul Asylum and other punk rock shows in the 80's. I guess the kids today call that "moshing"......Good Lord....I am old.

I just read a myspace post from Jim Walsh, author of the recent book (check it out) , "The Replacements: All Over But the Shouting" which seems fairly relevant to this post.

Read Walsh's full post here

He quotes from a local Yogi...and although, I'm not one for what Frank Zappa referred to as "Kosmik Debris", I think this is appropriate.

“With the Republican National convention beginning in Saint Paul September 1, there will be strong feelings and voices on all sides. As yogis active in the world, we can stay grounded in the virtues of “ahimsa” (non-harming) and “satya” (truthfulness to our own nature) to realize peace within ourselves and in the world. As the process of politics often creates divisions such as us and them, good and bad, conservative and liberal, we can stay aware of yoga (union), interconnectedness. This special practice session will incorporate a short dharma talk, a heart opening asana practice, and a metta (loving kindness) meditation. It will be a means to find a centeredness in ourselves and as a critical mass to send positive intention to our community. Remembering, as Mahatma Ghandi said, “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”