So, I’m busy with a few chores and I catch some banter going on on tv in the background about a supposed controversy over a song some celebrities performed at a big show in D.C. on Veterans Day. I turn my attention to the television and it’s the usual suspects on the FOX News show, Outnumbered, talking about how inappropriate it was for Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, and Zac Brown to perform a cover of the classic rock Vietnam-era anti-war song originally performed by Credence Clearwater Revival entitled, ‘Fortunate Son’ at last night’s ‘Concert of Valor,’ which aired live on HBO. One panelist on FOX characterized the performance as being “out of touch” and lamented that an anti-war song would be performed at an event to honor veterans, and the amen corner of a panel were all eager to condemn the performance as being in the wrong context and disrespectful to those who were being honored by the event. One panelist mentioned she thought those involved should have had “the brains to stop and say you guys might want to pick a different song.” The one male member of the panel even went as far as to say that this performance of Fortunate Son was a way of “spitting on the troops,” and that something like this should never be allowed to happen again. Some thought the entertainers were wrong for what they did, and others thought it was the event organizers or producers or someone else’s fault – but all of them seemed to agree that it was wrong, and expressed their undying outrage accordingly.
Watching all of this, I couldn’t contain my frustration any longer and so had to sit down and write what you’re now reading. It just so happens that I am a combat veteran of the war in Afghanistan. I’m also a musician. I’m also a fan of some of the music Dave Grohl, Bruce Springsteen, and Zac Brown have generated over the years. I’m also a CCR fan from way back, and ‘Fortunate Son’ is one of my favorite tunes they ever produced. Add to that the fact that I’m another one of these veterans against any more foreign military interventions, and that I believe one of the best possible ways we could support our troops is not to send them to war unless absolutely necessary in self-defense of our home here, and maybe you can see why I would say that I’m supportive of last night’s performance – and not supportive of these blind government-worshiping followers on FOX Outnumbered who seem to think they can speak for veterans like me. These media hacks are pretty damn presumptuous, and I think they are the ones out of touch with reality and the pulse of the veterans, when they express their ridiculous outrage over a performance by some famous entertainers that in any way runs contrary to the establishment’s narrative which must always support bigger, more robust, and militarily aggressive government and its’ growing authoritarian police state. If you really care about the well-being of the troops, you wouldn’t want to see us get sent to the hell of war, but rather that we stay alive and enjoy life at home with our families and friends. Thanks FOX Outnumbered, but I think I’ll speak for myself. Please shut your ignorant jingoistic pie-holes.
So, for the record, rock on my friends! Bruce Springsteen just recently raised over half a million dollars for veterans causes, and has a pretty damn good voice for covering John Fogerty. Dave Grohl is one of the most prolific musical artists of our time, and it’s pretty cool to see him covering a 1960’s rock classic on a big stage – and in a way which is actually relevant to the fact that a lot of us veterans and god-damned sick and mother-fucking tired of these senseless and costly unconstitutional wars by our irresponsible and corrupt criminal government. Having Zac Brown participate is something any southern rock fan could appreciate. And, you can count at least one veteran here who finds this performance to be completely appropriate, and possibly even exciting if it were to signal that our most famous musicians are going to put more emphasis on music which is more socially relevant and thought-provoking again. So, as a combat veteran against war, and a fellow musician, let me extend my gratitude to those entertainers who helped this growing movement of anti-war veterans to have our sentiments be aired a little bit. Anti-war veterans are pretty fed up with flag-waving phoniness, the politicians’ substitution of chest-thumping military rhetoric for peaceful and more sane international relations, and of always being drowned out and ignored by all the statist hacks who don’t want the voting public to find out that there’s a lot more of us anti-war veterans than the vast majority of Americans would probably imagine. Much respect and appreciation to Dave Grohl, Bruce Springsteen, Zac Brown, and any others involved in this performance. Here’s sending you all Outlaw Love \m/
A.G. “Brick” House is an Afghanistan war veteran and former licensed minister (UPCI), who has become an outspoken skeptic, peace advocate, and involved himself in many other issues which he believes affect the individual freedoms of the people whose constitutional rights he took an oath to defend. He currently resides in the heart of Tennessee with his companion dog ‘Liberty,’ where he is recovering from PTSD, enjoys the therapeutic hobbies of gardening, creative writing https://chaossection.com/, playing drums in the metal band Outlaw Serenade http://www.outlawserenade.com/, and other forms of artistic expression \m/
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