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Eh, the Ramones kind of came & went for me in the ’80s, so I guess I haven't supported them for at least the last two years.
One does have a choice when picking people/companies (and, by extension, bands) who deliver goods and services. I personally have been known to hold a grudge against places that I feel have wronged me. [I boycotted that Big Bear on High St. months before its demise, because I had had so many things ring up at the wrong price and was completely unsatisfied with the manager's way of dealing with it.] I have stopped going to restaurants where I've been treated badly. I would think twice before buying from a business if they had a Bush/Cheney sign in the window. But I would not stop or prevent anyone else from doing so. It's all a matter of choice.
So when I read that a member of the Whiles is outspoken enough in his beliefs to post them for all to see, they kind of go into the "avoid" column for me. Besides, it may not be about his band, but he did say in the first place that the band is "pretty split evenly as far as registered dems, registered repubs and indies" and that he's the independent! So one can conclude that there are one or more registered republicans in the group. He brought it up, whether the band likes it or not.
Joe's latest post really gives me pause. First off, I apologize for being harsh with the "no world view" comment--I misinterpreted what you were saying. As for embracing ignorance, sure that's a good place to start. But when I read the rest of your post, it just makes me really sad. Sad to think how many more there may be out there like you--JOE! You didn't want to vote for the president! I mean, you say "voting for Bush does betray a lot of values that I have"--with the exception of abortion (by your own account), it goes against pretty much everything you say you believe in.
You seem to be informed. You seem to have extremely moderate views on the war and social issues. But it is incredibly naive for you to think that this president's administration is not going to slowly erode civil rights. Roe v. Wade might not be overturned, but it will undoubtedly be more restrictive. The Christian Conservative stand on birth control (not only in this country, but also in the Third World) is appalling, and only compounds the problems that stem from a lack of access to safe and legal abortions. When you say "I am not trying to change any laws or anything," I say, yes, you are. You voted for Bush.
Like it or not, fear of gay marriage united 11 states to pass incredibly broad "same sex marriage" bans and with it, elect a president who should not (*in my view*) have been elected. And Ohio took it a step further, denying rights to heterosexual unmarried couples as well. It's sad, really really sad, that people voted on fear and hatred of "others" rather than fear and hatred of war and killing hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and thousands of US soldiers.
When the president said that he's looking forward to spending his new "political capital" and that he will "reach out to everyone who shares our goals," I shuddered with fear. It's going to be a long four years, friends, though I really hope I'm wrong.
I apologize for the long post....
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