This will be my last entry. (Please leave comments if you want to get a hold of me as i check LJ)
Although the word "revolution" often conjures up stark images of fierce rebellion and violent, dogmatic clashes between oppressor and oppressed, it is, i believe, in reality practiced on a much more personal level; at least in the context of one's involvement in the punk/hardcore scene.
As humanity races inexorably towards a new centry and punk, as a relevant social movement, winds down it's second decade, i find myself wrestling with the inevitable hardships inherent in remaining steadfast in my ideals at the time when adherence to these princippals is frowned on by others my age. As someone who has invested close to fifteen years in this lifestyle i can attest that being punk at 29 is much different than being punk at 17.
In today's world of alienation, avarice and dispair it seems to be increasingly temping for us to throw up our hands, overwhelmed by it all, and admit defeat-submitting ourselves gimly to whatever fate the powers that be have in store for us. As we grow older, the pull to somehow conform, to normalize, to "outgrow" punk and hardcore becomes quite strong. I've watched more than a few friends who once claimed they would "never sell out" trade in their spikes and their Crass lp's for a more "acceptable" existance. Only by constantly reinventing my own personal definition of revolution have i survived to fight another day.
I still believe that we can change the world but i am convinced that this battle will be won or lost on a more personal front depending on our abiltiy to change and evolve as people; to experience our own intter-revolution. This might, in turn, affect those around us, the communities we live in and , ideally, the world.
The real revolution lies in questioning the once unquestionable. Blind acceptance of somebody's else's status quo and the age-old idea that we can't make a difference will be our downfall if we let it. We must never stop trying to better ourselves and the world around us.
Remember that in a revolution of ideologies that there can be no more potent weapon than the combiation of values, sincerity, and conviction.
Russ R. Good Riddance
October 1997
As humanity races inexorably towards a new centry and punk, as a relevant social movement, winds down it's second decade, i find myself wrestling with the inevitable hardships inherent in remaining steadfast in my ideals at the time when adherence to these princippals is frowned on by others my age. As someone who has invested close to fifteen years in this lifestyle i can attest that being punk at 29 is much different than being punk at 17.
In today's world of alienation, avarice and dispair it seems to be increasingly temping for us to throw up our hands, overwhelmed by it all, and admit defeat-submitting ourselves gimly to whatever fate the powers that be have in store for us. As we grow older, the pull to somehow conform, to normalize, to "outgrow" punk and hardcore becomes quite strong. I've watched more than a few friends who once claimed they would "never sell out" trade in their spikes and their Crass lp's for a more "acceptable" existance. Only by constantly reinventing my own personal definition of revolution have i survived to fight another day.
I still believe that we can change the world but i am convinced that this battle will be won or lost on a more personal front depending on our abiltiy to change and evolve as people; to experience our own intter-revolution. This might, in turn, affect those around us, the communities we live in and , ideally, the world.
The real revolution lies in questioning the once unquestionable. Blind acceptance of somebody's else's status quo and the age-old idea that we can't make a difference will be our downfall if we let it. We must never stop trying to better ourselves and the world around us.
Remember that in a revolution of ideologies that there can be no more potent weapon than the combiation of values, sincerity, and conviction.
Russ R. Good Riddance
October 1997