Friday, April 3, 2009

Soundtrack of My Life



Song:
Re-Education (Through Labor)
Artist: Rise Against
Album: Appeal to Reason (2008)

I'm in an anti-establishment, anti-conformity mood right now and Rise Against is the perfect soundtrack.

This week, I wrote a piece for the local paper condemning the City for failing to endorse the Relay for Life charity event I am volunteering for, saying their lack of willingness to support the event at the time we're allotted is unbelievable to me.

The response has been equally unbelievable. People want me to resign, to apologize, to be tarred and feathered because I voiced my opinion - one that is correct and valid to everyone who stands back and thinks about the issue clearly.

I won't do it. I don't succumb to pressure very often, I don't regret what I said and I will never fail to stand by the words that I write. This song and the quote at the beginning of the video aptly convey how I'm feeling right now:


"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable."
- John F. Kennedy

For me, life is a quest to make the best of whatever situation I am given and when people try to tell me to do otherwise, they're pleading to deaf ears.

There is only one way that I know how to do things - my way - and I'll be damned if I'm ever going to change that part of me, especially not when it comes to my writing.

Discourse isn't dangerous; failing to listen and see all sides is.

2 comments:

Newt said...

So why is it that they refuse to take part? Perhaps I missed something. Who wants you to resign? The paper? Where can I find the article so that I can read it?

E. Spencer Kyte said...

The City was refusing to take part because they want to do it during the day. Other committee members wanted me to resign, but that ain't happening. Sadly, the paper isn't online, so no where to read it unless you move out here...