The "entertainment industry" often becomes the target for politicians
trying to win brownie points for a voting segment or parents who need a
scape goat other than themselves. The lifestyles of those who chose to
be in this field are often frowned upon — the pay is shit and it's an
expensive trade to be in. "Why don't you want to be a doctor or lawyer
like your cousin?" There's even that pathetic amount of ridicule that
goes on when people tend to disagree on something as personal as
preference. Over the last week, amongst many things on my mind is how
important entertainment really is.
When I woke on September 11th, one of the World Trade Towers was on
fire — nobody could confirm whether it was a bomb or fire. Minutes
later, I, along with millions of others witnessed live an airplane
crashing into the second tower, shortly thereafter a plane crashed into
the Pentagon. What the fuck is going on in our world? What is next? Is
this armageddon? It was the most terrifying day I have ever lived
through. It didn't help that in these very tense hours, our selected
leader was nowhere to be found, flying all over the country, in what
seemed like a surreal chess game where the king is the most protected
yet comparitively helpless piece.
Panic was taking over where shock was giving way. I tried to phone
friends in NY and one in Washington who works for the government but
all lines were overloaded, jammed. Soon, the towers crumbled, and the
feeling of panic and everything just sunk into an indescribable feeling
of void, sadness and emptiness. The pictures had clearly shown loads of
rescue workers and volunteers scrambling to save thousands of people,
many of them didn't have enough chance to make it out to safety.
Towards the end of the day, contacts were made, all friends and family
I knew who were in these places were safe. Contacts were made later
with close friends and family just to say hi and how much we care for
and love each other.
Over the next few days, the news reports were filled with much sadness
and despair. The loss is catastrophic and the amount of love and
support shown across the world was comforting in a time of great pain.
(Heck, I even cried when the Brits played our national anthem.)
However, tensions were high everywhere. From my own personal
experience, many people on music-related electronic forums I either
read or subscribe to engaged in heated arguments, finger pointing and
name calling. If anything, these experiences have reinforced my
feelings in the necessity for people to listen and try their hardest to
exercise a bit of understanding. This goes for -ALL- sides: I'm hurt,
sad and angry when I hear about people spouting their mouths off about
killing people of various nations as well as when I hear people
automatically assume my government is about to take part in the murder
of innocent civilians. I have spoken my mind, but have been accused of
being a bully, a stupid yank, intolerable, and siding with the opposing
side of whoever I'm disagreeing with. All because I probably have not
properly communicated that I wish people would try to be more
understanding, considerate and less bigoted. Maybe Greater Than One
were really profound when they wrote back in 1988, "Ignorance is the
Agent of Fear"; "Fear is the Agent of Violence."
There comes a time where you feel that you can't take it any more. The
TV shows you images nearly everybody has seen over and over and over
again, the arguments get so fierce and personal that you begin to lose
ability to focus properly on work, life, personal interactions, etc,...
Now, more than ever, I'm finding how important music is in my life. To
have the luxury of turning everything off for a bit of introspection,
whether it be for the new Lali Puna, a comforting old Cocteau Twins,
Beatles, Pixies, Nurse With Wound or Bjorn Again, is truly magical.
Some may consider it escape, some may consider it solace, some may
consider it spiritual or inspirational, but it is yours for
consideration.
With that, I'm proud to have such a minimal part of "this industry" and
an important role in a team who is helpful and sharing, caring and
listening. We need this. We need to continue on. We need music and we
need to continue sharing and listening.
