New American Anthem [Fritzworth]

I'm old enough to remember when "Tommy" by the Who came out -- and, in fact, I still have my original vinyl copy. An OK "rock opera", its basic premise is that Tommy, molested and abused as a young child, develops psychosomatic deafness/dumbness/blindness. He achieves a form of enlightenment (a lightbringer!) and becomes not just a 'pinball wizard' but a messianic figure. He seeks to impose his enlightenment on others through a highly-controlling regimen -- and in the end, his followers revolt.

And that close-to-final song, "We're Not Going To Take It" (which starts at about 2:30 into this clip from the wonderfully awful movie version, but it's worth watching the lead-in) keeps running through my mind as I watch the outrage over the government's ever-increasing intrusions increase:

Fix bayonets, indeed.

posted by Open Blogger at 05:15 PM

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