I really believe that my interest in politics, and especially Australian politics, has increased since i have moved overseas. At first i thought this was super strange and did not stack up but i think as you broaden your perspective a little bit more and you are able to see how things are done elsewhere, it is only normal to work out where you can improve your homeland and what can be done better.
Something else which has increased since i have moved here is my love of folky, hippy music. From exposure to more artists at Coachella, to the emergence of Nahko supporting Xavier Rudd, to my avid (almost fanatical) cycle of Fat Freddy's Drop's album, i have been exposed to their messages and ideas and embraced many of these.
Thee can be times where i think there is no real place for these two to intersect - especially with some of the more folky, alternative stuff i may listen to. Watched a Dustin Thomas gig last week and thought he made some excellent points regarding the need to unite the left and the right but then he lost me when he essentially said political opinions were for dummies. As much as i love the messages spread by these artists. Ones of love, acceptance, equality and tolerance. There is no way that what they preach is possible unless it is with the assistance of a political front.
It does not suck, it is just a fact of life. You need things to be organised and you need to know exactly what you want - from a long term perspective. Unfortunately, some of these people, although spreading love and happiness through their words and sounds, are also helping by spreading disillusionment towards politics and political parties. Living in a democracy, by not voting you really have no right to put your opinion to someone else. You missed that opportunity. From Australia's recent election, i saw many "joke" votes for neither party posted online and it really is disappointing. And is part of the problem. This disenfranchised mentality, an uninterested mind, means that what is best for the country, and for everyone, may not be getting through.
Generally speaking, ask a right wing voter what they think of Coachella or, to a greater extent, Burning Man and you are probably going to get some superior scoff and a mutter of "stupid hippies". In the same vein, ask a lefty what they think of a corporation or capitalism and they will mutter about men in suits. But something which i have found in common with both these sides is the word "revolution". And frankly, i do not get it. Every time i hear, overhear or read someone mentioning that they think a "revolution" is coming to the world, their country or their area i really feel as though i need clarification. What do they think a revolution entails, why now and what is going to be the result? Is it an uprising against the government, an overhaul of social progression or perhaps an alignment of the planets resulting in public panic?
A great mate of mine gave me a wonderful album because he did not need it any more. John Butler Trio live at Red Rocks. One of my favourite tracks is called Revolution and John Butler introduces it by saying something along the lines of. "I think some people are waiting for the revolution to come and i don't think it's ever going to start. And i don't think it is ever going to end. I think revolution is always taking place. It's like evolution, baby. What gives me faith is that you can't stop it, it's just painfully slow. But it's always there."
This is the idea i have. Either i am missing the memos or facebook invites to revolution brainstorming events or people are believing that other people are attending without them. Revolution is about the world finding it's feet, finding what works and what is best for the future. It may not always happen quickly and it may take mistakes to get to the right result. But, as painfully slow as that might be, it is still a revolution taking place. If anyone would like to have a mature, respectful conversation with me as to why they think revolution is going to be an event that is coming soon (to a theatre near you perhaps?) then i would only be too happy to have a listen and broaden my own mind. Until then though, for me it is about running through the fire, running though the flame, running through the hatred, running through the blame, running through the hopelessness and shame. Revolution already underway.
