I listened to some of the Republican Presidential Debate last night and then, silly me, spent more time listening to political analysts tell me what I heard and what it meant. Before the debate I heard on the radio what various broadcasters told me I should be listening for during the debate and what it all would mean. I read online and in the papers what the liberals had to say about the conservatives and what the conservatives had to say about their liberal opponents. Nothing new really, just the seemingly endless message that somebody else was ruining the country, or would ruin the country, or have no business running the country, or who are standing in the way of the appropriate evolution of the country.
What I learned, that I’ve always known, really, is that if you have a particular point of view, or bias when it comes to political views SOMEBODY out there, on television, or radio or on the internet will reflect those views for you, and remind you that however you feel, the other guy is the devil and you better get busy protecting the country you believe in because the bad guys are going to (if they haven’t already) destroyed it.
I’m not terribly comfortable in the midst of the deep divides and profound contention, but I also realize how important the conversation about the future of the world is. And I’ve been asked more than once where I stand on the political issues of the day.
I’ve heard it quoted to me all my life: That the hottest place in hell is reserved for those who during a moral crisis maintain their neutrality. And so I appreciate why I hear comments like: Come on, Michael, take a stand; let your voice be heard; don’t hide behind the convenient cloak of being a non political songwriter who wants everybody to love him so much that he takes the stance of a musical Switzerland. Don’t be a wimp, they say. Be bold. Who do you support? What do you believe? How do you plan to get involved!!!!
That’s what my politically active friends on all sides of the political spectrum keep asking me. Well, I have a response.
As you might expect, it’s in the form of a song. I’m not going to write the lyrics because you won’t hear my heart if you don’t listen to the song as it’s performed. But if you want to know where I stand on the challenges that face our country and our world, push “play” on the mp3 I’ve sent to accompany my first ever political ramblings on the internet, and give it a listen. The tune is called: BEFORE I TAKE A STAND.
Listen here.
I’m interested to hear what you think.
Michael McLean
