tag:mathewsydney.com,2005:/blogs/blog?p=1Blog2023-10-16T07:55:16-07:00Mathew Sydneyfalsetag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60530012019-03-18T17:00:00-07:002022-04-14T02:00:24-07:00Save the Date! April 2nd 2019
<p>They're here!</p>
<p>I've been digital only for a number of years now but due to demand for physical cd's, we've made the decision to make 'Masks' available on cd as well as digital.</p>
<p>Promo copies of the disks have arrived and they look fantastic! Many thanks to photographer and graphic designer, Shane Tanner, for patiently executing my vision! The artwork is HOT!</p>
<p>April 2nd is the official release date for 'Masks' on CDBaby, iTunes, Apple Music and other outlets but if you can't wait, direct message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram within the next 7 days and I will hook you up with a free promo copy!</p>
<p>I'm thrilled with the new sound Fosfero has helped me develop and I'm already hard at work on our next project.</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60530002019-02-23T16:00:00-08:002022-05-11T10:55:26-07:00Gods on Earth are What You Are!
<p>I'm excited to be wrapping up my latest project!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>'Masks' is a five-song EP, and a follow-up to "Justice League," the single I released in 2014. Some of these songs have been a part of my live set for years but a live acoustic setting was never what I planned for them. In the arrangements on 'Masks' I pulled in elements of punk, post-punk/alternative, metal, and prog rock. I wanted these songs to sound fabulous and colorful and weird, just like the mighty figures of modern myth who inspired them!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Fires of Creation" is my homage to the X-men's Jean Grey/Phoenix. It captures her duality is a "child of light and darkness." I still remember the day I wrote this on my piano in my cottage apartment in Lake Worth, X number of years ago. I knew in that moment that I had turned a corner as a songwriter, both lyrically and melodically. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Morlocks" is about the outcast mutants who live in the sewers of New York City. In the hands of the incomparable Chris Claremont, these anti-heroes were, in the 1980s, a powerful counterpoint to the surface-dwelling X-men. This track is my punk-rock love-letter to outcasts and misfits everywhere. Not all of us have beautiful faces or perfect bodies or are socially acceptable, nevertheless, sometimes it's the most overlooked people who have the most to offer. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Continuing with my X-men geekdom, "Gods on Earth" was inspired by one of the X-men movies. (First Class? I can't remember.) There's this great scene where Raven is flirting with Magneto and he tells her not to disguise herself for him. Her natural blue-skinned form is perfect. I've always been a huge Magneto fan and that scene made me fall in love with him all over again. If you have a "Magneto was right" t-shirt, this song is for you.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Diana" is actually written from the point of view of Queen Hippolyta right before Diana leaves Paradise Island to become Wonder Woman in Man's World. Hippolyta, with her mother's intuition, knows that the greatest danger her daughter will face is to fall in love with a mortal man. Wanting nothing more than to spare her daughter heartbreak and pain she implores her, "Diana, don't fall in love!"</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Eye of Agamotto" is my self-indulgent six-minute rock operatta. Dr. Strange faces off against the Dread Dormammu with the spiritual assistance of the mysterious Vishanti: The Lady of the Stars, The Ancient of Days, and the titular Agamotto. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I had more fun making 'Masks' than any other project to date. You definitely want these tracks on your playlist in the car next time you go to Comi-con or just to remind you that you ARE gods on earth! "You know this world belongs to us! Let those who hate live in fear. Stand up! Our time is here!"</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We're looking at a release date of April 2nd but pre-orders may be available. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I love you all!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mathew</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529992019-01-12T16:00:00-08:002023-12-10T08:33:29-08:00I Have Only Love
<p>2019 is a year of new beginnings. My first studio cover (of Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy") comes out January 22nd. I took this opportunity to blend folk rock arrangements with EDM in order to take the listener on a journey. The eponymous gypsy travels from desert byways haunted by hand percussion to the dark funk of urban dance floors and then back to the peace and endless skies of the desert.</p>
<p>Since I was a child, "Gypsy" has been one of my favorite songs. The lines, "I have no fear / I have only love" often come to mind whenever I face challenges. In these lines, Steve Nicks encapsulates the deep truth that for the human animal, there are really only two emotions: love and fear. Whichever emotion we choose to allow to dominate sets the tone for everything we manifest.</p>
<p>I invite you... take my hand, pass through the fear, step into love and reclaim your power!</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529982018-09-28T17:00:00-07:002022-05-09T23:20:07-07:00Out of the Cauldron
<p><em>Sans Merci</em> was born at the crossroads. "The Ledge" was the last song I wrote in Florida before moving across the country. It was born from the powerful personal experiences I had at a spiritual retreat for queer men in September of 2017. As I drove across the continent I was hypnotized by the dust devils. I arrived in California with the Santa Ana wind at my back and it was there that "Dust Devil Dance" was created.</p>
<p>This is the kind of music that I always wanted to make. I've had producers tell me to "be more commercial" and to "dumb it down a little." Even independent artists are tempted to curb their art in the hopes of monetizing it.</p>
<p>Those days are done. My work as a musician is intimately connected with my spiritual path, my function as a bard, and my community. Music is magic and I believe it can be proudly magical.</p>
<p>As a commercial enterprise, "Mathew Sydney" has been on hiatus for about four years but I have not been idle. I have been hard at work completing the compositions for <em>Chosen</em> a rock opera/musical about the seldom told story of the great love between David and Jonathan as told in the Bible.</p>
<p>I've also been composing other pieces and digging deeply into my spiritual calling. Over these past few years I have become and initiate and then a teacher of The Unnamed Path, I am a co-host of a wildly popular podcast, Walking the Unnamed Path. I have become a licensed minister and have had the privilege of giving sermons and writing pagan services for a Unitarian Universalist congregation.</p>
<p>I have also relocated form Palm Beach, Florida to San Diego, California, a life-changing choice made for deeply personal reasons. </p>
<p>All I can say is this, "DO THE THING THAT SCARES YOU!" The rewards are priceless!</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529972013-08-15T17:00:00-07:002022-06-01T18:36:54-07:00Album Review: The Lillies ROCK!
<p>THIS is the kind of music radio needs. The Lillies’ self-titled album highlights their ability to explore diverse musical styles while staying faithful to their signature sound. The opening track, “Who Cares,” has HIT written all over it. An art jazz intro segues into a rockin’ guitar riff that supports Bonoesque vocals and introduces the listener to The Lillies’ world of sonic magic. “Just Breathe” features powerful lyrical imagery and a passionate guitar solo. “Maria” illustrates the band’s ability to take Spanish music and make it their own while the captivating “Joany” leaves you wondering about the woman who inspired this haunting tale.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Great hooks, top-notch production and carefully crafted songwriting are just some of the band’s strengths. I’ve been following The Lillies for a while and I’m thrilled that they’re still hard at work. Listening to them reminds me of when mainstream music was great. With guitar work inspired by 70s rock, melodies evocative of 90s pop and distinctive tempo changes, The Lillies craft a sound that is timeless and fresh at the same time. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Follow The Lillies at...</p>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheLillies" data-imported="1">https://www.facebook.com/TheLillies</a></p>
<p><a href="https://soundcloud.com/self-title-the-lillies" data-imported="1">https://soundcloud.com/self-title-the-lillies</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.reverbnation.com/thelillies" data-imported="1">https://www.reverbnation.com/thelillies</a></p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529962013-03-18T17:00:00-07:002022-05-09T23:55:00-07:00Spring
<p>Today is the last day of Winter and I feel like this Spring will mark a new beginning in many aspects of my life. I’m starting a new day job, which, I pray, will allow me to further my music career. If you’ve been around the scene you know that most musicians either have day jobs… or are on the verge of homelessness. It’s even more challenging for a solo singer-songwriter because it takes money to record, publish and promote new music. And recording is more important to me than performing live. There must be a permanent record of the songs I write. What if I am taken from this world tomorrow? I cannot allow the words and music to die with me.</p>
<p>Saturday night at The Beat Cup Café was amazing. Nothing is more rewarding than when a stranger pulls you aside and says, “You have a beautiful voice,” or “I love that song!” As promised, I featured a set of completely new material (except for “Justice League,” which I debuted live in 2012). Sharing new material is always scary. Are the people going to like it? Are they going to understand it? And since I had a short time slot I decided not to perform any of my old tried and true numbers… sometimes you have to let the past go and focus on the new.</p>
<p>My goal right now is to save up the funds to get back into the studio. I have a huge catalog of unreleased material… songs that I feel are far superior to the tracks I recorded in 2010 and 2011 when I recorded ‘The Game.’ As an artist, I constantly push myself and I feel I’ve grown tremendously as a composer, a lyricist and a vocalist. (I’m still praying to meet my ideal lead guitarist/instrumentalist to collaborate with… I can’t do everything!)</p>
<p>At this time, I’m most excited about the rock opera I’m crafting. It’s not just something I’m “writing.” It’s something I’m building. Being an historical piece it involves tremendous amounts of research plus time invested in structuring the plot; characterization; musical elements such as the use of multi-part harmony and leitmotif. All of which is compounded by my human fears… “When am I going to be able to record this project?” “Who can I get to sing the different parts?” “How do I get a theater to do a stage production of it?” “Is anybody going to listen to it?”</p>
<p>I’m human. I have doubts. Those who are closest to me know that I am extremely shy, I suffer from terrible stage fright (I actually dread performing) and whenever I’m pursuing music there’s a little demon on my shoulder who says, “You’re delusional. You’re wasting your time and making a fool of yourself. Nobody cares about what you’re doing.”</p>
<p>But I feel I’ve been given a mission. In 2009 I received a vision of the rock opera I’m working on. The idea flashed in my mind like a bolt of lightning. Over the years I worked on other material, personal stuff about hook-ups and romance and pop culture. I recorded and released ‘Drank Too Much,’ ‘The Game’ and some singles… but the vision never left me. There is a story I have been asked by Spirit to tell… and Spirit requires that I tell this story in a certain way. There are truths which mainstream society has hidden from us. We have been deceived. I am being driven to pull away the veils and allow people to see a different side of our history and of our faith. It is time for us to be set free.</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529952013-03-12T17:00:00-07:002022-05-31T00:01:07-07:00Lyrics
<p>Yesterday marked the release of "<a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mathewsydney4" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Colleen Mine</a>!" This is a very special track because it's a fan favorite at my live shows but I seldom perform it anymore because it's the sort of quiet ballad that requires a subdued atmosphere for listeners to be able to hear it. It's a very old Irish song about unrequited love but I chose to re-title it because "<a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mathewsydney4" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Coinleach Ghlas an Fomhair</a>" is a mouthful... even if you speak <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaelige" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Irish Gaelic</a>. (Try saying 'Cunna Gloss un Oh-air' and you're pretty close.)</p>
<p>I also worked out an<a href="http://mathewsydney.com/colleen_mine/" target="_blank" data-imported="1"> English translation</a> that matches the meter of the original Irish lyrics so it can be sung in either language. Perhaps one day I'll record the English version but Irish is such a beautiful language. Even in Ireland very few people speak it anymore and I'm proud to be doing my own small part to keep this magical language alive. The first time I performed the piece an audience member said, "That sounds like Elvish (meaning Tolkien's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quenya" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Quenya</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindarin" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Sindarin</a>)!" I considered that a great compliment and a testament to the euphony and mystique of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaelige" target="_blank" data-imported="1">Gaelige</a> (Irish Gaelic).</p>
<p>Since I promised to make the English lyrics available on my website I went ahead and published all the <a href="http://www.mathewsydney.com/lyrics/" target="_blank" data-imported="1">lyrics</a> from my albums so far. Let me tell you, between trying to remember the words to songs I seldom perform anymore, copying them off of my old computer and looking them up in old emails I've sent to fans... it was a Promethean task! I'm glad to say that the complete lyrics section of the website is convenient, accurate and good-looking!</p>
<p>Now I want to take a nap, LOL!</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529942013-01-19T16:00:00-08:002022-04-18T02:20:35-07:00Fallen Warrior
<p>They say Aaron Swartz did “the unthinkable” in taking his own life. I hear people singling out his “mental health issues” as the cause of his suicide. One person even said, “An innocent man does not commit suicide.”</p>
<p>I disagree with this entire line of thinking. Yes, in our culture, most of us are taught that suicide is a selfish act. To take one’s own life is considered symptomatic of deep mental illness, perhaps even insanity. Many of us are even raised to believe that suicide is a sin. We have been trained by our media and to say, “How could he do such a thing? I can’t believe he did that! That’s so selfish.” </p>
<p>Bullshit. The kid had balls.</p>
<p>Let’s look beyond our narrow western Judeo-Christian mindset. Aaron Swartz was an extremely well-educated and intelligent young man. I’m sure he was aware that in many cultures and throughout history, suicide is last resort of the noble hero. Before the Christian era, it was more honorable for a man to take his own life than to allow himself to be captured by the enemy. In Asia, whether among the Samurai or Buddhist monk activists, suicide is the ultimate weapon.</p>
<p>Was Swartz mentally ill? No more so than anyone else. If you or I got embroiled in the sort of prosecution that has dogged him, I bet we would feel a little blue, don’t you think? Our culture no longer allows us to be angry or depressed. When we express human emotion we are told that we are “crazy” and that we need to be medicated. Lord forbid we express anything other than happiness or a flat line of numb apathy. If we fly too high or sink too low we are sent to the doctor and coerced into taking mind-altering prescription drugs.</p>
<p>This young activist was facing the juggernaut of Federal prosecution. His only out was a plea bargain that would have forced him to bear the scarlet letter of “felon.” He was not willing to accept that. This young warrior refused to give Big Brother the satisfaction of winning their case… even on paper. Symbols have power. Precedents shape law for generations. He knew that if he allowed Big Brother to win… even if they were to merely give him a slap on the wrist… that it would be a mighty victory for the bureaucratic empire and a crippling blow against freedom.</p>
<p>I don’t necessarily support Swartz’s cause. His was a battle that I personally would not have waged. There are other causes that are more dear to my heart. Nevertheless, I have the utmost respect for this young warrior. I am grateful for the work he did in stopping SOPA and PIPA. I believe that our government has thrown genuine freedom under the bus of corporate feudalism and that the greater part of our government’s work has been the protection of banks, military contractors and multinational corporations at the expense of freedom and economic opportunity for ordinary American citizens. </p>
<p>Like a true warrior, Swartz availed himself of the final option of a battered and cornered hero. He took his own life. I offer my condolences to his family and friends. I know their grief is overwhelming and bottomless but we need heroes and knights in this world. We need to be men again and not the obedient trained seals our education system has shaped us into. </p>
<p>Aaron, may your soul find light on the other side. And, if you are so inclined, may your spirit continue to fight for freedom in this world and inspire us all to stand up for that which we believe in.</p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Swartz" data-imported="1">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Swartz</a></p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529932013-01-17T16:00:00-08:002013-01-17T23:11:48-08:00Roots
<p>Your fearless hero has just returned from The Big Apple. As much as I love Florida, part of me will always belong to New York. That is where my family had their start in this country and when I walk amongst the hills of <a href="http://www.forttryonparktrust.org/" data-imported="1">Fort Tryon Park</a>, where the stones themselves always seem to speak to me. There are so many layers of our nation’s history, my family’s history and, now, of my own personal history enfolded within the shadows of the old castle-like buildings that rise above the Hudson River.</p>
<p>Having grown up as a child with roots in different states, I’ve always felt that America is not so much one nation, as it is an alliance of separate countries. Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California, Texas, New York… each state has its own character. The people of each region have their own social mores, traditions and culture… and that’s ok. I don’t want to live in a United States where everyone is the same. I’m a little southern and I’m a little yankee. I’m a little Anglo and a little Latin and I feel that my art, my character and my life are richer because of the diversity of the traditions I draw from.</p>
<p>My cultural roots run deep into the soil of this land, this Turtle Island, the land of the Lakota Sioux and Lenape and Tequesta Indians. They stem from the misty isles of Britain and the vast plains of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvq12KJS91k" data-imported="1">Scythia</a>. I am inspired by the traditions of Mexico, Spain, Greece and Rome. All of these threads converge, for me, right here in the United States: In New York, In Miami, yea, even in this little village of Lake Worth, my funky little diamond in the rough, protected, perhaps, by its own checkered reputation from the kinds of development that destroy all that is unique and, therefore, precious.</p>
<p>And so, with roots spanning half the globe, I feel that I am a part of something greater than myself. I am a branch in this mighty tree that stands on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and all the wisdom, life and power that flows through those roots, flow through my very being as well, to burst forth through the words I write, the music I compose and the joy I feel every morning when I step outside and say to myself, “This is paradise!”</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529922012-10-10T17:00:00-07:002021-06-23T01:24:09-07:00If a corporation can outsource my job then I can outsource a corporation's services
<p>In a nutshell, Mr. Kirtsaeng is a college student bought some textbooks overseas (where they are cheaper) and then sold them here in the US on Ebay. The US publisher of these books (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.) is crying 'copyright infringement' and has taken this all the way to the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>I'm sorry. If you want a 'free market' then it's gotta be free for everybody. These companies reserve the right to ship our jobs to china then I reserve the right to buy my shit directly from China where I can get it cheaper. It's as simple as that. Badda-bing-badda-boom. Below is my letter to the Supreme Court instructing them to rule in favor of Mr. Kirtsaeng. If you're curious, you can read more details of the case <a href="http://abovethelaw.com/2012/04/scotus-ebay-cert-and-other-sundries/#more-151146" data-imported="1">here</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dear Honorable Justices:</p>
<p>Regarding Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons I expect you to rule on the side of greater liberty for Americans rather than less. I have looked into the case and I feel there is nothing wrong with Mr. Kirtsaeng’s actions. As a matter of fact, his actions are a perfect illustration of the free market at work. If he can provide the same merchandise for less than a domestic publisher then it is an opportunity for the domestic publisher to price their merchandise more competitively.</p>
<p>Ruling on the side of John Wiley & Sons will set a dangerous precedent and one that, I am sure, the American people will refuse to abide with. Such a ruling would result in unnecessary litigation and taxpayer expense. Where do you choose to draw the line regarding the right of an individual to sell used goods? Are you going to use taxpayer dollars to police flea markets and garage sales? When Mr. Kirtsaeng purchased those books abroad, the copyright holder was duly compensated per the laws of the country in which they were purchased. It is the responsibility of the copyright holder to judiciously sell the foreign rights to his or her work and if a domestic publisher is left out in the cold then they simply have to man up to the economic realities. If it is acceptable for individuals to be outsourced then it is certainly acceptable for companies to be outsourced as well.</p>
<p>I do not believe Americans will endure a government that reserves the right to persecute them for selling their old books and junk at the local church rummage sale. I urge you to review this article by Jennifer Waters in ‘The Liberty Crier’ <a href="http://libertycrier.com/government/your-right-to-resell-your-own-stuff-could-become-illegal/" data-imported="1">http://libertycrier.com/government/your-right-to-resell-your-own-stuff-could-become-illegal/</a>. Consider very carefully the possible repercussions of your ruling.</p>
<p>Sometimes the price we must pay for our freedoms is to endure the freedoms enjoyed by others.</p>
<p>This is a cut-and-dried, black-and-white issue. When in doubt, I expect you to err on the side of individual liberty and to protect the liberties of the individual against the machinations of a corporate entity such as a domestic publishing company. Read your Constitution.</p>
<p>Regards,</p>
<p>Mathew Sydney</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529912012-09-30T17:00:00-07:002012-10-01T03:03:14-07:00'Class Alliance' is smarter than 'Class War'
<p>Today I read an <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/10/08/121008fa_fact_freeland?currentPage=all" data-imported="1">article</a> about Leon Cooperman, the Wall Street billionaire who famously wrote a scathing <a href="http://www.gurufocus.com/news/154371/leon-cooperman-open-letter-to-president-obama" data-imported="1">letter</a> to President Obama.</p>
<p>Since I come from a working-class background, and have enjoyed few economic privileges in my life, I am inclined to take the side of the poor and oppressed. I like to look at long term facts and figures and the fact that the middle class has been gradually shrinking since before I was born is deeply disturbing. After all, that’s the class to which my family belongs! What are things going to be like for my children and grandchildren?</p>
<p>While they were alive, I was able to discuss the Great Depression with my grandparents and great-grandparents so the memory of that period is very much alive in me. The men could not find work so the women did what they could in sweat shops or they worked as domestics in the homes of the wealthy. Grown siblings were forced to live in the same house along with their spouses, children and in-laws. There was no allowance; kids found whatever work they could and brought their meager earnings back home to help cover food and rent.</p>
<p>Despite the fact that the economic picture today looks very grim it is still a far cry from the level of deprivation our ancestors endured during the 1930’s.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, I find it deeply disturbing that the last few decades have seen a steady shrinking of the middle class and the growth of poverty while at the same time there is a small class of corporate leaders who have been experiencing personal financial growth unlike any that has been seen before. Is this healthy? Is this good? This trend has been going on for some 40 years so I think it is foolish to blame either Republican or Democrat leadership. If these trends continue, what is our country going to look like 40 years from now? The “Hunger Games?”</p>
<p> I am on a quest to find out the causes of these trends and to find solutions so that American can, once again, enjoy a robust middle class with good opportunities and prospects. </p>
<p>When we are struggling with joblessness, when the bank is forclosing on our homes, when we are saddled with debt we can never repay... it is tempting, it is easy, it is logical to resent those bankers and financiers who own multiple homes, private jets and off-shore savings accounts. After all, the numbers show that the wealth and prosperity is flowing steadily upward.</p>
<p>But I always like to look at both sides of the issue. I have personally known and I have worked with incredibly wealthy individuals. Some of them were the scions of old-money families. Others were nouveau riche. Strangely, each and every one of them panics about their bills and about the future just as much as everyone else I know. Many of them are providing for spoiled or clueless family members who have no hope of making it on their own. Many of them are involved in the roller-coaster ride that is Wall Street. For all their abundant assets, they are just as terrified of financial ruin as the single mother living paycheck to paycheck. So, I really have a hard time viewing CEO’s as a bunch of French aristocrats who laugh at the ignorant and destitute peasantry.</p>
<p>I found Cooperman’s letter intrigueing because I want to understand his psychology. Sure, we have some government social programs in the US but why are so many people afraid of “communism,” a “world government” and various boogey men that really come across as just yet another paranoid conspiracy theory. Because, that’s what I really believe it is. There is no vast socialist conspiracy to destroy capitalism in America. People just put those ideas out there to sell books and get TV interviews. Just like there is no vast right-wing conspiracy to force the American people to become submissive church-going peasants licking the shoes of their Armani-clad overlords. Again, sensationalism sells books and is good for TV ratings.</p>
<p>It’s time for the wealthy capitalists who control our corporations and who control Wall Street to let go of fear and make the effort to understand the masses. Likewise, it behooves the Occupy Movement and their sympathisers to understand the structure of our capitalism, both its sucesses and its flaws, so we can tweak the existing system for the benefit of everyone.</p>
<p>We really don’t have much of a class system in the US... yet. Cooperman comes from very humble beginnings. Like many of the nouveau riche he comes from a working-class family that largely benefited from the unions and from the social programs that have afforded some protections for the poor since FDR. Although he, his children and his grandchildren are fabulously wealthy and are likely to remain fabulously wealthy for many generations, I am certain that there are yet many working-class people in his family who are treading water.</p>
<p>We are a nation divided but those divisions are not conducive to bloody revolution. A class war will ultimately pit brother against brother, father against son, cousin against cousin. So how can mutual hatred possibly make any sense? </p>
<p>On the side of the capitalists, I think that they are aware of the swelling divide between rich and poor and I think it frightens them. I am sure that they feel powerless to change that trend; it is a force of nature larger than themselves or their bank accounts. They look upon the masses and, perhaps rightly, fear a Bolshevik-style revolution. Perhaps not in this generation, perhaps not even in the next but, if the pendulum does not swing the other way, it is very possible that a populist leader may channel the collective frustration of the unemployed and use it to turn our nation upon its head. So, caving to fear, it is natural that those who have the means are inclined to hoard as much wealth they can and hide it overseas as a form of insurance against such a calamity.</p>
<p>The working classes, too, are naturally frightened. You can borrow tens of thousands of dollars to get a college degree and still not find a job. If a family member needs cancer treatment or an organ transplant you take out a second mortgage on your home but then what if you can’t make the payments and the bank takes it away? The uncertainty and the fear are palpable. Meanwhile, the same company that laid you off, the same company that hasn’t given you a raise in ten years, is controlled by a handful of men whose bank accounts are surging. What’s not to envy? What’s not to resent? Our nation was founded by men who threw off the shackles of monarchy and their descendants are very capable of doing so again.</p>
<p>Are we all that different from one another? We’re all looking at the world and feel powerless. People have taken to the streets in Europe to protest austerity. Russia as devolved back into its Soviet-style totalitarian ways. The middle east is in even more chaos than ever before. Meanwhile, we nervously co-sign loans for our children to go to school and we anxiously hope that it’s money well spent. A man such as Cooperman things to himself, should I make that risky loan to that guy who wants to start a company or am I better off squirreling that money away in Switzerland?</p>
<p>The devotees of capitalism, in order to save capitalism, must relinquish their fear. Because, if you fear revolution then that fear will cause you to behave in such a way as to make the revolution inevitable. We must recognize that every sustainable system is a circle. It may be comforting to write off those public school teachers and those single moms because you don’t socialize with them but it is far more powerful to embrace them as fellow citizens and to indeed help them to find better solutions. Use your resources to find new and creative ways to build a more closely-knit society... not one where even brother schemes against brother on the way to reach the top.</p>
<p>Those of us who are struggling must realize that many of those who wield great wealth also come from humble beginnings. Many of them really do understand our struggles. In many ways, the existing laws and regulations restrict corporations and force CEO’s to make decisions even they find unpalatable. Let’s work together to build more sensible legislation. We need legislation that rewards corporations for creating jobs for Americans, not jobs in China. Let’s work together to create legislation that protects CEO’s when they show a loss next quarter because they need an extra year or two to turn that company around. Because the way the laws are now, if that CEO doesn’t lay you off then the shareholders are going to sue his pants off.</p>
<p>Each and every one of us, high and low, must put aside fear and prejudice. We must each make a commitment to stop scheming and hating and fighting. We have the power to stand together. Because when you and I stand together that will set the tone for the two parties to work together and when we learn to cooperate and to trust we will create a future far greater than any we could possibly imagine.</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529902012-09-12T17:00:00-07:002012-09-13T00:37:57-07:00Peace
<p>Peace.</p>
<p>Those of you who follow me on Twitter or on Facebook know that I’ve been mentioning peace a lot lately.</p>
<p>Peace.</p>
<p>Our nation has been at war in the middle east since 2001. Our sons and daughters are losing life and limb in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Now, with the recent attacks and loss of American property and lives in Egypt, in Libya and in Yemen I am afraid that we are facing dire temptation.</p>
<p>Temptation.</p>
<p>Before the attacks against our embassy in Egypt occurred I learned that our military recently increased their recruitment quotas. Why?</p>
<p>We are weary of war. Our soldiers want to come home and war is costing us far more money that tax cuts, Obamacare, Medicare or Social Security combined. Vast sums of money are being wasted. Lives are being destroyed. </p>
<p>In days of old, when a powerful empire waged war, it at least brought prosperity to the empire. In today's world, however, war is accelerating the descent of the American people into poverty. Why?</p>
<p>This is not the first time we have engaged in a neverending war. Vietnam was not so long ago. That was a war we fought and lost. You can blame it on the peace movement, you can blame it on Jane Fonda but at the end of the day there was absolutely no way we could have won that war as long as we persisted in force and violence.</p>
<p>Our nation is divided. We are not even at peace amongst ourselves. Because I am an Independent and because I refuse to blindly support either the Democratic or Republican party I have been ridiculed and reviled by the devotees of each party. Rank-and-file Democrats want Romney in jail for tax evasion and business fraud. Rank-and-file Republicans want Obama in jail for treason. Are they both right? Perhaps they are both wrong.</p>
<p>I am following this election campaign because I believe in the values my forefathers fostered. I believe in fair elections, in reason and in freedom. I believe that when good men and women throw their hands up in the air and do nothing, that is the moment when evil wins. And so, as painful and as distasteful as it is, I follow the news, I ask difficult questions and, despite those who advise me not to put myself at risk, I speak my mind.</p>
<p>A close friend of mine is grieving. A friend of hers was recently shot in the head and killed by her ex-husband. Right here. In these United States.</p>
<p>How can we hope to have peace in the world when we cannot establish peace within our own borders or even within our own homes?</p>
<p>I am angry. I am sick and tired of the insanity. I want to drop the bomb on Jersusalem, Mecca and Rome and be done with religion completely because although every religion espouses peace they persist in fostering hatred and instigating violence. I am tempted to rally my fellow citizens and wage insurrection... not against our government. Our government is fine. It’s the cynical bastards who have been placed into office by outrageously wealthy corporations who need to go. I am not a fool. I know that the same corporations who donate to the Republican party also donate to the Democratic party. I know that neither party is currently capable of establishing meaningful campaign finance reform because they are both bought and paid for and have been for a very long time.</p>
<p>I want to fire bomb the Westboro Baptist Church. I want to punch Pat Robertson in the face. I revel in the vision of my people finding the courage and the will to stand up side by side: black and white, Spanish and English, Man and Woman so that together we may butcher the lenders who have tricked us into buying loans we can never pay and drown the Koch brothers in their own blood.</p>
<p>I am angry... and, unlike most Americans, I am not afraid to lay down my life in the struggle against injustice.</p>
<p>While we bicker about gay marriage, school prayer and birth control our “elected” officials (and I know damn well the various ways in which elections are manipulated) casually and quietly pass the laws that allow them to arrest citizens without due process, that allow American companies to hire foreign labor at pennies on the dollar and allow a very tiny class of multinational investors to hoard unimaginable sums of wealth while our children become dumber and the dream of fairness and opportunity becomes a myth.</p>
<p>I see us headed straight for “The Hunger Games,” and I know that neither the current Republican Party nor the current Democratic Party can save us.</p>
<p>I applaud the Arab Spring. I admire the Islamicists for their courage, their determination and for their chutzpah. Are they insane? Yes. But, to put it bluntly, I’m surrounded by pussies.</p>
<p>Peace.</p>
<p>The truth is that I loath violence. I know that the use of violence only begets further violence. I know that we can never hope to change things through force of arms. History has shown us over and over again that bloody revolution results in the establishment of a new regime so paranoid, so addicted to blood that it is more often than not worse than the one it deposed. </p>
<p>No. We must find new ways to change the world and more permanent ways to achieve justice.</p>
<p>I pray for peace every day. I pray for peace in the middle east. I pray for peace between American citizens. I pray to be at peace with myself.</p>
<p>With continued attacks against Americans abroad we are going to be tempted to escalate our military activity. Many of our politicians will call for the deployment of more troops and in the fever of national pride many of you will cheer them on. We will be tempted to use our drones and our bombs and our vast network of high-tech military might to punish the poor and the ignorant. Along the way many innocents will die and our world will descend further into darkness. Religious fanatics of all persuasion will exult in their theological triumph. “See! I told you so! These are the end times,” they will say. But time will not end. No messiah will come and the only rapture will be the harvesting of lives upon the blood-stained fields of ugly battle.</p>
<p>Those of us who survive will be left to pick up the pieces. With today’s technology, an escalation of war could result in the poisoning of seas and the loss of natural resources. Our grandchildren will inherit an ugly radioactive desert world not unlike “Mad Max.”</p>
<p>Peace.</p>
<p>This is not the future I choose.</p>
<p>I love my children. I love my home, this Planet Earth. I love my fellow man and I love God with all my heart and I know that it is up to me to do what little I can to ensure a bright future for the generations to come.</p>
<p>Peace isn’t all flowers and beads and singing “Kumbaya.”</p>
<p>Peace takes many forms. Sometimes it is soft and inviting. Sometimes it can be cold and hard, a force to be reckoned with, an impenetrable shield and an unbreakable sword.</p>
<p>I believe in the complete withdrawal of our military forces from foreign soil.</p>
<p>I believe Egypt and Libya and Yemen and Syria MUST be left to their own affairs.</p>
<p>I believe that Israel must be left to face its future on its own: to either find a way to make peace with its neighbors or else be cease to exist.</p>
<p>I believe that our military cannot possibly impose “freedom” upon Afghanistan or upon Iraq. They must make their own freedom. And if they choose not to have freedom we must allow them to live with whatever form of government they establish for themselves.</p>
<p>I believe that those who suggest an armed overthrow of either Obama or Romney is a fool. If you do not like the Democratic party then be a man. This is a free country. Join the party and do what you can to change it from within. Likewise, if you do not like the Republican party then grow a pair, join the party and tell them that they must become inclusive and rational if they are to remain relevant in this century.</p>
<p>I believe that we must work towards peace within our families. After all, hasn’t our politics divided mother against son? Brother against brother? Husband against wife?</p>
<p>Most of all, we must be warriors. A true warrior knows that his greatest foe is himself. A true knight knows that the dragon does not lie out there in the wilderness or across the sea. The dragon is his own fear, anger and prejudice. The most important work each and every one of us must do is to overcome our own darkness. Make friends with yourself so that you might make friends with your neighbor. Make friends with your neighbor so that, together, we might make friends with the world.</p>
<p>I offer my condolences to the families of all those who have lost loved ones. Our nation has been in a military war against “terror” for eleven years. There is no end in sight. We will never win that way. We must use new weapons, the kinds of weapons that do not shed blood and wreck destruction but the kinds of weapons that change hearts and minds, the kinds of weapons that destroy the enemy completely by turning him into a friend. How? By starting within. By finding peace within yourself. By finding the peace of mind it takes to recognize that the enemy is an illusion. There are good people and not so good people in every group: Muslims, Christians, Republicans, Democrats, gays, trannies, blacks, whites, immigrants, billionaires and drug addicts. When the good people in all these groups overcome their fears and join together we will find that we all want the same things for our children’s children because we are all one family. </p>
<p>Peace, my brothers, peace.</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529892012-09-04T17:00:00-07:002012-09-05T00:36:55-07:00Dear Ms. Rinehart
<p>(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gina_Rinehart" data-imported="1">Gina Rinehart</a> is the wealthiest woman in the world. Her recent comments that "<a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/drink-less-more-billionaire-tells-152654355.html" data-imported="1">the poor are lazy</a>" in 'Australian Resources and Investment Magazine' evoked criticism all over the world. During this Labor Day weekend I took the time to reflect on her comments. Personally, I feel that it is essential to maintain a balance between the interests of labor and the interests of capital. Most of us don't care for unions, but would you rather earn less than minimum wage and send your children to work in unsanitary conditions? No, of course not. But that was the reality here in the United States before the evolution of unions and of the labor movement. Hating on labor is just as small-minded as hating on capitalists. It takes both to build a thriving industry.)</p>
<p>Dear Ms. Rinehart,</p>
<p>I will be frank. I was at first offended when I heard the <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/drink-less-more-billionaire-tells-152654355.html" data-imported="1">statements</a> you made in the ‘Australian Resources and Investment Magazine.’ My first reaction was that it is the height of poor breeding and low morals for a wealthy heiress to criticize the countless people who are struggling to provide for their families, find work and build a decent future.</p>
<p>A moment later, however, I was inspired. I believe that you are right. God bless you for your honesty. Not only am I grateful for your words but I believe that you have a tremendous gift to offer the world. No, not your money. I believe you have a powerful message that will change the lives of millions for the better.</p>
<p>Those of us who have trouble finding meaningful work, those of us who are underpaid, laid off, passed over for promotion, abused and saddled with debt are victims of an enemy far more powerful than any man or bank on earth: depression. When we feel powerless and we allow despair to creep into our hearts then we surrender. We numb our feelings with drugs and alcohol. We numb our minds with reality TV and video games. We go through the motions, do as we’re told and our souls die.</p>
<p>The greatest enemy of the poor is not the rich; it is their own fear and hopelessness that keeps them in chains. </p>
<p>You are blessed with resources and opportunities that very few people in this world possess. Like you, I do not believe that handouts are the answer to poverty and joblessness. I do not believe that the redistribution of wealth fosters democracy any more than allowing the wealthy to have the loudest voice in government. I believe that if you continue to tell the story of how your family achieved success and if you continue to encourage the common people to be proactive and to take advantage of the opportunities they possess in the free world that you will have a hand in shaping a world far greater than you or I can imagine. We need you to help us to create a world at peace, where your grandchildren and mine will stand tall, confident in themselves and proud of their place on this planet.</p>
<p>I encourage you to continue to write, to speak, to teach and to, above all else, inspire!</p>
<p>Not everyone who hears your message will listen. And of those who listen, few will try. And of those who try, many will fail. But those who fail yet who continue to try again will succeed brilliantly. You see, I believe that entrepreneurship is the salvation of the middle class and that without a strong middle class, democracy and freedom will become a mere footnote in history. Without democracy and freedom, men like your grandfathers will not be able to achieve what they did. In honor of their memory, and for the sake of men and women like him to come, help us to pave the way for the next generation of entrepreneurs by teaching us the values and skills necessary to compete and to thrive. For without a thriving middle class, a world with a few billionaires at the top and vast mass of illiterate rabble at the bottom is a very sad and ugly world indeed.</p>
<p>I know that you possess personal richness far deeper than money, share with us the tenacity and spirit you have inherited from your ancestors.</p>
<p>Thank you for inspiring me; I think you and your family are amazing.</p>
<p>Mathew Sydney</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529882012-09-01T17:00:00-07:002012-09-02T06:49:12-07:00Mr. Mainstream vs. Mr. Conscious
<p>I haven’t posted in my blog for a while. On one hand, I’ve been thinking I should keep it about music; I’ve been meaning to write a review of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ghosttofalco" data-imported="1">Ghost to Falco</a> cd I’ve been listening to (‘Exotic Believers’ ROCKS!). On the other hand, I feel compelled to use my voice in the service of freedom; I’ve been following <a href="https://www.google.com/#hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=Pussy+Riot&oq=Pussy+Riot&gs_l=hp.3...818.2032.0.2316.10.10.0.0.0.0.265.1133.6j3j1.10.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.uV0Qr3jxY_I&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=f0823261d2025598&biw=1024&bih=605" data-imported="1">Pussy Riot</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=julian+assange&oq=Julian+A&gs_l=hp.1.0.0l4.39495.40845.1.42836.8.8.0.0.0.0.200.1167.1j6j1.8.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.jlYELBo1LuE&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=f0823261d2025598&biw=1024&bih=605" data-imported="1">Julian Assange</a> and (right here in my fair state of Florida) the matter of “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYEp-i4BnKk&feature=related" data-imported="1">voter fraud</a>.”</p>
<p>Sometimes I wish I could just turn on ‘Jersey Shore,’ crack open a beer and forget all about the Republican National Convention, the drug addicts in the apartment buildings behind my house (I can never tell if they are “recovering,” “relapsing” or both) or how I’m going to make enough money to fix the leak in the roof.</p>
<p>My working-class, debt-ridden, Christian relatives are constantly pressuring me to pledge my support for a presidential candidate who has more money than God. Obama sends me email almost every day asking me for money (I assume the presidential election is an auction and the process of voting is a mere formality) and I’m bending over backwards to get my “fans” to download a free track so that they’ll actually listen to the music into which I’ve poured my heart and soul.</p>
<p>Sometimes I feel like putting a gun to my head.</p>
<p>I struggle to be positive and healthy. I’m drinking less; I’m starting a new business (so I can afford that new roof); I’m spending more time with my family and I’m studying facts and figures so that I can make an intelligent choice when I vote this November. Meanwhile, I’m continuing to book guests for my radio show; I’m trying to book gigs so people get to hear my music live and I’m composing songs for the rock opera I’ve been wanting to create since 2009... and I’ve decided to volunteer as a mentor for kids in foster care.</p>
<p>I must be crazy.</p>
<p>Mr. Mainstream says, “Quit music, you don’t have an army of screaming girls chasing you, you’re an amateur and you have to make a living.”</p>
<p>But Mr. Conscious says, “Music is your lifebreath. God gave you a gift and a message. It’s a sin to set that aside. Besides, the only difference between a successful artist and a failure is that the successful artist never gives up!”</p>
<p>Mr. Mainstream says, “Go back to school and get a real career.”</p>
<p>But Mr. Conscious says, “Kids getting out of college right now can’t even get jobs. Can I really afford the burden of another $20,000 in debt so I can do what I’m doing now: odd jobs, odd gigs and food stamps?”</p>
<p>Mr. Mainstream says, “Don’t even think about the election. Both Republican and Democrat parties are corrupt. Both of them owe money to the same corporations. Fly under the radar, hoard as much money as you can and go retire in Costa Rica or Burma.”</p>
<p>But Mr. Conscious says, “You’re an American. Your forefathers entrusted you with the belief that freedom, justice and equality are the virtues of an enlightened society. The world will never be perfect, but it is our duty to strive for excellence. Shame on the good man who does nothing while evil prospers! Think of your descendants; what kind of world do you want them to inherit? It’s your responsibility to do what’s right for them!”</p>
<p>Mr. Mainstream says, “You can’t even take care of yourself. You’re in serious debt, you’re underemployed, you have no assets, no equity, no retirement plan, no savings, no insurance and your ‘job’ is a joke.”</p>
<p>But Mr. Conscious says, “You’re the richest man in the world! You have more food than you can eat, a (leaky) roof over your head, a comfortable place to sleep, good friends, good family and you’re a rock singer; the one thing you’ve always wanted to be your entire life! There are people who love your music AND you have the freedom to go wherever you want without assholes with cameras chasing you. You live in paradise; there are people all over the world who love The United States and who love Florida. The weather is always beautiful, every evening is a <a href="https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sugexp=les%3B&cp=6&gs_id=32&xhr=t&q=maxfield+parrish&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1024&bih=605&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=w4ZDUNPEAoqe8gTM1IDAAQ" data-imported="1">Maxfield Parrish</a>, you walk to the beach whenever you feel like it. You have peace, privacy and opportunity.</p>
<p>I am free.</p>
<p>I am free to think and to say whatever I want. </p>
<p>Not only did our forefathers confirm that we, as citizens of the United States, are the sovereigns of our nation but they asserted that our rights are established by NATURE and by GOD and NOT by the leaders of any particular religion, government or party. It is a sin against the memory of our ancestors and it is a sin against our descendants for us to just submit to ANY government, movement, corporation, PAC, religion, cult. Clint Eastwood said, “...you, me, WE own this country... politicians are just employees of ours...” He's right. I don't know about you but I'm going to start acting like the boss.</p>
<p>I will persevere. </p>
<p>I will continue to exercise my freedom of speech: through my music, through my radio show and through my blog. I will continue to learn and to share what I’ve learned with you. I will continue to fight for the values our ancestors fought for and I will continue to urge you, my brothers and sisters, to do the same. I am going to publish a series of letters and articles in this blog. Sometimes you will agree with me and sometimes you won’t and I’m cool with that... as long as we keep thinking and as long as we keep saying what we think and as long as we keep learning we will remain free!</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529872012-07-17T17:00:00-07:002021-12-27T02:57:44-08:00A Former Scout
<p>There’s much talk today about The Boy Scouts of America’s decision to maintain their ban on gays. Although their decision saddens me and I know they are making a grave mistake, they are a private organization and I believe that they do have every right to make such a mistake. Far from being a tragedy, they have opened the door to a more serious discussion about prejudice, discrimination and equal rights.</p>
<p>I am glad that the US government has not seen fit to ‘force’ or ‘pressure’ TBSA into accepting gay members. If we are to be a free country, it is important that the government refrain from resorting to coercion. Imagine, if you will, the resentment, the anger and the passive aggressive reactions that would ensue should TBSA be forced to accept gays. Personally, I would not want to place my children on the front lines of that battle. I would much rather live in a world where TBSA willingly accepts openly gay members out of a sense of genuine inclusiveness. This may take a couple years or even a couple decades but, however long it takes, it is preferable to the alternative.</p>
<p>I think it’s fascinating the The Girl Scouts of America has embraced diversity since 1980. Why are TGSA 30 or 40 years ahead of TBSA in terms of civil rights? But that is another discussion.</p>
<p>I feel there is an opportunity here for accepting parents and scout leaders to be proactive and to found an alternative to TBSA. Perhaps TGSA might be urged to charter an organization for boys or a co-ed scouting group where children of all genders and orientation are encouraged to participate together as equal members.</p>
<p>I understand that there are many people within TBSA that are unhappy with their leadership’s decision. They might be inclined to break away and form a new scouting organization altogether that more accurately reflects modern ideals.</p>
<p>Although I see absolutely no reason why a gay parent should not be able to serve as a den mother or father, there might be merit in establishing a scouting organization tailored specifically for LGBT youths. These children do indeed have unique needs. Such an organization might best provide them with opportunities to develop self-esteem, confidence and leadership skills.</p>
<p>Until a critical mass of parents and leaders have overcome the centuries of bigotry that has plagued our people, we must find positive ways to afford the best opportunities for all our children, both LGBT and straight. As long as certain powerful groups and individuals within the straight community insist on marginalizing our people, we owe it to ourselves and to our children to continue to strengthen our community and to strengthen our relationships with those straight people who embrace diversity. This is a free country. TBSA has just as many rights as The Ku Klux Klan or The Nation of Islam. Such groups have every right to exist and to promote contention but we do not have to give these groups any power. We have the right, the means and perhaps even the obligation to create the sorts of groups we would like to see... ones that teach tolerance, brotherhood and honor.</p>
<p>Should continued pressure be applied to TBSA? Absolutely, especially if such pressure is spurred from within. However, it might be best to allow the TBSA to become a withered, irrelevant relic if it refuses to keep pace with the key American virtue of affording equal rights to all her citizens. The great tradition of scouting can and will continue without them.</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529862012-07-03T17:00:00-07:002012-09-02T06:56:00-07:00God Bless America
<p> </p>
<p>I used to think Independence Day was bullshit. I used to think the United States was bullshit.</p>
<p>A bunch of rich, white guys came to this land from Europe, used biological warfare to weaken the native children of this continent, reneged on treaties made with those peoples and then proceeded to attempt cultural genocide through Christian missionary activity.</p>
<p>The treatment of Native Americans at the hands of the US Government is a sin. And I firmly believe that embracing the values and vision of our native brothers is the key to building a better future for our children.</p>
<p>These same men profited from the sweat, blood and tears of the men and women whom they brought here in chains and treated worse than animals.</p>
<p>The institution of slavery was a sin and the ensuing continued racial prejudice in America is a sin.</p>
<p>Our ancestors, both black and white, built this nation together. After many centuries of living side-by-side even the “whitest” and “blackest” amongst us are mixed. I refuse to call myself “black” or “white” or any other such nonsense... such labels are limiting, inaccurate and are the very root of racism. I am not one ethnicity or another. My heritage is diverse. To reject diversity would be to love my father and hate my mother or vice versa. My ancestors come from many different lands and cultures. I am mixed. I am American.</p>
<p>Today we get to celebrate the birth of a government that has lied to its own people, fostered dictators and terrorists abroad and that has time and again betrayed the very ideals upon which it claims to have been founded.</p>
<p>For all these reasons I used to think the 4<sup>th</sup> of July was bullshit.</p>
<p>These reasons have not changed. If anything, I am even more passionately committed to the values of diversity, respect for the land, and peace than I was when I was a hot-headed 18-year old.</p>
<p>Yet one thing has changed.</p>
<p>This is the first year that I feel truly patriotic and proud on Independence Day.</p>
<p>Even in the midst of vast political and financial corruption... even in the midst of seemingly unending, poorly justified wars... I am, for the first time, truly proud to be not only a citizen of The United States, but also a patriot.</p>
<p>I have learned that you cannot truly know a man unless you are familiar with the story of his life. Likewise, we cannot truly understand our nation or our government without being familiar with its long history.</p>
<p>That history did not begin in the 1960’s with the civil rights movement.</p>
<p>That history did not begin in the 1800’s with the women’s rights movement.</p>
<p>Nor did that history begin in 1760’s.</p>
<p>The rich, white, male-chauvinist slave-owners whom we call our “founding fathers” were human beings. They came into this world the same way you and I did: ignorant... and dependent upon dysfunctional parents for their survival and education.</p>
<p>These men were also born into a world where there was no such thing as free speech or free press. They owned slaves, yes. The institution of slavery was something they inherited from the British and it had already been around for some 200 years. As a matter of fact, these men were keenly aware that many of their own ancestors were de-facto slaves to The King and to his extended family of slave-holders, the so-called “nobility.”</p>
<p>You see, what your social studies teacher called “feudalism” is a euphemism for slavery. And what she called a “peasant” or a “serf” was really just a slave.</p>
<p>In fact, the feudal economy was supported by a vast system of slavery. Forget about free speech... freedom of any kind was a privilege of the upper class exclusively. </p>
<p>However, within the womb of medieval Europe, a great civil rights movement was conceived: the middle class.</p>
<p>Changes in the economy and in technology led to a growing class of people who were neither members of the nobility nor serfs.</p>
<p>Artisans, bankers, shop-keepers, entrepreneurs and small business owners began carving out a better life for themselves and for their children’s children.</p>
<p>It took centuries.</p>
<p>The power and authority of Church and Crown were so deeply entrenched and those institutions were so fearful of losing their power and privilege that they attempted to keep this growing middle class down at every turn. Taxes, wars, inquisitions and witch hunts were waged over and over again in an attempt to keep people ignorant and obedient.</p>
<p>But our ancestors resisted.</p>
<p>They created secret societies because to “speak truth to power” in those days was to court death. Only amongst trusted brethren sworn to protect one another could free-thinkers even begin to explore such ideas as democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, education... these were taboo in the middle ages. These radical ideas were branded “evil,” “satanic” and “treasonous.”</p>
<p>These early free-thinkers knew that they would not see justice in their lifetime. They developed these radical ideas and whispered them in secret to their sons and daughters. These ideas spread. Enlightened priests and monks sought to reform a corrupt and murderous Church. Visionary aristocrats patronized bold new artists who encoded these ideas in their frescoes, statues and music. Shop-keepers and stone-cutters eventually became prosperous enough to educate their children. Slowly, a better-educated middle class came into being.</p>
<p>When Europeans began colonizing the Americas, the descendants of these radical thinkers recognized the possibility of founding a civilization free from the heavy hand of Church and Crown.</p>
<p>Put yourself in these men’s shoes. Have you ever seriously thought of overthrowing your church and government? Have you ever considered the tremendous courage and cooperation that would take? How would you cope if you lived in a world where the things you post on Facebook or Twitter could land you in jail or the electric chair? </p>
<p>I have asked myself these questions.</p>
<p>And I have explored the lives and the writings of the men who did these things. I have reconsidered the contributions of these “rich white slaveholders.” Just like you and me they were human beings. Just like you and me they were right about some things and wrong about others. Who am I to pass judgment? Sometimes I have acted with good insight and grace. Sometimes, out of my own ignorance, I have done and said ugly things. If I can, in any way, count myself better than the men who wrote the Declaration of Independence it is because I am standing upon the foundations they built. If we are able to reach farther then they, it is because we are standing on their shoulders. For all their personal flaws, these men were well-educated free thinkers and they, in turn, were the descendants of a long line of men and women who were subject to slavery and injustice yet kept the flame of truth burning in their hearts.</p>
<p>God Bless America.</p>
<p>Not because America is good or even special</p>
<p>But because we have inherited something precious and we are blessed with the opportunity to appreciate, protect and preserve what freedom we have so that one day our own descendants might stand upon our shoulders. </p>
<p>And when they do, I pray they will forgive us for our ignorance and for our flaws and appreciate that we are doing the very best we can today with the tools we have been given.</p>
<p><span class="heading"> </span>Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton, William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr, Thomas Lynch, Jr, Arthur Middleton, John Hancock, Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton<span class="heading"> </span>, Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross, Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean<span class="heading"> </span>, William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris, Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark<span class="heading"> </span>, Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery, Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott and Matthew Thornton...</p>
<p>...I thank you all.</p>
<p>May my generation be worthy of their inheritance and may your wisdom and counsel continue to inspire us.</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529852012-05-16T17:00:00-07:002022-04-22T22:10:35-07:00Mr. Saverin, I bless you and I forgive you. Now stay the hell out of my country.
<p>When I first heard about Eduardo Saverin giving up his US citizenship I was deeply disappointed. I understand human nature. Nobody really wants to pay taxes. And it’s only natural to resent putting money in the pockets and pensions of legislators when so many common men and women are losing their homes. But if you don’t like what’s going on then do something about it. Be engaged. If you are blessed with wealth then use some of it to effect positive change. We are all connected. You want to drive on I-95? Then you can pay some taxes to help maintain it.</p>
<p>The miser who squirrels all his money away and runs to the other side of the world to protect his (US) pennies from paying (US) taxes is like Ebenezer Scrooge: isolated, disconnected and cold. There are countless, hard-working and honorable people clamoring for the opportunity to have US citizenship. There are countless, good, tax-paying citizens who are going to wind up putting money in Saverin’s pocket when the managers of their retirement funds invest in Facebook’s stock. These are the men and women to whom Saverin is being cruel and unfair. “I came, I made my billions and I left... so long suckers!” And what will happen to these good Americans when that stock goes belly-up and they, once again, lose half their retirement savings? I’m sure as hell not a communist but sometimes capitalism allows people to get away with behavior that, quite frankly, really sucks.</p>
<p>Yes, I said, “belly-up.” I’ve noticed the significant drop in Facebook activity. As an artist I use the site extensively to promote my music, my radio show and to stay engaged with friends and acquaintances. Ever since the unveiling of ‘Timeline’ it seems like there aren’t so many friends online to chat with as before. The newsfeed doesn’t update with new content quite so rapidly. There was more activity when I had half as many ‘friends’ as I do now. It’s ironic that this is happening on the verge of Facebook’s IPO.</p>
<p>I still use Facebook and I’m sure I will continue to do so for quite some time but I’ve also been spending a lot more time going for walks, spending time in the real world with friends and family and playing with my pets. I certainly won’t be buying any of their stock. I may not be proud of the politicians who control my country and I certainly resent the continuing rise of corporate feudalism at the expense of true democracy but I am very proud to be an American and the only way we can help our nation live up to its potential is by staying connected with one another and working towards the greater good. I pray that should I ever realize financial success that I will have the gratitude and the conscience to give back to the community and to the people and, yes, to the nation that made success possible. Because, Mr. Saverin, without this nation you would NOT have what you have today.</p>
<p>Mr. Saverin, I bless you and I forgive you. Now stay the hell out of my country.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/senators-unveil-ex-patriot-act-respond-facebooks-saverins-110209401--abc-news-politics.html" data-imported="1">http://news.yahoo.com/senators-unveil-ex-patriot-act-respond-facebooks-saverins-110209401--abc-news-politics.html</a></p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529842012-02-28T16:00:00-08:002012-02-29T03:12:18-08:00Album Review: 'RGB' by Virgins
<p>I first met Virgins when they were called Group Mentality and they were traveling Florida on tour by bicycle. Not only was I touched by their humility and grace but I was captivated by the energy of their live performance. It’s amazing what two men can do with a guitar and a djembe. You can categorize them as folk rock but that doesn’t do justice to their unique sound. Perhaps “progressive folk” is a better moniker. The bottom line is that if you enjoy mellow, acoustic music but you want to hear something truly unique, give Virgins a try.</p>
<p>Their first full-length album, ‘RGB,’ expands on their live sound with haunting backing tracks and and the kind of creative lead-ins between songs that you seldom see in music today. Although it is full of great tracks, ‘RGB’ is an album along the lines of Pink Floyd’s ‘Ummagumma’ or Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Future Games.’ To truly appreciate it you must listen to the entire project in the original song order. The elegant and creative arrangements and production lend the entire project great depth and delicious texture.</p>
<p>Each song is a gem. “Don’t Worry About Wrinkles” features captivating lyrics with a sweet and endearing message about enduring love. The sound of a rainstorm and footsteps at the end of “Silo” is the perfect garnish to a delicious sonic meal. “Seeking” offers compelling musical hooks and is at turns brooding and joyful. While “woe is me” seems to be the lietmotif of most acoustic music Virgins’ message is simply “Let’s enjoy life and be good to each other,” a message I think we all need to take to heart.</p>
<p>Find out more about the band and get ‘RGB’ and http://virginsband.com</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529832012-01-26T16:00:00-08:002012-01-26T23:13:16-08:00Album Review: 'Lived In' by Richard Cortez
<p>Get ready to fall in love! Richard Cortez’s latest album, <span style="text-decoration:underline">Lived In</span>, is a beautifully recorded presentation of his live performance. Featuring the favorites, “Be Alright” and “Craving Something Beautiful,” what really makes this album a keeper is the beauty of Cortez’s charm. Whether through his passionate singing, his inspired guitar work or his gentle and honest repartee, each track sparkles with the artist’s sincere and endearing personality. Cortez’s writing is rich with emotional texture. His words, like all good poetry, paint pictures so vivid that the listener is transported in time and place. With this live recording, the brief introductions and low-key jokes interspersed between numbers reveal even more of the personal stories which inspired these songs. Cortez is both witty and sweet, “You should be a therapist, not a mechanic,” he quips between songs. The album includes such gems as “The Next Best Thing,” a ‘head bopping’ upbeat song about friends with benefits and “Separate Ways,” a heartbreaking story of unrequited love. <span style="text-decoration:underline">Lived In</span> is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift from an irresistible artist who is bound to capture your heart.</p>
<p>Explore the music of Richard Cortez at <a href="http://wollenbergrecords.com/" data-imported="1">Wollenbergrecords.com</a></p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529822012-01-16T16:00:00-08:002022-03-16T11:08:21-07:00ANTI-PIRACY OR ANTI-FREEDOM? - SOPA/PIPA
<p>ANTI-PIRACY OR ANTI-FREEDOM? I normally stay out of politics. Too much of it is based on a 'divide and conquer' strategy on the part of special interests, which has effectively hamstrung the voice of the common person. I cannot remain silent, however, on the topic of free speech and free press! I encourage you to carefully consider the so-called "anti-piracy" bill, <a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://www.craigslist.org/about/SOPA" target="_blank" data-imported="1">SOPA</a>; you must draw your own conclusions but I urge you to ask your representatives to stop <a title="This external link will open in a new window" href="http://www.craigslist.org/about/SOPA" target="_blank" data-imported="1">SOPA/PIPA</a>. </p>
<p style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style="color:#000000">As a recording artist, of course I prefer that people buy my music and that they not copy and give away my songs for free but I would rather be a starving artist in a free world than a wealthy mogul in a world where the government has the power to shut down my website and shut down my voice without due process. Yes, SOPA gives government the power to do that. Since when are we guilty until proven innocent? The corporations who are behind this bill have no choice but to fight against our freedom because their business model demands it. A corporate executive for American Express or Pfizer or Time Warner can be sued by his shareholders if he doesn't do everything humanly possible to expand his corporation's power at the expense of our freedom EVEN IF HIS PERSONAL OPINION GOES AGAINST IT! So do not be angry with the people who run these corporations... in many ways they have less freedom than we and in many ways they are also slaves to the corporations which seek to erode our freedom. Be cool, calm and collected. Discuss the facts with family and friends and, please, ask your elected officials to support FREEDOM (even if it means Pfizer loses a few bucks.... believe me, they won't starve, and they sure as hell haven't been helping me pay MY bills).</span></p>
<p style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><span style="color:#000000">VIVA LA REPUBLICA!!!</span></p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529812012-01-15T16:00:00-08:002012-01-16T09:57:19-08:00Album Review: 'Deep Elevation' by Felicia Rose
<p>“Deeper and deeper,” and “higher and higher” is just where Felicia Rose takes us on her newest album, ‘Deep Elevation.’ In a departure from the multi-layered harmonies and and lush arrangements of 2009’s ‘Indigo,’ ‘Deep Elevation’ stands out for its roots-rock, jam-band flavor. This is the first Felicia Rose album to truly capture the passion of her live performance. Even the Santana-inspired stylings of lead guitarist, Phill Fest, take a back seat with Rose in complete control as never before. Percussionists Casey Buckley (of The People Upstairs) and Petro Bass provide the perfect balance that makes you want to kick off your shoes and dance in the surf. Subtitled, ‘12 Songs for 2012,’ this album features a number of stand-out tracks. From the reggae flavor of “No More War” to the bossa nova beat of “Angel Child,” it is evident that recording in south Florida has lent this project a definite Caribbean feel. “When Will the Cycle Pass” reveals a songwriter who is not afraid to confront her own weaknesses and to even poke fun at her own humanity. This is hot music with a precious message; as Rose clearly states in the lead track, “Walk in Faith!”</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529802012-01-09T16:00:00-08:002023-12-10T08:32:31-08:00New Beginnings
<p>It was just over a year ago, November of 2010, when I launched the first <a href="http://mathewsydney.com" data-imported="1">Mathew Sydney website</a>. That was an exciting time. I was performing steady gigs at <a href="http://motherearthcoffeeandgifts.com/index.php" data-imported="1">Mother Earth Coffee & Gifts</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/thebarlakeworth" data-imported="1">Bar Lake Worth</a> and at Mojito's (later Luna Lounge and now <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Speakeasy-Lounge/145722402165453" data-imported="1">The Speakeasy</a>). And that was when I released <a href="http://mathewsydney.com/store" data-imported="1">Drank Too Much</a>... the EP with the bathtub and the cowboy hat :-)</p>
<p>Well it's a new year, which means a new site, a new look and, at long last, a new album... my first full-length studio album... 'The Game.' Finally, through the support of the folks at <a href="http://www.saturnsoundstudios.com/" data-imported="1">Saturn Sound Studios</a> and local musicians, I've been able to develop the kind of rock sound I dreamed of when I originally wrote all of these songs. I hope to have the new album available for sale on by February 21st followed by a release concert and event at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mara/174415049282357" data-imported="1">Club Mara</a> on Saturday the 25th!</p>
<p>Until then, if you'd like to get a taste of the new sound, I'm giving away the first single from the new album. You can download "You Know My Name" <a href="http://mathewsydney.com/audio/You_Know_My_Name__Promo_Single__hifi.mp3" data-imported="1">here</a>. Thank you for supporting independent music!</p>
Mathew Sydneytag:mathewsydney.com,2005:Post/60529792012-01-07T16:00:00-08:002012-01-08T03:35:29-08:00Deep Elevation
<p>It was an honor and a pleasure to introduce <a href="http://feliciarose.com" data-imported="1">Felicia Rose</a> and her band at the beautiful <a href="http://www.mosarttheatre.com" data-imported="1">Mos' Art Theatre</a> last night! You can watch video from the performance on her website, courtesy of LDLTV. Overall it was an amazing event and the perfect launch for Felicia's latest album, 'Deep Elevation!' Felicia produces powerful, rockin' music with an even more powerful message, which is very close to my heart. One of my favorite tracks from her new album, "Walk in Faith," pretty much says it all!</p>
Mathew Sydney