The New America – Hong Kong Free Press
The great farce of humanity is how easily the world can avoid talking about issues that affect others, that are difficult to fix, and that, if discussed, might cause a stir. We wonder about the lack of involvement in atrocities across history, from the Napoleonic wars, WW2 to the humanitarian crises that occurred in Africa in the 20th Century.
Yet, for all the Western world’s strength and their willingness to showcase it in various conflicts across past decades, there is a notable hush about calling out their international partners regarding issues that will, most likely, in ten years’ time resemble blatant human rights violations.
The protest you can have is always the easiest one to stage. The protest you are not allowed to have is the one that truly rattles cages. The New America recognize this. They are mobilized by the righteous ideals of bands like Fugazi, and some of the naive optimism of bands like Idles. But, their hearts are in the right place and they are willing to call their fans for some hard talks. Regardless of your opinion on any of these political topics, it shouldn’t be hard to recognize that it’s a discussion worth having.
Miesha & The Spanks – Mixed Blood Girls
Protest songs, the musical mainstream has made it very clear, don’t have much of a place in the modern-day landscape of the type of products that might receive interest from radio, television, and other mainstream promotion tools. In other words, it’s best if these sorts of songs are played elsewhere, not on the Grammys or in the hit parade.
Big-time pop celebrities are doing their best to endorse civil rights movements, but their true desire to see out a result is debatable. With that in mind, punk rock remains the one safe haven for airing grievances and, hopefully, for finding kindred spirits with one’s struggles. Let us not forget that before it was a fashion statement, punk rock was a world that was accepting of everyone, embracing the differences between participants.
In this context, Miesha & The Spanks’ Mixed Blood Girls functions very well. The song is both a lament of just how difficult it is not to be part of the majority in any place in the world but also a defiant celebration of one’s roots. There’s plenty of understanding out there, as there is plenty of irrational hatred. More than any time, it is punk rock’s duty to try and make some sense of both of these.
