Daily Outrage Dept.

As we approach the 12th anniversary of the untimely passing of Jerry Garcia (August 9th), I've been thinking about Jerry and his times. It seems to me that the mid-1960's to early 1970's was a period in which the United States came close to the advent of something like a "Great Awakening"--only one that was not propelled by Protestant preaching but, rather, by a more gnostic variety of consciousness raising. In the midst of what approached a nostalgic reverie, I happened to tune in (absent mindedly) to NPR (since 9/11, Nationalist Propaganda Radio) and listened to a Weekend Edition piece on "a touring multimedia show that has already been seen by more than 100,000 people" and that "is playing at the world's finest concert halls — with the world's finest orchestras powering through some of the world's most popular video-game music." At that moment, I should have leaped across the room for the on/off switch but, as fate would have it, I hesitated. My bad. The report continued with this charming bit of information:

And it's attracting a decidedly different audience. Take Josh Schwidel: He isn't the type you'd normally find seated in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. He's 11 years old, and he came to see Video Games Live with one of his friends. There's a costume contest, so naturally Josh came dressed as one of his favorite video-game characters.

"I'm Ness from the Super NES game Earthbound," says Josh, who's dressed in a striped shirt and baseball cap. "It's a game about crazy things; you attack hippies with baseball bats. I brought a baseball bat, but they wouldn't let me come in with it."

You attack hippies with baseball bats...

It was then that I hit the "off" button, but it was too late. For I could not erase from my thoughts an image of this Satanic "game" that not only helps to de-sensitize children to the commission of violent acts but, by targeting "hippies," is clearly fascistic. We are talking "flower children" here.

Josh Schwidel may not know it, but by playing this video-game he is exposing himself to powerful images that have the potential to influence his attitudes and decisions as he grows older. Of course, it is entirely possible that his favorite video imaginary is filling him with a lifetime of loathing for anyone who would actually engage in such socio-pathic behavior as attacking the likes of, well, the late Mr. Garcia, with a club or any other weapon. One can only hope.

I won't link to the full story. If you need to find it yourself, it should be here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12478692

This is just one more reason why you should have taken better care of yourself, brother Garcia.

May you rest in peace.