Bob Dylan - Masters of War

[speedoo]

Run time: 06:28 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0ELgFGd2fs   Posted on YouTube: September 18, 2006 By YouTube Member: avatar723 Views on YouTube: 146889   Posted on DU: November 26, 2006 By DU Member: speedoo Views on DU: 1427

 
There are several videos like this on youtube. The song, of course, is brilliant. Written about 45 years ago, it seems clear to me that Bob was paying attention, consciously or not, to Eisenhower's warning.

I don't like the use of bodies of innocent people in the video at the end of the song, where Dylan says ".... until I'm sure that you are dead." Clearly, Dylan wants the guilty (currently BushCo) to be dead, not the innocent.

Still, this video is much, much better than one other, which completely and stupidly ignored US guilt, and was justifiably criticized for that.

[nam78_two]

1. Interesting that if this is an indication of the resurgence

of the spirit of populism, participation, engagement and protest our generation has to go back to music written 40 years ago eh :-/

[IndyOp]

2. The flower children & musicians of the 60's borrowed music & themes

from the heroes of the labor movement (Woody Guthrie), from folk music of all types that stretched back 100's of years.

Reaching back in time is not at all a negative IMO -- it is a positive.

We've got to "rediscover" what it means to be human, to exist in community, to live in a democracy with a well-informed populace that refused to swallow the swill of pretty-sounding ideas and comforting "facts".

Yes, we have to do it differently than it has been done in the past and we will.

Also - I saw a great exchange on Neil Young's website when he released his latest CD (with "Let's Impeach The President" and "After the Garden"). Young said that he waited for the young musicians to release new anti-war anthems and they didn't so he stepped in. He was promptly thumped by a bunch of young musicians who listed a body of anti-war and anti-corporatist songs and CDs that did not get play time on MTV or release on major labels. New work is out there...

See for example the most excellent "Boom" by System of a Down
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x7292

[drm604]

3. Checkout these 2 videos from "Faithless"

There are new people doing it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=7345

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=385&topic_id=1786

[gtar100]

4. The video misses the mark

Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush aren't the masters of war. They are the front men carrying out the wishes of large defense contractors. The real villains are CEO's, board members, and the hordes of leeches they call investors. Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush would be nothing without them.

[speedoo]

5. No it doesn't. Maybe you should watch it again.

Defense contractors, oil companies, etc. are featured around the 1 minute mark.

Could they have been emphasized more? Yes, but they were addressed by the animator.

[gtar100]

6. The emphasis on the political figures is my point

Come you masters of war
You that build the big guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know I can see through your masks

We could rid ourselves of Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld, but the heart of the matter is the money machine and there are plenty who would sell themselves to take their place. Politics is only the face on the mask. Fight with the politicians all you want, but if you step on the toes of the Defense contractors, oil executives, billionaire investors, it's then they retaliate.

[Dangerman]

7. Kick.

Bob Dylan would be proud.