So I was talking with my roommate when a mutual acquaintance was mentioned. "Hey," he said, "did you know she used to be a neo-nazi?" Those kinds of people do exist in this city. While their community is (thankfully) not thriving like it is in Calgary, they are around. Going to punk and hardcore shows I occasionally see white power types, though not so much anymore--I'll get back to that later.
Apparently this girl, who I might add is a very sweet and gentle person nowadays, doesn't like to mention her past. When my roommate was at the beach with her and several people she kept her shirt on over a swimsuit, only taking it off to go swimming and then putting it immediately back on. That's when he noticed she had a few...unsavory tattoos, including a 1488--which is connected to a very nasty pledge regarding white power (14 words, 88 letters). When he asked her about it, she blushed and said, basically, "I was 14 and influenced by the wrong people, and I've kept these as a reminder to think for myself".
I have a little theory that everyone is an idiot until they hit around 17 or 18. Myself, your mom and Neil Armstrong included. At 14 we are all obsessed with being liked and finding some identity we can call our own. If I had happened to hang around some older kids at 14, 'cool' ones who made me feel liked, perhaps I would've ended up with a swastika on my shoulder. But I didn't, even at around that age I at least had an idea about critical and positive thinking.
Now, my parents--what with all their good, um, parenting--obviously had a huge influence on me, but once you become a dumb teenager their advice doesn't seem that great, plus you hardly see them: you're at school, or a friend's, or holed up in your room. It's also important to note that it's not like I wasn't directly exposed to that sort of discourse like many kids. I decided it was a bad idea because of two things: kung fu and loud music.
I said before that I hardly see neo-nazis at hardcore shows anymore. Why? Because we forced them out, told them they weren't welcome. When they got violent (as racism is, fundamentally, violent) we stood our ground and let them know we were not afraid. We didn't accept that hatred and violence at our shows, especially because of the community's diversity. In conjunction with an group of people formerly known as the 780 Anti-Violence Coalition, the hardcore scene is now one of the safest and accepting musical communities in the city. Punk and hardcore are about empowerment, making your own choices. They're also about resistance, not accepting the status quo, such as the polite racism that pervades many aspects of modern society. The best way to do this, we feel, is to create safe spaces where people, usually young ones, can thrive.
Most kids who self-identify as punk, or even regularly listen to the genre, are not popular. It may be by choice or accident, but they aren't-- and when you're in high school and stupid it seems to matter, even a little. I know kids in the scene who come from dysfunctional homes, some bordering on horrific. There are a large section of teenagers who don't feel wanted and if they fall in with the wrong crowd they go along with it. Gang violence is essentially the same thing. But this music, through its lyrics, activism and communities tell a different story: one where things like racism can be overcome, or at least shut out. More importantly, it also communicates an empowerment, allowing people to become who they want to be.
At Silent River it was more explicit. Since I was thirteen I've gone to that place 2-4 times a week to be told that I can achieve any goal and make whatever of myself I want to as long as I follow through. I get to be around other people who are incredibly positive because they know the value of their kung fu. In essence, I get to see and experience self-determination in action: people thinking for themselves and deciding their lives.
Joe Strummer and Dave Weinberg taught me to never stop questioning or shut up, to never sit down just because someone told me to and to respect everyone. Master Brinker taught me to always move forward, learn from anyone I meet, and walk whichever walk I say I will.
Because of that I don't have any racist tattoos. Oh, plus I was terminally broke as a teenager, so even I had been a neo-nazi I probably couldn't have afforded it. The first reason is a little more inspiring.
(anyone who knows who dave weinburg is without resorting to google gets 5000 graham points--save up a million and you can redeem them for a pony)
1 comment:
It's posts like this that are why I encourage you to make them weekly. Well done.
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