The American Spectator

p> POST-PUNKS AND BUSH br> Re: Shawn Macomber’s Pretend Grown-Up Music : /p>

I recently read your article on the “Rock Against Bush Tour,” entitled “Pretend Grown-Up Music.” As a 17-year-old, pierced, ex-fan of NOFX, let me say THANK YOU for writing this article. I first heard about the tour shortly after George W. Bush had been elected. All of my friends were head over heals to go — not so much because of the political agenda, but because it was so unique to round up that many of our favorite bands on a tour. I was the only person I know to turn down the offer.

My friends thought I was out of my mind, as I was one of the first kids they knew to step into the “punk phase.” I had been the one who had first turned them on to bands like NOFX, Greenday, and RX Bandits, and here I was turning down an opportunity to see those bands and more, at what was supposed to be one of the greatest punk tours in modern punk history.

You see, I’ve always been in denial about the political stupidity of some of my favorite bands, because I didn’t want to find it hard to enjoy their music. That all changed with the Rock Against Bush Tour. Since, I’ve written several articles and letters to members of almost every one of the bands on the tour, but either received no response or was told to “get lost.” Because in addition to their misinformation, their political agenda alone makes NO sense. While the punk/anarchy movement was fanatical and unrealistic, it focused on one main idea — lack of government control. And yet somewhere along the lines of modernity, so-called “punk bands” like NOFX have made a complete 180 in their unwarranted hatred for the Republican Party — a party that believes that the federal government is not perfect, and thus should be less involved. They insist that they have a hatred for all politicians, but I don’t remember any “Rock Against Clinton” tours.

p>To make a long story short, I wanted to convey to you that not all “punks” follow their favorite bands’ political ideology. Although, sadly, many do. Over the past couple of years I have grown up and grown out of most of my punk phase. But even when I was the most “hardcore chick” in the moshpit, I was telling the bands I loved (as Laura Ingraham would say) to “shut up and sing.” br> — Brittany Craigo /p> p> I have been watching the news on this CD. I also know they have a tour coming up with all of the Rock Against Bush Bands. To be honest, I am a bit afraid of this album and tour. I am a youth pastor. Teens and college students are driven by emotion and not logic. This is why they listen to their liberal school teachers and follow them. It appeals to what feels good and not what makes sense. Given the majority of buyers of this album will be youth and college, I am afraid of kids of voting age voting out of emotion and not logic. I think this album will have some (not a major) effect. The libs at MTV are going for this age bracket with their Choose (Kerry) or Lose campaign. I guess the funny thing of the album is the fact it is punkers. I love punk rock, and I know that punk was founded as an anti-authority music. They wrote the lyrics “God Save The Queen.” The irony of this? New punkers are condemning an authority figure why condoning another — Kerry. It is amazing to see how the left is after our kids. If they can corrupt them, we have a dim future. br> —