ben wakeman : : Journal

UnAmerican

November 24, 2007

I wrote a song over the summer after watching the documentary, Why We Fight. I think we've all come to accept at some level, whether conscious or not that we live in a military state, but seeing this film really leaves no room for doubt. America has truly become a war machine, cloaked in the alibi of "freedom" when it is really nothing so complex at the top levels of government.... it's simply economics.

This fact in and of itself is troubling enough without the realization that any questioning of our righteousness or motives for going to war is met with the same company line: "You're Unamerican." Anyone who dares to question the machine, the money being made, the devastation left in our wake is branded with this moniker and stripped of their credibility. Obviously your dissent must mean that you are a coward, that you are unwilling to fight for the freedom you have, which by association means that you are not willing to sacrifice even for those you love.

After seeing this film and thinking about the quiet --- subsonic death toll ringing out of Iraq day after day, year after year, I was overcome. I wrote this song unintentionally. It's not a "crafty" song, it's probably not the best song I've ever written, but the words came in a rush of sadness, outrage and helplessness. The thing came as a piece of whole cloth --- there was no quibbling, editing or futzing over elegant chord changes, etc. --- I just wanted it to be direct.

In this same spirit, I recorded this video. I woke up the morning after Thanksgiving, full, content and grateful for all that I have. Many folks have been asking me to make a recording of Unamerican but it seems I have little time to do anything these days. I sat down on the floor of the living room with my Mac and my guitar and the sun coming in through the windows. In hindsight, it might have been a good idea to shower, maybe even shave, but I don't think at this point in my life I will be giving John Mayer a run for his money.

I hope the song speaks to you and if it does that you will pass it along to a friend. I also hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are with the ones you love, if not in body then at least in spirit.