Seizure
October 24, 2001
Two weeks ago, during the pledge drive show, I couldn't have been in a blacker mood. Personal problems, political problems, and a pledge drive to pitch for, grinning and mechanically reciting elliptical descriptions of community radio, always returning to the same conclusion, the same phone number. Of course by then we knew that the world was burning down, and it would have been in bad taste to mention it. "Give your money to community radio," I could have said, "because the fascists have stolen the election and hijacked the military to further their economic hegemony in Asia. Soon we will all be censored and executed." I could have said that, but who would have called?
Afterward on Market Street I ran into Rachel, and she told me that Dave Shoresman had died. Dave Shoresman was my best friend in middle school. Until a year ago, I had never had a friend die. Herbert dies, then Bush stole the election, then Steve died, then Bush began a war that he promised would last a long time, then Dave died.
A season of death, a bad
year.
SKA MUSIC,
beginning with "Too Much too Young" by the Specials
and a ska cover of "Wish You Were Here"