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I'll be back to my regular content soon, but sometimes even music and fitness matters have to take a back seat to more important issues, like democracy.
It's election day here in the United States. Based on the staggering early vote numbers, many of you have already voted, but if not, let me add to the chorus of voices you're certain to hear today imploring you to go vote. Not sure where to vote? Click here to find your polling place. Voting is your sacred right as an American, but I'll go farther and say that it is your duty. If you don't participate in the process yet you complain about the state of the country, you're basically Ned Flanders' parents declaring "We've tried nothing and we're all out of ideas!"
That's the core of my argument right there. Get out and vote. If you want to read me ramble on a bit more about why it's so important this year, I've got more for you below.
Typically, when I start writing an essay, I have a pretty good idea of where I want it to go. This piece, I confess, is pretty much a brain dump. That has a lot to do with just how enormous of a topic the state of our country is. There are literally thousands of threads I could pull on here to express my thoughts on why it's so important to vote in this election.
What's jumping to the front of my mind right now is a story from the weekend. As a family, we headed down to South Minneapolis to see Barebones, a performance that's been held around Halloween for the last 30-plus years. It's a performance that features giant puppets, singers, dancers, and other performers telling a story that always centers around death and rebirth. It's a very Minneapolis thing, and it might sound a little cheesy, but it's an incredibly impressive and moving experience, especially if you've lost someone recently, as I have.
The performance this year centered around the life of a tree, and all the things it had seen across its existence. There were puppets representing prehistoric creatures, packs of Buffalo, and people playing baseball.
And then came ICE.
Operation Metro Surge, which flooded Minneapolis and the surrounding area with ICE agents who were ultimately chased out by non-violent resistance, was recreated during the show, ending with a laser-eyed loon chasing ICE agents out of our state. Minnesotans are rightly proud of how we stood up to the federal forces, but even seeing a dramatized version of the events that left two Minnesotans dead made it clear just how raw we all still feel about what happened here. You could feel the collective anger and sadness of crowd, along with the pride. We in Minnesota are forever changed by what happened here. It will always be part of our story, as long as trees still stand.
I'm not going to pretend to be impartial. I think my personal politics have come out in my writings here more than once before. I want you to vote, and I want you to vote for your local Democratic candidates. Or, against your Republican candidates, if that feels more apt.
If you choose not to keep reading my site after this essay, I understand. There are plenty of other places you can get your metal album reviews. But, to be frank, if you're comfortable with the racism, xenophobia, misogyny, corruption, the unnecessary war, the inflation, and general awfulness of the Trump administration, I don't particularly want you as a reader.
I believe that all people deserve a dignified life. I believe that people of all faiths should be welcome in this country. I believe in LGBTQIA+ equality, and in protecting our transgender brothers and sisters. I have a laundry list of things I could add here, but if you were to guess where I stand on a particular issue at this point, you're probably right.
I voted for what I believe in. I hope you will, too.
To end this on a note that has as least *something* to do with metal, here's an interview with the viral "Jonestown Guy" at the Trump rally last week. It's the only piece of political reporting I've ever read that mentions Chuck Shuldiner.