Artists United Against Apartheid - Sun City (Official Video)

Sun City (MTV: Pop Up Video).

 Yes, my nieces, back in the time of dinosaurs--the 1980's--there existed a TV network called MTV, standing for Music Television, and it actually played music, not just shows about drunk hillobillies and pregnant teenagers sbbing because immature boyfriends predictably cannit handle committed life with a waoman much less playing their part as creator of a tiny, needy human being.

No, nieces, then we knew peoplecould organize to redress wrongs, to make things right, to make thw world a better place, to....oh screw it, MTV doesn't even play music any more.

Celebrate Columbus Day With First Nations Development Institute

Celebrate Columbus Day by giving to indigenous peoples, such as First Americans, victims of historical genocide and still privations of ineffective government: http://www.firstnations.org/.

Little Steven: "Under the Gun"

"In the eleventh hour
Whose name did you call?
Ain't it funny how all the rest,
Don't mean a thing at all."

Little Steven: "Bitter Fruit: My father was a union man, very proud and outspoken"

Little Steven: "Camouflage of Righteousness"

("Camouflage..." starts around 4:44.)

"The old men make excuses
while the young men bring the noise
and nuthin' ever changes
'cause boys keep being boys

and the women just surrender
while Cinderella slept
now they know they've waited too long
there's nuthin' worth stealin' left

(Chorus)

We give you politicians
and you call it choice
we let you do the voting
and you think you have a voice"

Nelson Mandela's Birthday: "Rockers and Rappers United as One"

July 18, 2008 marked the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela, icon of freedom in South Africa and for the whole world.

People have forgotten that Mr. Mandela spent 27 years in prison and that Pres. Raygunz said in debate against Mondale all opposition to state apartheid in South Africa stemmed from communist instigation.

27 years of imprisonment, the last 18 spent on Robben Island, where "[H]e and others performed hard labour in a lime quarry. Prison conditions were very basic. Prisoners were segregated by race, with black prisoners receiving the fewest rations. Political prisoners were kept separate from ordinary criminals and received fewer privileges. Mandela describes how, as a D-group prisoner (the lowest classification) he was allowed one visitor and one letter every six months...."

His release came after years of protests and economic boycotts against the racist regime notable among them Artist United against Apartheid, a gathering of diverse musicians organized by Little Steven Van Zandtwith rockers and rappers recording a protest song and vowing not to play in the S. African resort, Sun City.


The mtv pop-up video below Amazon link gives a good overview of issues involved.




The ska band the Specials recorded a song, "Free Nelson Mandela." Six years later, Mandela received his freedom, released from prison, "Great God almighty free at last."



Economic sanctions from governments around the world helped move S Africa to democracy and freedom for Mandela.

Many measures came after citizens lobbied their local governments and public institutions to divest investments with companies that did business with or in S Africa.

Despite opposition of the Raygunz administration, ordinary citizens helped move S Africa to freedom.

People power works: Satyagraha in S Africa, ending the reign of Ferdinand Marcos in the Phillipines, bringing down the Berlin wall

Maybe the Springsteen concert coincidentally on July 18, 1988 in East Berlin even helped mobilize people for change.

Maybe, just maybe, Mr. Obama can mobilize people to change the corrupt Washington, DC, political culture.