Seein's how I'm new to this group and don't really have a handle on what folks are discussing here, I'll try to be fairly non-controversial with this topic.

I saw Arlo for the first time way back in 1970 or so at the Bushnell Memorial Hall in Hartford, CT. Orchestra tickets back then were something like $3.50 or $4.50 if my somewhat fuzzy memory serves me. Man! Times have changed! But life goes around like a wheel and here we are again in a time that seems to be as politically charged as things were back then.

Arlo was at the forefront of political activism back then on stage, screen and the airwaves. A recent visit to www.free.freespeech.org/yippie reminded me that he was right on the front lines with the likes of Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and other "commie-pinkos" of the time. What the heck am I gettin' at? Well, gimme a minute, please.

I'm not trying to step on anyone's political toes here, but the results of the US Presidential election left me pretty bummed. Old friends from the '70's who I've been in touch with are pretty bummed as well. Some have said that this whole deal is feelin' an awful lot like those days. Trouble is, back then we had a lot more energy, more hair, fewer wrinkles, smaller waistlines, no mortgages, no kids or grandkids, fewer responsibilities, and parents who'd bail our butts out of jail if we got nailed for civil disobedience. So, a lot of us are at a loss of what to do. Some are wallowing in dispair. One person I know is thinking of moving to Canada. But most just don't know what to do. Personally, I feel like I ought to be doing something, but haven't come up with any bright ideas yet.

So, here it is, folks! Anybody got any suggestions? I've only come up with a few little things. I may start singin' in coffee houses, again. Or at least open mics. They seem to be making a comeback, so I've been brushing up on some old protest songs. Online activist sites are something else to check into.

I was really depressed at the results of the election, but then I thought that maybe this was the universe's way of giving us all one big collective kick in the pants to get off our butts and start doing something. I was listening to WHUS, University of Connecticut's radio station yesterday, and one of two students who were discussing the election said that he thought that the problem was that we're a bunch of thinkers, but not doers. Not sure if he was talking about todays students or everybody in general, but I reckon that it still works out about the same either way. So, if any thinkers out there can come up with something to do, let's hear 'em, please.

I am not meaning to stir up a hornets' nest of political contention here. But dang it! I feel like I ought to be doing something!

Capt. Zap

Captain--glad to see that you made it to the Group W Bench to join in the fun of playing with the pencils and figuring out what to do about this mess. A lot that you said struck a chord and echoed what I've felt and said in the last week and two days. Here we go again...whoop!!!! Who would have thought it would come around on the guitar again?

Welcome to the site! You'll find alot of poltically minded folks on here. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

Hey Captain welcome to the group W (thats W. not Dubya!) bench. I think you'll fit right in here. You've hit the nail right on the head on how alot of us are feelin'.We have lots of fun here but also discuss serious stuff ("with feelin', if ya wanna stop a war and stuff!!")Guess we're gonna need a resurgence of "a whole movement" over the next four years.

Thanks for the welcome, folks. Concerning Bush's election (no, not re-election, 'cause he wasn't the first time around!)the one word frontpage headline of last week's Hartford Advocate sums it all up: "ARRGH!!" I've been in contact with a few of my old friends from back in the "old hippie days" of the 1970's and they're all just as shell shocked as I am. But like I told a friend, we were dealt a mother------- lemon, so let's make some mother------- lemonade! Anything, even something small like slappin' a peace sign sticker on your car or contacting a local activist group, or something! Get enough people doing little things and stickin' to it and "...they might think it's an organization!" (Oye! Now you've all got me quoting "Alice's Restaurant", as well!)

A friend sent me an article from thr SF Gate by Mark Morford titled "Hello Uranus! Got any room?" about this very same subject. He said it better than I can:
"The bottom line: Don't disband the newfound army just because one ugly battle was lost. Mourn, commiserate, lick wounds, lick each other, drink heavily, spit out your stale gum of disappointment and pop in a fresh clove of laughter and spiritual heat and then regroup and sober up and take an even deeper breath and watch in hot wet spiritually emboldened amusement as the cosmic circus unfolds.

It's far from over. The tunnel is just a little darker -- and longer -- than we imagined."

Whew! I'm in! I especially like the "lick each other" and "drink heavily" parts.....well, dependin' on who's doin' the lickin' and what's getting drunk, I reckon! He's right, but I think that the biggest thing is to figure out what to do!

By the way, I heard that Michael Moore is getting ready to make a sequel to F911 titled F911 1/2. One big mother------- lemonade, comin' up!

Be well, all,
Capt. Zap

Helllo Captain Zap

I Like your idea about putting <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>
every where. When Shrub and Bliar first invaded Iraq last year I painted a huge C.N.D sign on my window and I did notice quite a few people looking at it. I hope it made most of them feel a little better.

See you around the boards.
Me
<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>