My friend Martin has been forwarding me articles about Democratic strategizing and various responses to — I guess — Bush’s inauguration this week. He’s written me extensively on his views of how a moral, religious agenda fits/doesn’t fit with the Democratic one. Actually, I’m not sure what all the stuff is about because I’ve only glanced at it. He has forwarded me four or five articles from the Washington Post in the past five days.
I finally wrote him back and admitted that I’ve read nothing that he’s sent me nor do I plan to. Clearly my Kerry fever was just a temporary response to the election year. For over a solid year I kept my eye on the national/international scene, certain that it was important that I do my part to get our country back on a half-decent track. Now that the election is over, I’m apparently done caring. I have to admit to being one of the millions of fat, selfish Americans who could care less about human rights violations, poverty, war and genocide whether it’s happening in another country or down the street. I feel bad about this when I think about it, so I try not to. I felt so much better about myself and my place in the world when I was actively trying to make the world a better place. Now I’ve shrugged and turned back to my music, my relationship problems and earning a living. I’ve done the same thing I sometimes do after I’ve been watching tv for a long time: turn off the set, stand up and say out loud, “Okay, back to me now.”
I’ll be playing at the open mic at the Heartland Cafe tonight, 7000 N. Glenwood. “In One Ear” is the name of it, it starts around 10:00 p.m. and there’s a 2 or 3 dollar cover charge. It’s my favorite open mic because there’s a big audience, the people listen, and it’s a mix of music and poetry and anything goes. I’ll do my two songs, snag as many email addresses as I can, pass out flyers, enjoy the show and try not to think about my apathetic role in the world as a fat, selfish American.