Music: Protects, Imitates And Verifies Life: “Reverend Charisma” by Wedlock
Len Rogers StoneWall Society Network
It has been an obvious fact for a very long time that life events and social issues eventually turn up represented in art. A strong example would be the art of the sixties. This period was dominated by strong images, words, and music. Frequently demonstrating the insecurity of society and the volatile state in which our American society had grown to show disagreement with “establishment”.
That representation is again becoming more and more visible in our art today. On April 7th the Department Of Homeland Security released the report - "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment". It was sent to local law enforcement on April 7, and further leaked last week. The report contained a not surprising but controversial piece of information. The report’s hot point was information on the resurgence of domestic right-wing extremism. On Thursday April 16, “Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said there should be a rewrite of a footnote defining "hate groups" involved in right-wing extremism as possibly including "groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration."“
And here the controversy gets heated as interpretational spin is added by various groups, including those possibly sighted by the report. The point is that we have had this problem for more years than any of us would care to admit. That religious groups could and should be included in this “danger-list” makes for further argument, as those same groups cry foul. Just because they are religious does not make them a positive necessarily.
Enter Wedlock, a band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Wedlock’s latest CD, “Exogamy” released 2008 is an early pointer to this problem. Using a powerful and painful American experience as proof and testament to the issue. Of valuable point is that Wedlock had this danger identified prior to the department Of Homeland Security’s report. Not uncommon with art references. As art frequently reflects society’s focus and reactions.
The song, “Reverend Charisma” deals with Reverend Jim Jones, most known for the November 18, 1978 death of over 900 Temple members in Jonestown, Guyana along with the deaths of nine other people at a nearby airstrip in Georgetown. This was the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster until the events of September 11, 2001. Leo Ryan, who became the only Congressman murdered in the line of duty in the history of the United States was one of those killed at the nearby airstrip.
Wedlock chooses not only to just discuss the event, but in as much as possible in a song, show some light on the how as well. This draws in the recent Homeland Security Report. It is through social manipulation and extremist stance that these groups gain the trust and power to take such negative actions. An old adage, desperate times require desperate measures.
“”Reverend Charisma” does not state that religion is the problem. It does show that the misleading words, focus on hardships, and social manipulation are the tools used to create the blind trust. That is when the problem arises. When blind faith is enacted over a thinking person’s approach. So the bottom line for us all, think for yourself. And a huge thanks for artists like Wedlock for the valuable and necessary reminder!
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