Songs of Anarchy

Commentaries on Songs : II

 

 

 

 

 

 

Songs create a depth in perceptions that is given space by the nature of the passions. This is on account of the fact that the words in the songs rely on something more than its meaning in the vocabulary. Add to that the tunes in the song and it cultivates a scope of feeling unreachable by the mind. In time the passions expand each issue we encounter to suggest that it may be more than what we bring to it as reason and knowledge.

 

In a mind that is untrained by the rigors of school and the exercises associated with focussing the mind on issues, the passions hold sway on the outcome of decisions we make. Such decision making by the passions rely on a combination of hopes, loves, self righteousness and eventually the pleasure principle.

 

Obviously a balance is called for in all such situations and the need to place a lid on the way the passions carry a point unresisting to a field of all possibilities. The bulwark to such a tendency lies in the practice of law and order and the constitution of the nation. It defines the great average in a society by which the mainstream values and norms are shaped by such a combination of passions and reason.

 

By such laws does the individual man come to define his own average sense of self identity in his social circle. Where such laws extend into an economic system that promotes free enterprise and wealth creation, he is accordingly identified with the work he does and his own financial success.

 

As against all these is the rule of anarchy that flaunts its right to exercise its rights without reference to the laws and ethics of the community. This finds its birth in the human constitution before it attempts to institutionalize the practice in public life. However in coming to administer to a community that it raised, it realizes the need for conformity and acceptance. Just as important is our need to grow into a greater appreciation for what we have naturally come to install as the pillars of society.

 

Where change takes place in such a society, it takes place subtly and over time. It first affirms what we already have achieved and from there moves on to refine the practice. We do this all the time and we are certainly doing it right now with a combination of song and speech. And sometimes we take this to the streets as a parade.