Powderfinger

Military expert von Clausewitz wrote of war that it is "the realm of uncertainty," where the factors on which action is based are "wrapped in a fog." And thus skill in conflict calls for a "skilled intelligence to scent out the truth." Then, as now, the fog of war is both inevitable given the chaos of fighting, and intentional, where abusive authority seeks to avoid accountability, as occurred in Amritsar, My Lai, Kent State, and today in Minneapolis. The inevitable is why law enforcement officers and soldiers receive extensive training in the use of firearms and in scenting out the truth in the chaos of war. The intentional is why police and soldiering, at its best, involves discipline and codes of honor. West Point's honor code is literally written in stone. Under Jim Comey's leadership, new FBI agents were assigned a tour of the Holocaust museum, not only as a reminder of the abuse of authority, but of the cognitive deceits practiced by those silent in the face of evil. Neil Young's "Powderfinger" is, I believe, a song he hoped Ronnie Van Zant would sing with Lynyrd Skynyrd and it's a damn shame we don't know what that would sound like. That band, sadly, died when Ronnie did, for it was his street-level perspective, always looking up critically at power, standing in solidarity with the less fortunate and against unregulated guns, abusive police, and the greedy, that gave their songs their real power. And “Powderfinger” is no different – for while the victims may not be blameless, it is the presumably law enforcement figures in the powerful boat who fire first, never explain why, and murder a 22-year old who, in the fog, defaults to the values of his family and what he believes are his 2nd Amendment rights. Perhaps the song’s narrator/victim could have responded differently, yes, but that is not at all what is important. In the words of Pope Francis: "violence perpetrated by the state, using its structures and power, is not on the same level as that perpetrated by particular groups.” ("Fratelli Tutti"). So too, in Minneapolis this month, young people are dead at the hands of state agents whose lack of skills and lack of honor is offensive to every citizen; in particular to every person who honorably wore a badge or served in combat. And yet the US government proliferates lies and disrespect to police, soldiers, and brave citizens alike, all in pursuit of a favorable gaze from a degraded man who fancies himself an American emperor. And so I'm angry. Angry enough that acoustic guitar just wouldn't cut it. Angry enough to covet the power of the version of this song from Young’s “Live Rust” record. Angry enough to remind myself to re-read Dr. King on the purpose and value of anger; that it prompts us to action. Action to engage, non-violently, to prompt change. Action to identify injustice, as Amnesty International has at times done effectively: publicize evil to create hope. And so I see hope, too, and things for which I hold gratitude. Gratitude for the thousands of Minnesotans who braved the cold to stand in solidarity with justice. Gratitude for those members of Congress who declined to further fund thuggery instead of the professional and effective immigration enforcement we deserve. Gratitude for our close neighbors the Canadians – not only Neil Young but Mark Carney - who hold up the mirror we need to see this American rot clearly. Grateful for Renee Wood, who declined to be mad. Grateful for Alex Pretti, who dedicated his days to serving veterans, and who in his final act on earth was aiding a stranger in need (again, for you Bible people, Luke 10:25-37). In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” Dr. King acknowledged that yes, his movement aimed to create tension. But a tension that creates a situation where injustice can no longer be ignored, and growth cannot be avoided. Those elected officials or civic organizations (yes, including the NRA and the March for Life) who have been quiet, the time to get in the arena is now. Yeah, this is a song with loud guitar. Because to stay quiet now is to be complicit in evil.