I just heard a story on NPR about how some black gospel records of the 50s and 60s included civil rights songs on the B sides. This heartfelt and “hidden” music gave people a venue in which to communicate equality issues in relative safety. I love how people always find a way to speak and sing from the heart, even when dangerous to do so; and I admire the courageous spirit that begat a “safer” discourse on racial equality, and the meaningful changes in government policy. I also admire the people of the LGBT community for having the courage to work for this same equality openly. But does fighting for non-human religious (business and corporate) rights feel heartfelt to you? How could it? That kind of policy work feels more to me like a sideways projection of human fear and hatred onto an entity that is inherently non-religious, with a goal of squelching people. So when it comes to today’s song, here’s to a bold B side, but please, no cold “C” sides…
