"Move Forward" Virtual Music Fest - Relocating Confederate Monuments in Bastrop, TX

[hermionesviolin]

On the MLK Day holiday last night, Thom and Colleen watched a YouTube concert which I dipped in and out of.

Like, Rachael Sage was on the artist list -- leading to this from me in chat:

I mean, do I know any of Rachael Sage's songs other than "The Spirit We" off of her 1996 album _Morbid Romantic_? Maybe not. But when I was going through the list just now I recognized her name and had a college flashback.

Oh, also "Bruises Without Blue" from _Smashing the Serene_ (1998)? /me has been Googling to remind myself what songs of hers I actually know, obviously

and then today:

omg, Google reminded me of "Sistersong" (also from _Smashing the Serene_).  Which I'm a little bit ashamed of, because that one is my *favorite.*.

I'm definitely also trying to remember who sent me MP3s of her songs when I was in college. offbalance?

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So, this is from the blurb for the concert:

“Move Forward Virtual Music Fest,” to raise money to safely relocate two historic Confederate Monuments from the Bastrop County Courthouse Lawn, in Bastrop, TX, will take place on Monday, Jan. 18th (MLK Day ’21) at 6:30pm CT.
HOW TO GIVE:
By online donation: https://www.bastropconfederatemonumentrelocationfund.org/

And it was mostly music, but this white dude who does The Daily Stoic podcast talked for, I kid you not, 15 minutes (well, including the below-mentioned second video). I had him muted almost his entire time.

Thom:

"Do I still appreciate German culture and my German family? Sure." JESUS FUCKING CHRIST  

MY GOD. HE FINISHED AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER PRE-RECORDED VIDEO FROM THE SAME DUDE‽‽‽‽  

I HOPE HE GAVE THEM A FUCKTON OF MONEY  

me:

> Grace Pettis
> This is Ryan Holiday, best-selling author and Bastrop local, who has already given $10K to the cause.

Thom:

FINE

Still wanna claw out my ears.

Hell hath no torment like a White Man with a Mission  

"Our norms are collapsing." I can't even....  

me:

I mean, lbr, I'm a little dubious about this whole project to "ensure that the history these two monuments represent is preserved" (to quote from the donation website).  Like, just bring them down and grind them into dust.  No one needs this to be preserved.

Thom:

I mean, there's an argument for keeping things in a museum, but yeah, what value do these monuments even have that a history book or museum plaque can't?  

Yeah, I increasingly assume that "move to a safe location" is a concession to a bunch of white "moderates."  

Jesus fuck. I have lost almost all my interest in donating. I'm reading the duties of the committee on relocating these monuments.  

I was already pretty salty they have to raise funds for this, and I've only gotten more salty about it.  

> 9. Plan and conduct appropriate ceremonies for the relocation of each monument, both before relocation begins and after they have been set in place at the new site.  

Like, I'll hold a ceremony and "relocate" them for the cost of my travel and supplies. Specifically, some big tarps and a couple good sledgehammers.  

me:

> The first monument is a granite obelisk dedicated to the Confederate soldiers of Bastrop County. The United Daughters of the Confederacy put it up in 1910.
> 
> The second is a monument to Maj. Joseph D. Sayers, who was from the area and an officer in the Confederate Army who was later elected governor of Texas. The monument, according to the resolution Judge Paul Pape brought before the court, “praises Sayer’s efforts promoting the mission and goals of the Confederacy during the Civil war, including the expansion of slavery.”
-https://www.kxan.com/news/local/bastrop-county/confederate-monument-outside-bastrop-county-courthouse-to-be-removed/

Why the fuck are we keeping either of these?  Sledgehammers or GTFO.

> “They are very upset about the fact that monuments are being removed or damaged or destroyed,” Lee said. “They are happy that we are going through the efforts that we're going through to try to preserve that history. … They are very passionate about taking the monuments, making sure that they are not destroyed and placing them somewhere some people can still enjoy them.”
-https://www.elgincourier.com/article/news/monument-committee-presents-new-site-options

RAGE

Thom:

"making sure that they are not destroyed and placing them somewhere [RACISTS] can still enjoy them.” #FixedIt  

me:

Bless you. 😘

I also pulled a quote out of the live chat:

me:

> I am working on getting in touch with the right people in that branch of the family, but I'm looking into getting the confederate headstone that was added to my g-g-g-uncle's grave removed

Gurl, I will MAIL you a sledgehammer 😂

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Some of the music was good, though?

Grace Pettis' "White Noise" led me to say in chat:

"What have you done? Where is your brother?"  I am here for the subtle biblical references in this song.  (Among other things.  This is maybe my favorite song of the night?)

I also appreciate this:
> MPress Records recording artist Grace Pettis has released a powerful new single, "White Noise". 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Color Of Change, which "leads campaigns that build real power for Black communities" (including their current fight for justice for Breonna Taylor).
-https://www.pastemagazine.com/noisetrade/music/gracepettis/white-noise

(Yes, it was probably my favorite, even though The Chicks showed their "March March" music video.)

Not all the songs were Issue songs, which was fine, but of the ones that were, I vastly preferred the ones that didn't feel blandly, "Love, be nice to each other, we're all the same, maybe some bonus patriotism."

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Thom last night:

I appreciate that a bunch of the men needed to bloviate and Jackie Venson is like, "Great cause. Gonna play you some songs."

And then Thom in group chat today:

Watching Nobody’s Girl videos, then listening to Jackie Venson, from last night’s show.

I appreciate that BettySoo’s entire consistent aesthetic in this video seems to be “Fuck your beauty standards; I could not be bothered to brush my hair."

Okay, I saw maybe one or two exceptions? But there are definitely multiple shots of her “dressed up” with (intentionally?) unkempt hair.

I also appreciate that this is clearly a pandemic video, including appearances by pets, projects, and at least one partner.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDNXzeUapeE

The song is kinda meh, musically, and I did not do a good job following the lyrics.  

Liking “Waterline” a lot better (not that “Tiger” was _bad_, exactly): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDvSW81rYGQ  

I prefer the acoustic version of this (link below) to the one on the album, but that surprises maybe nobody: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48zglqwnjB0

Comments

[meat_and_breath]

Apropos of all that, I'm just gonna drop "Love, be nice to each other, we're all the same, maybe some bonus patriotism" song "Promised Land" from Nobody's Girl. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zycNdW7oNiY