It's a sure sign of The End Times: along with oxymorons such as 'military intelligence' and 'compassionate conservative', we now have to contend with 'Conservative Punks'. One pictures a raving, mohawk sporting, safety-pin punctured roomful of Young Republicans spitting on President Bush as he spews his special brand of Facism while accompanied by a trio of bad guitarists.
And if we're lucky, we might actually see this come to pass.
From Sunday (3/22/04) NY TIMES
"With his mohawk, ratty fatigues, assorted chains and his menagerie of tattoos — swallows on each shoulder, a nautical star on his back and the logo of the Bouncing Souls, a New York City punk band, on his right leg — 22-year-old Nick Rizzuto is the very picture of counterculture alienation.But it's when he talks politics that Mr. Rizzuto sounds like a real radical, for a punk anyway. Mr. Rizzuto is adamantly in favor of lowering taxes and for school vouchers, and against campaign finance laws; his favorite Supreme Court justice is Clarence Thomas; he plans to vote for President Bush in November; and he's hard-core into capitalism.
Mr. Rizzuto is the founder of Conservative Punk, one of a handful of Web sites and blogs that have sprung up recently as evidence of a heretofore latent political entity: Republican punks."
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"Punks" supporting a Right-Wing Christian neo-facist regime that is for censorship, the rich gettin' richer, and overt authoritarian interventions in the private lives of American citizens?
Shouldn't they be considered "Skinheads"?
So what's next in America's drive to make Satire obsolete?
"Jews for Hitler"?
And just in case anyone has forgotten what 'Punk' was all about before it was signed, sealed, marketed, and delivered into the shit-stream of Corporate-sponsored Consumer products, here's a reminder from the original punks:
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
More on the political conflict between punks here.
2 - Shark
Eric, thanks for the link. I don't know how I missed it.
(You're so good, dude. The patience of Job and the accuracy and style of Edward R. Murrow. xxoo!)
3 - Chris Kent
Hey Shark,
Funny post......just when life couldn't get anymore surreal.....
I heard of this new group that recently formed - Punks that love Neil Diamond! Their numbers are growing!!
Their favorite sport? Why Punk Golf, of course.....black thrash boots with plastic spikes - so as not to damange the greens.....
4 - Jim Carruthers
I saw this NYTimes article, along with the Magazine bit about accountants who are busy plotting a coup in Cambodia, and I was sure that either I was going nuts or the the NYTimes is just trying to mess with my head.
My conclusion is that the USA is filled with stupid people, and if you search enough, you will find them.
5 - Shark
Jim, the WORLD is filled with stupid people. Americans just have better marketing.
6 - Jim Carruthers
Of course The Refreshments wrote the song, around the time they did the theme song for "King Of the Hill".
7 - Shark
I LOVE the Refreshments!!!!
8 - Ms. Tek
Oh Jesus...
This is the exact reason why I don't like subcultures...
But for some odd reason, the emo's, goths, and punks love me.
9 - Radiopuppets
What about Anarch-capitalism? Seeming contradiction? Or an inevitable refining of the original definitions of both roots? Personally, I see potential in punk invading any conservatist movement...it's drive for individuality, freedom and blunt truth really could change the world. Let it invade, then.
10 - killaferra
Punk rock came from middle class values.
The Sex Pistols also wrought the extremely passionate anti abortion song "Bodies".
Your accusation of skinheads is wrong. I suggest you research groups like SHARP before you make wild accusations.