Hi I just joined yesterday. I've never been really huge on internet
chat/blogs, but have learned a lot and enjoyed reading and posting
on the www.expectingrain.com website dedicated to Dylan. You all
might like it, too. Check it out. People from all over the world
come together to talk about anything Dylan. It's great. Even if
there are great controversies and disagreements. It keeps it fun.

I'm pretty disappointed however, that there hasn't been a post since
early June and it looks to me that there has barely been a post a
month in the last 5 months or so. Either this is a quiet group of
people, or I am not exploring around the site correctly. Please,
let me know if I've overlooked where the discussions and ideas are
happening, I'd love to join in. (I'll feel a little stupid, but
please, by all means, put in my place and make me eat my words,
anyways!)

Please know, I'm not entirely complaining, but surprised, I guess.
Most Dylan fans I've encountered are so overzealous to piece apart
any scrap of information they can get their hands on. Naturally, I
thought you'd all be the same. But, that's allright, perhaps all we
need is a little motivation. So, I'll start with a post similar to
what I read on the aforementioned Expecting Rain and perhaps someone
would be eager to respond. It sure got me thinking, perhaps it will
do the same for someone else.

If you go to this link-
http://www.threepennyreview.com/samples/marcus_w06.html
You'll find an interesting article about Dylan's brilliant song,
Master's of War. I can't claim any credit whatsoever in discovering
it, proper credit goes to a Mr. or Ms. RileyRampant. Whoever they
may be, I thank them. In any case, have a go at it yourself and see
what you come up with. It isn't long, but I'll be honest, I
thought about my response for quite some time.

Here's what I posted (below) and I'd be interested to hear others'
ideas, as well. Let's get to talking about the guy whoes music
prompted us all to join this group in the first place, shall we?!

"Upon first reading this article, I could feel myself getting on the
defensive - I wasn't quite sure where the author intended on going.
But as it went on, I warmed up to his idea, and I think overall the
author touched on something very significant about the song, Masters
of War. He states that what is so dramatic about Dylan's so-
called "protest" song, (well, among other things, good and bad), is
that it is so blatant.

I've always been drawn to the melody of the song - it sort of
soothes you and invites you in. But when I finally listened to the
words, I was pretty stunned. I mean, how many people, PEACEFUL and
ELOQUENTLY, (I think you might even go so far as to say
respectfully), can stand up and say "is your money that good"????
WOW!!! What a blow! That, to me, might even be more significant and
forceful than "I hope that you die," (arguable, I know, but it sure
leaves me with a nasty taste in my mouth). But what better way to
express that than with beautiful poetry and a simple guitar strum.
Absolutely no one can interrupt that! They might argue with it,
sure, after it's said and done. But I'd be surprised if anyone can
interrupt it. To me, it's the most reverant of ways to shed light on
some horrible things that are REAL in our times, (in those times, in
all times). Who's going to own up about what's really going on?
Who's going to mention the things that
diplomats/politicians/media/general public/fill-in-the-blank are too
uncomfortable to touch with a ten foot pole? DYLAN WILL!! (That's
perhaps why we love him so much....well, one reason why).

I love that the author says "what has kept the song alive is...its
vehemence: that final "I hope that you die." ...It's a scary line to
sing; you need courage to do it...you can't come away from it
pretending you didn't mean what you've just said. That's what people
want: a chance to go that far. Because "Masters of War" gives people
permission to go that far."

Absolutely!! Not the only reason, in my mind, but one very important
one. Our society doesn't provide many humble, honest, or even
humanitarian ways to express our feelings, perhaps our dissent, our
protests, whatever they are. It's difficult to be heard, it's
difficult to speak - on any side - without attack left and right. I
think this song really embodies that sense of honest and peaceful
desperation. I am in awe every time.

I went to a talent show recently, at an elementary school for my 10
year old cousin. Boy, you never saw an audience so giddy and rowdy
when 7 year old girls in bikini bathing suits, high heels and blonde
wigs pranced on stage as props to the boys ramming down on fake
guitars to something like the Beach Boys' "California Girls." I
would much rather have seen the band from the article, Coalition for
the Willing, perform Masters of War, any day. Let's get real for
once. And focus on something more than pre-formed programmed notions
of gender roles and body image. I'll take protest songs any day. I
know I'm not the only one. So, thanks Dylan. The epitaph the author
mentions might certainly not be generous, but it's at the very
least, worthy.

And thanks Riley Rampant for the post. Provided me with much thought
for the night."
_________________
"he not busy being born is busy dying."