A Simmering Rage

This series of letters was in response to an artist who sent out a group letter to all her “friends” on the MySpace site. In this letter she was waking up to the fact that our government, our leaders, are up to some pretty scandalous shit that doesn’t bode well for the common man. Hardly. And she was feeling desperate to rabble rouse and awaken everyone to action by creating a website that featured artists and their works, specifically works that reflected their thoughts on today’s darkness which envelopes us all. The futility of her request, even though noble at its heart, opened up something in me that I’d been wanting to say for some time, having come to some cold hard conclusions already. There is a new awareness taking hold, I feel it, I’m acting on it, I just don’t know how long it will be before all those who are feeling and reacting to this new awareness are able to galvanize their thoughts and feelings into a powerful, earthchanging message. And I guess in some way, these set of tomes is my first pitch in the game... wdw2

From: Knuckle Yummy
Date: Oct 22, 2007 10:25 AM


I wish it was a simple as sending out a tome and expecting people to react, unfortunately it is not that simple. I've taken a real hard look at what is happening, and then I took some steps to correct the imbalance. The steps I took were pretty drastic and, dare I say, most won't take those steps which is the root of the problem. Gosh, this may get long winded here, so bear with me... I had a very successful career, 30 years worth, but when working with the last "big" band I woke up and realized I was a slave. Had a great house. Several vehicles. Bills were more than paid. Luxurious lifestlye. You name it, I had it. But I realized that because of the monetary upkeep of such a lifestyle, I was a slave to capitalism. I wasn't free. I was a slave to debt and income. What did I do? Quit. The whole shebang. Pulled myself out of the system by selling everything I had, paying off all debt, then I moved to a friend's ranchouse in Texas (basically oversaw his facility, like a foreman in exchange for free rent) where I wrote a novel, took a vow of poverty so I could see what is REALLY IMPORTANT in the big scheme of things. Pretty scary time, but I weaned myself from modern society and all that entails. I am now, only slightly, involved in the day to day, but going about living in a totally new way. My needs are few. My acquisitions meager. I am somewhat, free But people will never get mad enough at what is happening, and what will only get worse, because they are a slave to capitalism, their lifestyles, and no one is willing to sacrifice any of that to elicit change, radical change that is needed. Maybe in ten years time when the pressure becomes too much, people will revolt, but until their lifestyles are completely compromised, there will be no change. And politicians aren't any help either, casue they're in the same boat as everyone else, plus they got the inside track .. and money. Power corrupts, and absolute power absolutely corrupts. Big business and money rules our planet, and they have us by the short and curlies because for a very long time now they've been conditioning us to think we need all this stuff. Hell, look at advertising. YOU NEED THIS STUFF they're telling you, and people are stepping in line, totally believing the bill of goods they're selling. Will people stop driving cars and ride bicycles instead? Laughable here in the USA. Violent overthrow will be the only means of change, but frankly, Americans just aren't gonna do it until critical mass, unfortunately. Look at the world around us, look at all the misfortune, chaos, death, starvation, injustice.... it is EVERYWHERE, and the money guys are gonna ride this one out cause they control EVERYTHING. People need to wake up, but they won't, unfortunately until it will be SO BAD that turnaround may not be possible. I don't want to sound negative, cause I am the biggest optimist alive, but I'm also a realist and I clearly see what's happening and I know what needs to happen, which is why I took the steps I did. Unfortunately, I don't see a mass consciousness awareness taking place with the masses until things get worse. I do hold out hope that a given few will help lead the way to a new world awareness. Where are those people? Look at Bill Gates and what he and his wife are trying to do, look at Bono and what he's trying to do, but shit, they're trying to help those who have NOTHING, and there is a greater need, but time and events just haven't kicked into another gear.... yet. It will, but it is going to take time and much awareness and a grip on the realities of what we face. We can figure this out, but it is going to be a long term protracted war on self to be able to fight the powers that be. Gosh, this is only a fraction of what I feel, as I've been on this for over a decade. I don't know of anything more to say at present, only that I'm hopeful, and personally, though still dependent on the system in some ways, I'm happy, happier than I've been my whole life. You know whom I admire, and who I think has it right. Look at the Amish, the Shakers, and others like them. They live in communities and they work as a community, all self sufficient, for the most part. They build their own houses from products they get from their land. They grow their own food. They get energy from the wind, sun, and running water. They ride horses, so no gas, insurance, parking tickets, and all the other things that comprise owning a vehicle. They live in tune with Earth, nature, and they give to nature, and nature gives back to them. Again, this is the tip of the iceberg with the way I think. One last thing, I feel the Earth is a living being, and what does a living being do when it is threatened by a disease, or a parasite, it gets rid of it. Look around, the earth is trying to rid itself of the biggest pest and threat, mankind. We are the plague. And by wiping a large portion of us out, may bring about the balance that is needed. And that may be the answer, too. I could talk for days on this, sorry to have unleashed, so to speak. Desptie what I've written, again, I'm a very happy, optimistic person. I see light. -dony wynn

Oct 22, 2007 4:03 PM
****, I hope that my lengthy letter to you wasn't too much of a downer. I sometimes forget that I've kinda steeled myself through various means for all the oppressive shit that is in the air today, and I guess that is because, as I mentioned, I'm entirley hopeful that eventually everything is going to be okay. There is going to have to be a certain amount of evolution on our part to realize just what we're dealing with here and to make the corrections each individual will have to make on their own dime, in their own time. I do my bit, one on one. Who knows, I may have a larger calling one day, and if so, I will accept my responsibilities, but for now, I do all an individual can. I create my own ripples, in other words. On an entirely different note, am totally knocked out by your art, but don't want to get into that on this forum, preferring to do so in the form of a "comment". We've only been up for little over a week or so now, and I'm trying to personally reach out and touch each with whom we've made some sort of contact. A lot of work, but necessary right now, methinks. And I certainly will get around to you in the next day or so. Hang tough. -dony wynn

Oct 22, 2007 6:12 PM
You seem to have awakened something in me that has me thinking more than normal about our situation, and my thoughts are now on the arts. Yet another good thing, if one could call it that, about times of darkness and oppression, is that the arts THRIVE! We who are in tune feel these negative awful waves washing over us and it is a natural reaction to render forth our energies and your feelings in whatever medium we work, be it painting, poetry, music, etc. I know for a fact that Knuckle Yummy was born out of serious anger at all that is around us. I've never played the blues in my life! But I felt compelled to jump into this genre' with a vengeance as it is the way I'm using music to speak my voice. There was also another reason, too, as I'd been building a business for five years and when we filed for a patent on the biz model, we found out the fellow in charge, ex corporate guy from IBM, was actually trying to steal the patent for himself!!!! Mindblowing, but rather than lash out in anger, I rechanneled it by immersing myself back into a creative zone, and Knuckle Yummy is the result. So, on the "about me", when I mention being born from anger, I wasn't kidding. And I've gotten grief about being a white man playing the black man's music. My retort? We're all slaves, and all that I've been through, and all that we're presently going through, we're all slaves to some degree. So, I'm using my art, my voice to make a statement. And as I mentioned, I also do it on a personal one on one basis, too. We've all got to do our part. I'm sorry for filling your box, but again, it was as if a scab was ripped of by the letter you sent, and I do have my opinions so I let loose. You can post any of my letters if you like, by the way. That is another thing I do, write, and we can only hope that people still take words seriously, rather than putting faith in a video game. -dony wynn