A Happy New Year for 2018's "Children of Destiny"

"Children of Destiny" - Neil Young + Promise of the Real

Frame from Official Music Video

Neil Young + Promise of the Real's 2017 song "Children of Destiny" contains the lyrics: "Resist The Powers That Be".

So just who are these "Powers That Be"? And how does one resist them? There is definitely something happening here and it is all becoming increasingly clear.

(As previously noted here, the song's "patriotic" video seems to have really hit a nerve with some -- as we noted on the 4th of July -- managing once again to both polarize his fan base and inflame critics.)

"Children of Destiny" - Neil Young + Promise of the Real

Frame from Official Music Video

Before attempting to answer these questions, let's back up a bit. Actually let's go way, way back to the immortal song "Powderfinger" by Neil Young, written circa 1976. In the highly enigmatic song, Neil sings:

"Daddy's gone, my brother's out hunting in the mountains
Big John's been drinking since the river took Emmy-Lou
So the Powers That Be left me here to do the thinkin'
And I just turned twenty-two
I was wonderin' what to do
And the closer they got,
The more those feelings grew."

Generally speaking, "The Powers That Be" most often reference Government or to use George Orwell's 1984 term -- "Big Brother". Bur who really is behind "Big Brother"? (Here's a hint ... from the essential film "Network" (1976), the essential "Boardroom scene".)

"Children of Destiny" - Neil Young + Promise of the Real
Frame from Official Music Video

So is Neil referencing the same "Powers That Be" in his new song "Children of Destiny" as he was in "Powderfinger"? We'll venture a qualified "Yes and No."

Yes, both the new song "Children of Destiny" and "Powderfinger" are referencing Government SLASH "Big Brother" as "The Powers That Be". Typically, "The Government" is viewed as an extraordinarily powerful monolithic system where resistance is futile. In the context of the narrator of "Powderfinger", it seems that he has been abandoned by his fellow soldiers, i.e., Government, hence he has to do his own thinking. And thinking for oneself is the definition of true freedom.

"Children of Destiny" - Neil Young + Promise of the Real
Frame from Official Music Video

In Neil Young's new Song "Children of Destiny", he sings the lyrics:

Stand up for what you believe
Resist the powers that be
Preserve the ways of democracy
So the children can be free--
the children of destiny...

Again, judging by the video's images, "The Powers That Be" appear to reference "The Government", particularly the military, similar to "Powderfinger".

One reason that we think that Neil Young's new song seems to be causing so much mis-placed grief is that some seem to be taking this as a direct attack against U.S. President Donald Trump. While Neil Young has been very clear about not supporting Donald Trump, we do not feel this song is targeting President Trump as the power to be resisted, specifically.

We see this as a non-partisan position -- resist all the powers -- Republican, Democratic, Socialist, Communist, Military, police, Authority, etc.

And one can see this position of resisting power as being consistent for Neil Young even going as far back as 1970's song "Ohio" with CSNY and the lines:

"Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio."

(More on Four Dead in Ohio and what really happened at Kent State?)

Because, When Neil Young Speaks Truth To Power, The World Listens.

Which brings towards wrapping up on the questions asked above: who are these "Powers That Be"? And how does one resist them?

Just prior to the 2016 election, we wrote Yes, There's Corruption on THE HIGHEST FLOOR (and most of the floors below, too) : Yet More Inconvenient Truth in Greendale . And after the dust settled from the election, we wrote that The Illusion of The Matrix Shatters: Corruption, Fake News & The Big Shift.


'She was welded to the eagle's beak
sun green leaned into that megaphone
and said, "truth is all i seek" '

There's a war on truth. So light that candle. And keep the flame of love burning brightly. So do more than just resist ... Think for Yourself and Question Authority...

Official Music Video by Neil Young + Promise of the Real of "Children of Destiny"

For more on Neil Young + Promise of the Real's new song "Children of Destiny", see:

• NEW Official Music Video: Neil Young + Promise of the Real - "Children of Destiny" (55+ comments)
• Statement by Neil Young + Orchestra Video Version of "Children of Destiny" (35+ comments)
• A Happy 4th of July To All of Our "Children of Destiny": Some Commentary on Neil Young's New Song w/ Forbes Magazine's review by author David Alm (20+ comments)
• Forbes Magazine Responds To Thrasher's Wheat: Review of "Children of Destiny" by Neil Young (10+ comments)
• Comments of the Moment:"Children of Destiny" by Neil Young + Promise of the Real (15+ comments)
• Neil Young's Muse: The Passion, The Pathos & The 4% (10+ comments)
• Comments of the Moment: Statement by Neil Young on "Children of Destiny" (10+ comments)

---

"Winterlong" - Neil Young, Leipzig Arena, Germany - 8 July 2008
(Thanks Harry O.)
Eight years ago, we thought we witnessed a "Sea Change" of history. But we were quickly disillusioned and moved along. Won't get fooled again ... but we did. There is definitely something happening here and it is all becoming increasingly clear.

Note: This article is written for hard core Neil Young fans and those who understand his songs, motives and methods. Because TW is committed to open source information, we believe that Neil's fans are entitled to uncensored opinions. If you are not up to speed on Neil Young's catalog, this article will probably be a waste of your time. FWIW, there have been significant actions to prevent these articles from ever being published. We must extend a big thank you to our readers who have allowed this article to be published and who are deeply committed to open source Neil Young news, making such available to all who are interested in the truth even when it is hard to fathom.

So how exactly do we get from Neil Young's song written in 1970 titled "Winterlong" to this so called impending "The Big Shift"? What is this illusion that will shatter?

First, here are the lyrics.


Painting by Eric Johnson
WINTERLONG by Neil Young, ~1970

I waited for you, Winterlong
You seem to be where I belong.
It's all illusion anyway.

If things should ever turn out wrong
And all the love we have is gone,
It won't be easy on that day.

Waiting to follow
Through the dreamlight of your way
Is not so easy for me now.

Half the time has passed away
Things we thought of yesterday
Come back now, come back now.

Waiting to follow
Through the dreamlight of your way
Is not so easy for me now.

Half the time has passed away
Things we thought of yesterday
Come back now, come back now.

I waited for you Winterlong
You seem to be where I belong.
Next, back in 2015, Neil Young posed the following question on his official website asking "How hard should I try?". Certainly a thought provoking question for us all as we observe the ongoing chaos as "The BIG Shift" approaches (More on "The Big Shift", evolving awareness, mass consciousness, full disclosure and total transparency below.)

The BIG Shift is All About Our Own Consciousness

As we alluded to, this is a big subject that can not be easily summarized. The theory of "The Big Shift" goes by many, many other names, as well, with various interpretations. Sometimes referred to as "Full Disclosure" or "The Event", for many -- for a very long time -- this has been considered to be the Second Coming of Christ, i.e., a really big deal happening that would be rather hard to miss.

Our take on this at TW is less biblical in nature, but still rooted in cosmic spirituality.

We see "The Big Shift" as a moment of Truth. We often talk about Neil's song "Winterlong" with the "It's all illusion anyway" lyric as being keystone. Another simple yet insightful lyric from the canon.

We tried to clarify the question of what is "The Big Shift" in the context of this post regarding energy. Undoubtedly, energy is key to "The Big Shift". Not just as one considers energy in a conventional sense like oil, gas, electricity, etc. But energy in all it's manifestations -- awareness and consciousness.

Consciousness
By Robert Fludd, an English Paracelsian physician, 17th Century
(Click to enlarge)

Our awareness -- our consciousness -- our ability to seek and know the truth is "The Big Shift". A tectonic event which will truly lead us all to the next level for humanity. Not to be too esoteric here when so many are just trying to make it from pay day to the next pay day. But there is way more to life than chasing a paycheck. Trust us.


"Winterlong"
...After time has passed away, things we thought of yesterday..come back now..come back now..." Neil Young - Boston circa 1971
Photo by Elliot Blinder on SAN FRANCISCO ART EXCHANGE
Can't say when. If even in our lifetimes. But there are more encouraging signs that we are on the cusp of "The Big Shift" than ever before. Let's let's all do our part and make it happen.

We are reluctant to point folks to specific links and sites since everyone has a small piece of the big puzzle and when one starts going down these rabbit holes it can be quite strange and bizarre and frightening. This is The Matrix. Which, btw, is a good start for attempting to understand "The Big Shift". You are Neo. Find your Morpheus. Take the Red Pill. (From the film "The Matrix" , the red pill and its opposite, the blue pill, are symbolic. They represent the choice between embracing the sometimes painful truth of reality (red pill) and the blissful ignorance of illusion (blue pill).)

In response to a comment, we observed that the US election of Donald Trump on November 8th was merely a slight political shift from left to right -- not The BIG Shift. Go back and watch The Wizard of Oz again. Dorothy got the BIG Shift right when the curtain was pulled back and all was revealed. (Also, see The Wizard of OZ ... or What Really Happened to America.)



Recall what Witch Glinda says to Dorothy:

"You don't need to be helped any longer. You've always had the power to go back to Kansas."

Use your power and the force will be with you.  And we'll see you when you get home.

There's corruption on the highest floor!
TW & Uwe "Computer Age" Singing Truth to Power
White House, Washington, DC
Photo by Hounds That Howell
Just prior to the election, we laid it out very specifically. And then clarified any mis-understandings shortly after the election.

And to crystallize our point, we made this comment using a quote from the late-great gonzo Hunter S. Thompson. That said, just as Neil Young takes no pleasure in being right yet again, nor do we in speaking truth to power. No one does. We all pray to be proven wrong. And we won't quit, either, because we also wish somebody would share the news. Especially this news ripped from The Matrix.

Flying Monkey and Wicked Witch of the West and Dorothy
#WT1sWBWO

We must all be aware that the eternal divide and conquer strategy is alive and well. So stay calm, no fear and rock on. We don't want no stinkin' civil wars, thank you. As usual, just a bunch of paid actors following the scripts.

Yes, "For What It's Worth", there is definitely something happening here and what it is -- while not exactly -- clear, there is a man with a gun over there telling us we got to beware. Fifty years after FWIW, still same as it ever was... but the "Big Shift" inexorably rolls on and on....

And here's what one of our dear, loyal TW readers Ian has to say on the subject in response to the provocative -- yet ever belligerent -- Dominic Holdem:

@Dominic Holdem--While I don't completely disagree with you--I was frustrated by the difficulties the Democrats had in rallying around their eventual candidate, while understanding of how Clinton's flaws were a part of the problem and, ultimately, I thnk both major parties muffed it.... majorly--I suppose I'm trying to transcend all of that right now, at least for a few moments.

Honestly, when it comes to politics and spirituality, I have strong feelings on both and it can be hard to find a balance. How do I reconcile my strong ideological convictions--which I know can cause conflict and act as a barrier between me and people who don't share my ideas--in the context of my ultimate belief that all life is part of the same beating heart and that we must, in spite of our considerable differences, learn to come together as one human family? How do my abstract, sweeping beliefs find grounding in coherent, pragmatic, doable policy concepts? How can I even be politically involved while saying that the material world is bathed in illusion?

Sometimes being politically active feels like participating in the illusion, perpetuating it. But if I don't stand up for what I believe is right, I feel that we're only going to get further away from being able to understand and penetrate the illusion. And of course anyone who sees the world as one family, sees every individual as being connected to the whole and sharing a universal Self, cannot possibly countenance the wars, the suffering and dying, the destruction that happens because, ultimately, of the illusion's corrupting power. One cannot countenance human hands continuing to damage our planet through the forces of climate change and human-manufactured pollution.

These are the questions I wrestle with at times like these. There are no definite answers in life; as I like to say, one thing I know is that I don't know. The near-impossibility of being certain (of anything) is one of the great existential struggles, which in turn is why people have developed philosophical and spiritual belief systems.

Just prior to the election, we laid it all out here on Thrasher's Wheat about how a perfect storm was forming as the elite mainstream media headed towards meltdown in the face of alternative, crowd sourced, citizen journalism outing the massive global corruption which would lead towards what we have termed "The Big Shift" (see transparency and full disclosure).


For longtime TW readers, you know that with 2003's release of Neil Young's "Greendale" -- which hit us like a sledgehammer to the anvil of truth -- we have been covering the ever expanding vortex of corruption while trying to mix in some of Neil's activities in the areas of music, film, literature, and technology, among other assorted random musings.


'She was welded to the eagle's beak
sun green leaned into that megaphone
and said, "truth is all i seek" '
"Sun Green" by Neil Young
Again, for longtime TW readers, you know that we have been quite alarmed by the accelerating events propelling us well beyond the prophecies laid out by George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Today, we have an ever growing clamor by the elite media to reign in "fake news" that would make the crusading anti-Communist Joseph McCarthy quite proud. It is without irony, that nowhere in the establishment is there a concern whatsoever about infringing on our Constitutional rights of free speech and free press.


Officer Carmichael in GreendaleOfficer Carmichael Pulling Over Jed
' "Carmichael you asshole,"
the new widow sobbed beneath her veil,
"shot down in the line of duty
is this how justice never fails?" '  As everyone is recognizing, the real threat to democracy and freedom is the propaganda spewing elite mainstream media which is ramping up their war on "Fake News". And the irony of ironies is that the war on "Fake News" is being waged with -- what else -- fake news.

"Fake news" is just the new re-branding of the old "conspiracy theory" psy-op. To know the mockingbird, is to kill the mockingbird.


The Hypocrisy of the Mainstream Media
None other than the establishment Washington Post (owned by Amazon Corp.'s CEO billionaire Jeff Bezos) published an article on "Fake News" that was immediately found to be in fact "fake" because it was sourced from the non-existent entity ProporNot.

The Major Players Guilty of Disseminating "Fake News"

Afterall, the esteemed New York Times committed the gravest of journalistic sins when "reporter" Judith Miller falsely reported that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction in 2003. This was epic, egregious and massive fake news. What is chaff and what is wheat? Like we say, always use disCERNment.

Thrasher's Wheat | Facebook
Banned Since July 2015 Accused of Being "Fake"

Open up the tired eyes. Eyes wide shut, we tried to lay it all out very specifically just prior to the election. And then clarified any mis-understandings shortly after the election.

The Devil Comes to Greendale

And to crystallize our point, we made this comment using a quote from the late-great gonzo Hunter S. Thompson. That said, just as Neil Young takes no pleasure in being right yet again, nor do we in speaking truth to power. No one does. We all pray to be proven wrong.

The Truth Can Not Be Censored

And we won't quit, either, because we also wish somebody would share the news. We'll keep on bloggin' till our batteries are dead.

So be aware that the eternal divide and conquer strategy is alive and well. So stay calm, no fear and rock on. We don't want no stinkin' civil wars, thank you.

There's a war on truth. So light that candle. And keep the flame of love burning brightly.

The Illusion of The Matrix Shatters: Corruption, Fake News & The Big Shift. Because, you really can't handle the truth... nor do you want to.

"Give Peace A Chance"
Paul McCartney and Neil Young

Desert Trip Festival - October 8, 2016

It doesn't have to be an Angry World because Yes, There's Definitely A Hole in The Sky. So just "Light a Candle" and take a chance on love.

We Have The POWER To Break Out Of The Matrix

Because sometimes it's NOT "all illusion anyway." Sometimes it is actually REAL... sooner or later...


Who's Going To Stand Up and Save The Earth?
Neil Young
2014-07-12, Hyde Park, London, England
Photo Paolo Brillo |Facebook
FWIW, we always say never stop trying to make the world a better place.

Last we checked, there's only one mother earth, so we've got a job to do.

The rEVOLolution is Love

So what might 2017 bring us?

Clearly, the evolution/revolution continues. Is 2017 The Year We Find Out Who's Really Going To Stand Up? Will the looming "Big Shift" roll on incrementally or suddenly? In the meantime, here we all are -- both irrevocably changed -- and yet still much the same as we ever were.

Ferguson, Missouri - November 2014

The protesting of state sponsored brutality and violence continues, but where are the musical anthems that capture the emotions of our times? From Billboard | 'Fear of Being Blackballed' Prevents Artists From Releasing Protest Music:

Neil Young was so shaken by photos of the four unarmed students killed by military gunfire at Kent State that he wrote "Ohio" for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young right away. By the end of the week, it was playing on the radio. That was 1970. Now, in 2014, outrage over police brutality has become much more widespread, inspiring protests and "die-ins" nationwide for Michael Brown and Eric Garner, two unarmed black men killed in confrontations with cops. Days ago in Brooklyn, two NYPD officers were murdered while sitting in their patrol car. But this year will end without a defining protest song.

...

"I think a lot of it is just due to fear of being blackballed and not making a living," Questlove of The Roots told Billboard, referring to the backlash the Dixie Chicks faced in 2003, when Natalie Maines told an audience that the band was "ashamed" that President Bush was from Texas. "We were like, 'Man, if a white woman can lose her career in the United States for speaking up for what's right, then shit, we'll get the electric chair.' I think that was the bottom line.

And that just really rendered America silent." 

Freedom: Kent State University, Ohio - 1970
As always, we live in dangerous times where those who stand for freedom are often accused of treason and worse. Such times are now and the struggle for freedom -- even among those who feel they are actually free -- is more paramount than ever. The right to live and speak freely is an inalienably human right that can never be assumed nor taken for granted.


Freedom: Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, CA - November 1966
So, for what it's worth... we're protesting the lack of protest music. Who's gonna stand up and make some protest music?

"First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me."

~~ Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

The levels of corruption are so off the charts historically it really is truly breathtaking in not only the magnitude and scope, but in the sheer levels of depravity and evil. Oh sure politicians have been grifting cash from day one, but things have gone far, far beyond pay to play.

Basically, the best we can all hope for at this point, is the utter, complete destruction of the two party monopoly system. The demise of the Republican party is well underway, but this could be the final election for the traditional Democratic party as well. If that is the outcome of the Nov 8 election, than it will be for the good of all of us in the long run.

As many of our long time readers here at Thrasher's Wheat know, we have long since declared "The Inconvenient Truth of Greendale".

Mainly this observation centered on the album's environmental call to action and it's plea to respect Mother Nature and all of her creations. But environmentalism is but just one of the many themes of Neil Young's 2003 album Greendale, which we once boldly declared "the most important album of 2003, the musical equivalent of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring".


Greendale Graphic Novel
By Joshua Dysart/Cliff Chiang
The really, truly inconvenient truth of Greendale is its uncomfortable confrontation with themes such as the power of mass media and global corporations, loss of personal freedoms and privacy, destruction of the environment, rampant fraud and corruption, an out of balance government and breakdown of the family. All of which we've detailed before here, here, and here.

And, yes, there is corruption on the highest floor. Quite obviously... at least to us from where we stand. Maybe not to you. Maybe not yet. But if it is not obvious to you as of yet, hopefully it will be before it's too late. Not to sound ominous here or anything, but into your life it will creep.

We all remember those post 9-11 days when so much made so little sense. For us, Greendale was like a sledgehammer to the anvil of truth and awakened this blog from it's post-9/11 dormancy. We can specifically recall receiving a comment back in late 2002/early 2003 which said: "Something has gone seriously wrong."

But what? How? And more importantly, how to fix this derailed streetcar named "Democracy"?

Over the intervening years, we've often alluded to the problem and solution. Sometimes directly, sometimes obliquely. And while we could just type it all out plainly in all caps HERE'S THE PROBLEM and HERE'S THE SOLUTION, we know that this approach will not work. Here's why.

Everyone has to find their own truth and deal with it. Right now, our truth and our solution is likely to be so vastly different for so many that to do so would be unhelpful. That said, anyone who puts in the effort can find that liberating freedom, inner peace and unconditional love.

Earlier this year, we posed the question: Is The Year We Find Out Who's Really Going To Stand Up? Will the looming "Big Shift" roll on incrementally or suddenly? In the meantime, here we all are -- both irrevocably changed -- and yet still much the same as we ever were.

So how's that "Americana Dream" thing working out these days? Liberty and justice for all, don't you know.


Freedom (1989) by Neil Young -
"The rock and roll coda of the Cold War"

 

Back on January 1st, 2011, we wrote here about Freedom in a New Year, which has been viewed -- in hindsight -- as somewhat prophetic for the events that would soon unfold.

Neil Young's album Freedom -- which was released in 1989 just as the Berlin Wall fell -- has been called "the rock and roll coda of the Cold War".

 

NEW LYRICS: "Rockin In The Free World" - Neil Young + Promise of the Real, Antwerp, Belgium Concert - June 24, 2016

"Got a water cannon for the standing man
Got misinformation from the corporation
In the endless search for a drop of oil
People's lives get shattered while we suck it from the soil
Gotta show the children
We just don't care
So we keep on burnin' it
And put it in the air"

Written by Thomas Jefferson, the American Declaration of Independence is now seen as a universal human rights statement:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

The album contains the song "Rockin' In The Free World" and is one of Young's most popular, important and prophetic songs of his vast catalog.

The song has become an iconic anthem and it's status continues to rise as more and more artists cover the song. Young's lyrics are considered to be an indictment of the politics of the 1980's. In today's post-9/11 world, the lyrics seem prophetic and even more meaningful than when originally written on the eve of the '90's as the Berlin Wall fell.

Twenty five plus years on, the song "Rockin' In The Free World" has become an encore finale for bands around the world, as well as, a coda for the days that used to be.

So. Freedom ... Is It All Really Just An Illusion Now?

Here's a look back as we look forward...


U.S. President John F. Kennedy - 1961
The President and the Press:
Address before the American Newspaper Publishers Association
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
New York City, April 27, 1961
Addressing the American Newspaper Publishers Association at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on April 27, 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy said at the peak of the Cold War's Cuban Missile Crisis:

"The very word "secrecy" is repugnant in a free and open society; and we are as a people inherently and historically opposed to secret societies, to secret oaths and to secret proceedings. We decided long ago that the dangers of excessive and unwarranted concealment of pertinent facts far outweighed the dangers which are cited to justify it.
...
For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily on covert means for expanding its sphere of influence--on infiltration instead of invasion, on subversion instead of elections, on intimidation instead of free choice, on guerrillas by night instead of armies by day. It is a system which has conscripted vast human and material resources into the building of a tightly knit, highly efficient machine that combines military, diplomatic, intelligence, economic, scientific and political operations.

Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried, not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed. It conducts the Cold War, in short, with a war-time discipline no democracy would ever hope or wish to match.

Even today, there is little value in opposing the threat of a closed society by imitating its arbitrary restrictions. Even today, there is little value in insuring the survival of our nation if our traditions do not survive with it. And there is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment. That I do not intend to permit to the extent that it is in my control. And no official of my Administration, whether his rank is high or low, civilian or military, should interpret my words here tonight as an excuse to censor the news, to stifle dissent, to cover up our mistakes or to withhold from the press and the public the facts they deserve to know."

"[We have an] obligation to inform and alert the American people -- to make certain that they possess all the facts that they need, and understand them as well -- the perils, the prospects, the purposes of our program and the choices that we face.

Without debate, without criticism, no Administration and no country can succeed -- and no republic can survive. That is why the Athenian lawmaker Solon decreed it a crime for any citizen to shrink from controversy. And that is why our press was protected by the First Amendment-- the only business in America specifically protected by the Constitution -- not primarily to amuse and entertain, not to emphasize the trivial and the sentimental, not to simply "give the public what it wants" -- but to inform, to arouse, to reflect, to state our dangers and our opportunities, to indicate our crises and our choices, to lead, mold, educate and sometimes even anger public opinion."

"And so it is to the printing press -- to the recorder of man's deeds, the keeper of his conscience, the courier of his news -- that we look for strength and assistance, confident that with your help man will be what he was born to be: free and independent."
JFK - 1961

"We got a thousand points of light
For the homeless man"
Freedom: Berlin Wall, Germany - 1989
Yet the song "Rockin' In The Free World" is often misunderstood and attacked on false interpretations and misplaced understandings. Witness some of the near violent comments that have been left on this blog over the years in reaction to some of our previous postings on the song's lyrical analysis (see comments here and here.)

There are those who have argued that "Rockin' in the Free World" espouses anti-freedom ideals, to which we have taken serious issue with in the past.

As always, we live in dangerous times where those who stand for freedom are often accused of treason and worse. Such times are now and the struggle for freedom -- even among those who feel they are actually free -- is more paramount than ever. The right to live and speak freely is an inalienably human right that can never be assumed nor taken for granted.


"We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand"
Freedom: Tiananmen Square, China - 1989
So, what does it all mean? A comment on Freedom in a New Year:

You need only understand the true context of George Bush’s “thousand points of light” reference. It has nothing to do with a call to civic and charitable involvement. Rather, it is a reference to Illuminism, an encoded esoteric call to arms signaling to all the wreckers throughout the world that the time has come to declare out in the open (in George Bush’s own words), a “New World Order”.

Clearly, the evolution/revolution continues.

Stay Calm. No Fear.

For us, we try to be wise enough not to “feed the chaos” further with our own fear, anger, or hate. For our own sake, we try to turn our backs and head towards what is true and pure and loving. We try as best we can to devote our lives to that which makes us happy, healthy, and complete. We are all made to enjoy music, nature, beauty, and the company of our loved ones. We try to live the life we believe is right, no matter the consequences. Without fear and with unconditional love.

The Heart of Love

Our plan is to continue forward and keep on bloggin' until the power goes out and our battery's dead. Thanks to all of you who support what we do here at Thrasher's Wheat. Thank you all for your contributions, support, and helpful efforts throughout the year. We can’t begin to tell you how much we appreciate every single one of you as you manage to keep us refreshed, stimulated, and stepping through your constant sharing of ideas that nudge us onward. We couldn't do it without you. Again, we don't want to sound paranoid that forces are at work to shutdown our advertising, deprive us of revenue, and thwart our freedom of communication. But at the same time, we can't brush all this off in a blase fashion. On the bright side, we consider this to be another validation of a sort of what we do here at TW. In the past, the attacks on this site have reinforced our belief that we have taken the less traveled fork in the road on our journeys.

Searching for the Heart? Or the Key?

So believe in what we both together are doing. Knowing we can succeed. Our time is coming. Nothing will stop this now so we begin this year of 2018 with love in our hearts. Make peace our goal, and vow to be true to ourselves. Working to create a world that we can be proud of, and that which we helped to create. May the beautiful energy of music and love surround you and yours, and let it be your traveling muse and guiding light. That is our wish for our world today ... and tomorrow. Look at everything with the eyes of love and we will create harmony and peace. Lastly, we’d again like to thank all of you out there for your amazing support. Thank you for taking the time to read our posts and comment; send heart-warming notes, photos, and links; and thanks for spreading the word.

Dreams can come true... if you want to work hard to make them happen. We are all making a difference together and feel the world is taking notice. Having said this, let’s all prepare for what is to come in what we believe will be a future of positive, lasting change.

this blog is my blog, this blog is your blog, this blog was made for you & me.

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
~~ Benjamin Franklin, Pennsylvania Assembly Reply to the Governor, 1755
But really, the bottom line -- The Big Secret -- is that it's all about The Bridge Kids. Seriously.

Mountain View, California - October 24, 2015
Photo by Hounds That Howell - TWR Tour Manager

We try and stay grounded in nature, enjoy Mother Earth and be in tune with her harmony. We translate this beauty into love and care towards others while seeking deeper truths and discovering our true awakened, enlightened spirit.

Our Manifesto

We don't know and we do not pretend to be able to predict the future. Are eyes wide shut or do the tired eyes open to see the looking glass illusion being shattered in the Big Shift? Predictions from the "smartest people in the room" are consistently wrong. We merely observe, try to find what is unexpected, entertaining, amusing, surprising and then blog it.

Finally, we wish all our TW readers the best of luck in 2018, with much success in every avenue of life; we bid farewell to 2017 with our traditional and unwavering year-end promise: Thrasher's Wheat will be here each and every day - to help our readers sort through the Neil Young news and separating the Wheat from the Chaff.

Without you, our dear readers, this blog would not exist.

The truth is that while we always try to represent, interpret and explain events as they happen objectively and in real time (a challenge which at times is literally painful) we may not get everything right or accurate, but we try.

We try to do as well as we can within the confines of our modest staffing, infrastructure and financial capabilities. Unlike media behemoths and "titans" of industry, many of whom have infinitely more in resources and outside "access", our existence is only possible if you - dear reader - keep coming back. Incidentally, and contrary to various amusing rumors, TW does not, and has never had any financial, political, or any other affiliation or relation to an external entity or organization; no we are not funded by Warner Bros., no we are not on Neil's secret payroll, no we have never raised one dollar of outside funding. From day one, all our revenue has been through advertising, and your kind donations.

Which, simply stated, means that we write what we believe in, even if it is ultimately proven to be dead wrong. And always remember: there is no such thing as "absolute truth."

Which is not to say readers should accept everything, or anything, at face value. Quite the contrary: as we have warned since the very start, our main intention, while informing readers, has been to make them think critically - to present a different side to things, even if it is ultimately dead wrong. For pete's sake, this a blog after all, not some established pillar of the fourth estate with editors, sub-editors, reporters, journalists, crossword puzzle makers, back office, and so forth.

This should be nothing new: for those still unfamiliar, here is a brief excerpt from our "full disclosure" policy, which we hope most of you are familiar with:

The reality is, critical readers should read analytic posts and the rest of Thrasher's Wheat with the blanket assumption that the author (The Thrashers) is totally "conflicted." (Phrased more logically, that the author stands to benefit from being right- imagine that). This turns the conversation to the content, and away from the author, the author's biography and the contents of our bank account. This (the content) is, of course, where the focus should be. If you still get something out of our writing with the assumption that we are "invested" in our position and stand to gain personally from you believing us, well, we've done our job. If not, then our being "unconflicted" isn't going to change the fact that we have a weak argument or poorly reasoned prose.

However, no matter how the growing conflict within the media's fourth estate/"fake news establishment" turns out, we would like you - our reader - to know that we have survived this long, over 20 years since our modest start in 1996, in the process clocking in millions of page views, thousands of comments and hundreds of reader submissions. And for that, from the entire staff (1.5 very part timers) here at Thrasher's Wheat, we thank all of our readers and supporters with all of our heart and soul. You guys are way better than silver and gold. To all around the world, thank you for reading and thank you for your support. Have a Happy New Year and we'll see you in 2018!

be the alchemy. be the wheat.
peace and love,
namaste,
thrasher & thrashette

Actually, we're no longer Lookin' For A Leader because "We're The Ones We've Been Waiting For" not alchemy or "A Visitor" or a "ZUMA Payload".

Afterall, it's all about you and me...


"We're The Ones We've Been Waiting For" Gulf Oil Gusher Rally, Florida, June 2010 1,000,000 Strong Against Offshore Drilling | Facebook "Walk with Us"

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The Synchronicity of Thrasher Road & Wheat's Landscaping

From time to time, folks inquire: "This so called 'big shift' you;ve been blogging about... what's that all about now?"

some misunderstand the 'big shift' has some sudden cataclysmic historic event. no.

the 'big shift' is internal. the awakening. the illusion revealed.

*Beware Of Darkness*

but...

*Be Aware of Lightness"

or The Unbearable Lightness of Being Neil Young.

As the 'big shift' accelerates, folks continue to be curious as to what we might be suggesting here.

We here @ TW are suggesting nothing unique. This 'big shift' has been predicated for a long time by many others. It will come about as we move towards full disclosure and an age of transparency.

While it is cliche to say "the truth will set you free" it is *the* universal truth. The Prime Directive.

Because, although being aware of the evils of this world is all-important, we must not allow ourselves to be consumed by it. We must use this knowledge to identify what is toxic, not to obsess over it, but to clearly focus on what is healthy. Although we all want to change the world for the better, the true challenge of our lives is to change ourselves for the better. And this is what being a Vigilant Citizen is all about.

Thank you for reading our articles, for sharing them throughout the web, and for contributing your own thoughts through comments and messages. Today, more than ever, we need independent thinkers that rely on a solid moral compass – not a predetermined agenda – to understand the world, to speak up, and to fight for what is right.

Our work is far from done. See you in 2018!

And, once the truth is known by all, we will all be free at last.

namaste

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."
~~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

So, walk like a giant for our Children of Destiny.

"Walk Like A Giant"

Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Cleveland, Ohio - Oct. 8 - Alchemy Tour 2012
Photo by thrasher
(Click photo to enlarge)

Walk Like A Giant?

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