A very happy Independence Day (4th of July) to all of our "Children of Destiny" out there across the EARTH lands.
Last year on Independence Day 2022, the world was in a very different place than today as we scroll back to read folks thoughts one year ago. And judging by those keen observations a year ago, we deeply thank our readers and commenters for once again being ahead of the curve, aware and awake. We remain honored and humbled that so many find TW to be vital to their daily readings.
After shutting it all back down in 2020 and bombing our way back open in 2022, the more things change, the more they remain the same as it ever was.
Consitution
And on this Independence Day in America, as we celebrate #1776, our constitutional republic, exercise our freedoms, eat hot dogs (and conduct our protests with diatribes and actions), once again we are reminded how Neil Young's music resonates with its own special brand of fireworks with the song and video "Children of Destiny" from the 2017 album The Visitor with the band Promise of the Real.
As you may recall, one of the big Neil news items in 2020 was CITIZEN NEIL or ... Neil Young Becomes A U.S. Citizen.
In 2019, the application by Canadian Neil Young to become a U.S. citizen was delayed due to "possible lack of GMC (Good Moral Character)". In January 2020, Neil posted a photo of himself saluting the US flag, with a caption: "I'm Happy To Report In. Vote Your Conscience."
(Celebrating his Dual Citizenship w/ his wife)
(also, see Official Daryl Hannah | Instagram)
Neil Young
In 2019, in a posting on Neil Young Archives: "I Have Been Very Successful In My Life", Neil revealed that his initial citizenship interview went fine, but due to a technicality, another interview was required by the USCIS because of his "marijuana related activities".
In October 2019, Neil Young said in an interview: “I’ve passed all the tests; I’ve got my appointment, and if everything goes as planned, I’ll be taking the oath of citizenship” shortly after turning 74 on Nov. 12." Neil continues to be optimistic on becoming a U.S. citizen in order to "vote my conscious on Donald J. Trump".
Meanwhile, back to Neil Young's song "Children of Destiny". Judging by the reaction in July 2017, clearly once again Neil had managed to polarize his fan base. As if right on cue, some fans say "Right on Neil! Tell it to The Man!". Other fans say, "This is really dreadful hippie patriot jingoism."
Normally, over the past years here at Thrasher's Wheat, we blog on the 4th of July -- where we were born in the U.S.A. -- our hopes and dreams, such as 2015's Americana and The American Dream - This Land Is Our Land, This Land Is Your Land or Who's Really Going To Stand Up?
Neil Young really hasn't changed that much in the past 40 years. He is still singing truth to power and we love him for that alone.
Once again, thanks Neil. You're clearly on the right track. Past experience demonstrates that the more polarizing a new song is to your fan base, the more it demonstrates its the power and success. If we can't share our differences, we can't peacefully coexist.
To all, have a great and safe holiday.
Here is Neil Young's statement to go with the video version of "Children of Destiny".
FriendsThanks Neil.
Thanks so much for your response to Children of Destiny! This is a heartfelt message to people all around the world, our home. We hope this song resonates with you and gives you strength to know that you are not alone. Resist those who lash out against our positive message with violence, name calling and negativity. We are concerned for our Democracy, Environment and Freedom. Nothing will ever stop us from standing up. We gathered together on the full moon to record our song.
Here is a new video of that moment!
Love and Respect,
Celebrate Interdependence!
Neil
Neil Young + Promise of the Real
Your words inspire us indeed. When we say we know the feeling, it is because of the support you gave us when we here at Thrasher's Wheat were feeling the same way regarding the relentless negativity of "The Doubters".
"The Doubters" -- who embrace failure -- will never be the "Children of Destiny". Not sure about that? Check the danger of able @ ~2:00:00 and your world will be rocked for the children. This is the TRUE Field of wheat.
Likewise, we still see the vista. We hear the muse. We continue. We continue because we believe and have faith in that greater good. Just as we all must teach our children (of destiny) well, we "must have a code that we can live by." Because, you are a child, i am a child, and we are all children of destiny. And, don't forget, in the fields of wheat, the "Children of Destiny" will NOT be harvested -- however, the chaff will be burned by unquenchable fire.
And just as your encouragement long ago inspired us to soldier on, we won't quit or give up. We will
"Keep on bloggin'
`Til the power goes out
The batteries dead
Twist and shout"
Because, "We're The Ones We've Been Waiting For", as we like to remind ourselves.
Who's Going To Stand Up and Save The Earth?
Neil Young
2014-07-12, Hyde Park, London, England
For more on Neil Young + Promise of the Real's 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/ counter response to Forbes Magazine's review by author David Alm (20+ 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)
Patrick Henry Quote
Thomas Jefferson Quote
GEORGE Magazine - 1997; U.S. Citizen Neil Young - 2020
I am not a flag waver. We live in Oligarchy. We cannot vote our way out of the trouble we face. The 2 parties serve the 1%. The people do not choose the candidates for president, we learned in 2015. Can’t put “crazy Bernie” in there to give the Americans health care for all. We are too proud to accept tax funded national health care. It’s like the lottery in reverse. Lose your fortune with one bad diagnosis. With SCOTUS protecting Coal, fighting climate change becomes more difficult. Illegal to protest Oil pipelines. #SunGreen #DAPL #GlobalWarming #Oligarchy #ExtinctionRebellion
ReplyDeleteOur tax money goes to war, big Oil, big Pharma, bailing out Wall Street when they go bust after the bubble bursts. Why wa e the flag? Still your Brother Alan in Seattle
PS- I am “ over the moon” with Timberline.
and a happy Independence day to you as well Brother Alan.
ReplyDeletewe did see your other recent comment and were about to reply to that. however ...
why be a flag waver today? never really thought wed have to give a reply to that question.
would you rather burn the flag as some prefer?
or take a knee?
or wave a rainbow flag?
or how about a Ukraine flag?
well, it's a free country and you can do what you want of course. this is what we choose to do today.
as for us, we seek freedom, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
we still believe and have the faith.
peace & love
"I raise my hand in peace
I never bow to the laws of the thought police"
It's up to the young to do do something -- after they inadvertently gave us Trump (by voting for Jill Stein or staying away from the booths). Most of the rest of us will be dead soon.
ReplyDeleteBTW - CSN are back on Spotify. Guessing that Graham's girl wants the cash.
@ Art Carey : It’s humorous that you credit Jill Stein / disenfranchised voters with electing Trump. Anyone who knows what happened would disagree. The DNC rigged their own Primary against the popular candidate, Bernie. The DNC elected Trump. And now you blame Green voters? You think what the media tells you to think. 6 Corporations own all of the media, and now you have a sanctioned opinion.
ReplyDelete@ Thrasher : Here I am again with the negativity, or open eyes, maybe both. As an American, I believe in a higher ideal than what we have now as Americans. We took our ideas for Democracy from the Native Americans, it is said.
I have faith in Global Warming, in science. The demise of the humans has been well predicted. I have faith that our Government and Society will do very little to stop the enormous threat of Global Warming. Civil Disobediance is the only thing that can return the Government to the people. And the Americans have forgotten how to protest, or it has been made illegal, in the case of Oil Pipelines. I also have faith that Phoenix, Utah, & the entire Southwest will be uninhabitable due to drought. And soon, very soon.
I don’t mean to argue with your enviable beliefs. I wish I believed we could keep the faith in our political system and somehow move towards the obvious solution of reducing fossil fuel consumption. But I don’t have that faith. However, I will join you in the streets to protest, raise awareness, engage in civil disobedience. I have feminist daughters to join with in protest too. And, yes, I wave a Rainbow flag proudly.
Hopefully my opinions are not seen as an attack on you or anyone else. Human nature may seal our doom, as a species. I am reminded of a bumper sticker: “Earth First! We’ll pave the rest of the planets later.”
Still your brother, still listening to Neil’s most intense & most upsetting song ever, Human Race.” I am so glad that Neil keeps on keeping on even though he has moments of artistic inspiration that show a deep understanding of the soon arriving Next Chapter of the American Experience. I want to fight for what is right, and that moment has arrived. So, I wave a coat hanger in the air instead of the flag. But I love you and I admire, even envy, your optimism. I would prefer to hold your beliefs.
My Love to you all, and have a fantastic day. Brother Alan in Seattle
Brother Alan we will say simply and succinctly that we are in solidarity with you in striving to make the world a better place.
DeleteAlan is Seattle, glad to hear your voice- metaphorically speaking. I am with you. Instead of a celebration for July 4th, we should be thinking about our overt failures to support liberty, justice, the planet.
ReplyDeleteOur town has the "freedom" to light fireworks. Freedom to carry a gun (of any sort and without any permit). I read a long article yesterday about veterans and their displeasure with fireworks, etc.., but do you think anyone cares? No, not really. We need kindness and consideration so badly. And sometimes, there is no way to get to kindness and consideration without conflict.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to find we are all, more or less, on the same page. I fight on despite lacking optimism because the alternative is to give up. And that is not an option as long as we can rouse ourselves and go out and build, fight, to make the world a better place, we must! I am happy that we have arrived at a new avenue of positivity. We all want to protect Earth, Mother Nature, the humans, the animals, trees, nature. Clean water, clean air. We want our descendents to have a stable planet, climate-wise.
ReplyDeleteYou ar wa one of my favorite people in the world.
Brother Alan