Unrequested Song

...is the title of a song I wrote some time ago. This morning, strumming through the creation of a set list for tonight's show, it came back and presented itSelf for consideration.

I have not played it in awhile - over a year I bet. So I dusted off its memory and began to play and it all came back pretty easily.

In many ways it never made sense to me, the words. I always liked them, and left them as they were though.

This morning, it made quite a bit of sense...

I'll play it tonight.

**
Unrequested Song

In the forest, the age-old question. My guitar and my voice are around.
A tree is breaking, a song is making, there's no one here to hear the falling sounds.
And there I found an unknown meter an unheard of sense of rhyme.
Stunning chords and words; like words you know but haven't heard in quite some Time.
-
I played it there, I sang it there, then I left the sounds alone.
If no one cared, or no one was there, to hear it, then I wonder...
My heart aches to sing it with you, my head: to leave it alone.
I played it once that seemed enough and no one's ever asked. Unrequested song.
-
I'd bring it here, I'd sing it here, but I left the sounds alone
If someone cares, or goes back there to hear it... I wonder....
My heart aches to sing it with you, my head: to leave it alone
I played it twice just to get it right and no one ever asks. Unrequested song.
**
copyright 2002 Greg Allen

Democrats dot com Disappointment

Just to note...

Today I received an email from Democrats dot com.

First: It asked if Monticello should allow George Bush to speak there on July 4th.

Second: It called him a war criminal, and cited that statement to support their protest.

Third: They are staging a protest at Monticello.

How odd, I thought.

They ask if one of the most basic rights, that of freely addressing the public, should be afforded our President.

I am not even sure how to characterize the "war criminal" thing. Huh? When did that come down? Isn't there something about due process as the basis of taking away a civil right?

What is in that kool-aid over at Democrat dot com Headquarters?

Finally, they are going to go fight the fighter, and try to holler louder and close their ears to "his side" tighter than he closes his to theirs.

I am not defending Bush. I was thinking today if they ever let me play him at chess or cards or something, he might be the only guy I would ever sucker punch - wait 'til he was focused on something, then just haul off and punch the crap out of him. Just because. I mean really, if anyone deserves it, maybe it's him. Maybe. Anyway. That was violent wasn't it? But in a spirit warrior kind of way? Maybe? I mean, who wouldn't have punched Hitler, given the chance? I would've.

Anyway, I already thought the Democrats were a sorry alternative to what we have now - best chance I know, and I am wearing my Mr NOvember shirt with Barrack on it - but jeez, y'all.

What kind of wrong crap is that - denying basic rights and presuming guilt on a non-existent legal charge.

Grow up kids.

No wonder this country is such a freakin' mess.

Go make love kids - go engage each other in the "Joy Loves Company" game.

Please.

Best of NOW, Always!

Greg and Alice

Is There Absolute Right?

The question was asked on A New Earth message board at Oprah dot com "Do you believe in right and wrong?"


In other words: can we judge other people's behavior from some absolute standard of right and wrong that people really oughtta live up to and quit being "wrong" so much of the time, and living their lives "wrong"?


I believe this question can be better asked. I believe the question is an irresolvable linguistic decoy, a lure of sorts that somehow keep us distracted from the true matter at hand, and arguing amongst ourselves.


Everyone who has asked this question through history, and argued for and against a mental position to identify with, seems to be asking: Is there Right that applies to everyone, and Wrong that applies to everyone?

Restated, the question's not so obvious flaw becomes glaringly clear:


Is there Absolute Right and Absolute Wrong?


This is clearly, upon inspection, a Relative Question seeking an Absolute Answer. Linguistically, it is beyond resolution. Historically, we can see that.


Conceptually it is not however.


The concept of Absolute is at the same time inclusive and exclusive, and it first and foremost requires an agreement. It includes everything, since it is Absolute. It's all there is or ever can be, ultimately. Thus, by definition, it excludes everything, that is it allows nothing else. It even precludes coneptualizing anything else. Once we agree to conceptualize something as Absolute, we agree to not conceive of it possibly having a polar opposite. It can have aspects, like it is both inclusive and exclusive - but it cannot itself be opposed. That's the linguistic agreement. (It may be the one alluded to in the mythological story of Babel and the confounding of languages. I'm not sure - just a thought.)


In other words, If there IS Absolute Right, there cannot, by definition of Absolute, be Wrong.


Is There Absolute Right and Wrong? is a silly question, linguistically. We've agreed linguistically that Absolute is One Thing, Unity. It would seem a trifle dopey to get into a big discussion of what it's two aspects might be.


(Especially two thousand years of discussion, sometimes agreement, lots of disagreement, fighting, and so on... I was just noticing this. Perhaps you've noticed too.)


You see, Absolute Right would be All Right, Just Right, Only Right, Nothing But Right - that is, Right with No Other Side.


Thus, you have to choose one word of the two. You get to ask "Is there Absolute _____", and you can only choose one word.


Remember, we only get one question...


So there I am, it's my turn to ask my one question. Personally, I am not going to ask if there is absolute wrong. It seems a not so grand way to ask, given the grand and glorious moment of Grand Presence.


Nope, I would ask:


Is there Absolute Right?
Is there Right, and nothing but Right? Is there Right, with No Other Side?


And actually, I would substitute a word.


I would ask:


Is there Absolute Love?


Is there Love, with No Other Side?


Having finally figured this out, I've asked. I've had the answer confirmed countless times now. I see it confirmed everywhere I turn. This, for sure, is my question. It's the question I live, for as we are reminded in the song Grasshopper "When you live the question the answer is today."


CAUTION: This may not be the question you want to ask. Be careful. You see, if the answer comes back "YES!" - if there is Absolute Right - then it means that the Absolute Idea of Right applies to everything going on here and now, everything you can imagine or have ever witnessed. Everything you ever felt guilty about. Everything you ever condemned too.

Ev. Ree. Thing.


It means that you can go ahead and see Creation as perfect. Right now. NOW.


It means it is all good. Including you. You have nothing to attain. Nothing to add. Not even anything to understand.


It means, in other words, that you are looking at, and standing smack dab in the middle of your little piece of.... drum roll, please....


A NEW EARTH!!!!


Smile. A.N.E. is looking back at you, at every turn.


It's Time That Time Was Overthrown,


Greg, with Alice...