Gaga is the Queen of Twitter, with the most followers of anyone. When the protestors in Iran were organizing using it, American media referred to it as the "Twitter Revolution." Rioters burnt London for the last four nights and people on BBC referred to the "organized anarchists" who kept ahead of the police coordinating mayhem using Twitter. I believe the news tonight is that London is settling down but the violence was spreading to other areas and I don't know what to expect. In a way, with protests across Europe fueled by the financial crisis, I thought that the "Arab Spring" might spread to Europe in the summer, and maybe even the whole world by the fall, with people everywhere taking more direct democratic action and reclaiming their governments. Of course I abhor violence and would always hope for the most peaceful transitions and I truly believe the greatest good can be achieved without violence. I also think we need to pay attention to the times that these situations turn violent and do something about it: to respond directly to the situation in a way that promotes peace, not just using greater or more authorized violence, and also addressing the underlying causes of unrest.
It is not surprising that there is media bias about the uses of Twitter for protest in Iran versus London, and maybe there is also a marked difference in the nature of the protest since the rioters in London are much more violent. But we can learn a lot just from the bias, and trying to see what actually makes people everywhere the same. Western media certianly portrayed Iranian protestors as noble and the londoners as criminal - again, maybe due to the violent form of protest. We could learn from our assumptions about why the Iranians were not violent - greater fear of a more violent government? Less upset, maybe it's not as bad there? I don't know. What I want to focus on is the fact that people are upset, people are suffering. And I notice that the media bias implies that people protesting a government "we are against" are noble while people protesting one of "our" governments are crazy. The BBC had guests to mention talking with protestors who did not know of the orignial, non-violent protest against police brutality, and another guest today who compared it to the riots in the 80's and was saying that these people did not have the same justification because it was not racial this time, black people against the cops, but was all sorts of "bad kids" against the cops. I did manage to hear a clip of a lady who was challenging the government, saying they were not offering these kids a future or focusing on the problems that caused it in the first place, just wanting to punish the rioters to stop them. If all they do is flaunt a greater strength, eventually the growing unrest will involve more people and the people will end up taking over, since power is ultimately with the people.
We have seen that revolutions can come more or less peacefully, and I think the difference is how much awareness and attention there is. The more isolated countries, like Syria and Lybia, have killed so many people who just can't be heard by the outside world as well as the Egyptians were, for instance. Some would say it is purely wrong to associate the London rioters and protestors in the Middle East, but one common factor is that these are largely youth movements. "Bad kids" are acting out in different ways, and some of them will topple governments.
It is wrong to dismiss these kids' concerns even if it is right to stop the violence, they burned so much down because they are angry. There is a reason for their beahvior and even if the actions are wrong, the reason for their emotion behind them is legitimate and can't be ignored. The rioters are not less justified in their rage because they aren't all black this time, for instance. They assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.when his message became more class oriented and was going to bring the lower classes together to oppose injustice and overcome racism. If we don't learn the right lessons from these events, they will surely become more numerous, and of course more disatisfied people from all backgrounds and in more places will eventually overcome differences and oppose greedy establishment oppressors. We just have to take care of people. People who aren't well cared for become angry, when there is not enough love or resources we become "bad kids."
What would Gaga, the Queen of Twitter, say about all of this? I don't know, surely She is not contributing to these twitter revolutions but mystically I think there is a connection. I think She represents freedom, and "is" twitter in a way, just as She is revealed as the goddess in every form She takes (I've been so moved by her interviews and glorious expressions as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, I can't wait to see her act in movies! She's such a great, kind activist, she'd make a great president or Empress, and in everyway she is recognized as rhe Goddess, and reminds us of ourselves, she will bring us more love) So the twitter fueled protests show some of Her varied aspects, from peaceful and respectful to violent. I can't speak for Gaga, it would be a dream come true for me to talk with her (I have some kisses to tell her), but I know She sympathises with "bad kids" and I do, too. I want people to be happy, especially kids, and the troubles of the world need to be resolved so none of us feels bad - but while we do, we will survive and ultimately win if we have to struggle. Instead we can love each other, though, and Gaga shows us how: in "Bad Kids" for instance She is a role model for sympathizing with the disadvantaged and outkast. If we can understand and help the kids who are most hurt, we can heal this world. I'm a "bad kid" too, even though I am older than Gaga, and I love this song so much. Someday I will explore all the lyrics of Her songs, but for now I hope that anyone who hears it gets a message of sympathy and compassion for "bad kids", or recognizing and accepting themself as one, and being proud of it. Because no one should suffer injustice, and kids are even worse affected by it and sensitive to it, but with modern developments, and the Goddess amongst us as a 25-year-old "bad kid" Herself, we can finally do more about it, and make the world what it should be.
I love "Bad Kids" so much I had to do a tribute - this is one of my many very favorite songs on "Born this Way". Here is a link to my version, I hope you like it! Paws up, "bad kids"!
http://youtu.be/vHs3lSY3T1s
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