Sunday, October 4, 2009

Open mind and knowledge...

I’ll never forget it, the monstrous face, the sinister look of some undead phantom placed in ancient Egypt. Every time I would pass the store window I was drawn to the image like a moth to a candle flame, peering out of the passenger window of my grandmothers 1972 Chevy Chevelle, I was captivated. The year was 1984, I was believe it or not a shy introverted 13 year old who had grow up with grand parent whose idea of music was Elvis, Beatles or Patsy Cline. The image of the hideous yet brave and definite face that was on display was an obvious attempt to convey a satanic massage too the youth of the day; at least that what I was told by my teacher at the Seventh-day Adventist school I had been attending for the previous four years. In fact I was told by that teachers that no one who listened to such music could ever enter the Gates of Heaven; it should also be noted the same teacher also told me that anyone who ate pork and shrimp were likewise damned to the pits of the fiery beast.You see I was growing up in Staunton, Virginia and if you’re from there then you know how to say it. The “city” that was famous for three things, First; President Woodrow Wilson was born and spent the earliest part of his child hood here till his parents had the forethought to move, second; the country singing group the Statler Brothers who put Staunton on the map with their fourth of July free concerts every year and third; having more churches per capita then anywhere else in the world, at least that what I thought. It was at that very time that I realized that there was an outside world, more than the writings of Ellen G. White a SDA prophet of the 19th century, you see my Grandmother who I love dearly was going though one of her religious stages and any band whose album art was so “demonic” was a ticket ride straight to hell. Anyway back to the car, I would stair at the poster in the shop window every time we stoped at the stop light on West Beverley St. it seem so worldly, creative and dangerous; the picture of the temple at Thebes in Pharos Egypt mixed with George Romero film. I just had to find out more about this band. So where to go? School was not an option to get bias free opinion, nor was home, so I rode my bike to the Staunton Plaza that’s right (Plaza) not mall, to the record store that was near JC Penny. I found the album that I was in search of and to my surprise this band had more than one to choose from this surely was an evil conspiracy by the great Satin. Every album had the same zombie like monster but in different places and times, I was gobsmacked. So I bought the cassette that bore the same art that had captured my attention in the first place, took it home and that’s was it, I was hooked on the vocal sounds of Bruce Dickinson and the bass groove of Steve Harris, of course I’m talking about Iron Maiden’s Powerslave album of 1984. I listened to that tape over a thousand times till I wore it out; while I was walking to school, on the way to little league football practice even at night before bed, over and over again till I knew every word and lyric, I loved Iron Maiden. I could feel their music and vibe deep inside my soul. No other bands style of music or any other genre had even come close to this. Their songs were filled with tales of historical events and fantastic yarns of ancient times. Poetry that I would have never been exposed to like; Rime of the Ancient Mariner the longest major poem by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge written in 1797–98. The song of the same title was hypnotic; it was a poem and an account of ones sin and restoration. To me their music was a chance to leave this small Virginia town and go on a journey around the world, though time and space even explore the spiritual realms that didn’t exist here in the home of the Statlers.For better or worst Iron Maiden not LSD had opened my mind to the universe, it made me hunger for knowledge no matter how obscure or seemingly trivial. The study of theology, history and current events now held meaning to an adolescent of the Reagan era.Iron Maiden’s songs still hold great meaning to me, more nostalgic than life altering now that I’m staring my thirty eighth birthday in the face. I have two wonderful young boys of my own here in the Obama era. I have tried over the years to educate myself and explore the world of the unknown. I respect all religious views be they Christian, Judaic or Hindu. I realize that no one really knows anything; in MY opinion religion gives people hope to go on with life. I’m trying to teach my boys to stay open to new ideas that seem strange to them and never dismiss someone out of hand for their appearances or beliefs. To question every thing they don’t understand and to seek the knowledge of the worlds different cultures and places. I believe that music and poetry are two great pillars of the soul of humanity along with courage and intellectual knowledge.Iron Maiden opened my mind to the world, not to the “devil” or any other demonic force which yearned to drag my soul to the underworld. I believe as Socrates did, that ones wisdom was limited to an awareness of ones own ignorance, a trait that I find less and less in the leaders of today. Education comes in many forms and different sources, you can find it anywhere.

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