Leap Of Faith: Stories

Chapter 32: Why Do People Hate Me So Much

Narration:

Soldier: We shouldn't have been there.

It was a mistake... It wasn't worth it.

(pause)

Soldier: Petition to " Change the U.S. national anthem to "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath ".

(long pause)

Ahem..The current national anthem has served America proudly for many a year now. However...it's time that we retire that old standard and choose a song that better reflects America and it's policies and practices. 

I nominate "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath. I'm open to suggestions, but I'm hard pressed to think of a more honest assessment of where we are in 20XX America. Thanks!

Interviewer: Excuse me?

Soldier 1: I'm in full support with this petition because our national anthem has been played out and it's time for a change. Plus, I'm sick of hearing the opening line- Oh say can you see.... it sounds too much like Jose can you see.

(laughs)

- Unknown Soldier/s, Somewhere in Iraq. 20XX

Flashback 

19XX

Birmingham, England

Angano's Club

(It's lunchtime in Birmingham, England. A few hours earlier, the country woke up to the shock news. The United Kingdom adopted an all-volunteer force (AVF) in 19XX..)

Interviewer: There is a myth the UK did not support Washington's war against Vietnam. 

OZZY: Fucking hell, man (he mutters)

Interviewer: The song. " War Pigs", sounds satanic.. Care to elaborate?

Geezer: (scoffs) I think, $65,000,"and the cocaine bill was $75,000.

Interviewer: ???

Tommi: At that time,was good stuff, and we used to have it flown in on a private plane, (lightheartedly)

That's why we used to have all the musicians turning up at our house at the time, pretending they're coming to visit us. We were all bloody smugglers if you think about it.

OZZY: We had a lot of late nights, We'd stay up all night.  You may think from the menacing lyrics mentioning black masses and sorcerers..

" War Pigs" was meant as a protest song, one that equated the act of war with all things evil.

Interviewer: All things evil? 

OZZY: The song speaks out against the horrors of war. 

Geezer: We are on the verge of being brought into it, there are protests in the streets, all kinds of anti -Vietnam things going on. War is the real Satanism. Politicians are the real Satanists. That's what I'm was trying to say.

War Pig is totally against the Vietnam War, about how these rich politicians and rich people start all the wars for their benefit and get all the poor people to die for them.

Interviewer: Were you guys interested in black magic? Even a little bit? (laughs)

OZZY: We couldn't conjure up a fart. We'd get invitations to play witches' conventions and Black Masses in Highgate Cemetery. (laughs)

 I honestly thought it was a joke. We were the last hippie band.. we, we were into peace...

(lights a fag)