While I already have several books that I'm not working enough on (Ordinary People & The Road Ahead e.g.), I figured let's start a new one haha!
Well, not really...
Like the title says, this is not a book. It's a collection of random thoughts and ar...
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September 5th, 2017
So, something happened in Calgary a few days ago. It made me sit down and think "Really!? In Canada!? In 2017!?" But first, let's take a few steps back...
A common question at the end of job interviews is "So, what else do we need to know about you?" In my opinion that question is a bit silly. After all the serious conversations that tried to establish whether or not I am a good fit for the role, people seem to have this urge to sneak in a more human touch, often already on the way back to the building's reception. Silly, because that human side - my character - is absolutely key to determining who is the best fit for your company's culture. And if they were interviewing me, I will have been open throughout the interview anyways.
So, what can I still share that you should know about me?
"Well, I'm a huge Heavy Metal fan."
Too often, this is followed by some awkward comment along the lines of "Wow, I would not have guessed that." What they are truly saying is "But you look so normal/so clean/so decent." This annoys me, but hey: like so many likeminded and headbanging people, I've militantly defended my love for Metal against those who don't understand it, or, even worse, those who dismiss it as garbage instead of a form of art. It's nothing new, far from it...
35 years ago, the Satanic Panic that raged through North America had set its sights on the flourishing Heavy Metal subculture. One of the bands targeted was Iron Maiden, who had just released their classic, and first UK number one (four more would follow), album 'The Number of the Beast'.
Yes, that album does show the devil in its artwork, and its title track is famous for extensively using the number '666', but those who actual listened to the album would know that the songs discuss a wide range of topics including the novel The Midwich Cuckoos, breaking women out of prostitution, the genocide of Native Americans, and much more. Christian parishes didn't really care. Devil worshippers! Satanists! Their albums had to be burned!
"Gave us loads of publicity though," remembers singer Bruce Dickinson in a 2004 interview. True, that album, and subsequent US tour propelled the band into bonafide stardom. In the same interview, band leader Steve Harris muses "Am I a Satanist?" as he gently strokes his chin trying to subdue a smile, "uhm, no."
Luckily the Satanic Panic has withered away, save for a handful of ludicrous conspiracy theorists on YouTube.
So, what has this to do with Calgary?
Well, with the resurgence of hate groups recently - sure we all know what happened in Charlottesville, but even in progressive Canada alt-right marches have been planned - the Calgary Police Service has released a flyer titled 'Signs of a child being part of a hate group'. The leaflet lists 11 early warning signs that may be a clue that your child is involved in a hate group.
Oh boy...
Within the first 5 points, the Calgary warns for such racist trademarks like 'lack of interest in school', 'staying out late', 'disobedience', and 'adopting new friends'. OK, so every single teenager coming of age might have joined a hate group? Got it!
And then there is number 6: 'Playing loud, heavy rock music with violent lyrics'. Sigh. In a revised leaflet (I'm not the first person to react), the police have omitted the word 'rock', but stick to their claim that there tends to be correlation. "People who are involved with hate groups tend to be involved in that kind of music."
Oh, lest we forget, the list does include the 'wearing or displaying Nazi propaganda'... on point number 10! Not number 1, no, clearly a 'Sudden lack of interest in school' trumps the Nazi symbols. Come again?
Back to my favorite art form... I'll be the first to admit that there some very rotten apples in the massive spectrum that is Metal music. There are those who sympathize with Nazi ideology, but these are such tiny exceptions, that it is truly offending to judge millions of Metalheads unfairly like that.
The Heavy Metal community is a place where everyone is welcome, and will not be judged by appearance. A place that offers a cathartic experience to deal with your issues, a place for outsiders to belong. If you want to see total strangers intensely bond in a welcoming community, go to a Metal show!
"We are the ugly, beaten and torn. Brooding with power and ready for more." *1
I don't expect everyone to 'get it'. Canadian filmmaker Sam Dunn said in his award-winning documentary 'Metal - A Headbanger's Journey' "You either feel it or you don't. If , you might never get it. And you know what, that's okay [...] we're doing just fine without you."
The Calgary Police definitely does not get it. Again, that is fine. It's different. A subculture of outsiders will always be different. Still according to Sam: "Metal confronts what we rather ignore, it celebrates what we often deny, and it indulges in what we fear most." People always fear what they don't understand: people with a different color of skin, people with different ideas, people with different sexuality. This was an opportunity for the Calgary Police to show a better way, not fall in the same trap.
Ah well... Like I said: nothing new. Still sad to see this in 2017 from a Canadian Police department. The leaflet will not really help parents spot radical behavior that they didn't see before. The whole 'wearing or displaying Nazi symbols' is a fair point, but if you need a flyer to tell you that is a flag, I'm afraid more parenting guidance is needed.
And as far as the Canadian Metalheads are concerned, it's stuff like this that will make the community even tighter. No matter your appearance, color of your skin, your name, or title at work. As long as we can all agree Iron Maiden's 'The Number of the Beast' is awesome, we'll have each other's back.
"With our hearts made of steel, we smash through everything!" *2
