great performance ...I read that Hill turned down the offer of a blindfold, wanting to see his executioners, who he chastised for hiding behind a shooting blind ...his last words were said to be "Aim high" ...Joe Hill's memory lives on in his music & his efforts to improve the lot of working folks
In Utah, Ammon Hennesy--a "Catholic Anarchist" and disciple of Dorothy Day-- in the 1970s (?) established the JOE HILL HOUSE OF HOSPITALITY: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, etc.
I do believe in Jesus's gift of eternal life. But it is a gift that should free Christians to take risks in the name of justice for the poor and marginalized. It should not be used as an excuse to oppress people. And therefore I sing along with this song and I don't see t as anti-Christian. I see this song as anti-oppression just as much as I see Jesus as a liberator. Thank you
This is what religion should be about. While I personally don't believe in god but I do believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Whether he personally existed or not: I don't really care too much. This philosophy is helping the liberation of the people and that's why I will always march next to someone who preaches this version of Christianity in solidarity even though I'm a self described atheist.
The fat cats have always sold us that 'political' line - "Oh don't pay any attention to politics.." and "we can dismiss that nonsense, they don't have anything to say because they're 'extremists', they're "right-wing/left-wing fill-in-the-blanks," "they're 'radicals,' avoid 'political' cause 'it has nothing to do with us.' Meanwhile the wealthiest criminals bought up the whole political system with their lobbyists and $$$. They own the legislature, the criminal justice system, the for-profit prison system (as well as profiteering from the entire prison system through commissary, foods, misc, and of course free slave labor!) Trillions of US taxpayer money is dumped into the military corporations (weapons manufacturers, contractors,etc.) Working people around the world have been invaded, tortured, imprisoned, and killed by the millions over the last century by US corporate mercenaries (our military personnel and proxy mercenary elements), and their country's resources hijacked - stolen by these corporations that already own and control most of what US citizens see and hear about these incursions in the media, our schools, our workplaces, etc. More than 90% of our media (TV, radio, newspapers, and periodicals) are now owned by just six (6) corporations. So good luck hearing about this almost anywhere in the states! But if any of this *is* brought up - it's often dismissed just as quickly as 'political' by fellow working class people. It's tragic.
