WWJD: What Would Jello (Biafra) Do?

September 18, 2001 7:17 PM

WWJD: What Would Jello (Biafra) Do? Well, he's not sure, but the former Dead Kennedy's front man and all-round cool guy has a little blurb with his take on the terrorist attacks and what the repercussions might be.
posted by Fat Elvis (24 comments total)

Osama Bin Laden will emerge from his cave and tell his mushrooming following, "I told you so."

Mushrooming? Is that a pun?
posted by rushmc at 7:21 PM on September 18, 2001

damnit. i thought WWJD meant 'who wants jelly donuts?'.

course, i got glared at once when a mormon woman came into the sub shop, and i pointed at her label and yelled 'i do i do!'.

*sheesh*

religion in = humour out.
posted by jcterminal at 7:22 PM on September 18, 2001

Anyone heard word yet from Henry Rollins as well?
posted by hellinskira at 7:39 PM on September 18, 2001

Anxiously awaiting Lil' Bow wow's take on the events....
posted by glenwood at 7:42 PM on September 18, 2001

I've got one answer as to what to do in response to the terrorist attacks on the US. I don't know how popular it would be, but I'm certain that it would shock the world if we followed through with it.

Quite simply, it's to gather as many planes as possible and fly over Afghanistan, and let rain down upon them ....

food, and clothing, and medical supplies.

It would not only be the act of turning the other cheek, it would be an act that might save the lives of many.

Make no mistake - I'm filled with anger. I'm filled with sadness at the death of so many innocent people. I would like revenge and retribution.

But I wonder if the religious fanatics who organized and followed through on the actions of September 11th could be filled with shame, and guilt. I've seen talk of lessor and greater Jihad. The holy war within oneself, and the holy war with the rest of the world of unbelievers. I wonder if they could survive the lessor Jihad if forced to do so.
posted by bragadocchio at 7:42 PM on September 18, 2001

brag: How will the medical supplies save people if no one knows to use them? You expect nurses all over the place in a mostly rural, impoverished nation? What if people run out of food next week? What if doesn't get where it's supposed to go? What if there is anti-aircraft fire overhead? What if snipers fire at you? Will you just turn around, and try later? What if the Taliban is still there when the food and medicine run out, and the West stops caring? And will you get the food to everyone? Will some people get more than others, and have neighbors fight them over it? What?
posted by raysmj at 8:06 PM on September 18, 2001

I have an idea: why not do nothing? that way we can be sure we have not done the wrong thing.
posted by Postroad at 8:16 PM on September 18, 2001

As a fan for many years of Jello Biafra and the DK's, I usually find his opinions to be very enlightening as well as entertaining. That doesn't mean I hold what he says as gospel truth or anything, but he's a sharp guy who usually has a provocative point of view on current events. On this one though, I just think he misses the boat. All these people who keep saying "The Soviets couldn't beat them, what makes us think we can?" are missing a few important points. Chief among them, is that the US was backing the Afghans against the Soviets with weapons and training. We are talking about a much weaker country now, with far fewer allies being ruled by an organization most do not view as a legitimate government. Plus, those who declared this holy war on the USA have, up until now, been fighting a largely underground, covert war, and we haven't paid it much mind. That's not so true anymore. Personally, I believe a firm ass kicking is about to ensue -- and I have no problem with that.
posted by spilon at 8:18 PM on September 18, 2001

Anyone heard word yet from Henry Rollins as well?
Why haven't Rage Against the Machine written a song about it already?
posted by darukaru at 8:30 PM on September 18, 2001

Why haven't Rage Against the Machine written a song about it already?

Because they're not together, geezer :)
posted by skyline at 8:39 PM on September 18, 2001

Ray: My suggestion wasn't aimed at being a panacea for every problem that plagues Afghanistan with one sortie of planes flying by dropping off food and supplies. It was that in performing an act that is so unexpected that we could possibly deflate the rhetoric that is trying to justify the terroristic actions that took place last week.

It's easy to talk about one nation fighting another, one religion against another, one culture against another. But when you step back, most of the people of Afghanistan have no responsibility for what has taken place. If we force the people who are perforning terrorist acts to take a step backwards and recognize us as human beings, just like them, maybe that has the seeds within it of a better world.

Or maybe I missed the point of something like the following from Mr. Biafra:

Kill the Poor

Words: Biafra/Music: Biafra/Ray

Efficiency and progress is ours once more
Now that we have the Neutron bomb
It's nice and quick and clean and gets things done
Away with excess enemy
But no less value to property
No sense in war but perfect sense at home...

The sun beams down on a brand new day
No more welfare tax to pay
Unsightly slums gone up in flashing light
Jobless millions whisked away
At last we have more room to play
All systems go to kill the poor tonite

Gonna
Kill kill kill kill
Kill the poor
Kill the poor ... Tonite

Behold the sparkle of champagne
The crime rate's gone
Feel free again
O' life's a dream with you, Miss Lily White
Jane Fonda on the screen today
Convinced the liberals it's okay
So let's get dressed and dance away the night

While they
Kill kill kill kill
Kill the poor ... Tonite
posted by bragadocchio at 8:43 PM on September 18, 2001

Because they're not together, geezer :)
Touché. I guess I need to watch more MTV News.
posted by darukaru at 8:53 PM on September 18, 2001

Barney, you gotta watch those tags.
posted by darukaru at 9:09 PM on September 18, 2001

And so do I, it seems. Geez, the Magic Post Gnomes are slacking off lately.
posted by darukaru at 9:10 PM on September 18, 2001

brag: Oh, some folks would see it as a cynical PR ploy - and it was at least just PR, as you described it. Actually, plenty of people would see as cynical. If someone could see Letterman's monologue last night as manipulative string-pulling by a "powerful white man" (someone wrote that here - and he has, after all, reminded us over the years that he has the strength of ten men) imagine how many would question the motives of Uncle Sam. And that note was a little too in my face with the self-righteousness. Thanks. I'm all for economic development - it makes more sense in the long run, of course - but that's different from PR, and requires a lot more than just sending stuff over a border.
posted by raysmj at 9:12 PM on September 18, 2001

Ray: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to attack you with my reply. But I do think that worldwide, too many people see us as a cold blooded, uncaring nation, and not enough see us as people - as flesh and blood human beings. How do we change that? Any first step we take is going to be perceived as having a hidden agenda. If we set off on that type of action, of course we have to follow up.
posted by bragadocchio at 9:25 PM on September 18, 2001

brag: But, really quick here, any non-violent response has to be utterly serious, and not just idealist clap-trap. Lots of people here have mention the "turn the other cheek" line of Jesus here in various threads. What they don't mention is that the rest of the line is, "If someone smites your right cheek," or words to that effect. Ever had someone hit your right cheek? Ahem. There is something I've read about how the left hand in Jesus's times would have been seen as unclean too, so you're hit with an unclean hand then.

Anyway, not totally expert on this and not trying to push any religious agenda, but the idea is, you're being put in your place when slapped on your right cheek. It's what a master does to a slave. To respond in any non-violent fashion takes utter seriousness, and not passivity or doormat-type behavior. You want the person who has done wrong to you to see you in a different way, to be respected. But the options here toward earning that respect are more morally complex than almost anyone here lets on.
posted by raysmj at 11:05 PM on September 18, 2001

Other odd takes on the attack? Sure. Comic book writer Grant Morrison kind of goes multi-perspective over the attack. My favorite is the The Playboy Perspective, scroll towards the bottom.

The red background is painful to deal with and going back to this blue one will only make it worse. You have been warned.
posted by skallas at 11:06 PM on September 18, 2001

On this one though, I just think he misses the boat. All these people who keep saying "The Soviets couldn't beat them, what makes us think we can?" are missing a few important points. Chief among them, is that the US was backing the Afghans against the Soviets with weapons and training. We are talking about a much weaker country now, with far fewer allies being ruled by an organization most do not view as a legitimate government.

"When you're wounded out on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Then just roll to your rifle and blow out your brains,
And die like a good British soldier!" - Rudyard Kipling

And NPR story on Afghan history.
posted by redleaf at 12:01 AM on September 19, 2001

If we force the people who are perforning terrorist acts to take a step backwards and recognize us as human beings, just like them, maybe that has the seeds within it of a better world.

If we respond to mass murder on our soil by rewarding terror-sponsoring countries with humanitarian aid, aren't we encouraging more of the same?

I'm glad some people can still be idealistic, but I don't think the people who perform, plan and fund terrorist acts are capable of recognizing humanity at this point.
posted by rcade at 6:13 AM on September 19, 2001

jello biafra is lame.

much like the majority (or all) of punk music.

he just reiterated the same thing everyone's already said.

but hey man, punk rock.

oh yah, whos idea was it to dress like the music you listen to? im gonna kick that guy.
posted by Satapher at 7:27 AM on September 19, 2001

Grant Morrison may be on track w/ the Playboy perspective... 2 of the suicide-hijackers enjoyed a few drinks at a bar and then tried not to pay the bar tab before leaving Fla to make their flights. Getting really sloshed and making some babes instead might have done them some good.
posted by Kami at 8:59 AM on September 19, 2001

World War I ran from 1914 to 1918, not the 1920s.

tnadeau
posted by tnadeau at 2:23 PM on September 19, 2001