Hey, hey we are The Monkees
You know we love to please.
A manufactured image
With no philosophies. | |
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| | You say we're manufactured,
To that we all agree,
So make your choice, and we'll rejoice
In never being free! |
We hope you like our story,
Although there isn't one.
That is to say there's many
That way there is more fun. . . . | |
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| | Hey, hey we are The Monkees.
We've said it all before:
The money's in; we're made of tin
We're here to give you more! |
For those who look for meaning
And form as they do facts,
We might tell you one thing,
But we'd only take it back. . . . | |
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| | The money's in; we're made of tin
We're here to give you --
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"Ditty Diego" © 1968 Screen Gems - EMI Music Inc. Words and music by Bob Rafelson and Jack Nicholson.
The last few days have been, for me, a surreal experience on Daily Kos, as some very vocal members have been dictating the rules of what constitutes appropriate vs inappropriate behaviour in discussing the legacy of a human being who unexpectedly passed away on Friday at far too young an age.
As the diary count grew from simple posts about the loss of a media icon to tributes to hagiography, so too did the demands for being discreet in honestly reflecting on a stranger's life. First it was wait 24 hours; then it was wait 48 hours; then it was wait until after the funeral/burial; or even wait until next week or longer. There were even suggestions made that if posters hadn't given their opinions while someone was alive, then they most certainly shouldn't do it after they were dead. Even innocuous posts were troll-rated into oblivion if they somehow failed to align with the wishes of the self-appointed arbiters of good taste. It was amazing to see how much kinship/friendship people felt for someone they'd never known outside of the public persona portrayed on their television sets.
On Friday, the MSM cancelled their regular newscasts to play marathon-long tributes to one of their own. As we are all too aware, in two weeks this event will be a non-story, both for the MSM and the internet; there will be plenty more pressing issues for us to focus on.
There is only a small window in which to have an honest discussion and evaluation of the late Mr. Russert's career before the media's narrative becomes gospel -- and that time is the present. I'm certainly not advocating the use of vile language or hate-filled diatribes. But one can be honest without being or being accused of being cruel, crass or classless.
To all those for whom Tim Russert was a good friend, well-liked co-worker, beloved husband, father and son, I offer you my sincere and heartfelt sympathy in your time of grief.