Most of us have seen the video. Most of us have felt its gut-wrenching power. Most of us have sensed the undercurrent of electoral revolution, even in the normally apathetic.
Over at Southpaw I have made my feelings known about "Mosh," but more importantly, I have taken the urge to do something that roils throughout the threads on this subject, and I have issued A Call To Action.
Black Hoodies on Election Day
I wanted to share it with you here at Kos because I want this to spread like wildfire. If some other blogger started it first, spread their call like wildfire. I don't care about credit. I only care about mobilization of an army of citizens, ballots in hand, standing together and saying No more!
My call (including a large image, which you should steal with reckless abandon, and a link to the video) after the jump...
"And as we proceed, to mosh through this desert storm, in these closing statements, if they should argue, let us beg to differ, as we set aside our differences, and assemble our own army, to disarm this weapon of mass destruction that we call our president, for the present, and mosh for the future of our next generation, to speak and be heard..."
Wear a Black Hoodie on Election Day
If you haven't seen it yet, you should know that Eminem's new video "Mosh" is about to turn some shit upside down. I have a small copy of it here, but there are larger versions of it floating around (please mirror as much as possible).
It's easy to rip on Mr. Mathers, especially if you're wracked with liberal guilt over the state of the world. You want to understand what it's like to grow up poor and unloved, but you also want to take a stand against hateful language. Yeah, yeah, I know all that, and you know what? Fuck that.
This is the anthem of a generation and, frankly, I don't care what side of the "Eminem is an obnoxious prick" vs "Eminem is a misunderstood genius" argument you come down on. We can argue about that endlessly and it won't change this:
Mosh is hard-hitting. Mosh is gut-wrenching. Mosh speaks and speaks loudly.
Mosh lets the world know that there is an army of us out there, and we're not going to be intimidated or silenced, and we're not going away.
Mosh puts the thugs at the highest levels on notice: Not this time will you divide and conquer. Not this time will you have us knocking each other instead of knocking you out of power.
There's an undercurrent of resolve. You've felt it. Some people want to call it rage, and yes, there is some of that. But do you know what it really is? It's a fierce hope.
A fierce hope that the people still have it in them to take power back from those who've stolen it. A fierce hope that the people still care enough about each other to take up the arms of voter registration cards and ballots and fight. A fierce hope that the determination of millions will not... can not be thwarted by the money and lies of a few.
We are an army. And we're not going away.
I will be wearing a black hoodie on November 2, 2004 to signify my personal revolution.
Will you?
Update: Please send me your pictures of you and your fellow citizens wearing your black hoodies on election day. I'll post 'em over at Southpaw (bookmark it if you think you might forget). And post to your own blogs! Steal the image! Steal the movie! Spread it! E-mail it! Get it viral!
Also: Is there a way to get the message to campuses? If you're a student, spread the word. Put up flyers around campus. Mobilize the army!
Update: If you think you can't wear a hoodie because you're not 20, you're wrong. A hoodie is a very practical piece of clothing that you will be glad you own. It's just a sweatshirt for misty days.
Update: Props to the original: "Everybody" Written and directed by Benny Boom for MoveOn.org
Update: Reminder from my personal e-mail: In many places, it is illegal to wear anything to the polls that suggests voting for or against a candidate. A black hoodie is a black hoodie is a black hoodie, but that doesn't mean that someone won't try to hassle you. I seriously doubt any of the thug poll watchers will be that culturally aware, frankly, but be prepared for anything this year, especially if you're voting in a target precinct.
Update: Please go read kid oakland's excellent analysis of "Mosh" and its place in the politics of this powerful moment.
Update: If the idea of wearing the same thing as everyone else makes you uncomfortable, wear whatever color hoodie makes you happy, even if it's the invisible kind. Just go to the polls with "hoodie" in your eyes and know your voice and your vote can change the world.
Till the light, at the end, of the tunnel, we gonna fight,
We gonna charge, we gonna stomp, we gonna march through the swamp
We gonna mosh through the marsh, take us right through the doors
