Tom RDD vs. The world

So it's time for a real post. So, you might be asking yourself, what popular culture topic is he going to rip into today? Or what political topic will he rant about in that oh-so articulate liberal speak? Well today is the later and I'm going to talk about a political issue that has got a few people talking.

The issue is that of full face veils of the Islamic community and the recent banning of said clothing in France, and the question people are now asking themselves in Britain; Should they be banned from public dress?

In short. No. Banning any item of clothing is an incredibly fascist thing to do. Do I know the argument behind banning it? About it being sexist? Yes. And do I agree with that argument? yes, but I will not push my Western culture onto a group of people who do not want it. Do I think attitudes towards women should change in select Islamic communities? Yes I do but it is not my place as someone who is not a Muslim to tell people how to run their religion. I could go on about how hypocritical it is to condemn cross dressing, yet a child, girl or boy, wears a dress when they are accepted into the christian faith (baptism for all of you who didn't get that one). I could go on about how utterly wrong it is for catholic priests to abuse young children and how utterly stupid Mormonism and Scientology are, but I digress.

My point is a lot of people calling for this ban are not members of the religion. If a majority of the Islamic community in the UK decide to ban face veils then so be it but it is not our decision as members of other religions to impose our beliefs onto them. In my mind banning something from public dress is idiotic because then you open the flood gates to people complaining about what they find offensive. How long will it be until Christians start complaining about the "Jesus is coming, look busy t-shirts"? Or I start complaining about seeing that shitty vampire film, with the guy who looks and has the acting ability of a foot, everywhere I go? You ban one thing it won't be long until closed minded people start asking you to ban another, and another. Instead of simply banning them and opening to flood gates to perpetuate the idea that some extremists hold that the UK (and the west) is an anti-Islamic country, use education and information. Let the women of the religion decide what is right for them.

Finally, I think a lot of religious beliefs need to come out of the stone ages. We are in the 21st century and it's time we started acting like it.

Peace, love and respect. always.

-- Tom RDD

My blog has seemingly turned into a place where I will state a band or music style I like then add a video that I feel does justice to that band/style, and I kinda like it that way. Music is my main passion in life so I guess sharing my love of music with readers is the best gift I have to offer. So today's videos are by the bands: Two Gallants (who I have been listening to a lot lately) and Bon Iver. Hope you enjoy and maybe something longer than a paragraph soon, but don't hold your breath.
Peace, love and respect. always.

-- Tom RDD

I have been feeling pretty down today if I'm honest. But I've managed to pick myself up by listening to music made be of men wiser than myself.



enjoy. And I will probably do a "real" post soon.

peace, love and respect. always.

-- Tom RDD

I'm having a bit of a "folk" moment since buying a Banjo as I'm trying to listen to loads of new stuff so I can get some new influences thus getting some solo work (music) done for the first time in AGES. Here are two of the songs I've looked to for inspiration. Thanks to Sedge for hitting me up with some awesome bands and tracks. Hope you enjoy it.

Peace, love and respect. always.

-- Tom RDD

Jump, Jive, Rock n' rollin' - A post about 2010

I've probably said it a BILLION times but I was born in the wrong damn decade! So this time I want to go and play in the 20's, 30's, let's skip the 40's for obvious reasons and the late 50's. What has brought this on? What else? Probably the art form I have the most passion for, Music. Music is my life. It's like an addiction. Even now I'm listening to music (Louis Armstrong if you're interested) and it is because of all the music I listen to that I would love to go to various time periods and experience it first hand. Don't get me wrong, I know that the early 20Th century was filled with racism, huge class divide, the rise of the far left and far right dictatorships, Gangsters in the US and generally a lot of hate (not that different to today, but I guess people today know how to hide it better). But all of the negatives aside I would love to experience a Jazz club in Harlem, a Dixieland parade in New Orleans, A rock' roll bandstand broadcast live on TV and then go to one myself, and the many of the other awesome things that went down. Sure you can experience most of them now in some shape or form, but the spirit of the decade is no longer there, and let's face it if I broke out into a Charleston in the street nowadays I would get some pretty odd looks. So as this decade comes to an end I find myself wishing I could visit various others. But as I can't I guess I'll just find cool clothes to wear (my Swing Kid outfit!) and dance in the street anyway.

So the question I've finally reached is; what does 2010 have in store for us? 2009 was a great year for me for many reasons: In short, I had some AMAZING times with the people closest to me. So I am hoping 2010 will be just as good. Hopefully the world will sort itself out financially and we will start taking responsibility for ourselves and our actions instead of looking to one person to fix everything (usually Obama, but don't get me wrong I think he's awesome but we can't expect him to change the world all by himself without taking action ourselves). So here's hoping the world gets rid of money all together, We'll find alternative fuel that is renewable and doesn't damage the earth, the BNP will just fuck miles of off and we all start loving each other regardless of our differences (I'm such an idealist bordering on Hippie). Oh and reality TV just leaves and never comes back!


I am ready for you 2010... I think...
I hope you are too

Peace, Love and Respect. One love.

-- Tom RDD

"Anyone who doesn't like swing can become a Nazi"

Some potential new threads

I was there when RATM were Christmas no. 1

So the unthinkable has happened, the mediocre, corporately manufactured X-Factor winner Joe somebody didn't get to number in the UK charts. And he's the first X-Factor winner not to do so, boo hoo. As you can tell this makes me happy, and it does so for many reasons. For a start my faith that the residents of the UK actually have a taste in music (Although most of the top 20 was generic pop The Pogues and Journey made there presence known)has been restored and not everyone out there likes stale, overdone, generic, mediocre music created by a reality tv show where one of the judges has the nerve to judge a singing competition when she herself can barely sing. People "hating" on RATM claim Cowell wins regardless as he owns Sony who own "Epic" but this is not just about the battle against Cowell and the stale pop genre. This is about power to the people. Thousands of people made this possible and all for a christmas song, imgaine what we could do as a nation if we cared this much about important politcal issues such as global warming? And finally the same closed minded arguments we heard when we were 15, "It's shit, it's just screaming" Have you listened to the song? If so you would probably realise that this is not the case, and even so if you dislike it the message within the song is probably more important than anything Joe whatever his name is will ever create. A song against racism in the police force and anti-oppression, and you think it's a shit song? Well doesn't that just describe the inteligence of most of todays youth who have probably never been subjected to music with any real meaning outside the generic love songs that fill the pop genre. Anyway, this is turned into more of a rant (which wasn't my intention) so I think I will leave on a happier note:

Happy Christmas from Tom RDD

xxx