Workshop(s) 2016 | Page 96

they sing

“Be kind to those you love

And be kind to those you don't

But for God's sake you gotta be kind.”

Punk ideology isn’t for everybody, but for those who choose it, it’s about throwing one’s lot in the with underdogs, pragmatism be damned. Punk is choosing to value a beautiful dream of what could be over a broken prediction of what could likely be. As the song “Mountains Made of Steam” by Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and the Tra-la-la Band goes,

“Tell me or kick me or hold me or please believe

This is their busted future

And this is our dream

Which one do you believe in, believe in, believe in,

believe in

Together, together, together, together

Never to retreat.”

End Notes

1. Crust Punk, which is sometimes shortened to just “Crust” is more a more aggressive sort of hardcore punk. Lyrically, it commonly features themes of gender equality, freedom, anarchism, the vagrant life-style, and hatred for authority.

2. Ska-Punk is a sort of fusion between Ska, a style of Reggae and Dub-influenced Rock, and Punk.

3. The issue with Pop Punk is that it’s the result of big corporate record labels appropriating punk, watering it down, packing it into a bunch of posturing and marketing, then selling the disgusting package to the masses.

An Anarcho-Punk is an individual who is both an anarchist and a punk.