The Beautiful Truth
I wait for them every night, for the European daily’s to drop, to read something that isn’t bullshit being polished to look like a new Cadillac.
At home I usual start reading and making notes around midnight, out here the time varies, as does my access to the web. But it has been a ritual that I have had for years now, one that I have passionately dedicated myself to.
My dedication to self education has cost me a great deal. My ex-wife’s disdain for my constant desire to research and write was more than considerable, and it must be said that I have certainly lost a fair number of fans because of my views and my commitment to presenting them. In fact, I am actually surprised that Dale Jr. has so far avoided scrutiny given the content of this blog, especially being that his Busch Series car is sponsored by the US Navy.
For some there comes a point in life when a conscious decision is made to dedicate oneself to something more than simply a life lived in a world of comfortable ignorance; a premeditated bliss if you will, which is, in truth, considered by most to be the norm. But for others there comes a point when they find themselves looking at a picture that, to them, seems more than crooked, but entirely upside down. Over time, this view begins to impede their ability to function on a social level that is devoid of at least some semblance of serious examinations of the world around them. Ironically, such behaviour tends to cast them in an abnormal light, which should come as no surprise given that most people tend to believe the majority of what they are told and commonly defend it as unassailable. That is, of course, the perfection of the mechanism that we have labeled freedom, which is, in fact, not freedom at all but rather the advertised belief that within the context of a democracy it is incorruptible and therefore beyond scrutiny.
To venture beyond the bombardment of disinformation that, like a comfortable cancer plagues supposedly free societies, is to enter into dangerous and unpopular waters. The reason being that it is easier not to rock the boat than it is to examine it for leaks.
So here I sit in a hotel room somewhere in Texas reading, making notes, comparing reports on the same subject from ten different sources, checking my archives for relatable material, checking the websites of academics and others for their perspectives and referencing their archives. It is a time consuming process, the fruits of which only appear on this website in small doses, truth be told.
I am an artist, first and last, but never presume that this particular dedication is not intrinsically linked to that aspect of my being. Politics is simply the art of passable corruption, a reality that requires that there exist a counterbalance. To me, the role of art throughout history has been to provide an unfiltered, uncensored counterbalance, one that through emotion and a focus on the humanistic aspect of events strives to challenge the status quo and to remind us that, despite the ease with which we can be coerced to abandon our morality, there is more to lose than to gain by abandoning the beauty within us that urges us to contradict the ugliness that we commonly allow to be perpetrated in our name.
Unfortunately, like many other aspects of our society, art has been hijacked and turned into something that has been limited as to its impact. We listen to records about nothing, watch films about nothing, and so are accustomed to being challenged by nothing. Throughout modern human history, and even prior to it, art has played an integral role in the challenging of power structures, of commenting on governments, be they Monarchies or Democracies, and of using the power of emotion to challenge the perceptions and beliefs of individuals. It is therefore no less relevant a force today, despite the fact that many view it as little more than entertainment.
That is, of course, not to say that art isn’t or can’t be entertaining, simply that it has the power to be much more if we allow it to be and look to the deconstruction of those infrastructures that have limited both its potential and impact for the sake of profit.
There is also a point to made about beauty and the role of art in reflecting it. There is no question that art plays an immensely important role in the conveyance of beauty, but having said that we must also examine what our perception of beauty is. If we are to view beauty simply as a representation of emotional comfort or perfection then art becomes little more than a mechanism with which to sterilize. If, on the other hand, we’re to view beauty as truth, then all truths must be equally accepted as the reflection of beauty. In this sense, beauty transcends commonly adhered to perceptions and becomes something that can expose even our indecencies in a way that redefines beauty. Even if it means the exposure of horrors that occur half a world away in our name.
I have, over the years, argued with numerous individuals, even academics, that the discipline of political science must be steeped in the artistic more than anything. To remove the humanity from something that examines the ramifications of political policies is, to me, not merely a pointless exercise, but a reckless one. It breeds calculated thought applications rather than empathetic ones, which is why, as Gwynne Dyer put it in Why We Fight, the Think Tank has actually become the fourth pillar of the Military Industrial Complex, a notion expanded upon in the same film by now retired US Lt. Colonel Karen Kwiatkowski, who points out that policy drafted by those outside of government for use within government cannot be held accountable for it, as they are not elected representatives. And yet, as has clearly been established by the implementation of the Bush Doctrine, even though it was based on Paul Wolfowitz’s 1992 Defense Planning Guidance guidelines when he was the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy under Dick Cheney, its implementation was largely due to its continued existence as the cornerstone of the Project For The New American Century’s vision of the post Cold War world.
The disconnection between hard policy and empathetic policy is, unfortunately, extreme in our society, even though we like to convince ourselves that that isn’t the case and that our fundamental beliefs require foreign policy to adhere to them. That has, unfortunately, never really been the case, and it is only when we find ourselves in a losing effort that we suddenly begin to realize the inhumanity behind policies that, from their inception, were devoid of empathetic views. It is also precisely the reason why the war in Iraq, for example, can be viewed by those disconnected from it in the simplest of terms, simply because they cannot put into proper context what it has wrought on a human level.
Yesterday’s attack within the Greenzone on the Iraqi Parliament is a primary example of this disconnection, as many continue to labour under the misconception that what is occurring in Iraq right now is resulting in less violence, not more. The truth, of course, is that President Bush’s troop surge has not done anything significant to stabilize the Iraqi capital, and that is where the distinction between the beauty of truth and beauty for the sake of placation becomes relevant. Because while the analytical mind tends to strive to justify failure, the artistic mind usually strives to expose it in its entirety.
So here I sit in Texas…reading. Sitting in front of my laptop I am reminded of countless mornings over the last six years when I was lambasted for doing so. Sitting here I have come to realize that some things are worth the personal turmoil that can be suffered because of the decision one makes to dedicate themselves to the beautiful truth.
Want to bookmark or share this entry?
This entry was posted on Friday, April 13th, 2007 at 2:47 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
I think it certainly takes an individual of particular character to not only dedicate themselves to something they feel passion for, but also to persevere in the face of adversity. Whether it’s fans, academics or even those close to you, there is something admirable about such a dedication. Self-education is of paramount importance. Without it, how is anyone able to really think, examine or decide for one’s self in an objective manner? It’s interesting that so many consider themselves to be members of a free society when, in reality, such complacency is really just imprisoning.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
amen to this entry!
April 13th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
This reads like spoken word poetry.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
“Unfortunately, like many other aspects of our society, art has been hijacked and turned into something that has been limited as to its impact. We listen to records about nothing, watch films about nothing, and so are accustomed to being challenged by nothing.”
I couldn’t agree with you more. For some reason the way you spoke about art, and how you are an artist reminded me of a poem I once read by Mary Di Michele, called “Afterword: Trading in on the American Dream.” Here, Michele also comments on the role of an artist. She writes “Listen, whatever I write here, what you read, is safe. It’s between us. In North America writers don’t disappear. They are not tortured. They are ignored. People are not arrested. They are illiterate. Entertainment has become an industry, hybrid of boardroom and circus. How can we be touched by what the video screen dissolves into snow? It’s a cold country.â€?
Many people believe that the job of artists is to ask difficult questions, and tell us things we do not know, help us realize what we are not suppose to see. Today, it seems as though what our culture hold as valuable is economic success. This is actually ironic because after all it is destroying the world. As Michele ends her poem, she writes: “Over the planet the ozone is thinning, over the earth where to succeed is not to survive.� Perhaps a little off topic, but I think it is important to point out.
I hope you stay on this path to telling the beautiful truth, after all someone needs to expose the beautiful lies around us before it is too late.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
” In fact, I am actually surprised that Dale Jr. has so far avoided scrutiny given the content of this blog, especially being that his Busch Series car is sponsored by the US Navy.”
I can tell you of at least one fan site that is attacking him for his friendship with you. Sad. But, they would be attacking him anyway! They don’t seem to like the girls he chooses…way to much time on their hands.
I have a question for you…I am new to your music and Blogs…how is your friendship with Dale Jr, considering his connection with the U.S. Navy??
April 13th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
I will graduate in August with my Masters in Library Science. Most people laugh when they hear this because they think of the stereotypical old hag wearing glasses shushing you. However, it’s a fascinating discipline to be involved with - filtering information to the community. Sadly many of our classes are geared towards the “Googlization” of information in today’s society. People don’t care about the content or authority control of the information, they just care about the quickness and “good enough” quality of the results. Good informaiton is not easily attained, you have to fight for it. So I, for one, extend my gratitude to you for trying to uphold the value of quality information.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Continue what you do Matt. I can say that it has made me much more enthusiastic about helping to create positive change within the world.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
without a story to tell, art wouldn’t have much purpose at all in society. good art in the world seems to come from the stories that bring questions from under glossy black shoes (or perhaps a red tie, once and awhile).
April 13th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Matt, if I hear one more thing about Imus or Anna Nicole, just shoot me with your Raygun. Keep on speaking the truth. What passes for NEWS down here is dispicable. That’s why I come to your site, to find out what’s really going on in the world.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I appreciate the diligence and the fact-checking and the way you seek out other perspectives to measure your own against.
That’s really rare in the blogging world, especially blogs of a political nature — right where it SHOULD be most important, of course.
I don’t always agree with your take on every little thing — is that even possible? — but I always admire your passion and integrity in expressing what you discover and what you think.
You have to be true to how you see the world. I think the right person in your life will share that commitment with you.
April 13th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
You are lucky to have something in your life that you are so truly passionate about. Many people aren’t that fortunate. Being passionate about something gives us all something to get up for in the morning. You are also lucky that your passion is something of great meaning & contributes positively to the world. I mean some people are passionate about Elvis or motorcycles, which is still great if it makes them happy.
I watched ‘Why We Fight’ a couple of weeks ago on the CBC Documentary Channel. It was quite good. Its amazing how much of a visionary Eisenhower was. I still much prefer the PBS ‘Frontline’ documentary “The Dark Side” ( http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/darkside/view/ ).
April 13th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Although I strongly agree that in our mordern society there is not nearly enough focus put on how beautiful the truth really is, especially given how little of it we happen to be exposed to (Although that raises an awful lot of question about how hard we try in our attempt to educate ourselves. Something at which most do not strive at all.), it is important to remember that beauty comes in many forms, and that art for art’s sake is just as important as the search for the truth. It is important to find some kind of balance, as well as some kind of guidelines by which we can seperate what is really art and what is the pussy cat dolls.
April 13th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
I admire your dedication to your writing. I find researching the most interesting aspect of essay writing. I also find it incomprehensible the number of my peers who will rely on one source for an argument. Its comparing arguments that makes research interesting. Kudos to you for your diligence, Matt.
April 13th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
In regards to you connecting science and art - Leonardo Da Vinci did just that. He has been labeled too as most people only recognize him for what society has acknowledged him for; creating The Mona Lisa. But he was a great scholar, not because he was taught in some institution that indoctrinated some mutually accepted curriculum but because he pushed himself beyond the boundaries that were set by society in his time.
Freedom is a great thing, and even its definition is expansive. There are many of us who follow you for your passion and dedication to whatever you pursue. Some have accepted you as a ‘musician’ and therefore expect you to remain defined by that for the rest of time. It is purely ignorant to think in those terms. Art is the ultimate expression; weather you are commenting on politics, or singing on your personal emotions. Some people will never understand that I suppose.
Keep doing what brings YOU joy and who cares what other’s think of it. I’m so glad you have kept this up instead of quitting as you had attempted so many previous times. The world needs more voices like yours, not for the content of what you say, but for the freedom and right of saying it.
Cheers.
April 13th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
For your unwavering desire and dedication to get the story you should also be employed as a freelance writer. A side gig to the other thing you got going on.
April 13th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
“To me, the role of art throughout history has been to provide an unfiltered, uncensored counterbalance, one that through emotion and a focus on the humanistic aspect of events strives to challenge the status quo and to remind us that, despite the ease with which we can be coerced to abandon our morality, there is more to lose than to gain by abandoning the beauty within us that urges us to contradict the ugliness that we commonly allow to be perpetrated in our name.”
My father, while out of his gourd on cold medication, expressed similar sentiments. He also mentioned that the sky had more colour than he ever realized, and that he thought it more likely that aliens dropped us off here than being molded out of mud by an all-powerful imaginary friend. :)
In regards to you & Jr, I wondered for about half a second how the two of you became pals, then I went to do homework. I don’t think it matters too much. You’re a hell of a dude and I imagine most of the fan community figures if you vouch for someone then they are OK.
April 13th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
while you’re in texas, would you like to come over and eat pizza and drink jager with me? i promise not to act like some stupid fangirl and as long as you don’t get all political on my ass, i will pay attention to everything you say.
April 13th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Art has a place in every area of academic and scientific thought, but that shouldn’t undercut the kind of insight found on this website simply because its author knows how to play a guitar. So very much of the articles I read here are as well researched and grounded in fact as anything I find on FPIF or Foreign Affairs, and that’s not blowing smoke up anybodys ass.
That said, art and artistic thought have a completely different prerogative than policy and policy making. Art and artists must attract, keep and hold the attention of the audience for however long they have decided to ask for, and what or how they chose to do that is where the possibility for mind-opening political and social thought comes in. It’s a far more pure way of conveying a message, and conveying it completely, than any report, review or analysis ever could.
April 13th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I think that art and politics can’t be separated. Art, to me, is the outward expression of the individual’s inner thoughts and feelings. If concerns about the state of the world consume the artist, it must be artistically expressed.
Follow your heart, Matt. Always. Ther are two few mainstream artists who are willing to stand out like this.
April 13th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
I hate to read. I’m too lazy to study. That’s why I come here.
I’m a common sense dude and I rely on your passion of these things to help draw my conclusions.
Thanks
April 13th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
a manifesto!
April 13th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
I get what you are saying Matt. I get it. I’ve been reading you blog for 2 years now, one of which spent in the heart of the Middle East.
I can understand where you are coming from, the frustration with the corporate news, the anger with the ignorant (non)voter, the bitterness towards the American Idol-take on the world.
I’m not an ignorant guy, I can argue Middle East politics, deeply, with pretty much anyone, and I have. I know the shit that passes for politics is nothing more than, well, shit. And I care about human rights and the importance of art.
But at what point, Matt, do we accept the fact that the system we live in, broken as it is, requires us to endure it in order to make a living? Perhaps your situation is unique, I’m not sure. But for a university-educated, well-read and well-traveled individual, the reality still requires that I exist within this modern system.
The point, I suppose, is that no matter how angry I get with the human rights violations that have been forced upon the various people of the world, the fact remains (and it is a fact, recent history has shown it to be true) that the pleas of the first-world moderate have little to no impact on the policies of the US or the allies in the war on terror.
My voice, lonely and isolated, echoes.
At what point, Mr. Good, do the middle class (of which I am a part) simply toss in the towel and say “Well fuck it, I guess I better buy in and make the most of a bad situation. I have a mortgage to pay.”
Sad? Absolutely. Realistic too.
All the emailing, blogging, and on-line petitions in the world amount to nothing, a fact I am loathe to admit as being true. I haven’t stopped caring, but I have woken up to the fact that the system is beyond repair and I best hold on to my little piece.
We are all, in our hearts, selfish animals.
I admire you, you dedication is something unique and honorable. But we are not all able to remove ourselves from the system and I for one, in utter disgust, have bought in. What other option do I have? Honestly?
We all have our version of soma and those of us that pretend the world will change with a few paragraphs are vainly tilting at
windmills.
Sad. And true.
April 13th, 2007 at 9:29 pm
Jay, you make extremely valid points. But everything has to start somewhere, even if just baby steps.
April 13th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
The problem, Matt, is that while we with a social conscience take baby steps, those without that conscience are taking huge leaps. Baby steps, in my opinion, get crushed by those with an agenda. I would love to believe otherwise, but if it were true, we wouldn’t be seeing the disparity between the Iranian hostage story and the plight of the hundreds of ‘renditioned’ persons.
Perhaps that is my beef is with the lack of a truly left-ist (and I know how you disdain the “ist’s” in our world) leader hasn’t emerged to take the conscious in a direction that isn’t corrupt and manipulative. I would love to believe in a leader, but the collapse to the center leaves me feeling that I have no other option but to hitch a ride on the ole’ hellbound train.
We don’t need baby steps anymore. They do nothing.
We need a leader.
April 13th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
“Unfortunately, like many other aspects of our society, art has been hijacked and turned into something that has been limited as to its impact. We listen to records about nothing, watch films about nothing, and so are accustomed to being challenged by nothing.”
This is especially significant in my opinion. When I listen to music that I enjoy, sometimes it’s difficult not to think (and realise) that it simply means absolutely nothing. Although it sounds great and ultimately, you enjoy it, when you compare it to something meaningful it’s difficult to appreciate.
April 13th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Matt, there is nothing wrong with self education, so don’t ever stop! I think your ex had a problem with you being smarter then her.
I may not always agree with some of your views, but I admire your ability to say what you think and believe in.
There is someone out there Matt (if you haven’t found her already)who will not have an issue with you wanting to self educate, post blogs, write music and be the man you are.
April 13th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Baby steps can seem futile when consistently more than countered by those with an opposite agenda. As I see it, though, we’ve got nothing to lose.
A leader. Yeah, it would be nice to have one, an MLK, or a Gandhi or a Mandela we can rally around, but never forget this: it is the people on the ground who ultimately make the difference.
April 13th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Great post. I think it speaks volumes about every aspect of life, as I can relate to it on so many levels. And while it sucks a lot of the time, at the end of the day I’m glad I made the decision to live consciously. Keep on doing it.
April 13th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
“A leader. Yeah, it would be nice to have one, an MLK, or a Gandhi or a Mandela we can rally around, but never forget this: it is the people on the ground who ultimately make the difference.”
Much agreed Stephen, if a lack of a leader is the cause for our indifference and complicit insolence, then woe be us.
The best thing to do when you can’t find a leader to rally around is become one.
April 13th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Perhaps of interest to some…”leftist intellectual” Slavoj Zizek speaks to this idea of a leader in the documentary about him entitled “Zizek!” - it’s just before the hour mark. He blows my mind every time I watch the film, and it’s a good intro to his work (the books are pretty heavy reading, and for me somehow easier to digest after I saw him and heard him speak).
Matt, you fight the good fight. If it were easy, there would be a lot more people doing it.
April 14th, 2007 at 12:03 am
I don’t always agree with your positions, but keep doing what you’re doing. Canada (and America too)needs you to ask the questions you keep asking. And although you don’t know it yet, you’re often more sensible and smarter than the sources you cite.
April 14th, 2007 at 2:31 am
For a real eye opener on the real impact of foreign policy decision making I recommend a film I recently veiwed in my International Relations class as the U of S, all about the choices and actions thaken by Robert McNamara during the Cold, and Vietnam wars. This film is struley stunning.
A clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er2xCn3_QcQ
April 14th, 2007 at 5:50 am
Keep writing Matt!
April 14th, 2007 at 7:19 am
Amazing post, made me think of my own personal circumstances - only im lucky enough to have found a girl who supports my incessant reading and researching - which is a change from the usual it seems.
theresak
I just wanted to comment on your post.
Although I agree that the “googlization” of our society is something that is a problem, I find that there isn’t a lot of access to information either. There is still a lot of information that is held up in the “ivory tower” - in the universities which you have to pay to get access to. Luckily i’m a university student but when i think about others who have never been to university i often wonder if they could afford the insane costs of academic journals. That’s why i call the internet the “communication” highway - because i find it’s not as much about the information therin but the communication that is utilized for this end.
April 14th, 2007 at 9:01 am
Matt Good:
It is sad that you have to sacrifice in your search for truth, but know that you are raising awareness, especially amongst your younger fans, and we love you for it. There are so few artists out there that can touch us regular folks; your art is so accessible and your voice is crystal clear.
Jay:
If nothing else, the people that reject blissful ignorance in favour of self-awareness and empathetic policy are at least weights on the ankles of those trying to take the huge strides.
Although people like Matt Good are not leaders in the political system, they still act as leaders for those of us who are aware but still feel stuck in the trappings of First World living (is there a purple pill?).
Do you not think that more damage would be done if the conscientious stopped caring?
I find myself alternately jealous of the ignorant and grateful for my own empathy.
April 14th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Speaking of art in modern society, I found this article utterly fascinating.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html?hpid=topnews
April 14th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Everyone should have a passion in their life.
But I also believe everyone has many roles in their lives, child, spouse, parent, relative, friend, student, employee, employer, voter, artist and each comes with responsibilities. We need to find a balance, live at both a local and macro level.
What is an artist?
Yes, I agree too many people seem to worship at the palace of celebrity, but sometimes you need to find joy in something as simple as dancing to a trashy rock n’ roll song or looking at a 10 yr old child’s art.
There’s danger in having a constant desire to judge other people’s behaviour just as there’s danger in being apathetic to the world’s politics.
True art is finding balance.
April 14th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
on a side note, welcome to texas. did you avoid the tornadoes last night? any fun plans for tonight?
April 14th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Matt, I have never been able to fully explain my calling to pursue music. But you’ve hit it right on the head. Art is such a huge platform for perspective, for change, for truth. Thank you for putting it so eloquently - I’ll be quoting you in the future on this :)
April 14th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Excellent entry. I’m always at a loss of words for how exactly to explain the link twixt art and politics.
When I first saw Why We Fight, my face lit up when I saw Gwynne Dyer. Ever since I saw him give a talk on war on terror and the next cold war I’ve considered him one of the most well-informed and convincing minds in the country.
April 14th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Matt, not sure if you’re familiar with “The X-Files”, but, to me, you have always been the real “Fox Mulder”. You’re constantly searching for the truth, and wanting the public to be better aware of what’s really going on in the world.
I applaud you for that!
April 15th, 2007 at 11:44 am
[...] was reminded of all this when I read a particularly moving passage in a blog entry titled “The Beautiful Truth� Good posted on his website two days [...]
April 16th, 2007 at 7:05 am
Matt. I feel bad that you needed to take down the photos that you had posted of your new found friends in NC. It is quite appalling that there are people out there that call themselves “fans” and act the way they are. (Since they have been taken down I am assuming that you have either read some of the blogs or at least heard about them.)
April 16th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
I live in the desert of Senegal and have precious little music here, except that I now have high-speed internet. A huge thank you for sharing your music through this site. Just loving Moon Over Marin.