Shine The Light on Obama
Spontaneous singing at the first Second Line in New Orleans, Louisiana since the presidential election. November 9, 2008: Shine the Light on Obama (shot by AnorexicRapper). Related videos: Sudan Social Aid and Pleasure Club 2008, also shot today in New Orleans (shot by cjdunn1), and Sudan Kids Getting Down today, to the sounds of the Hot 8 Brass band, who we've profiled before on Boing Boing tv (part one, part two).
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weird. I'm a political cynic when it comes to parliamentary democracies (go!go!anarchism!) but this stuff is moving. I wonder how it will unfold. What will they be saying about this moment of American politics in 50 years? Damn.
I could hear her, but I couldn't seem to see Xena, Warrior Princess.
Screw this feel good crap.
How about ending the War? or will you just dawdle along on that?
Psst... @3, he's not the president yet
@ #4 - people are having FUN. Ugly hates fun.
The thing that the American public needs to keep in mind is that things have not and will not get better until "change" is actually implemented in our government. I'm not saying that Obama can't or won't bring change (because I think he will), but electing him into office is the very first step to the progress we need.
hmm trying to listen to this has TWICE killed the sound on my computer, forcing me to reboot. WTF.
#5 No partying if others are literally dieing under your guns.....
"If I can't dance, I don't want to be a part of your revolution." --Emma Goldman (1869-1940)
UglyC, you must have a very serious, sad life. Either that, or your magnifying glass only goes one way.
New Orleans maybe more so than any other city in the U.S. needs a little Fun/Singing in the streets. In the 5 years I lived there I Knew 20 people who died/where murdered, and that was Before Katrina! How many great artists has Boingboing reported murdered from N.O.in the past 3 years? Now unless you get caught gun in hand most likely you won't go to trial as there are no Public Defenders, hell gangs of 12yearolds (where for a time) wandering the streets beating people because there was no one to arrest them and no where to put them If they were arrested.
While I do not currently live there, I still Have many friends who do People like Alex McKenzie down in the Bywater or Maggie from Gallery Gorgon up on Magazine and many others who still Love N.O. but but walk softly because of the constant crime. SO,,,! Let 'em Sing where ever they can.
To continue the happy thoughts, here's the Pittsburgh PA Hairspray cast singing backstage after Obama was declared the winner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFgo01HYh94
May I recommend that when you discuss a video, and give credit to, or comment about, a 'rapper'...that you don't use the word "shot". Maybe use the verb 'filmed', instead. Because when I see the words 'rapper' and 'shot' in the same sentence, well...I think you get my drift.
And, indeed, Obama has already begun work to effect Change, but he isn't President until the afternoon of Jan. 20th, 2009. The team that he is assembling is impressive, and I look forward to eight years of repairing this great country of ours.
-SanDiegoMark
#8 what the hell are you talking about? What did these people ever do to anyone? Who are you to tell people what they can or can't celebrate? what, should we all agree to be miserable all the time every single day until we somehow get out of Iraq and afghanistan?
What a hateful attitude. It's not the common person's fault we're in this mess. So don't take your hate out on the common person, ok?
I shot this video yesterday. This is my first time on this site and I'm finding this discussion interesting.
For those that don't know much about New Orleans, Second Lines happen pretty much every Sunday from about Labor until mid/late May. These are usually incredibly joyful events that involve people dancing and drinking through their neighborhood streets for a good four or five hours. There's a lot more history to them than that, but you can do your own research.
Yesterday's event was one of the most jubilant and joyful that I've been to and I think the video represents the sense of elation and relief that people are feeling right now. And really, what better way is there to express this than singing and dancing your city's streets on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon? There's a lot of bad stuff in New Orleans and the rest of the world, but there's a lot more to celebrate and be thankful for.
To SanDiegoMark who commented on my username and the word 'shot', I think you should get a better context of rap music and lighten up.
@ # 8 - enlighten yourself
A tiger gave chase to a monk who had been walking peacefully near a cliff, and the monk, running as fast as he could, had no choice but to leap off the edge of the cliff to avoid being eaten. He was able, as he leapt, to grab hold of a vine trailing over the cliff. He dangled in mid-air with the tiger snarling at him overhead and under him a very long fall into a rushing river full of boulders. Then he noticed a mouse gnawing at the vine. He also noticed, growing out of a cleft in a rock in front of him, a strawberry plant with one ripe berry. He ate it. He said, “This is a very good strawberry.â€
One can have joy, even in the face of suffering. To think otherwise is just another kind of attachment to things best let go of. You cling to bitterness. Let go.
AnorexicRapper You should head down to BJ's Lounge and have JD (a crazy friend and bar tender there) to buy you a drink, tell him Dan in MI sent ya, BJ's and Vaughns deep in the Bywater are great places to meet and greet some of the best locals!
@#15 AnorexicRapper --
Thanks very much for the video! The joy is tangible, even in pixel form.
Singing and celebrations in public should be so commonplace as to be unworthy of notice.
There is a direct and strong connection between militarism abroad and poverty/misery at home.
I do not mean to be hateful, but you Americans ought to be in a far far happier place than where your leaders have led you. As indeed ought to be we Canucks.
I thought the Congress promised to end the War last time around (ie when the Dems took a majority), what's their excuse for waiting/delaying this time?
Too busy congratulating themselves?
UglyCanuck, You like many do not know enough about our Government in particular majorities needed to over ride a Presidential veto. While it is/was true the Democrats had a simple majority but they did not have a "Super Majority" i.e. 60 Senate votes and House equivalent to over power the President So the Democrats did not have a chance of ending the war.
Let them dance Silly beans!
How does a president veto a cut in funding?
I think the Dems have no interest at all in ending the War.
Watch Obama fulfill his promise to increase military spending right off the bat...I noticed the Air Force celebrated his victory by incinerating another Afghan wedding party (scores of women and children dead, death from above, the preferred American fighting style...) but your media was too busy celebrating to report it.
How is it that starting this War was so easy, while ending it takes super-majorities?
In fact I have the ugly feeling the dems wanted the War to keep on going so that they could use opposition to it to get votes in this election.
Now that the election's over, the media is about anything BUT the War.