This weekend is the 22nd annual Boston Freedom Rally. Join thousands of cannabis enthusiasts and activists on September 17th in Boston, Massachusetts! Go to http://www.BostonFreedomRally.com for all the info.
Bombs are dropping everywhere… moneybombs, that is. The Freedom Party of Ontario and US presidential candidate Ron Paul are both having online fundraisers September 17th. Show your support at http://www.ronpaul2012.com and http://www.freedomparty.on.ca
Jodie gives out a code so you can get 10% off everything at our online store. Go to http://www.cannabisculture.com/store for your discount on "Everything you need except the weed"!
Jodie is off to visit Marc this weekend. Write him a letter, he'd love to hear from you. Just let him know you care. All the details of how to do that are at http://freemarc.ca/
MARC EMERY #40252-086
FCI YAZOO CITY MEDIUM E-1
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
P.O. BOX 5888
YAZOO CITY, MS 39194
The US Drug Enforcement Administration admitted on the day of Marc Emery’s arrest (July 29th, 2005) that his investigation and extradition were politically motivated, designed to target the Marijuana Legalization organization that Emery spearheaded and ran for over a decade in Canada.
Here is the original text of DEA Administrator Karen Tandy’s statement released on July 29th, 2005:
Today’s DEA arrest of Marc Scott Emery, publisher of Cannabis Culture Magazine, and the founder of a marijuana legalization group — is a significant blow not only to the marijuana trafficking trade in the U.S. and Canada, but also to the marijuana legalization movement.
His marijuana trade and propagandist marijuana magazine have generated nearly $5 million a year in profits that bolstered his trafficking efforts, but those have gone up in smoke today.
Emery and his organization had been designated as one of the Attorney General’s most wanted international drug trafficking organizational targets — one of only 46 in the world and the only one from Canada.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars of Emery’s illicit profits are known to have been channeled to marijuana legalization groups active in the United States and Canada. Drug legalization lobbyists now have one less pot of money to rely on.
In addition to the DEA press release, see these DEA documents (shared in Marc’s blog – click here to read) that admit Marc’s money all went to political activism efforts:
Over a year ago, after getting the transfer application rejected, one of my lawyers put in a Freedom of Information request about me to the DEA, FBI, Department of State, Bureau of Prisons, and other U.S. federal agencies. The FBI claimed not to have any file on me, others sent minor paperwork, and the DEA stalled – claiming that with so many email accounts and servers to go through, they couldn’t afford the time to do it! But finally, some the DEA files were handed over; heavily redacted too, of course.
Some of the most interesting information is that the DEA confirmed that I gave over $2,000,000 to activists, activist groups, political parties, rallies, events, court challenges, and verified that over $753,000 of it was sent by Western Union wire. (I actually gave just under $4,500,000 in cash, check, money order, credit card and western union to those causes and people from 1995 to 2005, but the DEA apparently could only ascertain $2,000,000 of it, from 1999 to 2004.)
Here are the excerpts from the DEA release: [Click the images to view the full pages]
—- PAGE 14:
In a recent Editor’s Page piece, EMERY and assistant editor Giesz-Ramsay boast that “my [EMERY’s] organizations (including CC) have contributed over $2,000,000 toward court battles, ballot initiatives, jailed individuals, rallies, conferences, marches and elections – all involving cannabis or the drug war.”
It goes on to state, “There is virtually no drug reform group or organization in North America that has not received some assistance from us.”
These sentiments are confirmed by the investigation conducted by the San Francisco FD into the numerous Western Union wire transfers initiated by Marc EMERY to many marijuana political activists around the world.
—-
—- PAGE 18:
The San Francisco Field Division, in coordination with the Blaine Resident Office is investigating Marc EMERY. At the request of Blaine RO, SFFD has conducted an analysis of Western Union wire transfers sent by EMERY for the period 5 April 1999 until 5 April 2004.
In total, $753,712.14 was transferred by EMERY through Western Union Financial Services. The financial analysis revealed that EMERY distributed this money to candidates for elections in the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries.
This Report of Investigation details the significant websites and email accounts documented in cables DTG: 102055Z June 2005 and DTG: 102110Z June 2005.
—-
So there you have it. Although I have claimed all along to have donated millions of dollars (all my seed profits) to activist efforts in those ten years I was a seed seller – because that was the point of the seed business – it’s still nice to have the DEA confirm this. And out of the San Francisco Field Office of DEA, at that.
Just back from a long weekend visit with Marc, Jodie reports that he has graduated his grade 12 GED course today, at a ceremony with cap and gown and a diploma, at the top of his class (and top 1% of Mississippi state!) at Yazoo City Federal Prison. Jodie also receives more gifts from Marc to warm her heart… and her head! September 10th marks one year since Marc was sentenced in federal court to 5 years, and Jodie explains the D.E.A.'s press release that admitted it was a political prosecution.
Back To School Special at Marc Emery's Cannabis Culture Headquarters! All students get 10% off everything in our store at 307 West Hastings Street in downtown Vancouver, BC. We've got everything you need but the weed!
The Freedom Party in Ontario was created by Marc back in the 80's and has been resurrected to run in the upcoming provincial election. To show your support and be part of their upcoming Money Bomb fundraiser on September 17, go to: http://www.freedomparty.on.ca/
Dearest Jodie: That was a wonderful three day visit we just had, the only three day visitation weekend I'll have until Memorial Day next year, when you'll hopefully visit me again for the three day weekend. We took ten photographs today on Labor Day, and I'm hoping they turn out as well as we think they should. The next photo day is when you visit me on New Years Day, January 1st, 2012. By that day I'll be near the half-way mark of my sentence, and the downhill slide to my release day of July 9th, 2014 begins.
As of Labor Day today, I have 1,038 days to go in my sentence. The next milestone I'm excited about is October 14th, when its 999 days to go, down to three digits from four!
On your next visit to me on the weekend of September 17th and 18th, something special happens. Long ago, in my home province of Ontario in 1982, I founded a political party dedicated to individual liberty, freedom and limited but rational government. I know that seems like a contradiction in principles (government is never rational), but you know I have been an idealist all my life, and I always held that is was possible for limited, rational governance oriented around a strictly adhered to set of principles.
These principles were articulated by Ayn Rand, my great inspiration for my life since 1979, and other great philosophers in history such as Thomas Jefferson, Frederic Bastiat, Ludwig Von Mises, Frederick Hayek, Isabel Patterson, Lysander Spooner, and other great individuals whose outlook on government and life would be considered libertarian. That is, the answer to all crises is liberty and freedom, and that governments that respect and protect the liberty and free choices and free markets of its people is most faithful to the idea of 'governance with the consent of the governed.'
The name of that political party was The Freedom Party, and it has never gone away. It was quietly awaiting a renaissance since I departed its daily workings in 1989. Thirty years after it was founded by myself and a brilliant, wonderful man named Robert Metz, the Freedom Party renaissance is happening now.
In Ontario, there is a provincial election on October 6th. There are the usual statist parties vying to bury the province of Ontario in a graveyard of debt, regulation, police empowerment, the dictates of the nanny state, prohibition, and decline, but there are now 65 candidates of the Freedom Party on the ballot in that election to challenge the status quo. By mid-September there may be more to contest the 109 ridings up for grabs in this election.
The Freedom Party candidates in this election are all opposed to the prohibition of cannabis, but significantly, over half of the candidates under the Freedom Party banner are activists from the cannabis culture! Our people have invigorated this party I co-founded, under the inspired leadership of an incredible man of vision and principle, Paul McKeever, into a contender of a political party.
Paul McKeever, whose blogs I have enjoyed while I have been incarcerated for my 18 months now (he is one of my 30 Corrlinks prison "email" contacts), is a constant correspondent of mine, and, incredibly, for a man I have never met in person, the producer and director of the definitive video-biography of my life, The Principle of Pot (watch it at www.YouTube.com/PaulMcKeever).
Paul is a dedicated and articulate activist politician determined to bring liberty and freedom to the people of Ontario. I love Paul, I cannot endorse anyone more than him to protect the fundamental rights of liberty and all that entails in Canada. Ontario voters are incredibly lucky to have a great yet humble man like Paul McKeever as the leader of an Ontario political party that is on the ballot for Ontario citizens to support October 6th.
The Freedom Party has a moneybomb fundraiser on Saturday, September 17th, in just a few short days. Political campaigns require money. Chris Goodwin, perhaps one of my greatest proteges in this movement for liberty, this cannabis culture, is a candidate in this Ontario provincial election. He has recruited dozens of candidates to the Freedom Party campaign and is organizing a 24-hour online fundraiser moneybomb from midnight Friday, September 16th to 11:59 pm Saturday, September 17th.
I know you will give some money to them, to support the party I founded long ago. It's vital you show as much support as possible to uplift the wonderful members of the cannabis culture who are Freedom Party candidates, as well as the others who are running with Freedom Party because they have a passion for liberty and a thirst to make that a reality in Ontario.
I hope you will encourage as many other people as you can to watch, participate and donate to this moneybomb. I know Chris Goodwin has an incredible show planned, webcast for 24 hours live. The owner of Vapor Central has generously committed to donating the revenue of VC from that day to the Freedom Party campaign. I hope our supporters will be generous to the cause of liberty, and donate that day. I am so proud of them for what they are doing, and all Canadians can participate in enriching their chances in this election campaign.
The Freedom Party isn't just about freeing the cannabis culture, they're about freedom for all! Go to www.freedomparty.on.ca for information.
Thank you for everything you do for me and others, my sweet wife. And thank you to everyone who has supported me during this ordeal, with letters, mailed photos, books, and donations to my commissary. I'm looking forward to returning to Canada and helping restore liberty when Canada will need it most.
Yours, always,
Marc
MARC EMERY #40252-086
FCI YAZOO CITY – MEDIUM E-1
P.O. BOX 5888
YAZOO CITY, MS
39194
Marc has now started his own band in prison, and Jodie gives all the details including some of the songs he'll be playing. A beautiful card arrived from Marc for Jodie, and she shares it and his message. There have been many political changes in Canada. Jack Layton, leader of the NDP (the new official opposition to Stephen Harper's Conservatives), has passed away from cancer, leaving many questions as to the safety of the cannabis culture in Canada. And happening October 21-23 on Vancouver Island: The first annual Michelle Rainey Legacy event – see www.MichelleRainey.com and www.420Talk.ca for info.
Write to Marc when you can, he'd love to hear from you:
MARC EMERY #40252-086
FCI YAZOO CITY MEDIUM E-1
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
P.O. BOX 5888
YAZOO CITY, MS 39194
Since 1969, when hash-smoking Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau assured the nation that decriminalization was imminent, we've had a succession of promises without action from Canadian political leaders. After Trudeau reneged on his pledge and ignored the recommendations of his appointed LeDain Commission (which recommended legalization), Prime Minister Joe Clark in 1979 failed to do the same after he committed to decriminalization.
Then Prime Minister Jean Chretien promised to decriminalize pot possession to a $100 fine in 2003, but failed to act on that. Prime Minister Paul Martin admitted to eating pot brownies his wife made, and Prime Minister Kim Campbell (Canada's briefest PM, 1992-1993) admitted smoking pot in her youth.
The late New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton famously repeated his line that he never exhaled, and while he never became Prime Minister, he came aboard as NDP leader in 2003 with tremendous promise after being an off-and-on pot smoker for the previous 35 years. Yet since then, over 500,000 Canadians have been convicted on marijuana charges in those more than eight years, with tens of thousands going to jail for those offenses.
Since Trudeau promised decriminalization in 1969, two-and-a-half million Canadians have been convicted of a pot offense. Despite this shocking and egregious injustice, no elected official, including Jack Layton, ever embraced the issue in such a way as to give it the gravitas required to get it on the national agenda. Jack preferred to leave it to NDP stalwarts like Member of Parliament Libby Davies, even though in the months prior to his becoming leader of the NDP, a nine-member Senate Special Committee unanimously recommended marijuana be legalized. (In the foreboding current Stephen Harper Conservative majority government, those days are quaint nostalgia now.)
It's shocking Jack died so young – and so fast – and was robbed of life in his moment of triumph. He began 2003 with great promise for our movement, assuring me in an interview he solicited on Pot TV [seen here and below] that he would do his utmost to end marijuana prohibition.
But in the 2004 campaign and each election afterward, he virtually renounced his 2003 video and statement to me and Canadians. While Jack was leader, Dana Larsen and his eNDProhibition campaign were banned from NDP conventions, and Dana and Kirk Tousaw were pushed out as NDP candidates in the 2008 federal election. Jack tried to distance himself from me and my organization even though we had brought him so much support over the years – support that he came and sought from us.
Yes, Layton was a nice guy and got along well with people. But what revolutionary and liberating policies did he offer in his eight years at the helm of the NDP? Other than his initial promise to advocate legalization of cannabis, none that I can think of. What great defense of individual freedom and civil liberties did he put forward in Parliament? None that I can think of. How often did he renounce Canada's military participation in Afghanistan and Libya? Not very often, if ever. Even Libby Davies was sidelined for her insightful remarks on the mistreatment of Palestinians. He got the NDP 102 seats, and he finished off the Bloc Quebecois – two stunning political achievements perhaps, but nothing of any longevity and value that improved the lives of Canadians. His criticism of Harper was muted and flaccid when we most needed strong opposition to the prison and war expansion in Canada.
The NDP has many great people in the Parliament, but no one knows much about them because none were cultivated to be prominent. A great leader grooms qualified acolytes among his caucus to shine and rise when his or her time is up. This is an attribute of great leadership. Yet there is no one in the caucus known to most Canadians, even after eight years. As leader of the NDP, Mr. Layton failed to groom the talented in his party for leadership. And now there is indeed a vacuum in Canadian politics.
When it comes to the elected headmen of Canada and the US – most, if not all, have smoked marijuana, including Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Trudeau, Campbell, Martin, and many opposition leaders, Senators, MPs, Congressmen – I have never been able to reconcile why, once elected to a position they have sought for much of their lives, they fail to act on this great civil rights violation of our time.
In 40 years, 17 million Americans and Canadians have been convicted of a cannabis offense, and millions of these citizens have gone to jail.
Yet after 50 years of this persecution, we are still no better off with our leaders than cheap laugh-inducing theatrics designed to dodge putting forth a serious answer to the question, "How can you justify the destructive policy of prohibition when the majority of Canadians and Americans want to legalize marijuana?"
Indeed, where is democracy? Where is justice?
Where are the real leaders?
Jack Layton, nice fellow though he may have been, was a consummate politician. If a state funeral was offered up to him – an opposition leader of no particular greatness beyond his kindness and positive attitude – then now it must be extended to former Prime Ministers Joe Clark, John Turner, Kim Campbell, Paul Martin, and Brian Mulroney when they pass, not to mention former Liberal opposition leaders such as Michael Ignatieff and Stephane Dion. Yet none are worthy. Politicians get fawned over and live a largely royal life with perks and privileges galore. Their actual achievements in advancing the western ideals of freedom, tolerance, peace, economic prosperity and prudent, transparent, fair governance are few.
These are not the people who should be honored with state funerals. There are so many more deserving individuals who have dedicated themselves to actually improving the lives of many others in direct, real ways. For example, I hope David Suzuki receives a state funeral when he passes; after all, his own country, Canada, threw him unjustifiably into an internment camp in the 1940's for being born with Japanese ancestry, yet he rose out of such an ordeal to impact on the lives of every Canadian. He has taught us over the decades about the inter-relationship between Canadians and their environmental habitat, and the profound vigilance required to maintain the quality of life for both people and the planet. His lifetime influence is everywhere in Canada today, in our consideration of how we treat our forests, rivers, oceans, the air we breathe, animals, humans, our diet, our health. This is a great man who actually and profoundly changed all our lives for the better.
Stephen Harper's cynical (faux-gracious) offer to hold a state funeral for Layton is to reinforce Harper's deeply-held view that the political class is the barometer of our deepest held value system. It is government that determines the national agenda, the zeitgeist, the spirit of the age. It is the political class that Canadians must submit to, Harper believes, and it is the political class that he wants "good guy" Layton to be part of. "I wish I would have had time to jam with Jack," said Harper in his eulogy, offering forth the bilious image of Harper playing his lounge-act rock and roll to show how human he is, when you and I know Harper is anything but.
I believe the reason people are so torn up about Jack Layton is because nature is essentially unjust – if nature were just, the good would live happy and long lives in good health until they were 100 years old, and the evil would be consumed by their insidious demons and die young and quickly as a reward for their bad choices and as protection to the good people.
But that isn't what happens. Good people get murdered, raped, stricken with cancer, suffer horribly, lose loved ones to tragedy, and more unfortunate suffering and ordeals, while evil people can prosper – often in politics, high finance, and other similarly vaunted strata in society. Humans try to ameliorate this natural injustice by instituting law, government, and its social engineering extensions, but this largely fails, usually creating more war, suffering, famine, financial chaos, misery, inequity.
What the candlelight vigil was really saying was "people dying suddenly, who don't deserve to die so soon, frightens me," and "That could be me, or someone I know", and it scares them. They can see in Jack Layton the paradox of here today, gone tomorrow, literally. And that other famous line, "There but for fortune go I."
The lesson is that life is short, and we have to make the most of our time. There are many individuals who inspire others and achieve greatness – not for their gain alone, but for the betterment of many lives. Politicians are too often seen as the great decision makers and the only ones who can save us, but they don't really accomplish anything as individuals while working within a party in government when compared to people who have dedicated themselves to improve the world in a more direct way, outside of politics.
Our country needs, but hasn't had, a great leader. When have we had a champion of civil liberties, of a reduced military, of a peacekeeping nation, of prosperity and freedom for all, of fairness, of justice? When did we have a leader who inspired great idealism and nobleness in citizens of every class? We have never had that. We have certainly had bad leaders who led Canada in the wrong direction; we have that in Prime Minister Stephen Harper now! But we've never had a good or great leader. We've always had calculating politicians for leaders, but never a statesman or peace-loving visionary.
And that's the tragedy.
– Marc Emery
Yazoo City Medium-security prison
Yazoo City, Mississippi, USA
Just back from the Seattle Hempfest, Jodie has pictures and video to share (see more at http://www.CannabisCulture.com) along with two gifts: a beautiful Mr. Kiefbox stash box with the Chronic Art roach paper mosaic portrait of Marc and Jodie, and a hooked rug of the "FREE MARC" logo from Bunny at the Vancouver Dispensary.
Vivian McPeak, tireless warrior and executive director of Seattle Hempfest, has written a great book about the 20 years of Hempfest history. Get a copy for $20, email Vivian@Hempfest.org and go to http://www.SeattleHempfest.com or http://www.Hempfest.org for more info about the biggest cannabis event on earth!
Marc could use a letter to lift his spirits, as he's been feeling extra depressed lately. Go to http://www.FreeMarc.ca for the address and guidelines.
"We've got everything you need, except the weed"! Visit http://www.CannabisCulture.com/store and show your support for Marc Emery's Cannabis Culture Headquarters.
Jodie shares new pictures of Marc in prison, and some bad news about the prison adding a third bunk to every cell. The Seattle Hempfest kicks off Friday and ends on Sunday; meet Jodie and CC editor Jeremiah Vandermeer August 19-21 at the world's biggest cannabis event. Check it out at http://www.hempfest.org
"We've got everything you need, except the weed"! Visit http://www.CannabisCulture.com/store and show your support for Marc Emery's Cannabis Culture Headquarters.
Send Marc a letter, he'd love to hear from you….
MARC EMERY #40252-086
FCI YAZOO CITY MEDIUM E-1
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
P.O. BOX 5888
YAZOO CITY, MS 39194
Marc is now a High School Graduate and Jodie has the certificate to prove it! Meet Jodie and Jeremiah Vandermeer at Seattle Hempfest, August 19-21 (http://www.Hempfest.org) and be sure to donate to them, too! Follow Jodie on Twitter! She posts opinions and news story comments every day at http://www.Twitter.com/jodieemery
Tuesday nights are Jams in the Key of Green at the BC Marijuana Party headquarters, and every week we donate half of the entry fees to a charity. Jodie lists the charities who have already received donations and the charities who are next to get contributions from Cannabis Culture and the BCMP. Come down enjoy some great music and help a worthy cause.
Dearest Miss: I’ve been keeping busy, and am actually enjoying the extreme heat down here. Each day in the morning, or even from noon to 3pm, I go to an elevated wooden umpire booth behind the baseball diamond and take off my t-shirt, sit in the shade, and feel this gentle breeze while I read my magazines, books, and NY Times newspapers for two to three hours. I play my bass guitar every evening and most afternoons.
Lately I've been going down memory lane with the recent excerpt from my autobiography being put online. The teacher who escorted the students on that Middle East trip in March 1975, Don McQueen, my history and politics teacher from Sir Wilfrid Laurier High School from 1973-1975, is alive and well and was interviewed for the “Citizen Marc” documentary that director Roger Larry is finishing up the final interviews for. My friend Roy, whom I’ve known for 45 years, was also interviewed. Roy has just finished a delightful book called “2012 Rabbits and the Happy Apocalypse”, available on Amazon for download to Kindle and due out in print soon. I really have enjoyed the chapters I received from Roy in the mail, and am excited to get the printed copy of the book.
As you know, Miss, I was crestfallen when my instructor/teacher/band leader Grizz and my drummer Damian got sent to the SHU (Special Housing unit, solitary confinement) within 24 hours of each other two weeks ago, because our band “Stuck” was arbitrarily dissolved when that happened. I lost our studio rehearsal spot and our gig spot for the Labor Day weekend concert. But then, a few days ago, Terry and I were invited to be in a reggae band called “Star”, and I am now rehearsing "I Shot The sheriff", "Stir It Up" and "No Woman, No Cry". It's great fun and an education to become familiar with these three classic Bob Marley songs, which we'll play in the new concert in early September.
I am "getting it" – that is, the reggae beat – so it’s exciting. Fortunately, my lead guitarist Terry seems to know every song ever done, having played as a professional guitarist in bands for 15 years, including reggae bands, so I am getting expert instruction on how to do the bass lines for "I Shot The Sheriff" and "Stir It Up". I came up with the bass lines on "No Woman No Cry" from the chords indicated on the sheet music.
So I am in a band once again, and we are in the studio Saturday and Monday nights now – two practice slots, as other new bands did not make the cut, leaving more practice time available for us. When the Music Department C.O. (correctional officer) asked me what Terry and I were doing now, I said I was in the reggae band and he said, "well, that's good, because I know you two know how to play, from hearing your last concert, so your rehearsal times are assured." So that was cool to hear him say I "know how to play."
I always sign my letters to you as "Your Boo, Marc", now I will sign them "Your Rasta-Boo, Marc". In fact, you could send me a copy of what is probably my favorite piece I ever wrote for Cannabis Culture, "The Secret History of Rastafari", so I can show the rest of the band, who are all dread Jamaicans. We are the only interracial band with Terry and I in the mix now.
I had a medical check-up and my health is at its optimum, apparently. My blood pressure is 113 over 63, which is excellent I'm told. No infections or problems – as far as I know! I'm eating plenty of salmon/albacore tuna wraps that I make with my purchases from the commissary. In each meal I prepare myself, no matter what it is, I crush up 10-15 fresh garlic parts (usually a whole clove) and add it to my wraps or any food or even dips I make. To the salmon/tuna or even my cheese dips, I add chili-garlic sauce, chili powder, chopped jalapenos, mayonnaise, and the fresh garlic cloves. I have developed a palate for spicy, tangy foods now, as you can see, from when I was at D Ray James private prison in Folkston, Georgia, where virtually all my colleagues were Hispanic and ate spicy food.
My Mennonite Canadian friend Peter, whom I shared all my meals with at D Ray James, was supposed to be released on August 8th, a few days ago, and deported back to Canada, where his wife and nine children were eagerly awaiting his return from 21 months in prison for bringing a van of weed into the USA from Mexico. I hope Peter will contact you to say hello now that he is back in Canada. Give him my best wishes and let him know how I am doing. I was also satisfied to learn that my good friends Mike and Brad are doing as best as they can at DRJ, though that horrible place is as dysfunctional as ever by the sounds of it, with the nearby Okefenokee Swamp burning out of control for much of the summer, causing blackened smoke in the air. As you have found out, the air conditioning there has been dysfunctional for almost a month, and the temperatures there are the same as here, about 100 degrees F (38 degrees C) each day. Ugh!
I've got many good books to read. Right now I'm reading the daily diary travel book "Sahara" by Michael Palin. Palin is the former Monty Python member who, in the earlier part of the last decade, did travel shows for the BBC television, and "Sahara" was one of the episodes. Throughout the four-month trip, Palin wrote a daily diary and it is very well done. I am also reading a comic book reprint of a war comic series from 1965-1966 called “Blazing Combat”, a beautifully illustrated comic series done by the great artists of that period, Alex Toth, Reed Crandall and Wally Wood, and all stories written by Archie Goodwin. They’re modeled a great deal on the EC Comics (anti) war comics from 1951-1955 called “Frontline Combat” and “Two-Fisted Tales”. Those latter two titles were classic stories written by one of my favorite artist/writers of comics ever, Harvey Kurtzman.
I just finished the popular novel, “The Help”, which is being released as a movie this month. As you know, because you recommended this book to me, it takes place in 1962-1964 in Jackson, the capital of Mississippi near here. It’s extremely well written, but is probably a little too satisfying in that chick-lit way, in that there are only two villains, a mean old white lady and an abusive wife-beating drunk black man, while all others are saintly or redeemable characters meant to make all readers of both races and genders feel good about the world (today) by the end. This is the secret of its success, along with its deft ear for dialect and story telling.
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Oh Miss, today was special! In the afternoon I met with John, a drummer, vocalist and songwriter for the other rock band “Out of Bounds”, who composed and put together a terrific song called Prince of Pot. I'm having them write up the music for that one so the BC Marijuana Party “Jams in the Key of Green” jam night MC Adam Bowen can perform it with a band for YouTube.
I was telling John about learning some reggae songs today with Terry, and that I thought one song went notes A, D, E (as it turns out, neither “Stir It Up” nor “I Shot The Sheriff” go A, D, E.).
So John plays the notes A, D, E (John was playing rhythm guitar while I did the bass). Then I play the notes A, D, E, E, E, (the first E a quarter note, the second two E's are eighth notes, that's a full measure in 4/4 time). Then we play it four times, then a full measure of G, then a full measure of E, another measure of G, then go E, D, C (with a 1/4 note, and two eighths on C), and then back to the lick of A, D, E, E, E.
Well, that sounds pretty cool. I said, "That sounds neat." He says, "What do you feel when you hear that music?"
And I say, "It’s funny you should say that, because that music makes me feel like the sun is rising, the desert is ahead, the day is just beginning."
He says, "Well, lets write a song".
And over the next three hours we compose a song with an intro, two verses, a solo – John does the solo, I do 10 measures on the bass that are A, D, E, E, E (four measures), then G, C, D, D, D, (two measures) and then back to A, D, E, E, E (for four more measures), all while John does this excellent solo that plays off my bass riff – then two more verses, with lyrics about a guy waking up, being nagged at, ditching his girlfriend and all his material possessions and driving off into the desert, where he clears his head, looks to the future, picks up a girl on the highway, and finds that she sure is pretty and fun, but perhaps no different from the one he left behind.
The lyrics are fun, they rhyme, they aren't profound, though I may rewrite them to be so, but I have always worked from the presumption I can't compose music at all, that I have no talent musically (I just like to play stuff I'm able to memorize because I love making music), and that I really just am determined enough so I can play songs. So those three hours were really fun. I made suggestions to the song that improved it, and I had a hand in the lyrics, and my playing was very good. It was a terrific exercise and I felt really excited to start from scratch and actually co-produce a song from nothing, a song that was kind of cool sounding. It’s really the first time I have ever co-created a song in a band situation. Yay!
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When I got back from the visit we had on Sunday the 14th, I wasn't feeling so good, but I thought I'd let it settle. I had the uninspired food they served for dinner, and then I went to the yard and got my bass (I always use B-4, it’s reserved for me). I met up with the singer of “I Shot The Sheriff” and we got some things straightened out and worked on the song, and then I was given “No Woman, No Cry” to do as well, so I have three songs, which is great.
Then a fellow came in with ten songs from the 1950s and early '60s, and showed them to Terry, who strummed the chords as I did the bass on them (they were all straightforward and simple bass lines) and this guy sang them. It was great fun playing “Hound Dog”, “Oh Donna”, “Shake, Rattle & Roll”, “It’s Alright Mama”, and other oldies.
So I did 90 minutes of music on the bass tonight and I realize I am getting much better, noticeably, and other people are remarking on it. Plus, Terry did the guitar on “Redemption Song”, a wonderful Marley song, with the singer Smitty of Star (there are two singers in that band – Smitty sings “I Shot The Sheriff”, and Marshall sings “No Woman, No Cry” and “Stir It Up”), so he's singing “Redemption Song”, and I'm singing right along ("Please help me sing these songs of freedom, is all I ever had, redemption songs, these songs of freedom…") and it feels very, very good to sing that song. That song is just one guitar and voice; there is no bass or drums on that song. It’s also the last song Bob Marley recorded.
Then I walked around the track twice, in perfect temperature, nice sunset. I felt much better. So don't worry about me, Miss, I'm over my melancholia. I'm enjoying reading a biography of Phil Ochs called “There But For Fortune”, and learning to play his 1966 song “Cops of the World” – a song that Greg “Marijuana Man” Williams of Pot TV had made a video for years ago, which you introduced, but it was removed from YouTube for music copyright violation. It’s good that YouTube is now just adding links to purchase songs from iTunes instead of removing videos that use copyrighted music! The song “Cops of the World” is from the album Phil Ochs in Concert, performing the song at Carnegie Hall.
I'm changing the lyrics when I sing Cops of the World from “Dump the reds in a pile, boys, Dump the reds in a pile” to “Dump the Arabs in a pile, boys, Dump the Muslims in a pile” to reflect that all the contemporary US military campaigns and support target those people in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Iran, Israel. (The original song lyrics are posted below.)
I hope you have a good time speaking at Seattle Hempfest this upcoming weekend (August 19th-21st). The Seattle activists have always been so supportive, and you’ve been given great opportunities to speak many times at the last two Hempfests, so I really appreciate that! Thanks for being strong and taking care of everything, Miss. I love you so much!
Your Rasta Boo,
Marc Emery
Send Marc mail! The address and guidelines are posted on the front page of www.FreeMarc.ca
Cops of the World
E A E A
Come, get out of the way, boys
E A E E7
Quick, get out of the way
G C G C
You'd better watch what you say, boys
G C B7
Better watch what you say
E A
We've rammed in your harbor and tied to your port
E A
And our pistols are hungry and our tempers are short
E B7 E A Abm A
So bring your daughters around to the port
B7 E
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
B7 E
We're the Cops of the World
We pick and choose as please, boys
Pick and choose as please
You'd best get down on your knees, boys
Best get down on your knees
We're hairy and horny and ready to shack
We don't care if you're yellow or black
Just take off your clothes and lie down on your back
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World
Our boots are needing a shine, boys
Boots are needing a shine
But our Coca-cola is fine, boys
Coca-cola is fine
We've got to protect all our citizens fair
So we'll send a battalion for everyone there
And maybe we'll leave in a couple of years
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World
Dump the reds in a pile, boys
Dump the reds in a pile
You'd better wipe of that smile, boys
Better wipe off that smile
We'll spit through the streets of the cities we wreck
We'll find you a leader that you can't elect
Those treaties we signed were a pain in the neck
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World
Clean the johns with a rag, boys
Clean the johns with a rag
If you like you can use your flag, boys
If you like you can use your flag
We've got too much money we're looking for toys
And guns will be guns and boys will be boys
But we'll gladly pay for all we destroy
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World
Please stay off of the grass, boys
Please stay off of the grass
Here's a kick in the ass, boys
Here's a kick in the ass
We'll smash down your doors, we don't bother to knock
We've done it before, so why all the shock?
We're the biggest and toughest kids on the block
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World
When we butchered your son, boys
When we butchered your son
Have a stick of our gum, boys
Have a stick of our bubble-gum
We own half the world, oh say can you see
The name for our profits is democracy
So, like it or not, you will have to be free
'Cause we're the Cops of the World, boys
We're the Cops of the World
