alarm the populace

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

-- H.L. Mencken (1921)

fear free speech

"When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say."

-- George R. R. Martin (1999)

All or Nothing

"Never get out of the boat....  Unless you're going all the way."

-- Willard (Apocalypse Now) 1979

Windpower

Switch off the mind and let the heart decide

who you were meant to be. 

Flick to remote and let the body glide. 

There is no enemy. 

Etch out a future of your own design

well-tailored to your needs.

Then fan the flame and keep the dream alive. 

Shatter the lens and grind it into sand. 

One measured exposure.

Scatter the seed and furrow in our land. 

The future is roses! Roses! 

-- Thomas Dolby (1982)

Wanna Be Loved

I've been afraid, and I've been alone
Sometimes I need someone to pick up the phone
I'm tired of the leavin'
I need a home

I just wanna be loved
Can you tell me I'm worthy or important
Am I workin' hard enough?
I just wanna be loved

And I want someone to want me
I want somebody there
And I need someone to need me
I need someone who cares

-- Brandon Coleman (Red Clay Strays) 2024