skins
2010-04-19 17:04:27 UTC
SKINHEAD BOY
"Skinhead Boy" is the title of a short, catchy, praise-worthy ballad
extolling "patriots," who will "save our land." The lyrics are not
clearly decipherable, overpowered by the simplistic and repetitive-
strumming, which stems from the less-than-optimal recording-venue.
There is also some verbiage, which could be regarded as unprintable.
However, the piece is compelling and inspirational. The voices are
the charming, fourteen-year-old Gaede twins, who had garnered
international attention by wearing outrageous T-shirts. While it
would be easy enough to cheer the offering as a welcome fan-club for
Skinheads, the ditty raises important, yet disturbing, issues.
The often-asked question was answered by a British documentary. "Are
the twins simply the alter-ego of their mother?" They were. And, the
older they have become, the more they have tried to distance
themselves from their mother's "controversial" views. They expressed
relief that their attention-grabbing T-shirts had, eventually, been
"burned," although the mother disclosed that she had secretly stowed
them away. There have been vaunted moves by pro-Communist elements to
stereotype Skinheads, to reduce their enormous appeal, as social-
reformers, by suggesting that they are all dysfunctional,
conspiratorial and, even, murderous.
One tactic is to find some disgruntled Skinhead, ply him with cash and
put him on tour as a "former-Skinhead," denouncing his former-
compatriots. Another is to hype unstable individuals, who mutilate
their bodies, involve in mayhem or get jailed, as "examples" of so-
called Skinheads. There have, even, been instances when Negroes,
anarchists or costumists have been propagandized as "Skinheads," in
order to make Skinheads appear absurd. The mother is depicted in such
a spotlight, communicating with an imprisoned murderer, condoning
violence and appealing for Skinheads, who disavow violence, to be
assassinated, dimming the glow of the twins.
The inkling is that the twins might, eventually, disavow "Skinhead
Boy," when they fly their mother's nest, handing the Left a propaganda-
coup. What if they do? Galileo recanted that the earth revolved
around the sun, but it did not change the facts. The fact that
Skinheads display qualities of Joan of Arc, young, impetuous,
courageous and idealistic, would not change, should the twins defect.
But what of the mother's unsavory associations, potty-mouth and
untempered demeanor? In an epoch where "hate," "patriot-act" and
"conspiracy" edicts may ensnare even the unsuspecting, the lack of
protection hangs as an ominous cloud over the twins.
There may only be a thin line between the outrageous, which repulses,
and the outrageous, which energizes. However, one tell-tale sign that
the line is crossed is the burn-out factor. One vocal-supporter, Mark
Thomas, pleaded guilty to bank-robbery. George Burdi, perhaps egged on
by the mother's repeated denunciations of Christianity, became a
Satanist and, eventually, parted company. Arne Mathingsdal, a rising
Skinhead-singer, defected and became a hippy. Travis Golie had
suggested that the twins tailor their lines to the exclusively
patriotic, interspersing Skinhead images with other American folk-
heroes, but the mother vetoed the idea.
Another line of propriety concerns male-female interaction. Whether
the twins are promoted as "endearing" or "tantalizing" is a vital
distinction to image-makers. In a conversation with the mother, David
Lane, in his sixties, disclosed that he fantacized about the twins in
a carnal way. The mother took no offense, although the documentary-
maker did. In addition, the mother had conscripted Kevin Strom as a
manager, who morphed the teens into pornographic-images . He pleaded
guilty to child-pornography. The mother, however, who had used his
website to level attacks against Skinheads she did not like, never
apologized.
The twins did appear on the cover of "Resistance," which had promoted
Tim McVeigh and depicted a scantily-clad stripper. Editor Shaun Walker
was jailed for "hate," but questions lingered. Molly Pitcher did not
have to be portrayed in a bikini, in order to inspire Valley Forge.
However, Jimmy Carter credited his success to exposure in an interview
with an obscene publication. Publicity is necessary, but, since many
Skinheads are recruited at a young age, a wholesome, rather than
tawdry, image, seems best-suited for positive and long-term gains. As
Jason Tansen, a California Skinhead, put it, "I want to feel like I
have someone to share my fight with."
Could someone simply say that "I like the music" and be done with it?
Perhaps. After all, Robin Hood and Jesse James had their problems
with the law, but became, nonetheless, legends. Patrick Henry and Sam
Adams were "criminals," until their cause triumphed. But, there is
the rub. The Skinhead cause of pure blood, a free country, strong
government, social-justice and majority rule must be victorious, if
Skinheads are to be given their due. So, tactics must attract the
public, elevate activism and attain power. Some have suggested unity
with all comers, but the straight-and-narrow path seems more in line
with Skinhead discipline, respect and honor.
To unsubscribe from Skinlist:
http://www.skinheadz.com/contact/unsubscribe.php
To subscribe to Skinlist:
http://www.skinheadz.com/contact/subscribe.php
To comment on Skinlist:
http://www.skinheadz.com/contact/comment.php
To read this article on the Skinhead website:
http://www.skinheadz.com/news/articles/2010/041901.html
Skinlist
Trademark/service of skinheadz.com
Not necessarily Skinlist views
Copyright 2010 Skinheadz
"Skinhead Boy" is the title of a short, catchy, praise-worthy ballad
extolling "patriots," who will "save our land." The lyrics are not
clearly decipherable, overpowered by the simplistic and repetitive-
strumming, which stems from the less-than-optimal recording-venue.
There is also some verbiage, which could be regarded as unprintable.
However, the piece is compelling and inspirational. The voices are
the charming, fourteen-year-old Gaede twins, who had garnered
international attention by wearing outrageous T-shirts. While it
would be easy enough to cheer the offering as a welcome fan-club for
Skinheads, the ditty raises important, yet disturbing, issues.
The often-asked question was answered by a British documentary. "Are
the twins simply the alter-ego of their mother?" They were. And, the
older they have become, the more they have tried to distance
themselves from their mother's "controversial" views. They expressed
relief that their attention-grabbing T-shirts had, eventually, been
"burned," although the mother disclosed that she had secretly stowed
them away. There have been vaunted moves by pro-Communist elements to
stereotype Skinheads, to reduce their enormous appeal, as social-
reformers, by suggesting that they are all dysfunctional,
conspiratorial and, even, murderous.
One tactic is to find some disgruntled Skinhead, ply him with cash and
put him on tour as a "former-Skinhead," denouncing his former-
compatriots. Another is to hype unstable individuals, who mutilate
their bodies, involve in mayhem or get jailed, as "examples" of so-
called Skinheads. There have, even, been instances when Negroes,
anarchists or costumists have been propagandized as "Skinheads," in
order to make Skinheads appear absurd. The mother is depicted in such
a spotlight, communicating with an imprisoned murderer, condoning
violence and appealing for Skinheads, who disavow violence, to be
assassinated, dimming the glow of the twins.
The inkling is that the twins might, eventually, disavow "Skinhead
Boy," when they fly their mother's nest, handing the Left a propaganda-
coup. What if they do? Galileo recanted that the earth revolved
around the sun, but it did not change the facts. The fact that
Skinheads display qualities of Joan of Arc, young, impetuous,
courageous and idealistic, would not change, should the twins defect.
But what of the mother's unsavory associations, potty-mouth and
untempered demeanor? In an epoch where "hate," "patriot-act" and
"conspiracy" edicts may ensnare even the unsuspecting, the lack of
protection hangs as an ominous cloud over the twins.
There may only be a thin line between the outrageous, which repulses,
and the outrageous, which energizes. However, one tell-tale sign that
the line is crossed is the burn-out factor. One vocal-supporter, Mark
Thomas, pleaded guilty to bank-robbery. George Burdi, perhaps egged on
by the mother's repeated denunciations of Christianity, became a
Satanist and, eventually, parted company. Arne Mathingsdal, a rising
Skinhead-singer, defected and became a hippy. Travis Golie had
suggested that the twins tailor their lines to the exclusively
patriotic, interspersing Skinhead images with other American folk-
heroes, but the mother vetoed the idea.
Another line of propriety concerns male-female interaction. Whether
the twins are promoted as "endearing" or "tantalizing" is a vital
distinction to image-makers. In a conversation with the mother, David
Lane, in his sixties, disclosed that he fantacized about the twins in
a carnal way. The mother took no offense, although the documentary-
maker did. In addition, the mother had conscripted Kevin Strom as a
manager, who morphed the teens into pornographic-images . He pleaded
guilty to child-pornography. The mother, however, who had used his
website to level attacks against Skinheads she did not like, never
apologized.
The twins did appear on the cover of "Resistance," which had promoted
Tim McVeigh and depicted a scantily-clad stripper. Editor Shaun Walker
was jailed for "hate," but questions lingered. Molly Pitcher did not
have to be portrayed in a bikini, in order to inspire Valley Forge.
However, Jimmy Carter credited his success to exposure in an interview
with an obscene publication. Publicity is necessary, but, since many
Skinheads are recruited at a young age, a wholesome, rather than
tawdry, image, seems best-suited for positive and long-term gains. As
Jason Tansen, a California Skinhead, put it, "I want to feel like I
have someone to share my fight with."
Could someone simply say that "I like the music" and be done with it?
Perhaps. After all, Robin Hood and Jesse James had their problems
with the law, but became, nonetheless, legends. Patrick Henry and Sam
Adams were "criminals," until their cause triumphed. But, there is
the rub. The Skinhead cause of pure blood, a free country, strong
government, social-justice and majority rule must be victorious, if
Skinheads are to be given their due. So, tactics must attract the
public, elevate activism and attain power. Some have suggested unity
with all comers, but the straight-and-narrow path seems more in line
with Skinhead discipline, respect and honor.
To unsubscribe from Skinlist:
http://www.skinheadz.com/contact/unsubscribe.php
To subscribe to Skinlist:
http://www.skinheadz.com/contact/subscribe.php
To comment on Skinlist:
http://www.skinheadz.com/contact/comment.php
To read this article on the Skinhead website:
http://www.skinheadz.com/news/articles/2010/041901.html
Skinlist
Trademark/service of skinheadz.com
Not necessarily Skinlist views
Copyright 2010 Skinheadz