How can I say this?  A conversation with a friend yesterday remained in my psyche.  Upon waking I recalled what he said about his experience with Medicare and the Veterans Administration.  His story was not a happy one.  I reflected upon the rules that constrain receiving medical care benefits that one is qualified for, and desperately needs in ones senior years.

Yet, would it be possible to create an institution that spans the society of these United States, without rules?  Inevitably the rules must change, become more complex to address the always changing needs of a growing population.  If it were up to me, my responsibility to fashion a similar institution, — would I choose a different form of organization?  Different?  How?

In any case this tune by Pink Floyd seems particularly relevant to our situation.  If I partake in civilization, in the benefits of education, of public safety, of purchasing books from Amazon, etc. rules are necessary to make every benefit possible…  I as well as you, are “another brick in the wall.”  Our situation is bitter-sweet, is it not?

I am impressed with the relationship of the back beat of the drummer, juxtaposed with the guitar refrain in this piece of music.  It is a sonic diagram of the heart beat of the human, placed side by side with the on-going conversation within the psyche, the dialog of our many selves.  Perhaps the universe also has a heart beat?

Enjoy!

Another Brick In The Wall (Part II)

by Pink Floyd

We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teacher, leave them kids alone

Hey, teacher, leave them kids alone

All in all it’s just another brick in the wall
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall

[Chorus by pupils from the Fourth Form Music Class Islington Green School, London]

We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers, leave them kids alone

Hey, teacher, leave us kids alone

All in all you’re just another brick in the wall
All in all you’re just another brick in the wall

[Spoken:]
Wrong! Do it again!
Wrong! Do it again!
If you don’t eat your meat, you can’t have any pudding!
How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?!
You! Yes, you, behind the bike sheds, stand still, laddy!

Lyrics by Roger Waters

Roger Waters said about this song to Mojo magazine in 2009, “The song is meant to be a rebellion against errant government, against people who have power over you, who are wrong. Then it absolutely demanded that you rebel against that.”