razorcake issue #16

That’s where they come from.fuckin’ liberating does that sound?Blackmail Congress! (See, activism can befun). But it takes focus and it takes the numbers.So, whatever your social agenda is,you’re going to need some help.Where are we going to dig up our dedicatedconstituency? Back to the group homewhere a nine-year-old has just attacked hisroommate and written “FUCK YU I AMGONA CILL YU AN BERN YU” on hisbedroom wall using a magic marker and hisown feces simply because you said the word“furnace” in his presence. The word probablyreminded him of the emotional or physicaltorture he suffered at the hands of hisabuser. Call me crazy, but when this kidgrows up, he might be too busy being ajunkie or a suicide or a sexual predator tobother showing up at the polls.Addiction, depression and rape arethemselves serious problems that need seriousfixing but where do you think suchafflicted people come from? Do you thinkthey’re emerging from paradise to becomestrung out, predatory, self-mutilatingadults? I don’t. Fucked up people don’t goto hell. That’s where they come from. Overcrowdedfoster homes equal over-crowdedprisons.So let’s try to bring all this up to thepresent. The kids are still getting fucked.The good folks trying to right all the wrongsin the world are ass out with no constituency.And our band’s favorite venue in theU.S. (Jay’s Upstairs in Missoula, Montanawhere the Moose Drool beer flows strongand pure) has just announced that they willbe permanently closing their doors in a matterof weeks. Things are lookin’ pretty gruesome,but believe it or not, I’ve managed tolocate some hope. And more than just ashred.While I may very well live out my dayswithout ever getting drunk on Moose Droolagain, a plan is finally in action that cansimultaneously protect the kids, ream thosewho prey on them, and help produce afuture generation of strong, caring adults togo about the business of saving the world.The plan is The National Association toProtect Children or PROTECT and it’s thefirst of its kind. It’s a political action committee(like the NRA) made up of seasonedpros whose only agenda is the protection ofchildren. PROTECT’S advisory board aloneis an astonishing resume of accomplishmentand dedication, comprised of worldrenowned lawyers, mental health professionals,trauma experts, psychiatrists, socialworkers, investigators, musicians, authors,journalists, artists, filmmakers, professionallobbyists and campaign directors with moreaccumulated experience than can be measuredin centuries. Hell, even the guys whodirected The Matrix are in on this. These arefolks who know how kids are mistreatedand it makes them sick. Sick enough topuke. But they ain’t drinkin’ tea. They’vedecided that focus plus participation equalspower in Washington, where it will now beseen to that kids finally have a voice.Here’s a list of people who would do well tojoin PROTECT:1)2)3)4)People who recognize the inherentobligation of a species to protect itsyoung.People who feel powerless to impact theproblems that hit closest to their particularsquat.People touched by a sense of empathy ormorality.Gleefully self-centered people without acare in their hearts for the plight of otherswho just want a better world to wan-