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  YOU'RE MY INSPIRATION
I just wanted you to know that your friendship means the world to me.
And though it always seems like were living to die, working hard and so sad.
But when it comes to us it seems, we can make it through this misery.
And though we'll probably move on, now is what we've got.
And you inspire me. Make me feel like I can do anything. Anything.

(This is the first song that we wrote in the winter of 2001 in Daniel's mom's basement. This song is for my bandmates Daniel and Laszlo. You are my brothers and I love you both, for real.)

HOW MANY?
How many of you have to die?
Is it just the evil of some?
Or are there grounds for some grievance?
Can you expect for answers to be given to people who don't exist to you?
Exist. Exist. Exist to you.
How many have to die?
And I know you don't care.
All you have in your mind is money and power.
Death is a spectacle for your control.
And the only way to detach your mind is to blow you up.
And after all this death, all I can ask myself is "What is going on?"
What the fuck is going on?

(All over the earth there are armed struggles and protracted guerilla wars being waged by populations who are not recognized by those who are in power. Whether it's in Ireland, Spain, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Columbia, Russia, Israel, or in the U.S.A., the government and the media like to paint these groups as terrorists while at the same time continuing a system where there are no concrete avenues of change and redress for those who have grievances with the status quo. Any system that does not allow for some parts of the population to voice their opposition in a manner that will bring about material change is bound to lead to violence and death. The oppressor/opressie dialectic in full effect. And many times this violence only leads to more repression for those in opposition and more control for those in power.)

LITE ROCK
Adopt a slogan to cover up the true problems that exist inside
A patch doesn't change the years of conditioning that we go through
Rhetoric can only go so far. So far.
It's up to us to reject this system.
Reject this system.
It's up to us to do more than wear slogans and speak rhetoric.
Internalize to survive. To survive.
It's up to us to adopt these slogans into our lives.

(This song was originally written in my disgust with some of the patch clad punk kids that I've met over the years. But more and more, I've been realizing how these words apply to myself. It is all too easy to sew on a patch that says "smash racism" or talking of being against the exploitation of women but the struggle for a better life does not stop there. You and I must also act on these titles we bestow on ourselves. You can only change yourself by trying to apply your principles to your life. Experiencing the world can only help. It is all too easy to stick to the road well traveled where everyone is a punk or an activist. Not that you shouldn't apply these principles in these circles, but in many cases you may only challenge yourself when your travel outside of your safety zone. Don't discourage yourself. Change is a process and many times it is a slow one. We all make mistakes.)

MOSSFLOWER
All I hear around me is "What's wrong with the kids today?"
And all I see around me is a society that takes our rights away.
Kids around me want something more.
And education, a life worth living, but they'd rather
Close down community centers to put more cops on the streets.
Criminalise your future. Criminalise your future.
And you'll still be saying "What's wrong with the kids today?"

(This song was written in the spring of 2001 in response to the 10% cut in the funding of community centers in Kansas City by the city government. The city claimed that it needed extra funds to expand it's police force, so it took money from the community centers. From working at an after school center I can personally attest to the loss that any program would feel with a 10% cut in funding. Now you may think that a program could easily and successfully solicit funds from any local philanthropist or agency like the United Way and that this cut is no big deal. However, this would side step the frightening but all to real trend toward full scale militarization of our cities that goes hand and hand with the absence of public investment in the welfare of underpriviledged citizens. America is quickly becoming the land of little opportunity for many and a land of prison labor, mandatory minimums and increased incarceration of the youth. This trend has got to be stopped if there is to be any hope for the future. In closing, may I add...fuck the cops!!!)