It's a bar, sort of. but it might be sort of a Chestnut Tree Cafe*note.. The fictional bar in Orwell's book 1984 is where the thought crime offenders go after being re-rehabilitated for a one Mike Elk. This bar is where his manifesto.. well at least proof that he knows what he.. is talking about, is hanging on the wall. His "equity stake" in the bar.. he calls it...
It's an old midterm exam paper.. the question was, "How is labor distinct from labor power and what determines the value of each?" He got an A. ( I ), know the answer to that question! but, we walked all over his neighborhood. Inspired, in sort of a manic conversation, back and forth in a stream of conscience.. sort of like.. crazy.. but.. ecstatic. The sufi poet Rumi wrote "follow a deer, and go everywhere!" I went to bed the first night with charlie horses in my legs... we walked and talked.. the meeting at the bar was the last stop of the eve... before the walk back to camp.
Day 2:
I woke from a pallet on his floor with sore muscles. I am a 45 year old locomotive engineer slash folk slash labor singer slash husband of an 18 year union, slash father of a 12 year old son.. I am not too old for this shit, but... I have a desk job.. I drive trains for sometimes 70 hours a week. Walking around the neighborhood with the "magistrate" is not something I do, but.. off we went.. again...
first to breakfast in a different part of town.. to a cafe and then to get the morning beer *note.. My father, a German electrician suggests that beer should not be consumed before 10 am.. and we were in the clear... then we went to get some new "walking shoes," Then to a hair cutting place for another beer.. and then to get the keg and then to get supplies for the ritual back at camp that was now only a few hours from starting.
I may have accomplished something this day. Mike suggested while we were in our massive conversation that I might need to let him talk... we were in free jazz style conversation, but for this young man of many words.. to suggest that I was hogging the verse.. well.. he is the "ham"..and I the "elder" on visit from a southern region of this "Oceania" *note.. Oceania has always been at war.. and we were in the nations capital talking about labor.. so... I let him have that .. He is... an amazing writer.
My Shirpa.
Mike is a young wippersnapper. cocky and brilliant. I wouldn't have made the trek if it were not for "seeing something" in this one.. He is powerful, somewhat of a leader..
*note James Jacson of the Sun Ra Arkestra, in the movie "Make A Joyful Noise" suggests that leadership qualities include doing the most outlandish thing, or the thing that was not "normal" *note the video is here.. YOU should watch it.. start at 46:24.. it's OK.. you can do it.. your tweeter will still be there when you get back from the outer worlds....
very aware of the dark side and the difficulties of maneuvering in his brand of journalism. The "War on the Workers" is raging,...and he is known for his front line embedded reporting. In the south, below the mason dixon line. on the Germanic front.... and that brings me to my appeal to reason. or at least my message from the battle lines. Me, the "Braden southerner" came to visit with a "brother" from the North..
What is a Braden southerner?
Well, that is the $64,000 dollar question, now isn't it? Have you ever been a member of the Rank and File Rebellion?.. if that is the question.. then yes.. I am a Braden Southerner. I have not been fired from a major newspaper called the Courier Journal, I have not had old democrat money turn their backs on me after I was charged with attempted overthrow of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and sedition.....
but I have been "blacklisted" by Jim Crow union democracy. I organize railroaders in the south. Railroaders from Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Louisville.... I could keep going, but I am a railroad union organizer on the Old L&N.. seriously.. I drive trains on tracks put down in 1865. My "union" Teamster "Brotherhood" is located south of the Ohio river and stretches all the way to North Florida.. so.....
Press Credentials please....
I have none. Anne Braden is a hard subject in Louisville. My mother organized with her. My sister, for a middle school project interviewed her and I have many friends that used to work closely with Anne. I remember seeing her at many of the Anti- Apartheid protests at U of L in the 80's. I was raised to be an activist... my mother took us kids to all the protests.
In her book A Wall Between, Anne writes that Carl, her husband, the guy from Kentucky... was raised Catholic and that his father was an ardent socialist, follower of Eugene Debs... so.. me and Carl have something in common. Mike and I have been talking a bit about this term ( Braden Southerner) for a couple of months... just here and there.. mostly back when he visited my "ranch" on a Folk Labor trip en route to Metropolis, Il to do his reporting about a USW lockout at the uranium plant north of Paducah, KY
The inner party...
was pretty much like most every other party that I have ever been to. The young folks come in.. the beer was all over the place, the folks danced.. the folks postured, conversations were everywhere.. music.. sights, good looking gals danced with good looking guys .. then the night drags on.. then the folks leave.. leaving the stragglers like a NASCAR finish line looking to get laid.. nothing special, except that this party was basically an "Office" party for some of the most brilliant and up and coming writers in the "Nation." some of them seasoned.. most of them new to the "game." but POLITICO writers having a few... at the "ELK's Club" They just needed the hats... because the ritual.. well you get my joke...HA! I did meet and play music with a cool guy named Tim.. he has heart.. I hope he takes good care of it. I would like to meet him again.
Day 3...
In conclusion... or...You Should read this.. You should read that...
I have read maybe 12 books in my life. I am a 10th grade drop out. I fell between the cracks, thank GOD! but I can listen, I have read the liner notes of 1000's of world music and jazz records and CD's. I am an initiated and trained West African Djembe player.. so storytelling and oral tradition... got it!
I have recently found Librivox. I listen to books when I can, I am listening to Jack London now on recommendation from "smokestack" Mark Ross.. I have already listened to all the Upton Sinclair I could find.. I listened to the end of 1984 on the way home from D.C...sometimes I listen to books when I ain't supposed to, but.. I would rather do that, than succumb to OPERATIONAL FATIGUE... wink wink..
Mike turned me onto Turkle when he visited, but now it was a goodbye.. I was going back to ol' Kentucky and my guide was going to leave me with another story to study.. I had never heard of Harry Kelber . Mike made me read the obit he wrote that is linked 15 words back... before i left.
So there for be it resolved that:
I most likely will not read any books that you or anyone else suggests.. I can't.. I have a disability, it was never diagnosed... that is why I came all the way to fucking D.C. I went straight to the source.. I love listening to other people talk about the things that make them passionate... insane.. manic.. inspired.. I used to be a sufi.. I love spinning.. ecstatic... wine induced conversation.. it's spiritual.. you be Rumi and I'll be Shams... any questions????? Thoughts???
so, (as the hipsters say)
I climbed Mt. Pleasant.. JP went to Washington.. Mike gave me some advice... I should link a tip jar to my blog.. but I have a better idea.. I have given away 100's of my cd's .. I once gave away 50 free download cards at the Labor Notes Convention.. not one download.. so...
Be it finally resolved...
"Insert sage advice here"... Support labor folk singers God dammit... We document and suffer the same plight as writers.. we hang.... on .. Every Word.. beotch!!!!
JP Wright
Louisville, KY
The "other" IWW labor desk...
if you like this writing.. buy a tune.. and then you will get a souvenir of the visit... Y'all come back now ya.. hear!!
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