9/11: Inspired by a Song: Tuesday Morning by Melissa Etheridge
Tuesday Morning by Melissa Etheridge for MM theme ‘Inspired by a Song’
For this week’s Macro Monday theme I chose the song Tuesday Morning by my favourite singer / songwriter Melissa Etheridge. The photo isn’t special but the lyrics of the song and the story behind it, are.
This protest song tells the story of Mark Bingham, a gay man who was among those who fought the hijackers of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11th, 2001. The plane crashed in Pennsylvania and was the only one of the four hijacked planes that did not reach the terrorists' target. The song conveys he was an American hero, even though America discriminated against him as a gay man.
Tuesday Morning, at its core is about identifying a fundamental inconsistency in the American conception of justice and equality. It asks a pressing question - can homophobic bigotry, whether originating from the state or from society, be justified against a class of people defined by an immutable characteristic. To put a name and a face on the discrimination, Etheridge identifies one of America's most noble heroes who stood up to terrorism on one of the most tragic days of its national history. The question is of significant importance when we consider how many gays and lesbians are serving in the United States armed forces to defend their country but who can be or have been discharged when it is or has been discovered that they are gay - under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". They are asked to shed their blood in defence of their nation as long as they conceal part of their fundamental makeup as individuals from others. "Stand up America; Hear the bell now as it tolls; Wake up America; It's Tuesday morning; Come on let's roll."
Tuesday Morning on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sTKzMbB_18
9/11: Inspired by a Song: Tuesday Morning by Melissa Etheridge
Tuesday Morning by Melissa Etheridge for MM theme ‘Inspired by a Song’
For this week’s Macro Monday theme I chose the song Tuesday Morning by my favourite singer / songwriter Melissa Etheridge. The photo isn’t special but the lyrics of the song and the story behind it, are.
This protest song tells the story of Mark Bingham, a gay man who was among those who fought the hijackers of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11th, 2001. The plane crashed in Pennsylvania and was the only one of the four hijacked planes that did not reach the terrorists' target. The song conveys he was an American hero, even though America discriminated against him as a gay man.
Tuesday Morning, at its core is about identifying a fundamental inconsistency in the American conception of justice and equality. It asks a pressing question - can homophobic bigotry, whether originating from the state or from society, be justified against a class of people defined by an immutable characteristic. To put a name and a face on the discrimination, Etheridge identifies one of America's most noble heroes who stood up to terrorism on one of the most tragic days of its national history. The question is of significant importance when we consider how many gays and lesbians are serving in the United States armed forces to defend their country but who can be or have been discharged when it is or has been discovered that they are gay - under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". They are asked to shed their blood in defence of their nation as long as they conceal part of their fundamental makeup as individuals from others. "Stand up America; Hear the bell now as it tolls; Wake up America; It's Tuesday morning; Come on let's roll."
Tuesday Morning on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sTKzMbB_18