Song dedicated to Occupy Santa Rosa

Some folks heard me sing this at one of the rallies, but I wanted to share it with everyone. This is my song dedicated to Occupy Santa Rosa. Like many people, I have spent years wondering when people would finally get fed-up with the madness and greed. The Occupy movement inspired me to express this:

Whose Blood?
Written by Marilyn O'Malley 2011

Whose blood is on your money, man? Do you even know?
Does it make a difference if your fortune grows?
I saw it oozing from your wallet and dripping across the floor
With all that blood soaked money, man, how could you still want more?

It’s the blood of our soldiers and of our “enemies,”
Of people you have never met, whose suffering you don’t see
It is the blood of workers in danger and neglect
Whose safety might get in the way of profits you protect

Whose dreams are on your money, man, crushed beyond belief?
Simple dreams of hearth and home, stolen by a thief
From Wall Street to Congress, to jobs sent overseas
Dreams of honest people cut down by corporate greed

Some make their money honestly through hard work and innovation
But the richest few grab for it all in blatant exploitation
Of the earth and of all living things, without regard to life
Calling Greed Democracy, and causing untold strife

Whose blood is on your money, man? Do you even know?
Does it make a difference if your fortune grows?
I saw it oozing from your wallet and dripping across the floor
With all that blood soaked money, man, how could you still want more?
***********
Thank you for reading and for your work toward restoring liberty and justice to our nation.
Marilyn
www.marilynomusic.com

What a wonderful and moving song! Thank you.

Great lyrics! Thanks for sharing. I'd love to hear it.

Thank you! I'll be singing it at the concert fiddler Francis Small and I are doing at the Clear Heart Gallery in Petaluma on Sunday Dec. 4th. It's a 4 PM concert so it will be out on time for people to have dinner afterwards. It's posted on the calendar on my website if you want details. We'll be doing a lot of Celtic music in addition to my songwriting. www.marilynomusic.com
Thanks again.

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Posted in reply to the post by jimjac:

Great lyrics! Thanks for sharing. I'd love to hear it.

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Whose Judgement?

Written by Lori Gassmann 2011

Who are you to judge me? Do you even know?
My effort, my value, my contribution- I HOPE that it does show! Yes it makes a difference – to have my fortune grow!
Your entitlement says; yes take from those who have, because the fact that they “have” is justification that they shouldn’t - have the dough.
Really, just because I have money it is by default “blood soaked”? You make it sound as though because of this, my citizenship should be revoked.
Do you realize I have the privilege of paying 60% of everything I earn to taxes, to support those of the “99%”- of whom 49% pay 0 taxes? What do you suppose is the tipping point or Axis?
https://visualizingeconomics.com/cat...y-design-work/
What about my son/daughter who went to serve OUR country, and lost their life? That does not make my pain and loss less than equivalent to your strife?
Do you believe that I have not had dreams that were crushed beyond belief? That because I achieved my dreams, I persevered and succeeded, that alone makes me a thief?
Yes I agree that Congress, Politicians, big Pharma, and Lobbists are not supporting the “greater good”! But don’t lump me into something just because you could!
I made my money honestly, through hard work and innovation. I succeeded and excelled --without exploitation!
Just know that if no one achieved, there would BE no economy in the USA! That is what this country is founded on, in the past and as of today!
If you do not understand what this country of democracy and CAPITALISM and free market economy are all about, then go find your own country that is founded on something else.
This country is based on having the freedom to innovate and achieve your dreams.
If you want to be handed your “success” and guaranteed your dreams then move to Europe.
If you don’t get it, go talk to someone who has come here seeking the freedom to pursue their dreams. Someone from China, or Vietnam, Russia, Cuba or Haiti.
Just don’t blame the American Dream.

Lori, I am sorry if my song hit you as a personal attack on you. I have nothing against people who earn money honestly. My song is aimed at unreasonable, unjust, corporate greed, and the destruction of the middle class and working class. The American Dream is not being challenged by Occupy. Occupy is trying to save some shred of the American Dream before the whole nation goes down and only people with money have any rights. Your money I'm sure is NOT tainted with blood, and your money is NOT part of the 1 or 2% that have taken over most of the wealth in the country, not caring if Americans go jobless while they send work overseas.
I am from a military family. I had five family members in Vietnam. Both my parents and my own son, and seven generations of my family before, served our nation in the Military- for Liberty, Justice and Democracy. Not for Oligarchy. Not for Tyranny. Not so the safeguards that were put in place after the Depression to keep our economy in balance would be dismantled by a congress who served corporations and not the people. Not so elections could be bought and Democracy could become a joke.

I have had my house full of young soldiers who were the finest people I have ever met, with the noblest intentions and highest ideals, and the most courageous of hearts. They were truly innocent kids willing to lay down their lives for our country. They were polite and lonely and watched me cook with the most wistful faces, obviously missing their moms, and believing their service to our nation was going to protect their moms. That nobility and innocence was manipulated and abused by a government who sent them to die for the profits of a few. I can not think of anything more obscene. Now most of those fine young men are dead. The sacrifice my own son made is horrendous and not something I care to flaunt publicly, but the worst thing for him was the realization that he and his comrades did not fight for what they thought they were fighting for, that they were lied to, and that while they were mislead into believing they gave their all for American Freedom, Freedom was actually being destroyed back at home by weasels who care more for money than people and who wave the flag of Capitalism as if it were synonymous to Democracy. It is not. I am not even against Capitalism, if it is fair, just, and responsible and doesn't undermine the rights of the people, but it should not be touted as being the same as Democracy and blood should not be shed to protect profits.

When Thomas Jefferson stated that "the price of freedom is eternal vigilance" he was talking about vigilance within our nation to assure that those in power did not misuse their power and undermine our freedom.

You are not my enemy, Lori, and I am not yours. We are both people who would like our nation to thrive and for people to live in Liberty.

Blessings on you.
Marilyn

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Posted in reply to the post by lorigassmann:

Written by Lori Gassmann 2011

Who are you to judge me? Do you even know?
My effort, my value, my contribution- I HOPE that it does show! Yes it makes a difference – to have my fortune grow!
Your entitlement says; yes take from those who have, because the fact that they “have” is justification that they shouldn’t - have the dough.
Really, just because I have money it is by default “blood soaked”? You make it sound as though because of this, my citizenship should be revoked.
Do you realize I have the privilege of paying 60% of everything I earn to taxes, to support those of the “99%”- of whom 49% pay 0 taxes? What do you suppose is the tipping point or Axis?
https://visualizingeconomics.com/cat...y-design-work/
What about my son/daughter who went to serve OUR country, and lost their life? That does not make my pain and loss less than equivalent to your strife?
Do you believe that I have not had dreams that were crushed beyond belief? That because I achieved my dreams, I persevered and succeeded, that alone makes me a thief?
Yes I agree that Congress, Politicians, big Pharma, and Lobbists are not supporting the “greater good”! But don’t lump me into something just because you could!
I made my money honestly, through hard work and innovation. I succeeded and excelled --without exploitation!
Just know that if no one achieved, there would BE no economy in the USA! That is what this country is founded on, in the past and as of today!
If you do not understand what this country of democracy and CAPITALISM and free market economy are all about, then go find your own country that is founded on something else.
This country is based on having the freedom to innovate and achieve your dreams.
If you want to be handed your “success” and guaranteed your dreams then move to Europe.
If you don’t get it, go talk to someone who has come here seeking the freedom to pursue their dreams. Someone from China, or Vietnam, Russia, Cuba or Haiti.
Just don’t blame the American Dream.

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Marilyn - I guess what really bothers me about this whole "Occupy" movement is the way the groups are designated. It seems to me that the "division" or group, that the Occupy movement is trying to single out, is really more around ethics and values (i.e. those who have no social consciousness) -not about income.

This is not about rich or poor, conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, it is about dirty politics and corruption, which unfortunately occur in all camps. By dividing things between the 99% vs 1%, it really skews the issue and leaves it vague, and very easy to generalize things.

It is possible to be a capitalist and entrepreneur while at the same time being socially conscious and accountable. It is not evil to want to make a profit. Making a profit does not mean you win and someone else loses. What is truly profitable is a win-win situation. I think our country was founded on this win-win approach (the pie can be as big as we can make it), not with a scarcity mentality of win-lose (the pie is only so big). So, it seems to me anyway, that we should be talking more about being socially conscious and how to incorporate that into the system while at the same time doing away with lobbyists and political backscratching, and conflict of interests. Anyway, just my thoughts.

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Posted in reply to the post by MarilynO:

Lori, I am sorry if my song hit you as a personal attack on you. I have nothing against people who earn money honestly. My song is aimed at unreasonable, unjust, corporate greed, and the destruction of the middle class and working class. The American Dream is not being challenged by Occupy. Occupy is trying to save some shred of the American Dream before the whole nation goes down and only people with money have any rights. Your money I'm sure is NOT tainted with blood, and your money is NOT part of the 1 or 2% that have taken over most of the wealth in the country, not caring if Americans go jobless while they send work overseas.

I am from a military family. I had five family members in Vietnam. Both my parents and my own son, and seven generations of my family before, served our nation in the Military- for Liberty, Justice and Democracy. Not for Oligarchy. Not for Tyranny. Not so the safeguards that were put in place after the Depression to keep our economy in balance would be dismantled by a congress who served corporations and not the people. Not so elections could be bought and Democracy could become a joke.
I have had my house full of young soldiers who were the finest people I have ever met, with the noblest intentions and highest ideals, and the most courageous of hearts. They were truly innocent kids willing to lay down their lives for our country. They were polite and lonely and watched me cook with the most wistful faces, obviously missing their moms, and believing their service to our nation was going to protect their moms. That nobility and innocence was manipulated and abused by a government who sent them to die for the profits of a few. I can not think of anything more obscene. Now most of those fine young men are dead. The sacrifice my own son made is horrendous and not something I care to flaunt publicly, but the worst thing for him was the realization that he and his comrades did not fight for what they thought they were fighting for, that they were lied to, and that while they were mislead into believing they gave their all for American Freedom, Freedom was actually being destroyed back at home by weasels who care more for money than people and who wave the flag of Capitalism as if it were synonymous to Democracy. It is not. I am not even against Capitalism, if it is fair, just, and responsible and doesn't undermine the rights of the people, but it should not be touted as being the same as Democracy and blood should not be shed to protect profits.

When Thomas Jefferson stated that "the price of freedom is eternal vigilance" he was talking about vigilance within our nation to assure that those in power did not misuse their power and undermine our freedom.

You are not my enemy, Lori, and I am not yours. We are both people who would like our nation to thrive and for people to live in Liberty.
Blessings on you.
Marilyn

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Wow! I'm pretty sure the songwriter wasn't calling ALL MONEY blood-soaked and she obviously wasn't aiming it at hard-working, honest people. It would be nice if we could all actually read things with an open heart before responding. I read this response five times before deciding to comment on it, so I didn't immediately blow it off as reactionary and defensive, but it really is. How very sad.

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Posted in reply to the post by lorigassmann:

Whose Judgement?

Written by Lori Gassmann 2011

Who are you to judge me? Do you even know?
My effort, my value, my contribution- I HOPE that it does show! Yes it makes a difference – to have my fortune grow!
Your entitlement says; yes take from those who have, because the fact that they “have” is justification that they shouldn’t - have the dough.
Really, just because I have money it is by default “blood soaked”? You make it sound as though because of this, my citizenship should be revoked.
Do you realize I have the privilege of paying 60% of everything I earn to taxes, to support those of the “99%”- of whom 49% pay 0 taxes? What do you suppose is the tipping point or Axis?
https://visualizingeconomics.com/cat...y-design-work/
What about my son/daughter who went to serve OUR country, and lost their life? That does not make my pain and loss less than equivalent to your strife?
Do you believe that I have not had dreams that were crushed beyond belief? That because I achieved my dreams, I persevered and succeeded, that alone makes me a thief?
Yes I agree that Congress, Politicians, big Pharma, and Lobbists are not supporting the “greater good”! But don’t lump me into something just because you could!
I made my money honestly, through hard work and innovation. I succeeded and excelled --without exploitation!
Just know that if no one achieved, there would BE no economy in the USA! That is what this country is founded on, in the past and as of today!
If you do not understand what this country of democracy and CAPITALISM and free market economy are all about, then go find your own country that is founded on something else.
This country is based on having the freedom to innovate and achieve your dreams.
If you want to be handed your “success” and guaranteed your dreams then move to Europe.
If you don’t get it, go talk to someone who has come here seeking the freedom to pursue their dreams. Someone from China, or Vietnam, Russia, Cuba or Haiti.
Just don’t blame the American Dream.

---

I think its great that through dialogue and seeking common ground we can come to see that we have more in common in our thinking that it might first seem, and I agree that at the root the problem is about ethics. I am against greed and irresponsibility, what I see as a lack of ethics. I am not against a hard-working socially responsible entrepreneur.

What is both wonderful and difficult about the Occupy Movement is that it is many people with many thoughts who are upset, frightened, outraged enough by the trend in our country of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer and our nation sliding into a loss of freedom and into Oligarchy, that we have decided to demonstrate. Occupy is more of a "process" as I see it. I have marched and have not agreed with every sign that I saw held up around me, but I welcome the input of everyone and the fact that all of us are in agreement that there is a problem that desperately needs to be fixed. A voice such as yours can add balance.

Thank you,
Marilyn

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Posted in reply to the post by lorigassmann:

Marilyn - I guess what really bothers me about this whole "Occupy" movement is the way the groups are designated. It seems to me that the "division" or group, that the Occupy movement is trying to single out, is really more around ethics and values (i.e. those who have no social consciousness) -not about income.

This is not about rich or poor, conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, it is about dirty politics and corruption, which unfortunately occur in all camps. By dividing things between the 99% vs 1%, it really skews the issue and leaves it vague, and very easy to generalize things.

It is possible to be a capitalist and entrepreneur while at the same time being socially conscious and accountable. It is not evil to want to make a profit. Making a profit does not mean you win and someone else loses. What is truly profitable is a win-win situation. I think our country was founded on this win-win approach (the pie can be as big as we can make it), not with a scarcity mentality of win-lose (the pie is only so big). So, it seems to me anyway, that we should be talking more about being socially conscious and how to incorporate that into the system while at the same time doing away with lobbyists and political backscratching, and conflict of interests. Anyway, just my thoughts.

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Okay, I'm happy again! It was wonderful to read this thread and see two people finding they actually had more in common than not!

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Posted in reply to the post by MarilynO:

I think its great that through dialogue and seeking common ground we can come to see that we have more in common in our thinking that it might first seem, and I agree that at the root the problem is about ethics. I am against greed and irresponsibility, what I see as a lack of ethics. I am not against a hard-working socially responsible entrepreneur.
What is both wonderful and difficult about the Occupy Movement is that it is many people with many thoughts who are upset, frightened, outraged enough by the trend in our country of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer and our nation sliding into a loss of freedom and into Oligarchy, that we have decided to demonstrate. Occupy is more of a "process" as I see it. I have marched and have not agreed with every sign that I saw held up around me, but I welcome the input of everyone and the fact that all of us are in agreement that there is a problem that desperately needs to be fixed. A voice such as yours can add balance.
Thank you,
Marilyn

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Quote:

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Posted in reply to the post by lorigassmann:

Marilyn - I guess what really bothers me about this whole "Occupy" movement is the way the groups are designated. It seems to me that the "division" or group, that the Occupy movement is trying to single out, is really more around ethics and values (i.e. those who have no social consciousness) -not about income.

This is not about rich or poor, conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, it is about dirty politics and corruption, which unfortunately occur in all camps. By dividing things between the 99% vs 1%, it really skews the issue and leaves it vague, and very easy to generalize things.

It is possible to be a capitalist and entrepreneur while at the same time being socially conscious and accountable. It is not evil to want to make a profit.

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Something that's a huge problem, not only now in this country but through a lot of history, is that people don't recognize their allies. The painting of the Occupy movement as anti-capitalist is completely unjustified, but totally common. They actually aren't sufficiently willing to attack capitalism, in my opinion.

Somehow people seem to find it easy to identify with the position of the most successful (the 1%) and even easier to resent that some of the unsuccessful (part of the 49% who pay no taxes) are also undeserving. Personally, I think that the 1% are extracting a lot more benefit from my labors than are the undeserving who aren't paying taxes at all. The fact that I get back some of the fruits of my work as salary from those 1% actually isn't as important as that every day I get the benefit of living in a society that I help support. If the rest of society deteriorates to the point where it's unlivable for the majority, it'll suck for pretty much all of us even if your ethics allow you to feel detached from any responsibility for it.

The 1% problem is simply that the society as a whole is out of balance; the 1% control too much and feel justified in doing so. Most ethical and religious systems are built on the sense of responsibility for the community, but ours isn't operating that way. This over-sensitivity to the danger that those who aren't perceived as contributing enough might benefit at the expense of those who are conscientious and hard-working is an incredible impediment to change. By identifying more with those who seek to protect what they control you miss the fact that they control far more than they 'deserve' either.

conveniently illustrating my point, here's an article about the stratification of neighborhoods. I don't want to spend my efforts trying to stay in the 'right neighborhood'. I'd rather do what I can to prevent this kind of split from happening. And that won't be by making everyone more like me, living up to my standards - it'll be by accepting that there's a wide range of attitudes in my society and we're better off enjoying the variety.