Yellowstone, The Who, and American Freedom

Three weeks ago our family was in Yellowstone watching Old Faithful spout off yet again.  Afterwards we headed to the Old Faithful Snow Lodge for lunch.  Needing to use the restroom, I headed for the facilities.

The background music was an acoustic version of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”  Now while Pete Townsend is British and his interpretation of his lyrics has evolved over time, it’s not difficult to listen to the song in the context of the early 70s and hear an anti-war, anti-establishment message.

I thought: “I wonder if there are political protest songs playing in the bathrooms of Beijing – more specifically, in the bathrooms of China’s National-level Scenic and Historic Interest Areas?”  (OK, I didn’t really know that’s what they call their national parks.)  When I shared this over lunch, my wife asked: “That’s what you think about in the bathroom?”

So, this July 4th, regardless of your political persuasion and your perceptions of this country’s trajectory, celebrate the freedom to hear protest music playing in the bathrooms of our national parks and pray we don’t get fooled again!

Technorati Tags: political persuasion,old faithful,protest music,protest songs,political protest,pete townsend,restroom,freedom,national parks,trajectory,perceptions,beijing,the who