Matthew Good taught me everything I know

[practicesanteria]

Well ok maybe he didn't teach me everything but I was sure in the dark about a lot of issues before I started reading his blogs. Sure they are the oppinion of just one man but they really make a person think. Anybody else feel this way?

[no yu begin wher i end]

I know what you mean. In the lead-up to the Iraq war (which I initially supported), I began to wonder if maybe not all we were hearing was true. It seemed strange that with all the intelligence reports the Americans had, the UN weapons inspectors didn't find anything. I then read a few blogs, and then I was like, "damn, I can't believe I support this." I tried reading a few right-wing blogs, but found that they were essentially hate-filled bile, and thus began my drift towards the left. (And, boy do I love it!)

[MotherRocker]

It was Matt that got me start thinking about politics and stuff. Before I started reading his blog I didn't know very much at all that was accurate.

[mg_forlife]

I agree. I love how he compiles the news onto his site.

[Lauren]

i agree as well

and...

i don't practise santeria.. i ain't no crystal ball..

[Moonlight_Graham]

Its great that Matt shares his politics views, and gets younger people interested in politics, but personally i just listen to his music and don't read much of his blogs.

[HoboFactory]

There's alot that can be learned from his site as far as politics go, at the same time it'd be really imprudent to take everything you find there and accept it as right.

[ToadMan]

You are correct... but Matt does do one thing really well, he always sites some source. It's not just his opinion, it's based of some fact, and he doesn't hide his facts.

 

Peace

[HoboFactory]

I can think of a couple of facts he's stated that if I recall correctly, were unsubstantiated. Namely: that before the 1991 Gulf War Iraq had the highest rate per capita of people with PhD's.

In the same entry he also said something about fastest growing economy. I'm not saying that it's lies, just I'm not sure if he bothered posting any sources on that.

[october]

In response, Iraq's economy was, before the Gulf War, growing at an exponential rate and this is WELL documented. As for the highest capita amount of PhD's per person...sorry, it's true. Again, documented well enough if you look in the right places. Maybe try the Institute of Policy studies in Washington DC. A dozen years of sanctions by the U.S. and the UK crippled all of that resulting in over 2 million deaths along the way. Saddam was definitely exploiting his people no doubt, but the facts stand. The U.S. knew the sanctions would hurt but half a million Iraqi kids dying due to the sanctions was "worth it" (according to Albright anyways...)

 

So yeah, an opinion isn't fact...but in this case, the facts are there so the opinion is right...

[juanpe]

i had already similar ideas before "meeting" Matthew Good but i was SO glad to find someone with such similar ideas (about terrorism, about social issues, about unjustice behaviors, about international policy, about freedom, about the weakests...) as mine...

Edited September 7, 2004 by juanpe

[X-Rated Truffle Pig]

as one sided as it may be, its forces you to think about issues you may not normally think of because you all anticipate his next entry and check back 10 times a day to see if he's updated it, waiting to see what he has to say next hoping its somethign where he explodes and causes a stir.

 

but i reckon hes good and he's taught alot of people alot of good.

[loveisnotenough]

I agree with everyone that Matt Good definatly influenced my way of thinking in a lot of ways. In the past I was one of those people that thought that politics (especially in Canada) were boring and didn't have anything to do with me. Although I certainly didn't live in a "bubble" like alot of people my age do, I just thought that doing something such as oh say, voting wouldn't do any good because alot of the issues that are always being discussed didn't have anything to do with me. I've always cared about things such as human rights though, and it took me awhile to realize that alot of political things are interconnected. Anyway, this past election was the first time I ever voted and I must say I was strongly influenced to do so by Matt as a person, as well as his music. Its just like in 'Lullaby For a New World Order':

 

Somebody gave you a choice

And all you do is abuse it

If god gave you a voice

Then use it

 

Now when I think about people who just throw their voices away because issues "don't have anything to do with them" and because they aren't directly affected by them it just scares me. I'm sure all the Canadians on here will agree that young people in our country take our freedom for granted so badly, its sad really. I wish there were more people like Matt who weren't afraid to speak up and say things that not everyone wants to hear. So, to sum up this very long post I just want to say that whether people agree with what Matt says or not he is a real role model and not people like Britney Spears, but that's another topic entirely.

[compman_55]

Matt Good is the most intelligent Canadian Artist, he is awesome his set in Kingston, ON was awesome. Mike Moore has nothing on him... except 2 major films. Matt's better

[ToadMan]

I do like the way Matt has never backed down from his position. He has never said something he didn't believe in, or waffled on what he said because it's not part of the popular plan.

 

Peace

[juanpe]

Reading his blogs really makes people think, worry for and respect others and pay a lil bit of attention to what we have around us, not so much to oneself

[zenkey]

I really respect what Matt Good does. If I was in some sort of position of influence like him, I would try my hardest to make some significant changes.

[juanpe]

everybody, all of us, can try to make changes in our society, no matter how low in our influential position we may be... working for others from the bottom is one way to influence the ones who are on the top

[no yu begin wher i end]

While I really respect Matt for all his work, I think that we should all take some time to educate ourselves on issues first so that we just don't follow blindly (no matter how much we agree). Read a newspaper or a 'Time' or Macleans' magazine, watch the news once in a while and don't just rely on celebrities to give us our opinions (even though I'd love to go see Rock Against Bush).

[juanpe]

totally agree with you, Derek ;) people in general need more education on political and social issues... specially - what i said before - because everything that happens in politics affects us somehow