Thursday, September 11, 2008

Anhoi Polloi - Most Serene Republic - Phages EP - 2006

There is a story in the New Testament that most Christians with any basic knowledge probably know, but few think about the realities of. On the week before his crucifixion, Jesus comes to Jerusalem to celebrate passover with his disciples. He enters the temple and almost immediately flips his shit. In this place that is supposed to be sacred, he sees commerce. Money changers are exchanging Roman currency for Jewish, animals are being sold for sacrifice at outrageous rates.

Well, the big JC does not take kindly to this and kinda flips his shit. He goes around knocking over tables and grabs a bull whip and drives them from the temple. Most scholars, when attempting to assess the historicity of the Gospels believe this was probably the act that got the guy in trouble with the Romans in the first place.

Anyway, I give you this little bit of bible study knowledge cause it most accurately sums up my feelings about 9/11. Working in the financial district at the time...I saw the tables set up a mere week later. Tables selling hats, and pins and commemorative crap with the two towers and eagles and flags...while the smell of burning flesh hung in the air. It was in that moment, for one of the few times since I've been in NYC that the phrase "What Would Jesus Do" actually held meaning for me. I would have gladly driven the money changers from the temple...except there were all these dudes with machine guns everywhere.

Anyway, Most Serene Republic is like a knock-off Broken Social Scene...they do alright, but nowhere near as good as the original.

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