I just discovered the song “Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond
Mountains)” by Arcade Fire off their 2010 album The Suburbs. I’m addicted to that song.
Here come some first world realizations. While I moaned and
groaned my way through high school about the unfairness of life, I realize that
I did have more misfortune heaped upon me than some in my peer group, but
overall, I had it pretty good. I was fortunate enough to meet a person who saw
through all of my tough guy, I-don’t-want-to-love-anything-ever-again façade.
Deep down, I know now, that is exactly what I needed. There have been many ups
and downs since then, of course, but overall things have been up. And the more
and more I get to know my son and watch him grow, I realize I couldn’t ask for
much more.
The lyrics to “Sprawl II” brought memories of my high school
days flooding back to me. (I imagine that was something the members of Arcade
Fire were going for. It's very reminiscent of "Subdivisions" by Rush off their 1982 album Signals. Disclaimer: I haven’t listened to any of Arcade Fire's other songs
as of writing this.)
While I can look back today on those days of relative
care-freeness, I know that the freedom I had then is likely gone for good. And
I lament that from time to time to be sure. However, I know that what I am now
working for is for my son (soon to be sons) to have the same, if not more,
opportunities to forge meaningful relationships and become a successful,
productive, moral part of society.
It’s taken me 31 years (and an abhorrent “man” as President)
to truly see the need for all of us in society to be more caring and
understanding of our fellow human beings on this planet. A dear friend once
explained to me how much a person’s perspective changes when you have children.
Suddenly the meaning of your actions become amplified, you become more
empathetic (always a deficiency of mine), your life is no longer yours alone. I
wouldn’t say I scoffed at the time, but I was certainly my usual cynical self.
Suffice it to say, he was spot on.
So while I was naive, sheltered, and self-absorbed as a
younger man, I hope to be able to provide a life where my son(s) can look back
on his childhood and have positive memories while also being conscious of the
struggles that many less fortunate people around the world deal with on a daily
basis. That is what “Sprawl II” means to me. It’s the lamentations of a young
person who wants to be and do more than what their small community will allow
them to be and do. It’s a privileged view of the world, but a view with merit.
It’s imperative that parents not shelter their children to the vagaries
experienced by those less fortunate. It will take work on my part to ensure my
children are empathetic and give back to society and provide for those less
fortunate. This is far from my natural state of mind; I tend toward
introversion, isolation, and selfishness. I am not a man of action; I tend to
overthink and, hence, feel paralyzed. My children are my opportunity to grow
while helping them grow.
The situation in Flint is one that is close to home. The
situation in Syria is one that is half a world away. (Both are tragic. Of
course, they are not a one to one comparison. Nevertheless.) Either way, normal
people with normal means have an opportunity to provide some sort of assistance
to these people. I’m ashamed of the response of our elected government
officials. Unfortunately, there is a large portion of the population that is
happy to turn away from people in need. In fact, there are far too many that
actively cheer this poor showing. It’s sickening.
Anyway, “Sprawl II” is an awesome song. It’s
wistful in that 80s way, it’s nostalgic, it’s just great. And it’s forced me to think and reflect like no song has in a long time. Thanks, Arcade Fire.
- Kevin