If You Don’t Want a Bad Trip, Don’t Get On the Bus

Michelle Obama's Mirror ^ | 5-8-2016 | MOTUS

[NOBO2012]

“Dear Mother, I meant to write you before this and I hope you haven't been worried.... I have met some Beautiful People and...” ― Tom Wolfe, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

Many mothers across America got some version of this letter during the 1960’s-70’s as their sons and daughters were tuning in, turning on and dropping out. The drug of choice at the time, along with the perennial favorite, marijuana, was LSD. And while Timothy Leary’s name is most often cited as it’s leading proponent the de facto leader of the of mind-expanding, transcendental LSD cult was Ken Kesey, a young writer who had just published One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest.

In 1967 Thomas Wolfe, an established journalist, joined Kesey’s band of Merry Pranksters, boarded the Day-Glo bus named “Further” and left California for New York, acid tripping their way across America. Wolfe was there to chronicle the “happening” in the manner of what was then “new journalism” and the result was an entertaining book titled The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.

Interestingly, what was “new” journalism then – injecting yourself into the story and relating the facts as you  fancifully see fit, is now just journalism. Once the purview of Fine Arts and English programs, non-fiction today has oozed its way into J-schools as “literary reportage” which helps explain situations like those examined in yesterday’s post. Most journalists are now writers of creative non-fiction – a genre that not too long ago would have been considered an oxymoron.

As I was reading this year’s Mothers Day Proclamation I was suddenly struck by how similar the Story of BO is to the Ken Kesey story. Both stories are about charismatic leaders whose only credentials were their books; both led movements to transform America into something they thought would be better by having their followers drink(literally, in Kesey’s case) acid-laced Kool-aid.   

Both stories evolve around a messianic anti-hero.

Would it be too cynical of me to note that in this, the last year of the Occupancy, nothing - and I mean nothing - falls outside the influence of the Obama electric Kool-Aid acid test? To point out that nothing is sacred any more, nothing is exempt from being transformed by the giant, psychedelic propaganda machine which is transforming Amerika bit by bit every day?  If it’s just me, then fine; perhaps I just over-reacted to Barry’s 2016 Mother’s Day message:

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

On Mother's Day, we celebrate those who are the first to welcome us into the world.  Performing the most important work there is, mothers -- biological, foster, or adoptive -- are our first role models and earliest motivators.  They balance enormous responsibilities and shape who we become as adults, their lessons guiding us throughout life.  Regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status, mothers have always moved our Nation forward and remained steadfast in their pursuit of a better and brighter future for their children…

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 8, 2016, as Mother's Day.  I urge all Americans to express love and gratitude to mothers everywhere, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. [ed. - apparently flowers, candy and dinner out are not structured enough and therefore not state-approved] Read the whole thing if your crap detector hasn’t already reached terminal velocity.

Happy Mother’s Day, to the Mother of the Year

 

“Everything was becoming allegorical, understood by the group mind, and especially this: "You're either on the bus...or off the bus.” ― Tom Wolfe, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

My advice: if you don’t want a bad trip, don’t get on the bus.

Posted from: Michelle Obama’s Mirror

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Timothy Leary’s dead.

[BlueLancer]

"Timothy Leary’s dead."

No, he's outside, looking in.

[jobim]

And how are your Astral Planes doing this morning?

Ah, the Moodies:

Days of Future Passed
In Search of the Lost Chord
On the Threshold of a Dream
To Our Children's Children's Children

These 4 albums are rock's highest achievement, in my opinion.

[BlueLancer]

You've got to add "Seventh Sojourn".

My first experience with the Moody Blues was on Youngster Cruise out of Annapolis in 1973. I was aboard the LPD Coronado and we were on the last leg of the Atlantic cruise. We were two days out of Norfolk, coming home, and the Captain allowed members of the crew to bring a stereo set and speakers out on the flight deck after dark. There was no moon, almost pitch black, and just millions of stars across the sky, the thick band of the Milky Way hanging above us. It started with Days of Future Past and Seventh Sojourn and all of the other Moody Blues albums playing while I laid out on the flight deck staring into space. I was hooked on the Moody Blues forever after that...

[jobim]

An interesting post - thanks. It's an amusing analogy to flesh out, Obama & Kesey. But
Kesey led by force of personality, as Wolfe makes clear throughout that most intriguing
expose of a particular slice of American cultural history. Obama has no similar gift of
charisma. He, like Hillary, is seen, especially by the insiders, as hollow. Kesey was loved,
and in the end, when the big anti-war cult was reaching a crecendo, and many expected
Kesey would stand up and take a leading role, he simply said "f...it" and went on to play
harmonica, deflating the gathering. Kesey was not about power & ego but about
adventure, and it appears he had real regard for those around him. Obama is void of
empathy, I think deriving from his toxic upbringing.

[MUDDOG]

It’s all too beautiful.

[Hot Tabasco]

These 4 albums are rock's highest achievement, in my opinion.

Without question.......

[jobim]

I have so jealously guarded these 4 albums since 1969 that I haven't really listened to
other Moody albums, except Question of Balance, which has moments but not in the
same league. But at your suggestion, and in light of that fabulous setting you describe
for your introduction concert, I will give that album a listen.

[jobim]

Are you referring to the Small Faces?

[MUDDOG]

Under dreamin’ spires
To Itchycoo Park, that’s where I’ve been.

[dfwgator]

I want it...I want it...I want it...I want it...I want it...I want it...I want it...
YOU CAN’T HAVE IT!!!!

[jobim]

My roommate in college, 1970 Honolulu, introduced me to this band (Ronnie Wood & Rod Stewart members), and we shared an awe for the Moody Blues.

[MUDDOG]

Thruppence and sixpence each day.

[MUDDOG]

And then to burst up
Through tarmac
To the sun again.

[Big Red Badger]

Really,,,