"To the Victims of This Tragedy We Send Our Thoughts and Prayers" by Roy Zimmerman

[InsertName125]

These lyrics are the first serious analysis I've heard about the current wave of right-wing terrorism in this country. Too bad the MSM is filled with bad comedians.

[42lebenuniversumrest]

@RoyZimerman: I'm watching this in Germany, and here Youtube would block some videos (like this one) and claim copyright enfringement as the reason. Now, since you upload these yourself, this sounds pretty odd to me. Is Youtube actually correct in blocking these? I'm curious, cause always using proxy servers can get pretty annoying after a while.

[yankee2yankee]

Roy Zimmerman is a 21st century WOODY GUTHRIE. I know he's well-known, but - He needs to be much more famous!

[Makingnewnamesisdumb]

Personally, I think implying that allowing people to own and use firearms makes people violent is shifting the blame in exactly the same way as the character of this song.

[yankee2yankee]

@Makingnewnamesisdumb Guns don't make people more violent, BUT (I wish I could make this butt BIGGER), guns DO make people's "ordinary violence" MUCH MORE DANGEROUS, and commonly FATAL. THAT is why most people shouldn't have guns, or AT VERY LEAST, why they should be kept under lock and key at all times. I like guns (and think one might come in handy, given the "climate"), but don't own one.

[Makingnewnamesisdumb]

@yankee2yankee I would even disagree with that. Most people who own and are able to own guns have the capability of distinguishing when it is appropriate to escalate levels of force. If they carry a weapon for self defense, especially a gun, they are going to read the laws and know exactly when they are justified to use them.

You probably carry a pocket knife for utility, right? When you get mad at someone do you ever have the urge to use it on them? Maybe, but you never do it.

[booley]

@Makingnewnamesisdumb

when you quantify your statement with the word "most", it doesn't really refute yankee2yankee's point that guns make violence more lethal, does it?

[Makingnewnamesisdumb]

@booley I only used the word "most" to be statistically honest.

And guns don't "make violence more lethal." What weapon someone chooses to use on unarmed people makes no difference. It's not the weapon's fault someone used it to kill people and we shouldn't punish EVERYBODY for something that ONE person did.

[booley]

@Makingnewnamesisdumb yes and I appreciate your honesty.

However, being honest, it is "most" , not "all" and the ones not covered under "most" are not statistically insignificant.

And if we are being honest then yes guns do make violence more lethal. There's a reason there aren't drive by sword fights. Factoring in ease of use & acquirement & physical damage caused, guns are more lethal then the majority of weapons. Certainly more then your average person can reasonably acquire.

[Makingnewnamesisdumb]

@booley But guns ARE easy to get. In most states you can walk out the door with a brand new shotgun or rifle for just a couple hundred bucks same day, no questions. There are more guns in the US than people. Given your argument, you'd think there would be people dieing in the street constantly everywhere you go. They are not. Also, millions of people enjoy guns recreationally, and they have prevented many crimes, too.

Banning them will just lead to more knife crimes, just like UK

[booley]

@Makingnewnamesisdumb yes guns are easy to get. which adds to thier lethality.

But no that doesn't translate into people being gunned down into the street because humans are not all psychotics.

HOWEVER, we do have a much higher rate of gun violence then a country that isn't in the midst of a civil war AND when a gun is used, a fatality is much more likely.

Even the UK's knife crimes don't compare. (you are more likely to be survive being stabbed then shot)

[booley]

@Makingnewnamesisdumb yes guns are easy to get. which adds to thier lethality.

But no that doesn't translate into people being gunned down into the street because humans are not all psychotics.

HOWEVER, we do have a much higher rate of gun violence then a country that isn't in the midst of a civil war AND when a gun is used, a fatality is much more likely.

Even the UK's knife crimes don't compare. (you are more likely to be survive being stabbed then shot)

[booley]

@Makingnewnamesisdumb and my point differs from yankees in that I don't believe in banning. I don't think that we suddenly have a rash of knife fights (the upsurge in violence in the UK actually has very little to do with guns being banned) But there would still be unintended consequences (and would only be treating a symptom)

[booley]

@booley My issue is that so many times the pro gun side has this blind spot: they downplay or even outright ignore that guns ARE lethal weapons. They are much more lethal other potential weapons. And we we do have a problem with gun violence in this country.

And yes you did do that. whether you realize it or not.

This makes any argument the pro gun side makes sound insincere at best

[Makingnewnamesisdumb]

@booley The main problem with the argument is, you may not be aware, but guns actually PREVENT more crime than they cause. The presence of armed police is enough to make most think twice about committing crimes. Guns are used to defend homes every day, often without being fired. The reason you don't hear about this more often is obvious - a shooting that kills a dozen people is a much bigger and more emotional story than an otherwise defenseless armed old lady scaring off a burglar.

[Tekadakhan1]

@Makingnewnamesisdumb Interesting how you choose to use negative proof as proof of things...it mildly invalidates your arguments..you sound like your trying to prove aliens exist but are soo smart we don't get good pictures of them

[Makingnewnamesisdumb]

@Tekadakhan1 What is negative proof?

[Makingnewnamesisdumb]

@booley And, basically, saying that people shouldn't be allowed to freely get guns is like telling that old lady "yeah, we know you are relatively weak and would be helpless in the event that someone should try to take advantage of you, but at least he won't have a gun, either!" It's immoral, really. You take power out of people's hands and say "only the government should be able to have this power, not the people."

Stats even show that rates of gun ownership correlate with low crime.

[Makingnewnamesisdumb]

@booley Finally, what is the reason for UK knife problems? It's apparently a big enough problem to try to ban everything, I'm surprised they are allowed to have butter knives anymore. Next they'll be banning forks.

[gamerunknown]

They'll ask for help again today

One phrase to fob them off, just say:

"We send our thoughts and prayers"

But in reality no-one cares!

[schoolofspool]

This dude gets it.

[whatisahumans]

To the victims of the Oslo tragedy where a "lone crazy gunman" decided to take his right wing ideology to its natural conclusion, we send our thoughts and prayers.

[Ongarukat]

As a pacifist metalhead I like this video.

[Gunganwoman]

@alixinthemiddle and Lehooooo, you guys made my day lol :D another great song, thanks Roy!

[GaryAnyanka]

Thank you for this. I was so sad, and then I was so angry at Palin and my conservative Republican relatives ... but this somehow made things bearable in a weird way.

[alvisc2002]

@GaryAnyanka don't worry Gary. Obama also supports these wars, keeping guantanamo bay open, the foundation and the formation of the TSA and everything else. so you're in good hands ;)

but if you hate republicans look up Bohemian Grove and the Bilderberg group.

[poltive]

@alvisc2002 HAHAHA what planet do you live on? Like anyone needs a REASON to hate Republicans!

[alvisc2002]

@poltive well if you dug far enough and did your research you'll learn very quickly that the republicans aren't really republican :) they're neo-conservatives. just like the democrats.

it's a false left right paradigm. they all support the IMF, the World Bank, AIG, JP Morgan and the FED.

am i right?

[poltive]

@alvisc2002 Nah, it's actually only the right that's gross hateful worthless neocons, hence the 'conservative' part. xD

[danger0usknowledge]

@alvisc2002 The original Zeitgeist movie on YT agrees so it must be true. Except even with both parties competing in the 1 party Citizens United paradimey, democrats, by default, still come out ahead If you believe, if you actually believe that the republican party could have actually come up with ACA... then turn yourself in. If you believe that the Romney Healthcare Mandate proves your point or is a dating service for RNC gay right wing socialists then you're probably tea party normal.-)

[gamerunknown]

@alvisc2002

"Obama supports... keeping Guantanomo bay open". Do you know what an executive order is?

[yoursaxman]

Tom Lehrer with a guitar.

[me86680]

u r all puppets! whom i am the master of :)

[ickybird]

Roy! We need you at the Capital in Wisconsin!

[gspendlove]

Is it just me, or is Roy getting better and better?

[Lehooooo]

Dammit Zimmerman, stop being so amazing! You're making it hard to appreciate other people's satire!!

[TheSecretEye]

I don't think that Jared was inspired by Palin. He had it in for her a while back, and he didn't really adhere to either political party..

[wotmot223]

roy, to be fair, and I know your doing satire, but... who was saying "kill"? It is the exageration of positions that lead to this constant hate/blame "their the evil ones" rhetoric we are all getting tired of. I agree with the sentiment though in terms of certain people mentioned in your song.

[aperkausn]

Roy, I'm a student at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Almost exactly a year ago, our campus was rocked by a shooting by one of our faculty. The person who was able to do this also had many red flags in her background and should not have been able to obtain a firearm.

I worry about this happening again on our campus. Not every day, it doesn't possess my thoughts. But I wonder, should I turn myself in? Is it crazy to worry about my safety?

[gspendlove]

This song was goddamn near a religious experience.

[fdmipgo]

Instant Roy Classic

[stizzorm]

Roy Zimmerman FTW! I say this as a liberal gun owner with a concealed carry permit. He's so right about the rhetoric and the persecution complex so common to so many on the Right. Even as someone who enjoys shooting, I think we do need to face the fact that it is far too easy for people with a paper trail full of red flags to get guns in this country.

[Zyauna]

Mr. Zimmerman! Are you ever going to come to Canada? And by Canada, I mean specifically BC :D Would love to see a full show of yours!

[anmoose]

This is a masterpiece, Roy! Perhaps one of your tops. I love it!

[lstntn]

This has to rank among the greatest of your works. It's great that you can take such sadly intense displays of stupidity and make them funny and entertaining. Worry not. The Right will keep supplying you with material..: )

[Eaglesfaninca]

@CrudOMatic ???? WHAT???

He hated Republicans, so he shot a Democrat. He hated the 2nd amendment so he used a gun. He loved Giffords so he shot her in the head.

Damn, you may have just giving Roy the lyrics to his next song.

[CrudOMatic]

@Eaglesfaninca Read something, fucktard. Of course, you'll just listen to AirAmerica. It's called "CRAZY"

[Eaglesfaninca]

@CrudOMatic Hahaha.

[wotmot223]

@CrudOMatic amazingly erudite expresion of your views. calling someone fucktard, after telling them to read "something". wow... I am REALLY impressed.

[jemgrrargh]

i feel like a lot of the old roy wit has given way to massively over-partisan bitterness. the music's great, and the rhymes are really teriffic, but i think roy should take a leaf out of the daily show's book when it comes to political message.

i feel no better towards the republicans than you do, but there's more in politics to ridicule and despise than JUST them.

also, that was a bang-on fudd impression.

[LordSlag]

Ah, once again Roy transcends mere comedy achieves a sort of sublime, platonic humorous perfection.

[joaormedeiros]

Roy, you are one of the greatest songwriters ever; come on this too good

[Trueskorn]

I like most of what you do but the things Pailin said, they guy never may have even seen. He was as likely to get his thoughts about doing such deeds from a soup can as he was for the Alaska gun nut.

I will admit her use of verbiage, was not the best. I like the music and part of the song, but I do not think her words directed his actions.

[GoblinXXX]

@Trueskorn The shooter in this case was apparently an apolitcal loony with insane reasons of his own-- But the point is, EVERYONE, including the Republicans, jumped to the same conclusion when it happened: That someone had acted on the rhetoric.

[Hamandchees3]

you = our Tom Lehrer

[dazieger]

@Eaglesfaninca - Roy is compelling evidence that Phil Ochs and Tom Lehrer had a kid. Or at least engaged in a audacious genetic experiment to create an army of satire-powered cyborg musicians to save the world from the military-industrial complex and smooth jazz.

[LordSlag]

@dazieger NOT SMOOTH JAZZ!! MY ONLY WEAKNESS!!! AAAUUUGGGHH!!!! *flesh melts*

[LeviathanZr6]

i just subbed a couple of days ago, and it was worth it

[8sblack]

@drfoxcourt

But Beck already is crying.....

[REVAN2338]

well, im liberal......but a gun nut :P

[Eaglesfaninca]

You're a funny, modern day Phil Ochs.

[tehKap0w]

im so glad i subscribed!

[bamboo4tameshigiri]

This was serious comic therapy. I needed to laugh. 

[Foderick]

LOL! That ending is AWESOME! I <3 Roy Zimmerman!

[wutzernutzer]

Whacka-doo Whacka-doo

Do-a-whack Do-a-whack

[DimitriGoryenko]

I approve of this

[panterguy]

When someone cuts his way through a crowd with a battelaxe, then you can blame Heavy-Metal.

[JohnUnit]

@panterguy thumbs up thumbs up thumbs up.

[GoblinXXX]

@panterguy Or JRR Tolkien

[MobileThinker]

i love it, they can blame videogames, tv, movies, or books, but when they say something that is obviously violent and someone takes it to heart, they are the victims in it all...

[vigwig]

Another winner.

[ThePublicPolemic]

Roy, while you can be funny, you have no idea how close minded you are.

[MobileThinker]

@ThePublicPolemic please explain this comment...i don't understand how he is close minded.

[colourmegone]

Always a joy to listen to your work.

[entwood]

Bravo! Again you have nailed a situation with humour and brilliant song crafting. I only wish those who need its message, had the capacity to understand it. Some will I hope.

[drfoxcourt]

Keep kickin' 'em out Roy. I'm hoping that those "Hollywood media-controlling liberal-biased illuminatti" will recognize your talent and put you on Bill Maher, the Colbert Report or some other program that will cause Bill O'Reilly and Glen Beck to weep.

[ratholin]

damned good.

[GoblinXXX]

One of your best, if not THE best. I also loved your intro, "If there IS such a plan, and you think the DEMOCRATS could pull it off..!" I pointed that out to my neocon mom hen, with full control of both houses of congress, they barely managed to pass a completely emasculated version of health care reform. (And then called it a victory.)

[paradigm918]

@GoblinXXX >>"If there IS such a plan, and you think the DEMOCRATS could pull it off..!"

"I'm not a member of an organized political party.  I'm a Democrat." Will Rogers

[GoblinXXX]

@paradigm918 LOL, exactly, and that's a favorite quote of mine, as well! =)

[JustaEropeanGuy]

Claps*

[Iced1992]

Zimmerman, you're a great guy. :O

[hollywoodt00]

A standing ovation and thunderous applause.

[alixinthemiddle]

it's funny because it's sad. it's sad because it's true.

[Lehooooo]

@alixinthemiddle Sad but true? Quoting Metallica are we?

[alixinthemiddle]

@Lehooooo

you only have to worry if i start entering the Sandman. :P

[Lehooooo]

@alixinthemiddle That joke was so boring, I'm feeling the sandman coming right now... Zzzz :)

[alixinthemiddle]

@Lehooooo

don't act so Holier than Thou! I know about the Struggle Within! :P

[Lehooooo]

@alixinthemiddle Oh that comment does it! You are Unforgiven! Just wait till I Call Cthulhu! :)

[alixinthemiddle]

@Lehooooo

Cthulhu? do you intend to turn me into a Disposable Hero? Don't Tread on Me!

[Lehooooo]

@alixinthemiddle I am One step from making you Fade to Black! Don't think I don't know how to Fight Fire with Fire!

[billygutter01]

Spot on, Roy!

[rnistuk]

Once again you make me happy.

Please try to schedule a visit to Vancouver, Canada. The Railway Club would make an excellent venue.

[skywize]

Well done mate! Laughed my ass off

[elltell1990]

"Writes most of her material for me."

A great jab at the 'War on Satire' Roy. You are a true satirist. Another sharp song.

[ScrewFoxNews]

I loved that. :D

Tragedy meets comedy. Kinda bittersweet but insightful nonetheless.

[suziecreamchease]

palin really does write your material..

but you come up with the perfect tune and make it rhyme..

[Epitome613]

Excellent. You've outdone yourself, good sir! :)