Hello, do you know about Rev Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir? I have two good friends in that choir. I’ve been arrested in civil disobedience with both of them, doing peace work.
I love the ideas of the Earth Church. Rev Billy preaches anti-capitalism and love of Earth through Stop Shopping.
He and the choir do civil disobedience and risk arrest by singing and dancing truth unwantedly. Big banks and malls don’t care for what that choir sings.
recent performance
Recently there was a performance of the Stop Shopping choir in New York at a bar. My good friend in that choir invited me to attend by zoom.
I was excited, but that was a hard day. Ming and I both planned to watch, but things changed in our house, and Ming was called upon to help with a big, long term project of a greenhouse. He decided to help two housemates with that project of construction, wood, technology, and physical manifestation of dreams.
So I watched the zoom alone, doing the immeasurable.
late
At first I was not too keen on it. The performance started late, so I waited and waited, which was not fun. There was annoying waiting music, and I felt stuck in an unwanted liminal. Often I want the liminal.
I’d invited my housemates to watch too, and I was a little down that no one came. That’s cool they have other projects and things to do. I don’t blame them. But sometimes it can feel sad to invite and get no response.
listening
I was watching the performance and found my friends in the choir crowd, which was fun. I love them. And I was hearing the words of the songs–some are very exciting to me.
The first song was too campy, which turned me off. But I’m glad I stuck with the performance. I really like Beautiful Earth around 22 min, and it starts getting delightfully weird around 25 min.
The song Extinction is Real is great too. The one about the kid ghost of 2044. It’s moving and strange.
Ming
I played my favorite parts of the performance for Ming afterward, and he liked it too. I was glad to finally share it with him. And now I share it with you. I’m happy to stop shopping.
I love you. Hope you’re getting what you need to nourish all of you, including great ideas.
