It almost brings tears to my eyes when I watch 80's movies or listen to 80's music. I don't understand what has happened to the US where you're only cool if you're a minority (or atleast look like one.) What happened to punk. Punk music has changed so much I don't even think of it as the same kind of music anymore. No matter how hard I try I don't think I could come up with one bad thing about the 80's.

Hi. I agree with your message, but part of it disturbs me, my friend. What kind of punk did you listen to? The punk I listened to (beginning in the 70s) sought to fight against ignorance -- that includes racism. Not to mention that so many of the punk bands were listening to funk, reggae, or early rap in their spare time. Have you checked out the reissue of the lost Trouble Funk album put out by --Surprise -- Henry Rollins (he's from Black Flag, y'know)! Or maybe you didn't notice that every single record by the Clash had some reggae vibe on it. I could go on with the Slits, the Fleshtones, Blondie, Sex Pistols, PIL, Siouxsie, Ramones, etc., etc.

You say, "I don't understand what has happened to the US where you're only cool if you're a minority (or atleast look like one.)." *I* don't understand what has happened to the US where it's still "cool" to make racist statements.

Thanks for listening. :)

--a minority punk rocker

> It almost brings tears to my eyes when I watch 80's movies or listen to
> 80's music. I don't understand what has happened to the US where you're
> only cool if you're a minority (or atleast look like one.) What happened
> to punk. Punk music has changed so much I don't even think of it as the
> same kind of music anymore. No matter how hard I try I don't think I could
> come up with one bad thing about the 80's.

> It almost brings tears to my eyes when I watch 80's movies or listen to
> 80's music. I don't understand what has happened to the US where you're
> only cool if you're a minority (or atleast look like one.) What happened
> to punk. Punk music has changed so much I don't even think of it as the
> same kind of music anymore. No matter how hard I try I don't think I could
> come up with one bad thing about the 80's.

the 80s were a horrible decade. those really cool movie and music were there to entertain to mask the horror of that troubled decade. apparently it worked, because i too, looking back at the 80s, view it as a perfect time. historically however, it was awful. there was so much teenage violence, and scandals, and crack and aids were HUGE problems too. and some little girl fell down a well.

> the 80s were a horrible decade. those really cool movie and music were
> there to entertain to mask the horror of that troubled decade. apparently
> it worked, because i too, looking back at the 80s, view it as a perfect
> time. historically however, it was awful. there was so much teenage
> violence, and scandals, and crack and aids were HUGE problems too. and
> some little girl fell down a well.

whoa! teenage violence? your kidding right? yes there was teenage violence, BUT nowhere NEAR what it is today....it is not surprising anymore when you hear of kids killing other kids and its tragic and horrible but its not unheard of anymore...and its not just gangs anymore either. its the suburban sleepytowned kids that have mommy and daddy give them the world and they usually destroy that world by abusing it through drugs, alcohol and violence. when i was growing up (in the 80s) there were not monthly reports of school shootings, or teenagers throwing their newborn babies in the trash bin, or troubled young teenage couples bashing crowbars over another young girls head! come on! every decade has its problem but really the 80s had a lot more good than it did bad