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Debary Gestapo silences free speech
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Bob Dylan once said, “Democracy don't rule the world/You’d better get that in your head/This world is ruled by violence/But I guess that's better left unsaid.” What is the definition of violence? Dictionary.com defined it as this, “an unjust or unwarranted exertion of force or power, as against rights or laws.” Has this ever happened to you?
Yesterday, when I was walking into the DeBary Winn-Dixie, a young man who goes by the name of Mzra was playing his guitar in front of the store. His songs were of love, peace and honesty. Every now and then, someone would drop a quarter or a dollar in his case showing appreciation for the music.
Was he bothering anyone? That can only be answered by someone who knows everything. I don’t know anything, so obviously I can’t answer that question. But what I do know is that the musician Mzra was playing his guitar, trying to earn money to go to California. He was trying to earn money in a world where jobs are like Unicorns, impossible to get.
As I continued walking up to the store to buy groceries, I noticed a man in a shirt and tie talking to him. The tone of the man was neither a tone of praise or ridicule for the music, but rather a tone of authority informing Mzra that his presence was unwanted.
Unwanted? I know Winn-Dixie has rights to that property, but did they have the right to tell him to leave due to his “presence not being wanted”. Like I said, I don’t know anything. All I know is that he was using a musical instrument to produce sounds that us as Americans have come to love and appreciate. He was using his guitar to brighten the day. It brightened my day; I was in need of a little honest music. Who isn’t?
After I finished shopping inside the newly remodeled store (which is very lovely I might add), I walked up to Mzra and asked him a couple of questions. He told me that the management of Winn-Dixie was kicking him off the property for disturbing their customers. And when Mzra refused to leave saying, “My ancestors didn’t fight the oppression of the British so that you (Winn-Dixie management) can tell me to not play my guitar,” the Volusia County Deputies showed up to make sure Mzra did just that. As the officer on duty was writing a trespassing warrant, two cars pulled up to the officers and politely said, “Dude leave him alone, he’s not bothering anybody.”
Again, I don’t know anything, and maybe Mzra was bothering people with his songs message of love and peace. In 1939, John Steinbeck wrote the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath. We all know the story. But if you don’t, here is a recap.
The Grapes of Wrath is about a family living in the great depression. They were forced off their farm to live as nomads once they weren’t able to provide the necessary funds to stay on their land. Through twists and turns, they were met with prejudices of the West Coast Americans against Midwest farmers and countless adversities, including being falsely associated with murder and theft. Tom Joad, the leading character, was continually beaten and chased by the corrupt police until he finally had to go into hiding for the rest of his life.
I don’t care what anybody says, we are living in a modern day depression, not recession. And this musician, who I quote, “…can’t find a job anywhere”, was just trying to earn money by playing his guitar for his community, for his neighbors so that he could save enough for a ticket to California. Maybe he was bothering the quiet town of Debary with “folk music”? If you read this article, I really want to know what you think. Was Mzra being a nuisance by playing his ACCOUSTIC GUITAR? Did Winn-Dixie have the right to kick him off the property? Was Volusia County right when giving him a citation for trespassing? You tell me. You own everything, not them. Well, like I always say: That’s me; make up your own mind! Peace…
Go to Mzra’s MySpace page and listen to his music. Tell him what you think. Tell him if he was wrong, but most importantly, support local music whether you like the songs or not.
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