Johnny Cash Died in Great Distress About Iraq Invasion

[sabra]

Source: aceshowbiz

Country legend Johnny Cash died frustrated and disappointed about America's invasion of Iraq. The singer/songwriter's daughter Rosanne has revealed the conflict occupied her dying father's thoughts during his final waking hours - and caused him great distress.

She insists he wanted to protest the war but didn't have the strength. Rosanne Cash tells The Progressive, "We invaded Iraq in March (2003), and he died in September, and because his health was so fragile, he couldn't take the controversy of making a public statement against the war."

She reveals that doctors put her father into medically induced coma just before the invasion of Iraq - and when he woke, his first thoughts were about the conflict. Cash adds, "He went to sleep not knowing if we had invaded Iraq. It was the last thought on his mind."

"When he woke up, I was sitting by his side. He looked at me and reached over to pull the television over to him. He was looking at me like, 'Did it happen?' I said, 'Dad, it happened.' He went, 'No! No!' Can you imagine? This is the first thing he thought of when he woke up from a week-long coma."

"He protested the Vietnam War... Being in Vietnam changed him fundamentally. He was devastated when we went into Iraq."

Read more: http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/w0006613.html

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[flpab]

85. from someone that knew him well

I emailed the link to her and she said he wrote to Bush about this and Bush did write him back. Not sure of the reply but he did what he could.

[Owl]

2. K&R!

[grilled onions]

3. For The Man In Black

Every protest should dedicate one poster to a sign that is solid black. Perhaps a small footnote to the man but otherwise a sign indicating mourning wold suffice. Mourning what? There are so many things we should be sad about. Hunger! Poverty! Lack of jobs! Homeless families! The total lack of feelings/a scrap of conscience from our politicians. The media being run and into the ground for their causes/politicians and their runner ups. Again what have we to mourn? Constant war and wars seemingly of little concern to those residing on the Capitol! Their attitude appears to be "just another day at the office" while so many get killed,traumatized for life,the victims of war,destruction,money,the waste in general. Come to think of it we have enough to mourn to require two signs at every protest!

[chervilant]

26. hmm...

We humans are manifesting a level of mental dis-ease that is both frightening and corrosive. Far too many of us are in react mode, driven by inchoate fears and resentments. Far too many of us are willing to pollute our spirits with negativity, eagerly engaging in name-calling and other forms of vilification.

We seldom acknowledge the import of overpopulation, but Calhoun's research with rats has proven that when a critical level of overpopulation occurs, the outcome isn't pretty. With the rats, hyperaggression, eating their young, abnormal sexual behavior and increased mortality are just a few of the problems that occurred. With humans, well...perhaps, it's past time we acknowledge that our species has passed the critical tipping point.

We have met the enemy, and he is us.

Walt Kelly

[InvisibleTouch]

28. Very true about overpopulation.

Humans react not much differently than rats when they get too crowded. Worse, if anything.

[NOLALady]

40. We didn"t have overpopulation

when they started "colonizing".

[chervilant]

55. ?!?

What? And, your point is?

[liberation]

44. Yeah, humans were all peaceful for the other 10 thousand years of civilization. Right?

[chervilant]

56. And,

you've completely missed the point.

[pocoloco]

71. Until the sky god seized control.

[WheelWalker]

74. That's the bottom line. It really comes down to

population, IMO. Another fucking math problem.

[CUTTIN HEADS]

45. I've been wearing black since the Gulf War started

My own personal state of mourning.
I'm a Viet Nam vet...member of the VVAW...and I cried like a baby when Bush's daddy went into Kuwait with a bazillion troops in '90, and the shit's been rolling deep ever since. Just spoke with a friend who escaped the horror that was Sarajevo. He's in shock about this whole fucking nightmare. I have 5 sons...4 of whom are 'draft' age...oh, yeah...no 'draft, per se...just poverty to sort of push the decision to 'make the grade' or not. Fuck a bunch of pansy assed chicken-hawk war mongerers. GWB and company need to be tried and convicted of murder (100K+ dead in Iraq alone)...

"I Hurt Myself Today...to see if I still feel..."

[OnyxCollie]

4. K&R for the Man in Black.

[DirkGently]

5. I hadn't heard this about the Man in Black. Thanks for sharing it.

[Forkboy]

6. This doesn't surprise me.

The man bled integrity.

[myrna minx]

7. .

:cry:

[Arugula Latte]

8. Too bad there aren't more country & western singers like Johnny Cash.

He was a great man, in spite of his flaws. He cared for the common person. A lot of this current crop of twangy wailers are GOP shills.

[pezDispenser]

19. Since the 90's C&W music has been nothing but pop music.

Its a real disappointment that the genre has been so shitty lately. There are a few bright stars today, but they get pushed out of the way by the talentless Taylor Swift's of the world.

Check out some of the older performers, a lot of them were much more liberal (at least socially) than the revisionists would like us to believe.

[dhill926]

22. Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard are........

two more of the good guys. I'm sure there's more.........

[roguevalley]

24. I loved Ernest Tubb's son. He was amazing. I grew up with all kinds

of music but the country we listened to was real, not this pop shit that says its country.

[cascadiance]

33. Country Joe McDonald and others...

I'm not a big country fan, but here's a few clips that I think are good tunes when they have the right non-redneck spirit behind them!

Country Joe McDonald - Support the Troops

Honky Tonkers for Truth - I'm Taking my Country Back

Lizzie West & the White Buffalo - 19 Miles to Baghdad

Probably many more folk artists too that don't fit the "country" category.

And don't forget that Dolly Parton played on the Vote For Change tour before the 2004 election too.

[The Traveler]

46. LOL! "Country Joe"

was a nickname for Joseph Stalin. Just an interesting little tidbit ... Country Joe McDonald was a bad ass .. :D

[donquijoterocket]

38. true

I think because a lot of the old-timers had links back to the depression days and some of the music that came out of that like Woodie Guthrie and Pete Seeger. The bunch they've got now are products more of 50s and early 60s rock and roll which most of their music sounds like to me with the obligatory stars and bars in the back window of your pickup and a little tattered American flag flying from the radio aerial and a support the troops ribbon magnetic sticker on the tail gate. the Blues Brothers movie bar scene had the definitive statement about that bar crowd liking both kinds of music-country, and Western.

[pasto76]

9. Ive always been blase' about that man Cash, but now I like him.

[Javaman]

48. Check out his "At San Quentin" album...

It will change you forever.

[deminks]

10. K&R

[kenfrequed]

11. Damned sad thing

To wake up to a nightmare like that.

[happygoluckytoyou]

12. GOTTA BE CAREFUL... with cash and the dixie chicks on the killing fields blacklist

WHAT ARE THEM GOOD'OL BOYZ GONNA DO WHEN THEY GOTTA PROTEST THIS ICON OF AMERICAN MUSIC....

[Dawson Leery]

41. Whenever I think of country "music" I always recall what

happened to the Dixie Chicks.

[onehandle]

13. Dirty Fucking Hippy. nt

[Ticonderoga]

14. K&R

[BeyondGeography]

15. Such a great human being all around

:patriot:

[veganlush]

16. indeed...n/t

[joeybee12]

17. That's because he wasn't a Republican...he had a conscience...

RIP, Mr. Cash.

[John Kerry VonErich]

36. I believe he was a Reagan supporter for both terms

nt

[raouldukelives]

18. K&R

[Drale]

20. He actually worried

about the first gulf war as well and sent a letter to the first Bush saying so.

[cascadiance]

21. I wonder if we'll hear soon about Edwin Starr's last days shortly after the war started too!

Johnny Cash's heart was always in the right place!

Edwin Starr's was too... His last recording was a remix of his "War" song with the Utah Saints in April before the war started, and he passed 13 days after the war started!

http://www.djtim.co.uk/utahsaints/soundclips/warmix2.mp3

[peacetalksforall]

30. Now I have a list:

Iraq War 1 - voted NO. Iraq War 2 - voted NO. Paul Wellstone.
Last recording - remix of song against War. Last concerns before and after coma, Iraq Invasion. Johnny Cash.

[truedelphi]

47. I have always loved that song: "War" and the remix

Is awesome.

Thank you.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

69. One of my favorites - wonder if some modern rap guy could bring it back?

very powerful!

[disillusioned73]

23. Not a country music fan, but I make an exception

for Johnny Cash... there was always something I liked about him - with good reason.

[Zambero]

37. He transcended the genre

He was known as a country artist, but also included folk, rock-n-roll, blues, and gospel, all delivered on his own terms.

[alp227]

58. Yeah, Johnny Cash=only country music I can tolerate

I first listened to him when I discovered on Youtube a video of him performing "Walk the Line" live during the '90s. That video has had 9 million views since it was posted in 2005. I'd also been listening to Social Distortion's cover of Cash's "Ring of Fire" and had heard Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" for some time before; when I listen to modern music I usually choose rock and hip hop. But Johnny Cash is a legend in the American music scene. It's interesting to learn that he died skeptical of Bush's dishonest war. Unlike the rest of the sheepish country "musicians" of this era. I won't be surprised if Taylor Swift came out in support of Sarah Palin running in 2012. :rofl:

Oh, I also have some of Cash's American Recordings albums on my computer and some other songs from themed compilations and today borrowed his concert album At Folsom Prison from my local library.

[Paper Roses]

87. My morning smile, I clicked on your 'a video' link.

Good way to start the day. Cash was a great man with an incredible talent and a conscience.

I will take time later to listen to his other songs.

I love "My name is Sue" and many of this other songs.

[Uncle Joe]

25. My departed mother used to say, he could hang his pants on her bedpost anyday.

Thanks for the thread, sabra.

[Yeshuah Ben Joseph]

27. The Man In Black

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightning cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mourning for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believin' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believin' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXRmJyIyJbM

[Frank Cannon]

31. GREAT song, by a great man.

Thanks for posting those lyrics. John R. Cash wasn't just a "country singer". He was a performance artist who truly knew what suffering was all about and used his music to try to make things better.

[peacetalksforall]

29. I love him more than ever.

[juajen]

32. This man is a "great" man. His wife knew, and so does the world. NT

[TBF]

34. K&R nt

[Zambero]

35. Wish Johnny could have heard better news in his final hours

But lying neocons will ne lying neocons.

[less lee]

39. Cash was our generations Woody Gutrie

His legacy will live on forever! Would he like this song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bE3UOn5jgM

[Akilleez]

42. "May I possess always the integrity,

the courage and the strength to keep myself unshackled, to remain a citadel of freedom and a beacon of hope to the entire world," -The Man In Black.

Made my day. Another drop in the ocean of admiration. :patriot:

[Arctic Dave]

43. Preach it my brother.

[xchrom]

49. I loved Johnny cash - makes me sad to hear his last days

Could not have had more peace.

[Gman]

50. More Tears in the Holston River

this time for Johnny.

[Ken Burch]

51. Heartbreaking story. And a reminder of why The Man In Black was a hero to millions

The best tribute we can pay Johnny Cash is to get the troops out of Afghanistan, now.

That isn't a part of the world the United States can rearrange by force, and we need to make our leaders accept this.

And let this be the LAST Democratic president who ever escalates a war just to "project toughness".

"Toughness", by itself, isn't worth a single life.

[DirtyDawg]

52. Eff You Tea Kay

...or said another way FUTK...in other words, you couldn't carry Johnny Cash's guitar pick, Toby Keith.

[lunatica]

53. Well fuck! This made me cry all over again

I love you Mr. Johnny Cash

[hlthe2b]

54. He was a treasure.. and sorely missed...

for his talent, but especially his humanity. May you be at peace, Mr. Cash.

[Initech]

57. Johnny Cash rules. Always has, always will.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

59. K&R

[orbitalman]

60. A truly amazing story... so sad.

[Blue Owl]

61. GWB killed a country just to watch it die

Make that two.

[Dappleganger]

62. "Hurt" is my favorite by him...

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here

What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way

[bliss_eternal]

75. The video *destroys* me....

...every time I view it. :cry:
I loved hearing what Trent Reznor had to say about Mr. Cash's remake and the video.

[lib2DaBone]

63. Johnny Cash knew 911 was an inside job...

..the WOT is manufactured....

[Dinger]

64. Johnny Cash Is My Hero/What Is Truth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO5z2xUNUpU

[DeSwiss]

65. K&R n/t

[demigoddess]

66. the great johnny cash

i agree it was a damn, dumb, stupid idea.

[underpants]

67. Great man.

:patriot:

[Tsiyu]

68. Been listening to JC at Folsom Prison a lot lately

Not PC, but quintessential JC

"Can I have a drink of water?"


We could use a few more "true mavericks" like him these days.

RIP, Johnny

:patriot:

[Tsiyu]

70. "What is Truth" by Johnny Cash

The old man turned off the radio
Said, "Where did all of the old songs go?
Kids sure play funny music these days
They play it in the strangest ways"
Said, "It looks to me like they've all gone wild
It was peaceful back when I was a child"

Well, man, could it be that the girls and boys
Are trying to be heard above your noise?
And the lonely voice of youth cries "What is truth?"

A little boy of three sittin' on the floor
Looks up and says, "Daddy, what is war?"
"Son, that's when people fight and die"
The little boy of three says "Daddy, why?"
A young man of seventeen in Sunday school
Being taught the golden rule



And by the time another year has gone around
It may be his turn to lay his life down
Can you blame the voice of youth for asking
"What is truth?"


A young man sittin' on the witness stand
The man with the book says "Raise your hand"
"Repeat after me, I solemnly swear"
The man looked down at his long hair
And although the young man solemnly swore
Nobody seems to hear anymore


And it didn't really matter if the truth was there
It was the cut of his clothes and the length of his hair
And the lonely voice of youth cries
"What is truth?"

The young girl dancing to the latest beat
Has found new ways to move her feet
The young man speaking in the city square
Is trying to tell somebody that he cares
Yeah, the ones that you're calling wild
Are going to be the leaders in a little while


This old world's wakin' to a new born day
And I solemnly swear that it'll be their way
You better help the voice of youth find
"What is truth"

[Lindsey]

72. When I was just a kid, I was mainly listening to The Beatles &The

Stones. My big brother and sisters were "hippies" so I listened to what they listened to and loved every minute of it. Somehow, I got turned on to Johnny Cash, of all people I thought. I LOVED him. And even though it wasn't "cool" to like country, I thought it was always cool to love Johnny.

[Tsiyu]

78. "I thought it was always cool to love Johnny"

That says it all, huh?

And it will always be cool to love Johnny :)

[Webster Green]

73. Johnny Cash was simply amazing.

I had the pleasure of mixing sound for him in concert a couple of times. He had such a powerful presence onstage. His voice was so deep and strong. I had the sense that if I turned his microphone off, it wouldn't really matter that much.

He was a really good guy.

RIP, Man in Black!

[Dappleganger]

77. You were indeed blessed...

to have crossed paths with such a man.

[bliss_eternal]

76. bless his heart...

....it pains me to hear this. guess it explains why he wasn't "friendly" w/the boy king, as he'd always made a point to be w/our other presidents.

...i sincerely hope he found peace, in death--since our earth offered so little, at that time.
rip, mr. cash. so sorry, we couldn't stop the horrible, illegal war.

[lumberjack_jeff]

79. Johnny Cash was the man.

[pitohui]

80. we fail our geniuses in america...i'm so sorry, johnny

when he awoke his first thoughts were abt the conflict, jesus, he was in a coma and his first thought was for others

this was a man

[ZenKitty]

81. Bullcrapholio ACE!

Y'all are being played for a fool! Who the FUCK is aceshowbiz? I see this junk all the time. Click click click = $$$. It's one thing if it's done in an honest manner..it's another if it's BS.

[rucognizant]

82. Yeh.....

Well that's nice & sentimental....................
He's gone; the rest of us are still here living with the results!
We need to frame our emotional responses on OUR OWN, not by following celebs opinions.

[MrMickeysMom]

83. This is believable and so a tribute to the man...

You talk about a human being who has seen life from all sides and probably knew full well what kind of influences are associated with "fame and money".

Cash's lyrics are about the common person. "Walk The Line" was a good depiction of it.

Roseanne did a good thing in that interview with the Progressive in tribute to "the man".

In Black,

MMM

[crikkett]

84. I was devastated too

:cry:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

86. Johnny Cash was an amazing man of courage and integrity

We need more like him both in terms of music and character. May he rest in peace and may his legacy never be forgotten

[atomic-fly]

88. His later works really connected with the younger crowds

It was an amazing final breath of his soul so close to the end.

I had some college age kids living below me and they said they heard me listening
to Johnny Cash and they were thrilled that I loved his music also.

It is very sad that Cash would be put on a watch list now for expressing these views.
What has become of our nation?