Radical Metal

Let's Break it Down

I have been a bit all over the place with my posts (but isn’t that the point of Substack? Write what you feel and don’t worry so much about it being perfect etc etc.). I have also been absolutely on fire through my writing on here and have gained so much clarity on the Radical Metal mission. I even updated my Header for my emails in order to hit the reader with the mission statement, lest there is any confusion about what we stand for. Want to read it?

“Radical Metal is my Substack but also my show on YouTube where we discuss heavy metal music, politics, and health and wellness. We use the following words often and sometimes interchangeably: METAL (music but also the overall channel), MIDDLE (politics), and METTLE (health/wellness/resilience). Radical Metal’s overall mission is to inspire societal change through personal transformation and dignified discourse. Along the way we will showcase those who inspire us, share commentary, and play some freakin’ music.”

Radical Metal is a reaction to the poisonous rhetoric in the world and for those of us who have nuanced outlooks and crave authentic and dignified conversation. You will hear “dignified discourse” often; something we cherish and wish to protect. It is better than free speech because it is collaboration without judgment. We believe collaboration (with dignity) yields superior solutions to the world’s issues. Most UNLIKE the un-dignified debate and ridicule which overwhelms the internet - this we feel yields INFERIOR solutions. Our mission is to REINFORCE those who are capable of disagreeing agreeably.

Our mission is NOT to convert the poisonous . . . let me drill down on that. Right now I see the following groups which will be me oversimplifying it, but only to make a point. There are those on the Radical Right that hate the Left and will continue to disparage them publicly and express outrage over everything they do. There are those on the Radical Left who hate the Right. They will do the same thing but as it relates to what they care about. Then there are those who are in the Radical Middle (though may not be aware of it yet). These are the people who are equally disgusted by both ends of the spectrum but also see value in some Right ideas as well as some Left ideas. Those in the Radical Middle may sometimes feel isolated and afraid to share their nuanced opinions because there always seems to be a Lefty or a Righty ready to pounce on them, accusing them of siding with one or the other. In fact, they are just being nuanced and authentic, or maybe they haven’t quite figured out how they feel about something. My hope is that the Radical Middle will be their refuge, their hope, their peace and where they can find renewed purpose.

We want those with the Radical Middle mentality to join us and share their testimony (our second tenet after “Bring Dignity to the Discourse” is “Bring Your Testimony to the Table”). We invite them to share how they have come to their perspectives (their testimony). We think this can inform others on their perspectives as well. Together, even if we disagree, we can help sharpen each other’s intellect and outlook on issues. This sharpening is CLARITY (our third tenet “Clarity Comes Through Engagement”).

The Radical Metal then wants to capture this clarity; clarity brought on by dignified collaboration . . . A SUPERIOR SOLUTION. We believe that dignity and testimony yields TREMENDOUS VALUE of the INPUT and thus will lead to a highly valuable OUTPUT (solution). Then we bottle it, market it, and change the world baby! It is value in - value out. The inverse is what you see everywhere today on “X” and on the news and on YouTube which is garbage in - garbage out. Not so with the Radical Middle.

As stated - the mission is to reinforce the Radical Middle way and the voices that are out there and to build the community. Why? Because instead of condemning those we disagree with, which simply adds to the outrage death spiral . . . WE GROW OUR NUMBERS and overwhelm the outrage culture. We grow the positive until it overwhelms the negative. We FOCUS on the positive until it overwhelms the negative. Doesn’t that sound great as a superior alternative to outrage. Isn’t it a huge relief? Instead of getting angry all the time, you can feel inspired and focus on the positive and that is how you fight the darkness in this world? It inspires the hell out of me. I would rather feel glowing and buzzing with positivity then feel the anger and the dark pit it puts in my stomach. I know that all to well! I tried it and I hate it! But it has led to all of the above so in a sense, grateful for it.

Let’s overwhelm them by our numbers. Let’s overwhelm them by our personal transformation. Let’s overwhelm them with our dignity. Let’s overwhelm them with our testimony. Let’s overwhelm with our tried and true superior solutions via collaboration. Let’s have our example be a new guidepost. Maybe it takes a 1,000 years and we will not see the fruit of our ways in this lifetime but to me, the Way in itself is what is worth it.

I am sure this will all be refined even more as we go. “Clarity comes through Engagement”. Tenet #3. That will never change as long as the engagement persists.