A little off topic, but a political rant about S.H.A.R.P.

Ugh... wrong wrong wrong!

I'm not even sure where to start with this photo. So I'll just rant for a bit and see what comes out...

Anyone who knows me knows that while I'm a funny happy kind blah blah blah guy, I can't stand bullies. Neo-Nazis fall under my definition of what a bully is. If you want to have white babies, have white babies. If you wand to have black babies, have black babies. If you want to have mixed children, have mixed children. Unless I am directly involved in the baby making, I don't care. All babies look like Winston Churchill to me anyways. Just promise me that you will be a good parent to your baby and I have nothing bad to say...

I was A.R.A. (anti-racist action) for a while in the early 1990's. There were a lot of problems in the area... fire bombings, beatings, rapes, gay bashing, murders, cemeteries being damaged and more. Eventually I left the A.R.A. (long story, better saved for another date. Went on my own for a time just being me, and then a bunch of my friends in Toronto started getting targeted by Neo-Nazi goons. I decided fuck this noise, and stood with my friends. Became one of the founders of the current incarnation of Toronto SHARP (Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice). Wolfgang got shot over a coke deal gone bad... Zundel is trying not to drop the soap in prison, Paul Fromm has a ,for girls 30 years younger than him, and Scrotumhead and Puddles are not worth mentioning by real name. Toronto, aside from drunk dumb bar talk is more or less free from organized idiots...

The beauty of S.H.A.R.P. is that other than saying "fuck you" to bigots in the skinhead scene, it is not political. YES there are Red S.H.A.R.P. There are left leaning S.H.A.R.P. But there are also right wing leaning S.H.A.R.P. (I fall into this category).

I have Red friends, who I love. I will always find time for my Red friends. I might not agree with them on some issues, but I respect their opinions, just like they respect mine. I've never heard of Redskins marching down the streets attacking skinheads who are not hard left. I will ALWAYS stand with my Red friends against racist bullies. I will also always make jokes about "the people's beer" and such. Fuck everyone, get enough pints in me and I find that joke funny as hell.

When it comes to religion, S.H.A.R.P. is not pro or anti any religion. I WISH S.H.A.R.P. was funded by the Jews, or the Muslims, or anyone. More money in my pocket for beer and gin. The truth is individual S.H.A.R.P. have their own opinions. And I for one am glad that they do.

this photo is of the Anti-Nazi League (ANL). A group formed in the U.K. The fact that the caption under the photo says S.H.A.R.P. support "monkeys and jews" is rather telling in itself. How the Trojan Reggae logo that S.H.A.R.P. uses is suddenly considered Jewish is beyond me. Music is music, and calling Trojan reggae Jewish is as stupid as calling it Muslim, Christian, Hindu or Atheist.

Individuals in S.H.A.R.P. are free to have their own opinions on anything and everything. Provided they are "Against Racial Prejudice." As far as I am concerned, ANY skinhead who tells a nazi to fuck off is a S.H.A.R.P. Claim S.H.A.R.P. or not. Join a crew or not. If in your heart you think boneheads are idiots, you qualify.

Anyways, while things might eventually piss me off enough that I WILL stand up and make my opinion known, 9 out of 10 times I really don't want to talk politics. But until the day I die, I will not suffer a bully. Believe what you want. Follow whatever path you feel is right. It's your right. Mine too. And right or wrong, we will all answer for it in the end.

Skinhead girl interviews

Keep those interviews coming in all you skinhead girls and former skinhead girls from all over the world... the more I get the better the book will be. If you need the questions, please get in contact with me.

Cheers!

Hot damn!

Stoked.... one of the ska artists I've loved for years is considering letting me use some of the lyrics to one of his songs to open a chapter in the book about skinhead girls I'm writing! King of the world baby! 

No hints yet, but if you happen to follow me on Facebook, and know my love of Judge Dread (that's a hint, but it's not a silly song... so okay, ONE hint) then there is a chance that you might know who I'm talking about if you have read some of my music reviews.

On a side note, if you are a new ska, reggae, punk or oi band and happen to have a song that you'd like to have promoted through this book, get in touch with me. Anything to help the scene...

Moving this weekend

So I'm moving this weekend, and will not have the internet for about a week. There will be no new postings until I get the net hooked up. Unless I got crazy without having the net and run off to some internet cafe and jump on there.

Please feel free to spread the word about this book along, and any skinhead girls, or former skinhead girls please feel free to answer the questions posted  in the earlier post, or just e-mail me and I'll send them to you. Yes I DO want to hear from you!

Cheers
KTM

Brass Knuckles & Lace on Facebook

You can now "like" and follow Brass Knuckles & Lace on Facebook. Click HERE and enjoy!

Don't worry, it's not going to be the actual book cover

Sadly this took more time to make than I'd really care to admit.

A post for the ladies, or anyone who knows any skinhead girls

So as some of you know, I'm writing a book. A book about skinhead girls, and their 40 some odd years of history. Seems to me that most times you see or read about skinhead girls they are background characters, fuck toys, or pin-ups. what I am working on, titled 'Brass Knuckles & Lace' is a book about skinhead girls opinions, thoughts etc about being a skinhead.

Are you a skinhead girl? Were you a skinhead girl? Well then I'm interested in talking to you. Do you know any skinhead girls, or women who used to be a skinhead? Was your older sister or mother a skinhead? Well then please feel free to pass this on to them.

Any pics used in this book will be of scooter runs, crews or concerts. This is not a pin-up book. It is meant to show how skinhead has grown from it's roots, what life is like today, and where skinhead might go into the future.

Some of you also know that I am moving into a sweet little apartment with my girlfriend. Those that know me know my life is always 'interesting', and to that effect I have managed to pack some of the things I needed to work on this book. Sigh. So I'm going to publish some of the questions I'm asking here, and now I'm asking anyone who wants to to answer them, or pass them on to anyone you know who might want to answer them.

Feel free to e-mail them around, repost them on Facebook, Twitter and anything else that you might use. I can be reached on Facebook, Twitter ( http://twitter.com/BrassKnucknLace ) or at the Brass Knuckles & Lace blog ( http://brassknucklesandlace.blogspot.com/ )

Thanks to anyone who answers these questions. Thanks to anyone who reposts these questions. I promise to not cook you anything for Christmas (those that know me, or read my normal rants know that my cooking is a crime). 

1, How long have you been a skinhead?

2, What made you decide/how did you become a skinhead?

3, How would you describe the scene in your area?

4, What are your thoughts on ska/skinhead reggae/soul/punk/oi music? Which are your favorite bands?

5, How do you view being a skinhead girl in what is seen as a very masculine subculture?

6, Lace/braces colours, what are your thoughts on them?

7, How does skinhead girl fashion differ from skinhead guy fashion?

8, Are there any brands you are loyal to?

9, Why do you think politics is so heavy in the skinhead scene, compared to other scenes that are supposed to be more political in nature (Hippies and their civil rights protests, punks and anarchy for example)?

10, How did your family react to you becoming a skinhead?

11, How have you changed from when you first became a skinhead?

12, What was the scene like when you became a skinhead?

13, What is the scene like today?

14, Where do you see the scene going in the future?

15, Your thoughts on S.H.A.R.P.?

16, Your thoughts on R.A.S.H.?

17, Your thoughts on nationalism?

18, Your thoughts on Boneheads?

19, Are skinhead girls as violent as skinhead guys?

20, How do you feel about how skinheads are portrayed in the media?

21, Do you have any tattoos, and if so, are there any stories behind them?

22, I've heard some people argue that to be a skinhead girl takes strength, and is a strong feminist stance. I've heard others say that being a skinhead just makes girls “oi toys” to be passed around and tossed aside. What are your thoughts on this?

23, Has being a skinhead affected your work?

24, What to you does it mean to be a skinhead?

25, Do you think that the internet has helped or hurt the skinhead scene?