Last month, author and commentator Thom Hartmann reminded readers of how presidential candidate Ronald Reagan went behind President Jimmy Carter’s back to arrange for the release of U.S. hostages held by student supporters of the Iranian Revolution. The captives were let go like clockwork on inauguration day, January 20, 1981. Reagan’s quid pro quo was for the U.S. to funnel American spare parts to Iran for the aging weapons systems the Shah had bought during his reign.
Reagan used the Iranians’ weapons cash to fund the so-called Contras in Nicaragua, who were trying to bring down that country’s revolutionary government. The perfect paradox: sell spare parts to one revolutionary government to bankroll the demise of another revolutionary government.
The Bachelors were in the loop regarding all of this and after its exposure in 1986 we repurposed two Christmas carols, one of which commented on the ravenous and rapacious Gentlemen who profit from conflict. The summer of ’87 we began performing “Mr. Wenceslas” and “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen” before issuing them on a 7″ single that fall (see this post on the BachelorBlog for lyrics and details).
This October, while mastering the instrumental version of “God Rest You Merry,” our engineer Scott Jennings remarked on how the lyrics remain as relevant today as they were thirty-six years ago. And we can add that in 2023 our elders continue to be shown the curb (and a shopping cart) just as Bertha had been in “Mr. Wenceslas.”
Oh, and let’s not forget to mark the long overdue passing of Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.