The last month of packing up everything in Israel and making the
move to New York, with a Portland visit in between has been intense,
but not exhausting for it has lifted my hopes for the new music and
given be faith in this path. The positive feedback from so many
people, most who have seen the development of my career since the
beginning days of DRN has been a true blessing. To know that there is
a beginning spark of support behind this project, the songs, the
lyrics and the intention honor’s all who have worked on this project
to date. There is small, but inspiring coalition of friends,
businesswomen, businessmen, artists and musicians that have gravitated
to this collection of songs and have gifted this record a future. I
give my heart felt gratitude for the faith and support. from all of
you. It has been a long hard road both spiritually and physically, and
every day is still a lesson most times unrecognized, but still we must
try.
Now it’s time finish the last recording bits, mix a couple more
songs, master the recordings and get it out to all of you who wish to
hear the music. There is also a first video being produced and edited
for the song “The Dictator”, featuring a wonderful speech from Mr.
Charlie Chaplin.
The new record was written mostly in Jerusalem with one
consistent thought in mind. I wrote a missions statement in a journal
when I arrived in India over 3 years ago and still have it today… it
says - “The next record will be love songs to our life partner’s, our
parents, our children, our friends and enemies, to this energy force
we call God, to our husbands and wives, all those we love and all
those we fear, but most of all they are songs to remind you to love
your self.” Without becoming more true to yourself, without forgiving
yourself for mistakes, then moving on with more clarity in your day…
we humans can be easily led astray. I know I can be!
Over the next year I hope to be touring as much as possible, club
dates, opening slots, street corner’s, charity events and after-hour
gatherings. I will keep everyone posted here and on Myspace as to
release dates for the music and tour dates Over the next few months
there will be more to see, feel, hear and discuss… so please feel
welcome any time. Thank you for visiting the site.

Barack Hussein Obama, a half black/half white man whose name rhymes with Osama and has the middle name of the former leader of a country that has become a true test of the West meets the East, Iraq… is in my opinion, energetically, the best man to lead America during these trying times (and that’s just the silly part).

His willingness to talk to the leader’s of North Korea, Iran and Syria proves that he is a politician that searches for solutions, rather than play political chess to save face, or to not look weak. True strength lies in seeing yourself through your enemies eyes, and therefore the stage is set for real dialogue. Barrack is willing to do this, if we are to take him by his word.

His ability to unite both parties is equally as important. For too long now the division between the two main parties of the US has paralyzed the system, where people choose sides out of party loyalty instead of out of what is best for the country and for the world at large.

Barack has not taken money from lobbyist and special interest groups, which by definition does not put him in the corporate pocket. Corporations are important to say the least at this time in the world, but being their puppet is not. There needs to be accountability and when you are in debt to them, it is hard to put to test those who have helped place you in a position of power.

With the US playing such a crucial role in so many world policies, from World Bank issue’s, Nuclear, military presence abroad, environmental destruction and influence on different culture’s through the media, it is most important that the leader of this most powerful country assist in bringing the world to a common ground, not continue the ’divide and conquer’ practices of old.

The world has grown small with the invention of the internet and world media… perhaps it is now important to become world citizens in thought and in action. In my humble opinion Barack Obama will guide us in that direction better than any of the other qualified candidates running for president.

My two cents…

The link - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1282796533661048967

For over two decades I have gone back and forth from being a vegetarian and then not, most times not. When I asked the Tibetan monks in Dharamsala, India if they ate meat, many of them said that they indeed do, not like hamburgers and steaks American style, but they do have mutton or fowl in their soups and other dishes. I was surprised to learn this knowing their policy of compassion for all sentient beings, but in the end they spoke of how every thing has a soul, and it is most important when eating any food that we thank it for giving it’s life for sustaining our life… and if you believe in re-incarnation we should also wish it a good re-birth as well.

With that in mind, I was recently turned on to a film called ‘Earthlings’ by a true friend of mine, one who also struggles with the issue of whether animal meat should be in our diet or not. The film is narrated by Joaquin Pheonix and struck me to my deepest core. After watching ‘Earthlings’ I have renewed my vow to become a vegetarian and I will explain why.

It may be true that humans, being the dominant race, at least dominant in our opinion, has every right to do with their environment as they see fit to survive or sustain life, this includes eating all forms of animals that are killed in this day and age by those we hire to do the killing and not by our own hands.

What this film reminded me of more than anything is the cruelty and inhumane practices that exist in the slaughterhouses, the factory farm yards, the fur industry, zoo and circus industry and the scientific experiment community. It is beyond absurd and begs the question… what is ‘being a human’ defined by? I would imagine it means we are ‘humane’ to some degree. Until we give animals a quality of life that is worth living, a life of happiness as defined by their behavior as in… freedom of movement, ample space, access to healthy food, contact with other’s of their kind, a dignified death even, then in my opinion there is no justification for eating animal flesh that is born, bread and slaughtered in these horror houses filled with helpless creatures.

It is proven that the quality of what we put in to our body affects our spiritual and physical well being. The energy that is trapped in the meat of these tortured and suffering animals is embedded in their flesh we devour. Think about this… How many people want to buy a house if they find out the last owners were all victims of a mass murder in that house? If you decide to watch the link for the film ‘Earthlings’, you may ask the same question I did… ‘How can I eat meat, fowl or fish that comes from the mass suffering and mass murder of the dispassionate and cruel practices of the meat industry?’… ‘How can I pay for this meat at a restaurant or food store and help finance this Holocaust for animals?’

It’s easy to turn a blind eye, especially when it tastes so good, the cooked smell of flesh entices, but is this normal or a learned response from our upbringing? It is much harder to find new and creative ways to make grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables into tasty dishes as well as get all the nutrients we need, but it is entirely possible. It just doesn’t come naturally because the majority of the Western World was not raised to think this way during our childhood.

As for me it is time to turn the corner once and for all… to start a revolution within myself and not only stop contributing to this insanity, but to also spread the word of this film to those who have had the thought, maybe once… maybe hundreds of times throughout their lifetime… “It sure would be nice to be a vegetarian.” If you are one of those people or know someone who is… please watch this film. Be ready to cry… be ready to feel a deep sadness, rage, disgust and guilt.

But in the end… I can only hope that the film brings you out the other side more aware of what it is we are putting in our bodies, how it got there on the table, and what the consequences were for the animals that had their lives so violently taken from them. Thank you for your time and consideration.

The link - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1282796533661048967

I want to introduce my good friend Claire Klahn who will be helping us in managing the Myspace, Facebook, and danreed.com sites. I will still read all messages sent, but I have accepted Claire’s most gracious offer to help in adding friend requests, and co-ordinate updating the sites with new blogs, photo’s, tour information and all music releases so that I am able to concentrate more on responding to messages, writing music, and preparing for live performances.

Thank you for understanding and for visiting us here on DanReed.com. Peace… Dan