Boston Crusaders 2014

[BRASSO]

For those who aren't familiar with Animal Farm (like me), can someone give me and other's who aren't familiar a quick synopsis.

Sure. here goes :

George Orwell ( 1903- 1950 ) was Brit and a believer, and until his death, in Democratic Socialism. He volunteered to fight in battle in Spain against the Fascists there in the the mid 1930's. He was shot in battle in the throat, almost died, probably should have died, but had a miraculous recovery in a hospital .He had toyed with his belief in Communism and armed struggles to achieve socialist aims early in his 20's, but he increasingly horrified by what he saw as inevitable abuses that power hungary people enact upon others once they emerge into positions of rule and authority where they make the rules for others to live by under the guise of equality for all. For example, Orwell saw the Russian Revolution of 1917 as a needed " People's Revolution " in that country as the Aristocracy rule there was so ignoring of the people, many who were dying from starvation, disease, with apparent unconcern for social justice and basic attention to peoples needs. But he saw how Stalin's Communism after the revolution was even worse for the people there as Stalin murderd his opposiition and set in motion a totalitarian control of the country based upon a culture of fear, intimidation, and autocratic rule that resulted in the horrific orchestrated deaths of millions of Russians under Stalin's years of heinous rule. Freedoms gave way to order, and the perpetuation of the leaders at the top to run things as they may under what he called a " Cult of Personality ". He feared that totalitarianism, with its supression of basic freedoms such as speech, press, religion, assembly, protests, etc would lead to people's acceptance of their plight in life, forced upon them by the self chosen few. So he created an alegory novel in which farm animals tried to organize themselves on a farm. He had them come together and to set up rules for themselves to live under... called commandments. There were 7 of these Commandments.... but as you will see in a moment, Orwell cleverly and deftly showed how these 7 Commandments began to change under the heavy hand of the autocratic , dictatorial, small group of animals that emerged. For example, here are the Farm Animals orginal Commandments.. and then the changes... and how these changes afforded the few to control the others, and how they abused their own commandments . The words in parentheses are the words the animals that took over totalitarian control over their fellow animals added to the Commandments to later justify their autocratic control.

1) Whoever goes upon 2 legs is an enemy

2) Whoever goes on 4 legs, or has wings, is a friend.

3 ) No animal shall wear clothes

4) no animal shall sleep in a bed. ( without sheets )

5 ) No animal shall drink alcohol ( to excess )

6) No animal shall kill another animal ( without cause )

7). All animals are equal. ( but some animals are more equal than others )

Anyway, thats a very quick run through of it all... and it by no means does it justice to it at all, as there is SO much more to Orwell's novel, particularly the relationship of the Farm animals and the Humans in their midst, and the "rationale" the animals used justify their abuse upon the other animals, and how the commandments were routinely set l aside whenever the animals running things decided on their own whims to do so.... things Orwell saw, in his view, to be something that all Communists once in control, almost without exception did re. power and control over the people, under the guise of " social justice " and " equality " and so forth.. Orwell in his life came to the conclusion that ultimately Communism was an impractical theory that would fail in practice. But his heart was always with the underclass, and their plight, and throughout his entire life, that remained. He wrote the book in 1945.. he died only 4 years later, at the young age of 46( of tuberculosis.) His book ( he wrote others ) was banned in Communist Countries until pretty much the fall of the Berlin Wall in the late 80's. I won't reveal how the ending of Orwell, book " Animal Farm " ends in the story he tells... that might be best left up to Boston to tell with their music and visuals in this season's show than I can tell with mere words now.. They'll most likely do better justice to it anyway.

Edited April 18, 2014 by BRASSO

[Ghost]

Last summer was my first time ever seeing them live which was at finals and they were great but I wanted more power in their brass.I hope they get more recognition this year....BAC been around so long I'd love to see them in the top 6

Did you mean top 6 again since they were 5th in 2000 and 2002, then 6th in 2003? Now, if you want to go back pre-DCI........

[chris ncsu]

Hmm. Maybe Cadets can join up and have FDR and JFK beat up the commies.

[Tim K]

The choice of music will determine what the "Animal House" theme will be. Somehow I do think it will be more on the Orwellian side of things rather than the National Lampoon/John Belushi side though the two together could make an interesting contrast. I recall last year wondering how they would use so many musical choices to fit a theme of "Rise" and some of what I did not think would work turned out to be rather effective.

BAC has been making strategic moves in the past to strengthen both the overall organization and the corps itself. They are also pretty adept at moving forward without losing what has made them one of drum corps most enduing corps. I know the folks involved are pumped up bout this season, which is not new, and the fans, some of the most loyal in all of drum corps, are excited, again not something new, but after last year it feels different. Even though last year's how placed 8th, it had a lot of sophistication and elements that I believe were underrated. If they take what they accomplished last year and bring it to the next level, they will place higher.

[BRASSO]

The choice of music will determine what the "Animal House" theme will be. Somehow I do think it will be more on the Orwellian side of things rather than the National Lampoon/John Belushi side though the two together could make an interesting contrast.

Well, if Boston was doing " Animal House", the musical selections would be on the order of... " Louie, Louie"..... " Shout ".... " Twistin' the Night Away"... and so forth... but we won't be seeing images of Bluto, Boon, Flounder, Neidermeyer, Babs, Katy, etc and all the other frat boys and sorority gals in this BAC show for 2014 ( lol!)

Edited April 18, 2014 by BRASSO

[emc2]

So it was recently announced that Boston's 2014 program is entitled "Animal Farm".

Thoughts?

Predictions?

I think that this show could be very interesting, especially with those new uni's.

Should be interesting. They had a full camp this week. Good thing to come.

[HornTeacher]

Not trying to hijack a thread -- but on this first anniversary, I hardly think it wrong, OR on a more apt thread, than to say with all thoughts and sincerity...

BOSTON STRONG !!!!

Edited April 21, 2014 by HornTeacher

[emc2]

Not trying to hijack a thread -- but on this first anniversary, I hardly think it wrong, OR on a less apt thread, than to say with all thoughts and sincerity...

BOSTON STRONG !!!!

Yes good point. Several people from BAC running Today. Boston Strong.

[perc2100]

"All (corps) are equal, but some are more equal than others."

No to (further) derail the thread, but anyone who thinks "all corps are equal" is crazy delusional. Some corps have better members than others, some have better staff & designers, etc.

[BRASSO]

Yes good point. Several people from BAC running Today. Boston Strong.

And we just knew that it had to be, as it seems only fitting...... :

An American ( Meb Keflezighi, from NYC running club, and former runner from UCLA college team ) becomes the first American to win the Men's Boston Marathon since 1983... I'm watching the winner cry right now as they play Nation's National Anthmn.... he's one of 10 children. Upset victory winner today in the Boston Marathon.,,,.just said in a post run interview a few moments ago :... "the crowd's enthusiasm and spirit down the strech carried me... I did this for Boston,.. God Bless this City's people, and God Bless the USA ". Cool.

Boston Strong.... Nation Strong.

Edited April 21, 2014 by BRASSO