By Lisa Harmon
Well faithful reader(s) what a week it
has been! Again we had technical difficulties at Lisa's Clubhouse.
(Lisa's Clubhouse is my weekly open mic - and if you're a comic you should come - especially if you're good with technology!) This always makes me angry and then suicidal. Every time something
goes wrong with that amp, I have to bring it home, on the subway. Do
you get that I am a middle-aged woman, and lugging heavy stuff
through the shit-infested New York City subway system is something I feel is
more in line with say, a young man, perhaps with a sinus infection,
and not an old woman?!?! I mean, I am so tired of carrying stuff, I
take my car keys out of my backpack when I know I'm going to be using
the subway. I'm so tired of carrying stuff, I bought a backpack
instead of a purse so my sciatica would spread evenly down both sides
of my back. I'm so tired of carrying stuff, I don't even take my
backpack when I'm just running errands in the neighborhood. Does
everyone get it? I'm old, and I don't want to carry stuff!
Thursday night was the show in
Bushwick. I've been going to this venue for years, and I've never
been mugged! I guess statistically something's got to give. But so
far, so good. I've been pretty lucky living in New York my whole
life. So I survived the show, and thankfully, they really like me
over there. I play there once a month, and it is always a great
crowd – mostly musicians, and they like to laugh. Sure they do,
they're just as broke as we comics and laughter is free.
Friday night I had a gig at a
restaurant. The food was so good. We ate like hogs and some comics
even got some stuff to take home. Me, I don't fool around. I eat it while its hot!
And happy 4/20 everybody – Pothead day! Today
we celebrate by getting high, eating a bunch of potato chips and
hostess cakes, and watching Cheech & Chong movies. Same as every
day! Dave's not here man....
And now...for some serious stuff...
Tomorrow is April 21st and
we will be commemorating the 98th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide in Times Square. This genocide was perpetrated by
the Turkish government during World War I. They have yet to
acknowledge the killings (over one million Armenians were killed) or
pay reparations. I have to go to this. This happened, and not to my
ancient ancestors. This happened to my Grandfather, whom I sat
across the dinner table from for half my life. I'll never give up –
my Grandfather and his family didn't deserve that – no one deserved
that, and we have to stand up every year to remind the world that
this did, indeed happen. The rotten Turkish government won't
acknowledge their crimes, and of course, they don't have to since
they're all buddy-buddy with the United States.
In fact, I heard that one of Obama's
campaign promises from his first run was to put the Genocide
resolution through Congress. Of course that didn't happen. You
can't pick on a country you need to keep your military bases open for
you!
Well the heck with you Turkey and the
U.S.A. - we know what happened, the world knows what happened, and
tomorrow, in Times Square, you're going to find out that, despite
being ignored for ninety-eight years, we haven't forgotten.
If you'd like to join us we'll be at Times Square on Sunday from 2 to 4 P.M.
Just this month I was reminded of this Armenian tragedy. I'm sorry your family was victim to this senseless violence. Genocide is sadly an issue that unites across ethnicity. When we forget planned, organized genocide we encourage its repetition. We are one. Stop the violence!
wow, Lisa.
Keep fighting the good fight. Your mic is awesome! ~S