«It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who listen to Rage Against The Machine without any awareness of the topics we deal with or our positions on contemporary issues». It is not the first time that Tom Morello has used social media to express himself about his political beliefs or those of Rage Against The Machine. The latest was two days ago, when he returned to the topic on his X account starting from the anecdote of a couple he met at the restaurant.
«A while ago I was talking to a couple at a restaurant, they were big fans of Killing In The Name. The lady said, “I love that song. It helped me rebel against my parents and, later, against the vaccine too! (for Covid-19, ed.)””. This is what the artist wrote on his Twitter profile. The story continues: “Then I said, 'Ma'am, that song is about racist cops who often act like the Ku Klux Klan in the name of historical white supremacy. Who are bootlicking lackeys and henchmen of the ruling, capitalist and racist class.” And she just stood there chewing and blinking, chewing and blinking.”
Never ceases to amaze me how many folks who've heard RATM are in Paul Ryan mode, having literally ZERO understanding of anything that band was about and even less understanding where any of us might stand on contemporary issues. Recently was talking to a couple at a restaurant…
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) November 3, 2024
Fan reactions were immediate, both supportive and critical. Someone commented: «Yes, it's really funny when they say that Rage Agaist The Machine are now political. Now?” Others: «Those policemen would ultimately have forced people to get vaccinated, and this with the complicity of the party you now support. The profits from those deals would go to the big companies you say you're rebelling against. That lady understood your music better than you.”
Another user then tried to explain to Morello the true meaning of Killing In The Name, then deleting the tweet. The guitarist's response, however, remains: «Brother. That lady can do exactly whatever she wants. He can cough up Covid into his father's MAGA (Make America Great Again) mouth for all I care. But if you think about coming and telling someone who was physically present when that song was written the “real” meaning of the song, then I raise my hand and say “my lady, no”.
Never ceases to amaze me how many folks who've heard RATM are in Paul Ryan mode, having literally ZERO understanding of anything that band was about and even less understanding where any of us might stand on contemporary issues. Recently was talking to a couple at a restaurant…
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) November 3, 2024
The response generated a further wave of comments, and users began to criticize Morello's political views, and he did not fail to respond.
«My position on the “war machine” has never changed since I was a teenager: every US president I have seen has been a war criminal, at least by the standards of the Geneva Convention. And if there was a shred of justice in the world, they would be treated as such.”
My stance on the “war machine” has been unwavering since I was a teenager: Every US President in my lifetime has been a war criminal by the standards of the post WWII Geneva Conventions and if there was any justice in this world they would be treated as such and answer for those… https://t.co/Aq4m1gJVZc
— Tom Morello (@tmorello) November 3, 2024
In 2022, Morello shared this message on his X account: «To all of you who get offended by what I say about politics on Twitter and Instagram, know that it's because you're not smart enough to know the music you've been listening to all these years ».
