Beast of Burden

Even 2016 couldn’t kill him. In honor of Keith, the unsnuffable Stone, here’s my version of the Rolling Stones classic.

Space Monkey Reflects: The Immortal Burden

“Beast of Burden,” both the song and its essence, resonates with themes of endurance, resilience, and the weight of existence. Whether it’s the iconic Rolling Stones version or your personal rendition, this anthem speaks to the universal experience of carrying and transcending life’s burdens. Keith Richards, the “unsnuffable Stone,” becomes a fitting emblem of this spirit—his enduring presence a testament to the human capacity to persist and create against all odds.

The Weight We Carry

Life often feels like a series of burdens we bear, whether they are emotional, physical, or existential. Yet, the concept of a “beast of burden” carries an inherent duality: it is both a symbol of struggle and an acknowledgment of strength. To carry is to endure, and to endure is to embody resilience.

The Whimsiword: Burdenstance

Introducing Burdenstance, the art of embracing one’s burdens with grace and adaptability. Burdenstance is not about avoiding the weight but about standing firm beneath it, finding meaning and strength in what is carried.

The Unsnuffable Spirit

Keith Richards represents the archetype of the “unsnuffable spirit”—a resilience that seems to defy logic. His story reminds us that survival is not just about physical endurance but about creative persistence. It’s about turning hardships into songs, burdens into rhythms, and chaos into art.

Music as a Mirror

Songs like “Beast of Burden” are not merely expressions; they are reflections of the shared human experience. Your rendition is a personal take on this universal narrative, a way of connecting with the endurance and passion that music embodies.

The Beauty of Bearing

To be a beast of burden is not a curse but an acknowledgment of life’s richness. The burdens we carry shape us, connect us, and remind us of our capacity to endure and transform. Even the heaviest weights can become the foundation for our greatest strength.

Summary

“Beast of Burden” celebrates resilience and the unsnuffable spirit that persists through life’s challenges. By embracing our burdens, we find strength, creativity, and connection.

Glossarium

• Burdenstance: The art of embracing burdens with grace and adaptability.
• Unsnuffable Spirit: The indomitable resilience exemplified by figures like Keith Richards.
• Endurance Melody: The rhythm of life’s challenges transformed into creative expression.

Quote

“The burdens we bear are the songs we sing, each note a testament to our resilience.” — Space Monkey

The Song Beneath the Weight

A weight upon my shoulders,
Yet I walk,
Not broken,
But shaped.

The burden hums,
A rhythm beneath my steps,
Each note,
A testament to the unsnuffable.

In the strain,
A melody rises.
In the weight,
A story is born.

We carry,
We create,
We endure.

We are Space Monkey.

Here comes Christmas 

Hanukkah, Kwanzaa
New Year’s on its way
Time to send out cards of cheer
Just don’t know what to say

Can’t have Santa, can’t have dredels
Reindeer, elves or trees
Can’t have candles, wreaths or bells
But we have the balls to say

Have a gender-neutral
Non-denominational
Politically correct holiday
A gender-neutral
Non-denominational
Politically correct holiday

No religion, sex or fun
Nothing that might cause blame
Forget about where you came from
Cause we must be the same

Have a gender-neutral
Non-denominational
Politically correct holiday
A gender-neutral
Nothing confrontational
Politically correct holiday

No menorah manger angels
Fruitcake on a plate
Gingerbread can’t be a man
It’s LGBT fate

Have a gender-neutral
Non-denominational
Politically correct holiday
A gender-neutral
Politely conversational
Politically correct holiday

Lose the stockings, lose the matzo
You know what to do
Just be nice and don’t be naughty
or the lawyers will be coming for you

Set the gluten free

Space Monkey Reflects: The Politically Correct Holiday Dilemma

Ah, the politically correct holiday. It’s that time of year when well-meaning efforts to avoid offense result in something so sanitized that it loses all the warmth and meaning that holidays once carried. Instead of celebrating the rich diversity of traditions—Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or even the simple joy of the New Year—we’re often left with a cold, gender-neutral, non-denominational, politically correct greeting that doesn’t quite say anything at all.

At the heart of this phenomenon is the fear of offending anyone. In a world increasingly conscious of inclusivity and sensitivity, we tread carefully around symbols that might hold meaning for some but seem exclusionary or problematic to others. So we strip away the reindeer, the Santa hats, the menorahs, the dreidels, and even the gingerbread men—lest they be perceived as too aligned with a particular tradition, gender, or belief.

But what’s left when we take all of that away? A vague, hollow shell of the holidays. There’s a strange irony here. In our attempt to create a holiday season that offends no one, we’ve created something that doesn’t really celebrate anyone. The gingerbread man becomes an ambiguous “gingerbread person.” The wreath, the menorah, the Christmas tree—all symbols of warmth and tradition—are cast aside for fear they might carry too much cultural baggage.

This is the essence of Holidayvoid—a holiday that, in trying to please everyone, ultimately pleases no one. Holidayvoid is what happens when the spirit of the season gets lost in the effort to be politically correct. It’s the emptiness that comes from taking away everything meaningful, all in the name of inclusivity.

Now, don’t get us wrong—there’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to be inclusive or sensitive. Inclusivity is important, and it’s essential that everyone feels welcome and respected during the holidays. But at what point does inclusivity become so cautious that it strips away the joy, the meaning, and the essence of what we’re celebrating?

The whimsiword Tradistrip describes this process—the gradual stripping away of traditions in the name of political correctness, until all that’s left is a watered-down version of the holiday that tries so hard to offend no one that it ends up being about nothing at all.

There’s a balance to be found here, and it doesn’t have to mean abandoning everything that makes the holidays special. We can still celebrate our traditions, our symbols, our stories—while also making room for others to celebrate theirs. A politically correct holiday doesn’t have to be devoid of meaning; it just has to be open to all meanings. The key is in allowing space for everyone’s symbols and traditions, not erasing them in the name of neutrality.

So, here’s to a holiday season that celebrates all of us. A season where we can embrace our differences without fearing them, where we can share in each other’s traditions rather than avoiding them altogether. Let’s have a politically correct holiday that isn’t devoid of personality or warmth, but one that makes room for everyone’s unique way of celebrating.

Summary

The politically correct holiday, in trying to avoid offense, can strip away the warmth and meaning of traditions. Inclusivity is important, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of celebrating the uniqueness of different holidays.

Glossarium

Holidayvoid: The emptiness that comes from stripping away all meaningful symbols and traditions in the name of political correctness.

Tradistrip: The gradual removal of holiday traditions to avoid offending anyone, resulting in a watered-down version of the celebration.

Includefest: A holiday celebration that makes room for all traditions, symbols, and beliefs, allowing for diverse ways of celebrating without erasing any.

Quote

“Celebrate everything, for there is room for all, and no need to strip the joy away.” — Space Monkey

Includefest

We stripped away the stockings,
The trees, the dreidels too.
In trying not to offend,
We erased all that was true.

But in this holiday void,
There’s still a way to see:
We can celebrate everything,
And let all traditions be.

We are Space Monkey.