Spinner

Everclear Frontman Calls for War's End, Labels Jesus a Democrat

An outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq, Everclear singer Art Alexakis will bring his band to controversial Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba on Memorial Day to honor U.S. troops guarding militant combatants captured in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"I want this war over," Alexakis tells Spinner. "It has become this generation's Vietnam. I'm old enough to remember Vietnam and friends of my brother's coming home in bags. I do a lot of stuff for the USO where we'll go to the hospitals when we're in [Washington] D.C. and talk to the kids who have been over there. It's brutal."

Alexakis recalls meeting a fellow Oregonian who was "a perfect model student, perfect model son" and two days before he was to return home from Iraq, his arm was blown off. "His mom and dad were heartbroken," Alexakis says. "His mom was like, 'My heart's broken. But it'll fix. He might be missing an arm but he's still alive.' I have kids and I'd rather have a kid with one arm than no kid. He had the same perspective about it. Talking to people like that gives you a whole perspective of the war."

After Everclear returns from Guantanamo Bay, the band will head to the studio to record the angry single 'Jesus Was a Democrat,' which will be downloadable from to-be-announced websites. A new album will follow in 2009.

"'Jesus was a Democrat' has a few lines about Guantanamo Bay," Alexakis says, "and how I think that a lot of people who call themselves Christians would think -- if Jesus came back today -- that he's a terrorist because he isn't blond-haired or blue-eyed. He was an Arab. He was a Hebrew. He looked like Al-Qaeda. Those are the people we're trying to kill."

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tgallagher777

How about 1 Corinthians 6:9? "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders" If someone asks Jesus' forgiveness for their sins and accepts Him into their heart then they are saved.

August 27 2008 at 12:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DeVon

I wanted to add some clarification to my comment. I meant to say Some Christians love to quote,because all Christians are not that way..and also wanted to clarify that what people forget sometimes is the significance of why Jesus died on the cross.

May 27 2008 at 6:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DeVon

Wow, it is interesting how people assume Jesus would be against gay marriage. This isn't even what the article is about...but here is my opinion on it. People who state they are Christians love to use Deuteronomy against gays folks...I don't even have the quote the verse, I am sure you know it...But what people forget is that Jesus came and died on the cross..when he did that, we are no longer bound under the law..which is what the old testament was..because if we still went by the old testament..there would be alot of folks going to hell. John 3:16 states For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believed in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. I don't see any other stipulation about one must be straight or gay to believe that. I am not trying to change anyone's mind, but offering a different point of view. But I do want to throw this out for food for thought, if this country is about religious freedom and people have a right to believe whatever they like, If you are against gays or gay marriage, why do you get the right to dictate to me what I can or can't do...

May 27 2008 at 5:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
usimpleman

Jesus would not bother with political affiliation. He rules over the eternal kingdom.

May 26 2008 at 11:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris

Jesus wouldn't have played any part in Politics. He stated, "My kingdom is not of this world."

May 26 2008 at 10:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
JM

It's not preposterous to assume that Jesus had neither blond hair nor blue eyes ... but the only thing of which we're certain is that He wasn't particularly attractive, because St. Paul tells us so. No doubt He didn't want people accepting Him for the most superficial of reasons.

May 26 2008 at 9:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
joejm65

"And this is why religion is a bunch of Bullocks. I bet if Jesus were alive today he'd either weep at our ignorance, or ask his Pops to just hit the restart button on this failed experiment called "humanity".

If Jesus were alive today, then then the world would have experienced this little thing called 'Rapture', where the believers are immediately called up to Heaven and the non-believers are stuck here. So, if you're ever in a position where you 'see' Jesus discussing politics or weeping, consider yourself screwed, 'cause you weren't on the 'saved' list...

May 26 2008 at 9:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Heath Griner

Sorry, but rock stars don't get to lecture me about morality or about my Christian faith.
If Jesus had cared about political power, as Art Alexakis evidently does, he would have used His power to overthrow the Roman Empire by force. Jesus cared about individual hearts, not political parties.
It's all in the New Testament, Art.

May 26 2008 at 9:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Smith

did it again, lol, I meant sorry for any typos, lol. Its been a long day trust me, lol.

May 26 2008 at 8:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Smith

so for any typos, I was a bit steamed after reading was was above.

May 26 2008 at 8:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply