RIGHTEOUS RAGE

I was stunned to read Robert Hilburn’s comment: “Many in the ‘90s rock generation have appeared disdainful of mixing politics and music--disillusioned perhaps by the way they see their parents’ generation failing to live up to the lofty ideals of ‘60s rock” (“Up Against the Wall,” April 14).

The politics of ‘60s rock today manifests itself in a previously nonexistent mainstream environmental movement, party-independent presidential platforms, more open and vociferous opposition to racism in the media, a historically unparalleled scrutiny of American political vagaries and, most important, no prolonged unconstitutional engagement of American troops abroad such as we suffered with the Vietnam War.

We are at a much more politically enlightened (if no less encumbered) junction than we were prior to the explosion of ‘60s rock and politics. There’s a lot more work to do and a lot more “rock with an agenda” required, but that’s life.

It might be worth noting that the parents of the ‘60s produced these children who make and support the music of the ‘90s, which in itself was an assertively revolutionary risk that resulted in the existence and emergence of a band as incandescent as Rage Against the Machine.

ELLEN SANDER

Santa Monica

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Sander is the author of “Trips: Rock Life in the Sixties.”

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Don’t be fooled for one minute by the bogus, self-righteous “activism” preached by the members of Rage Against the Machine. I’m still waiting for any one of these “alterna-activist” bands to donate all of their profits to any of the causes they claim to wholeheartedly believe in.

Rage’s Harvard-educated guitarist Tom Morello alternately implied or outright asserted that he wanted to be a “revolutionary.” Sharing the fruits of your highly profitable, commercially successful and by definition capitalistic ventures with any one of the groups who made you popular--now that would be revolutionary.

MICHAEL ANTHONY GATTO

Los Angeles