Causecast

Causecast has spent the last several months conducting interviews with influential musicians, asking them about public service, causes they find important, and what role music can play in all of it.

Causecast Music Manager Brandon Deroche recently had the opportunity to speak with Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Fiction Family to discuss Darfur, the idea of peace, and a strange conversation he once overheard in a bookstore.

BD: There seems to be a common underlying belief that we’re in a time in history where a major shift is taking place. Do you feel that we’re in a time of transition?

Jon Foreman: I do believe we’re in a time of transition. I feel in many ways America is not America, yet. The American Dream is one that has potency in its lack of definition. At the same time there is a certain sense of, I don’t want put this in a harsh way or in a negative light, but I think people feel like they are entitled to certain elements of life that I don’t believe to be entitlements. Every breath is a gift and many times in the first world we treat our breath with contempt in the way we treat each other, and the way we treat our own planet reflects that view. I do believe this is a transitional time when we’re looking at that outlook and putting it into balance and finding it, wanting.

BD: What do you feel is music’s role in this?

JF: To me, music plays many roles in society. It can be an alarm clock or it can be a lullaby. There are certainly both sides singing out and there is also a side of music that’s just simply stating truth as it is and not the timeless and immortal truth but the temporal and mortal truth of our time. They’re just singing it the way they see it. I feel like music does have a role to play in waking people up but i don’t think thats the entire role music plays.

BD: So, what do you think is music’s most powerful tool?

JF: I think music is powerful because, in the words of C.S. Lewis, “fiction and fairytale sneak past the watchful dragons of religion.” We all have these sentinels set around our lives that keep anyone else’s viewpoint out. Other people’s viewpoints might not line up with our way of seeing the world, so we keep all these things out.

I think music gets in underneath the skin without permission and suddenly you’re taking a second look at somebody else’s view. It’s crucial because in many ways we’ve been lulled to sleep as a culture. I look around and see decadence as the norm and I’m not pointing the finger at anyone; I travel in a tour bus, thats decadent. The world we live in, if you live in America, is richer than 99% of the world. Yet, we would call it a struggle to pay rent and the struggle is by degrees. I’m reading a book by Thomas Sowell that is called “Basic Economics.” He’s talking about the idea that this isn’t a new problem, this is a kind of basic economics. There is a limited supply of certain elements and the way we use those determines the way we shape our society.

There is this story I like to tell, it’s like it was almost a dream to me because I have trouble believing it actually happened. But, it did. I was walking around downtown San Diego looking for a card to give. I think it was my mom’s birthday or something. I was in a book store looking for the right card. There is this wizened old African-American man talking to this beautiful young blonde model-looking girl. That in itself wasn’t too odd. It was a little peculiar. I’m just thumbing through the cards and I’m overhearing what they’re talking about. The old man says, “show me any runner and ask him how he got so strong and fast, he will tell you, ‘I’ve suffered.’ Show me any weightlifter, ask how he got so strong and how he got so big. He will tell you, ‘I’ve suffered.’ Show me any civilization and ask them how they got so strong and how they got so powerful, they will tell you they’ve suffered. Any civilization that makes it their point to avoid suffering is already past their prime.” And I’m just kind of looking at my card, looking over at this couple, thinking, “oh my gosh this is happening right now.” I feel like as a nation, we’ve made a point to avoid suffering and find the right drug, the right person, the right fix to deaden the riotous noise in our own heads. That’s why when I hear about groups like yourself that are taking the focus off of yourself and putting it on other people who need our help, I’m inspired by that.

BD: What causes are you most passionate about?

JF: In many ways, I’m excited to see someone’s passion about changing the world begin to take seed and root in their own backyard. So, many times I’ll talk about something like Habitat for Humanity. I feel like sending money, or even sending your vote, sometimes doesn’t have as big of a lasting effect on you. When you put your own sweat and your own blood, tears, time and energy into something, I feel like there is a vested interest. One of my favorite things to talk about that is pretty much in every nation and every city in our own nation is Habitat for Humanity and that’s the type of thing where you can actually pick up a hammer and nails. If you’re not strong enough to do that, you can bake cookies and bring those in.

To talk about Darfur, I think the most frustrating thing about Darfur is the idea that this is a news event that people have kind of given up on.

BD: Why is Darfur a priority in your mind over say, Burma, or any other crisis?

JF: Well, that’s a great question. There are a lot of injustices in the world, human trafficking and the human rights issues in India. All these things would be worthy of seeing on CNN and I think, for me, the frustrating thing is that I don’t see any of them. So, with Darfur I feel the American public knows so little. I feel like you can strike up a conversation with pretty much anyone in this city and they would be able to tell you probably less than 10 percent of what is actually going on and I feel like that’s a problem.

BD: Who are some key activists for Darfur?


JF: I connect best with the heart of people, so I did the Free Darfur thing and you get the t-shirt and there are ways we can connect with certain over-arching groups that are trying to dive in. But, for me, the things that have been most effective to learn about Darfur have been the specific stories that I scour the internet for. I realize there are a few different people I would connect with on that and they would pass their stories back to me. Shannon Sedgwick who’s over there all the time would be able to pass me back different things.

BD: If someone asked you “What can I do for Darfur?”

JF: The biggest thing I would say that needs to happen in Darfur is first we have to become irate. We have to become frustrated and angry. We have in our nation a certain moral compass of right and wrong and along with the strength of our nation could be an incredible tool. As far as diving in, you can start an activist group on campus, picket the local street, or start blogging about it. Choose whatever forum makes the most sense for you to display your own righteous anger about the subject. I think it’s a great place to start, yet getting the facts is the ultimate precursor for all that.

BD: What does the word “Peace” mean to you?

JF: I’m convinced peace is fairly impossible without some form of inner peace and whatever form of cease fire we achieve in the external peripherals can’t be where peace begins. I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s been going on in the Middle East and for centuries most every war has on the surface or at its root has some sort of religious implication. The idea that the main religions of the world all talk about peace. With Christianity, you have Christians fighting Christians but this is a religion where you’re supposed to be worshiping the Prince of Peace. Ultimately, we’re getting something wrong in regard to that. I feel like peace has to begin on the inside, we have to sort through our own chaos, and many times the lack of peace on the outside is a symptom of what’s going on in here. [puts a fist to his chest]

BD: Was there an A-HA moment for you when you decided to become active?

JF: I think it’s a continual struggle for me. When I’m honest, I look around and I’m surrounded by beauty and placating entertainment. There are a lot of things to dull the need. Sometimes for me, it’s when you step out and go to South Africa or India and you’re shown around and you begin to wake up and think, “Man, I’ve got a role to play, this is the most exciting time to be alive, there are so many incredible ways we can all join together and change the world.” Those are things that wake me up.

To read Jon’s blogs about Darfur please visit his Myspace Page.