Klarinet Archive - Posting 000724.txt from 1996/02

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Anti-music
Date: Sat, 24 Feb 1996 13:11:06 -0500

One of the characteristics of a closed mind is a presumption about what s/he
likes and does. It goes something like this: "What I like (or what I play
or what I do) constitutes a litmus test for goodness. What I do not like
(i.e., what I find objectionable) constitutes a litmus test for garbage."

Frankly, it doesn't surprise me (though it depresses me) to see such
intolerance to rap music not in terms of its own inherant weaknesses
and musical inadequacies, but simply in terms of its being
"not what I like."

The fact that its source is the Afro American community also has added
its racial tinge to the discussion as well. Is no one else sensitive
to what has been inferred within the context of the criticisms of rap
music? Am I too sensitive to have read a racial undertone to one or
two of the arguments against further examination of this particular art
form?

And when I read absolutes such as "Let's not continue in this discussion"
I become further distressed because I am being dictated to; i.e., "Let's
not @-----." The person is not saying "I do not want to continue
this disscussion." S/he is saying that "We are not to continue in this
discussion."

I am particularly pleased to see strong counter arguments being put
forward on this list. It causes me pain when I sense the dark cloud
of intolerance of any kind blotting out the sunlight of clarinet players.

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
====================================