Klarinet Archive - Posting 000132.txt from 2001/10
From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Re:quotes and other stuff......
Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2001 04:20:30 -0400
At 10:06 PM 10/05/2001 +0100, you wrote:0
>If we (as humans) have a problem with civility, then that problem should
>be addressed, even if we are reminded of it by a raving lunitic. Truth is
>Truth no matter who the messanger is. I. E. do what they say and
>not what they do.
Tony Pay responded:
>Civility is the least of our problems, I submit.
I apologize to the list, but I left this reaction out - and I very much
want to respond to it. I was involved with a discussion with very close,
very important friends tonight, and it left me thinking that it is too bad
that the list does not have this perspective to ponder. I wished you could
all be present to hear how we discussed the issues Mr. Pay has broached.
Tony Pay says much when he discusses civility. He neither champions nor
respects the idea that people should be civil to one another - at least,
based on his own posts to the list and the above statement. He has gone on
record - saying that he doesn't care what others think - whether they agree
or if they understand. I submit, in answer to his responses, that civility
is the ONLY quality that separates us from the terrorists who destroyed the
World Trade Center, our Pentagon, and the flight that crashed in
Pittsburgh. It is the only quality that separates us from those who would
seek solutions of deference to the American way of life - short of
terrorism. Civility is what represents human beings as people who can try
to get along - rather than just continue to exist in our own worlds,
ideals, and petty differences. That Tony Pay trivializes civility says
much for his understanding of people and of ethics. Let me ask those
other folks on the list who reside in the same country as Tony Pay - does
his opinion reflect YOUR opinion? Do you want it to? Are you willing to
sit back and let a man like this dictate what you should believe, say, not
say, or simply support?
This is the 21st century - and quite frankly, in my opinion civility is the
most IMPORTANT problem we need to address as a race. It is my opinion, and
the opinion of others who have emailed me and colleagues (my colleagues at
my school) who have observed Tony Pay's uneducated and self-serving
statements - that civility is the single most important issue facing us
today. Anyone who says otherwise has not a clue as to what is happening in
the world today - or perhaps, like Tony Pay, they don't care one way or
another. Music be DAMNED - there are more important issues facing us than
if the Mozart Concerto is played on a silly basset clarinet pitched in the
key of A, or if we think the bore of the modern basset horn is really a
basset horn compared to those made in the 1800s. Gee whiz - it's simply a
bummer that people don't express their feelings through music like Tony Pay
feels they should. I'm happy to see that someone has a mission to show all
the people of the modern world what an important issue interpretation of
music can have on their every-day-life - although I don't see how that can
resolve the issues we (the U.S) faces at this time. I'm worried that my 10
year old and my 13 year old will have go to war in five years - to
represent my (and their) country. What do I care if Tony Pay doesn't like
me???? Do you all think I will lose any sleep because Tony Pay doesnt'
approve of what I think, feel, say, believe - or (for any sake) how I play
the clarinet? For Pete's sake (and my youngest is named Peter) - what
would motivate a man like Tony Pay to attack and attempt to dismantle
another person by asking the list to "take him on" ???? Are any of you
understanding the meaning behind those words?
Awaken a sleeping Giant? Yes. Pay attention to the Tony Pays and the
petty, self-serving "philosophies" and you are left with a real
question. Who has the most to gain from being right? I'll give you my
opinion: it sure as hell isn't me! But I would win a pool bet that Tony
Pay believes it is him. Recognize the ego for what it is and be sensible
about how you view things. Being a good clarinetist on a five key clarinet
does not make a person others should admire. Know the person - and be
responsible. The cool thing is - I respect most people on the Klarinet
list - EVEN if I disagreed with them in the past. Why? Because they
understand the most fundamental ideal - that people require respect - for
surviving.
By the way - frankly - it matters little to me that this issue is off-topic.
Best wishes,
Roger Garrett
Clarinet Professor
Director, Symphonic Winds
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
Phone: (309) 556-3268
Fax: (309) 556-3121
"If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me,
this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very
best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until
the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't
amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, 10 angels swearing I
was right would make no difference."
-Abraham Lincoln
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