Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2011-05-26 21:33
There is much wisdom to what Joepie says here. I might add that this topic has been thoroughly discussed on other Boards and Mailing Lists that I frequent, and the conclusion has been similar -- much ado about nothing.
But more important, in my opinion, is this tendency of the media to keep us -- Americans in particular -- continually scared to death on a daily basis. This world-view seems to abound in every corner of the popular media, not to mention in much of our recent political discourse (or what passes for it).
And the ironic thing is, that in the Western world, we have never before been as well-fed and well-educated and affluent as we are today.
I suspect that those who would make us afraid of waking up in the morning have the goal of manipulating us in one way or another, whether to buy newspapers or donate to causes or whatever. I don't know why they would want to put us off our musical instruments, but I do believe there is no level to which they would not go to create fear where none currently exists.
I recall from my high school English Lit classes long ago, that of the various types of fears that writers learn how to exploit, terror in the commonplace is the very scariest sort.
Keep playing your oboes and clarinets and trombones and saxophones, guys. It's good for you.
Susan
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