home
FROM - Larry NY
TOPIC - forum
04/19/00 11:41:43
Hi:
I haven't had an opportunity to post here for some time. To be honest, I also felt that
after writing the piece about Chris leaving the band, that it would be good to withdraw
for a period so that people could let their emotions speak freely. Despite hearing some
hilarious rumours, I stayed away. Yesterday, however, two different young people wrote me
expressing their concern about the direction of this discussion group. They were
distraught and did not understand the vitriolic nature of some of the postings. After
taking a peek myself, I can empathise with them. Of course, they did not mention the
level-headed responses from the majority of you but isn't that just like life?
So, let me deal with the ridiculous rumour first. As a member of Black 47 and as someone
who was in Wetlands on St. Patrick's night, never at any point, was the issue of the the
benefit for Mumia mentioned. We had a lot of other things on our minds - including the
trip from Chicago that morning and the gig we would be playing in Mulcahy's later that
night. As for Chris leaving the band over that issue, what a riduculous assumption on your
part. This band has gone through a lot over the last 10 years and for anyone to try and
sow dissension at this point is, in my mind, the lowest of the low. Chris is leaving
amicably to do his own thing. What's the big mystery? People do it all the time. The
amazing aspect, to me, is that we have managed to stay together for 10 years. So, let the
man leave in peace and wish him luck. If you want to speak to him about it, you know where
to find him. But, for Christ sakes, grow up!
Black 47 will play at any venue it chooses to and you have the right to attend or not to,
as you see fit. We have always been about the ideas and the music not the four walls
wherein we play. When we inhabit that place, we change it for those four hours, or so that
we are there. That goes for Reilly's, Connolly's, Toads, House of Blues, or wherever else.
We will continue to play in Wetlands whenever we feel like it - and for one particular
reason, which some reasonable person brought up - it is one of the few places in the city
that allows people under 21 entrance. Long may it live. If the owners there have views of
their own, political or otherwise, that's their concern. They don't foist them on me. Nor
do I push mine on them.
I don't owe anyone an explanation of my political views. What I care about, I write about.
Listen to the songs - they say it all - or, at least, all I want to share with you. I
think I've expressed myself, in song, as cogently and as poetically, as I know how, over
the last 10 years. I care about a number of issues passionately and I've written about
them. As much as my time allows, I devote myself to those issues. I know little about the
Mumia case and don't feel passionately about it. I do deeply sympathise with the family of
Officer Faulkner - I only learned his name through this forum - as I'm sure everyone else
around Black 47 does. To lose a family member under such cirumstances is the height of
tragedy. My own views of police officers are well known. I count a number of them as close
friends and have good relations with hundreds of others around the country. I don't need
to explain that to anyone. I've suffered a
major tragedy with the family of one of them which will affect me for the rest of my life.
Enough said!
By the same token, I am absolutely and unequivocally opposed to the death penalty. I don't
believe the state has the right to take a human life. I've always felt that way and don't
expect to change. However, I respect other people's opinions on the subject.
But I suppose what troubles me most about this forum is the patent lack of civility. Like
most of you, when I'm reading postings I register agreement or disagreement, depending on
the opinion. But never in a month of sundays, would I seek to humiliate someone for having
a different opinion than my own.
Perhaps, I was brought up in a more politicised society and in a small town, where people
held very trenchant and earnest views but could still put those views aside and deal with
each other in a civil manner. My views on politics, religion, and society are probably
quite radical but they're mine and, for the most part, private. I don't try to shove them
down anyone else's throat. In fact, I rejoice that I live in a great city and society
where there are so many divergent points of view. There's always the opportunity to learn
from your neighbor.
Now I know the rant is a favored method of putting one's opinions across these days. But
spare me from it. I have to put up with it on a nightly basis in bars and have grown tired
of its singlemindedness. How about a little civilized discourse for a change? In that way,
perhaps, we'll learn something from each other That's what this discussion board was set
up for in the first place.
Black 47 has stood for many things and issues over the last 10 years. But the most
important is the freedom of the individual to think for him/herself in a free civilized
society. Added to that, the right of the individual to realise their potential is a basic
tenet. Humiliating people who think differently than you has the opposite effect.
Whatever, as long as I am a member of Black 47, the band will continue to plough its own
furrow, do our own thing - whatever you want to call it. When we started off on Bainbridge
Avenue, we played what we wanted, where we wanted and to whom we wanted. We weren't there
to play to people's expectations. You can get that from thousands of other bands. We'll
continue to be as we are, to stretch our musical boundaries every night and to sing about
the issues we're passionate about. If you want to come see us, that's fine. If you want to
listen to our cds, that's fine too. If you don't, well that's your choice and I respect
it.
I don't expect I'll be checking in here again for a few weeks, at least, so don't expect a
reply here - my silence will be purposely deafening this time. Any of you, however, can
e-mail me privately at blk47@aol.com or come up to me at a gig. However, in person I do
expect civility and a modicum of good manners. It's just one of my peculiarities.
To the many people here who have shown not only good judgement but good taste, I applaud
you. Last night I had thought of closing down this board but this morning, it's a new day,
and I remembered the thought behind 40 Shades of Blue - no matter how bad things seem at
night, you've got to get up the next day and do it all again. That's life and that's why
we'll continue with this discussion group. See you at a gig soon.
Larry
home |