ejp626 Posted March 19, 2012 Report Posted March 19, 2012 Valerie: you are quite right! Quelle gauche of moi. Don't know what I'd do w/o you! They DON'T belong in the same sentence. So here are three separate sentences-to run concurrently, since I'm a merciful man: John Pizzarelli sucks. Jessica Molasky sucks. Ezparanza Spalding sucks. because i know you're a man of good taste, you really need to give Esperanza more of a chance, especially when it comes to her bass-playing. just cannot believe that you wouldn't appreciate her talent as a musician. I have heard her live and on disc and am completely unimpressed. Can't imagine anything that would make me a convert, but I suppose stranger things have happened. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted March 19, 2012 Report Posted March 19, 2012 I have heard that the French (as an example) still perceive themselves to have been 'better colonialists' than the British. Well, if you'd eaten in restaurants in Senegal and The Gambia, you'd realise that it was true. The French taught the Senegalese to cook, the Brits taught the Gambians. MG There were two sides to Lynn Hope - the ballads and the standards, which were eerily tranquil and idealistic, and the hard blues side, which was pretty damn nasty. It was like, under that turban, there was a .45. Look out! S'right. I don't know about the story. Steve and Paul both make good points and Hope COULD have done it. Anyway, it's a wonderful bit of very committed writing and I think illustrated Amiri's views on being revolutionary in the day. MG Quote
robertoart Posted March 19, 2012 Report Posted March 19, 2012 It's bangers and mash in Gambia then is it. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted March 19, 2012 Report Posted March 19, 2012 It's bangers and mash in Gambia then is it. No - they cook the same stuff, but horribly! MG Quote
robertoart Posted March 19, 2012 Report Posted March 19, 2012 It's bangers and mash in Gambia then is it. No - they cook the same stuff, but horribly! MG Quote
robertoart Posted March 19, 2012 Report Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) Amiri Baraka: Well it’s like [American author, actor, and civil rights activist] Cornel West. He called Obama a white man in black skin. This guy taught at Harvard and Princeton. I don’t know many black people who teach at Harvard and Princeton. If you got into one of them you’d be lucky. I was at a Socialist conference and these people were making all these ridiculous statements. I said “I’m a Communist, I want to know where are the Socialists, where are the Communists in this group?” And Cornel says “I’m a Christian.” So I said: “That’s cool,” but I reminded him, “You know why they killed Christ, don’t you? Kicking the money lenders out of the temple.” hmmmmm. Edited March 19, 2012 by freelancer Quote
Pete C Posted March 19, 2012 Report Posted March 19, 2012 He called Obama a white man in black skin... And Cornel says “I’m a Christian.” Smart guy, but the first comment is a stupid statement from any angle, and the second is a stupid answer to your question. Quote
ValerieB Posted March 20, 2012 Report Posted March 20, 2012 He called Obama a white man in black skin... And Cornel says “I’m a Christian.” Smart guy, but the first comment is a stupid statement from any angle, and the second is a stupid answer to your question. Cornell West is brilliant but he, i believe, is a very envious person. Quote
robertoart Posted March 20, 2012 Report Posted March 20, 2012 He called Obama a white man in black skin... And Cornel says “I’m a Christian.” Smart guy, but the first comment is a stupid statement from any angle, and the second is a stupid answer to your question. Here is the complete reference My link Quote
Face of the Bass Posted March 20, 2012 Report Posted March 20, 2012 (edited) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjSEVSvDkhw Edited March 20, 2012 by Face of the Bass Quote
fasstrack Posted March 20, 2012 Report Posted March 20, 2012 He called Obama a white man in black skin... And Cornel says “I’m a Christian.” Smart guy, but the first comment is a stupid statement from any angle, and the second is a stupid answer to your question. Cornell West is brilliant but he, i believe, is a very envious person. You mean envious of President Obama? If so you're probably right. He'd have to get in line, though. There's plenty to envy in our president's nonpareil qualities and plenty around to grit their teeth and envy. Except, of course, the gig... He called Obama a white man in black skin... And Cornel says “I’m a Christian.” Smart guy, but the first comment is a stupid statement from any angle, and the second is a stupid answer to your question. Elucidate me. As the kids I used to teach used to say at times 'I'm confused'. What's a stupid answer, that West said he's a Christian or when Baraka pointed out that Christ died after calling out the moneychangers? Or neither? Anyway, FWIW that is why he died, let's face it. Assuming he was real beyond the Bible. Quote
Pete C Posted March 20, 2012 Report Posted March 20, 2012 (edited) Elucidate me. As the kids I used to teach used to say at times 'I'm confused'. What's a stupid answer, "I'm a Christian" is a stupid answer to "where are the socialists, where are the communists..." Outside of "what's your religion?" I can't think of any question it wouldn't be a stupid answer to. Edited March 20, 2012 by Pete C Quote
fasstrack Posted March 20, 2012 Report Posted March 20, 2012 Elucidate me. As the kids I used to teach used to say at times 'I'm confused'. What's a stupid answer, "I'm a Christian" is a stupid answer to "where are the socialists, where are the communists..." Outside of "what's your religion?" I can't think of any question it wouldn't be a stupid answer to. It would be a stupid answer to a lot of questions. For example: 'What's the capital of North Dakota?' (with apologies to the great theologian Groucho Marx). Anyway, thanks for clarifying. Quote
robertoart Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 (edited) Baraka's line about Jesus and the money lenders just seemed like another cheap shot at the Jews. West's retort that "I'm a Christian" doesn't sound too out of context given other comments I have heard West speak. He constantly defers to Christianity as a buffer between his rage at the injustices of America, and the use of violence. Him maintaining a Christian stance in his otherwise Socialist position doesn't seem hypocritical to me. Edited March 21, 2012 by freelancer Quote
Pete C Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 My assumption is that West uses "Christian" in a liberation theology context, and makes certain assumptions about the sociopolitical meaning of "Christian" that is not shared by many Christians of differing political stripes, and therefore is meaningless as a retort to a question about political leanings. I didn't mean to imply that it was hypocritical, but if there was an implicit critique of the smugness of many religious types, that's OK with me. Quote
JSngry Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 Bottom line, if you fuck with people's money, they gonna get pissed, Jew, Gentile, Arab, Mafioso, Military-Industrial Complex, anybody. That, Dear Friends, is the True Lesson Of The Story. Quote
robertoart Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 My assumption is that West uses "Christian" in a liberation theology context, and makes certain assumptions about the sociopolitical meaning of "Christian" that is not shared by many Christians of differing political stripes, and therefore is meaningless as a retort to a question about political leanings. I didn't mean to imply that it was hypocritical, but if there was an implicit critique of the smugness of many religious types, that's OK with me. It's hard to argue against what you say. Especially in the context of the bigger picture. I too, am "taking for granted" something like a liberation theology point of view. I also listen to West and his Christianity through his lens of Black American Christianity (as best I can anyway). And I know he is Left. Perhaps an exchange like this, between himself and Baraka, is different to the way he would negotiate his Christianity with 'mainstream America'. Quote
AllenLowe Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 well, if you want to read some incrediblly dumb stuff, check out West's autobiography. I named a song on my last CD - Sublime and Funky Love - after one of his pet phrases. Quote
robertoart Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 well, if you want to read some incrediblly dumb stuff, check out West's autobiography. I named a song on my last CD - Sublime and Funky Love - after one of his pet phrases. Really? Care to elaborate? Quote
fasstrack Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 Barak's line about Jesus and the money lenders just seemed like another cheap shot at the Jews. West's retort that "I'm a Christian" doesn't sound too out of context given other comments I have heard West speak. He constantly defers to Christianity as a buffer between his rage at the injustices of America, and the use of violence. Him maintaining a Christian stance in his otherwise Socialist position doesn't seem hypocritical to me. Baraka, not Barak. Let's not cause a second crucifixion.. Quote
AllenLowe Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 (edited) Freelance - here's a choice quote from West: "Afro-American music.. .is seductive to rootless and alienated young people disenchanted with existential meaninglessness, disgusted with flaccid bodies, and dissatisfied with the status quo." Cornet West, Prophetic Fragments his autobiography is full of such sad attempts at poetic persepctive. then there is also: I will not let life or death stand in the way of this sublime and funky love that I crave! Edited March 21, 2012 by AllenLowe Quote
AllenLowe Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 and here's an evisceration of his work; read it: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/mclemee/mclemee267 Quote
Pete C Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 Personally, I revel in existential meaninglessness. Quote
AllenLowe Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 try this full quote from West, oi veh: “The basic problem with my love relationships with women is that my standards are so high -- and they apply equally to both of us. I seek full-blast mutual intensity, fully fledged mutual acceptance, full-blown mutual flourishing, and fully felt peace and joy with each other. This requires a level of physical attraction, personal adoration, and moral admiration that is hard to find. And it shares a depth of trust and openness for a genuine soul-sharing with a mutual respect for a calling to each other and to others. Does such a woman exist for me? Only God knows and I eagerly await this divine unfolding. Like Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship in Emily Bronte’s remarkable novel Wuthering Heights or Franz Schubert’s tempestuous piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat (D.960) I will not let life or death stand in the way of this sublime and funky love that I crave!” Quote
Pete C Posted March 21, 2012 Report Posted March 21, 2012 I think I'll stick with Muhammad Ali for the poetry of self praise and Donna Summer for the unconditional love. Quote
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