A member of the Swedish Academy that awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature to Bob Dylan says the American singer-songwriter’s silence since receiving the honor is “impolite and arrogant.”
Per Wastberg said Dylan’s lack of reaction to the honor the academy bestowed on him last week was predictable, but disrespectful nonetheless.
“One can say that it is impolite and arrogant. He is who he is,” Wastberg was quoted as saying in Saturday’s edition of the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter. …
Although this piece I wrote is specifically about the “Peace” Prize, I think it also is apropos in this case, too.
The Prize’s Price - ©2016 by Trevor Patrick
Someone recently asked
about the Nobel Peace Prize-
that if I ever won it myself,
what such an ‘honour’ would mean to me?
My mind immediately went
to Le Duc Tho,
who, along with Henry Kissinger,
was awarded it in 1973-
Well, history records,
that Tho turned down this so-called ‘peace’ prize,
due to the inconvenient fact
that there was no actual peace!
Maybe even back then,
he was ahead of the curve,
knowing that ‘peace’ is a pretty lie,
that only exists in a fairy-tale world.
Then, the awkward spectacle in 1994:
A carnival sideshow of forked-tongue speech,
and behind their backs,
you could see everyone’s fingers crossed-
the translators stumbling over the recurrent phrase:
‘...that we’ve achieved whatever it is we’ve achieved’
It was agonisingly obvious,
we were watching history’s most cynical photo-op.
Ah, but we weren’t done yet-
disingenuous photo-ops were just the start!
The following years showed,
there was so much further to go in that direction:
Like in 2009,
when, apparently the sole criterion
became the mere expedient
of getting yourself elected!
And all of a sudden,
the last scales fell away,
revealing a popularity contest
with a fancy name-
of which the MILDEST criticism
you can throw against it
is that it’s all so
transparently shallow and myopic...
Never mind the fact,
that it’s now COMPLETELY discredited,
and has become even less meaningful
than ‘team effort’ ribbons
or participation ‘trophies’.
Even worse than this,
‘Peace’ has now become officially Orwellian-
the: ‘Yeah, TOO quiet!’ cliche
warning that the hammer’s about to fall again-
-and the magic moment
when everyone stands around reloading,
or stuffing all the ballot boxes,
while the rubes think they’re actually ‘voting’.
But I WAS asked a fair question:
‘Well, what if YOU won the Peace Nobel?’
After all, the precedent’s now been set:
you can get it for doing nothing at all.
If that really IS an acceptable criterion,
then ABSOLUTELY, I am just as qualified,
yet, stupid schlub that I am,
I know I’d also turn it down.
And I’d do it for the same reason
that was offered in 1973-
all the planet’s little wars slowly joining hands,
is a Hell of a long way from ‘peace’.
Indeed, I honestly believe
there are few humans on this planet,
who actually deserve that prize-
at least in the form that Nobel intended...
So, after I turned it down,
as I think any sane person should,
towards far more deserving winners,
would I then offer my suggestions.
I’d say:
Give it to the new day sunrise:
each one restores your hope,
and dries your tears.
I’d say:
Give it to the beauty of a single minute:
more than a thousand mortals could achieve
in a hundred years.
I’d say:
Give it to the trees that old men plant,
under whose shade they know
they’ll never sit.
I’d say:
Give it to the snowflakes that gently fall
on the day that winter
starts closing in.
I’d say:
Give it to all the animals,
who, for hundreds of generations
have constantly and selflessly enriched our lives,
and I’d say:
In the end,
give it to the passage of years-
because even the mightiest empires
are powerless against time.
Subterranean Homesick Blues
Written by: Bob Dylan
Johnny’s in the basement
Mixing up the medicine
I’m on the pavement
Thinking about the government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says he’s got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
Look out kid
It’s somethin’ you did
God knows when
But you’re doin’ it again
You better duck down the alley way
Lookin’ for a new friend
The man in the coon-skin cap
By the big pen
Wants eleven dollar bills
You only got ten
Maggie comes fleet foot
Face full of black soot
Talkin’ that the heat put
Plants in the bed but
The phone’s tapped anyway
Maggie says that many say
They must bust in early May
Orders from the D.A.
Look out kid
Don’t matter what you did
Walk on your tiptoes
Don’t try “No-Doz”
Better stay away from those
That carry around a fire hose
Keep a clean nose
Watch the plain clothes
You don’t need a weatherman
To know which way the wind blows
Get sick, get well
Hang around a ink well
Ring bell, hard to tell
If anything is goin’ to sell
Try hard, get barred
Get back, write braille
Get jailed, jump bail
Join the army, if you fail
Look out kid
You’re gonna get hit
But users, cheaters
Six-time losers
Hang around the theaters
Girl by the whirlpool
Lookin’ for a new fool
Don’t follow leaders
Watch the parkin’ meters
Ah get born, keep warm
Short pants, romance, learn to dance
Get dressed, get blessed
Try to be a success
Please her, please him, buy gifts
Don’t steal, don’t lift
Twenty years of schoolin’
And they put you on the day shift
Look out kid
They keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don’t wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don’t wanna be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don’t work
’Cause the vandals took the handles
Copyright
© 1965 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1993 by Special Rider Music