Posted on 07/07/2005 8:20:42 AM PDT by Miami Vice
What an Independence Day holiday. I attended three free concerts on three different days that – if I had to pay to listen to these performers - would have cost thousands of dollars.
On Saturday, July 2, my wife, my youngest daughter and I were among the approximately one million people on Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway listening to Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, Destiny’s Child, Will Smith, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and others perform for the Live 8 concert. On Monday July 4, I returned to that same location – along with about a half a million people - to listen to a concert by Elton John, Bryan Adams, and the Philly Pops culminating with a fantastic fireworks display.
However, the most memorable concert of the three was the one given by the world famous Peter Nero and the Philly Pops orchestra outside of the most magnificent building in the world – Independence Hall – just across the street from one of the most important symbols of America – the Liberty Bell.
Here only two thousand people gathered for an event that would have made the members of the ACLU, the People for the American Way, and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State apoplectic. The evening began with some of the audience applauding as crew members from the USS Cole walked by them. The Cole was docked at Penn’s Landing for the holiday and some of the crew would later participate in a flag raising ceremony after the concert.
Then, later in the evening, as the Philly Pops played, two thousand people waved flags in time to the strains of Battle Hymn of the Republic. Still later two thousand people waved flags and gave a standing ovation to the tune of Stars and Stripes forever. For the finale, two thousand people must have made Barry Lynn ears burn as they sang God Bless America and the MC said God Bless America.
Two thousand people of different races, creeds, from different parts of the United States, and even from different parts of the world were there. The crowd included a couple who recently immigrated from India, a Muslim couple, and even Congressman Barney Frank.
Two thousand people listened to a song celebrating a Christian holiday written by an immigrant Russian Jew – Irving Berlin. Two thousand people listened to popular songs written by the descendants of slaves – Duke Ellington and Count Basie.
Two thousand people listened – and sang along - to what some would call “ jingoistic” songs. Two thousand people listened to what some would call “chauvinistic ” speeches. Two thousand people waved flags and sang along to the song “ God Bless America,” while on government property – which surely some would say violated the idea of separation of church and state.
Liberals everywhere would have been horrified had they been aware of this. Especially appalled would be those who worship at the altar of planwirtschaft – the unwitting heirs to the ideas of the nineteenth century that resulted in the wars and genocides of the twentieth century because of totalitarianism.
For these people Americanism is problematic - particularly Americanism and religious faith. They believe religion has caused more wars and casualties then their social planning. They believe America has wreaked more havoc than Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Imperial Japan, the Soviet Union, Red China, Communist Vietnam, Pol Pot’s Cambodia, Castro’s Cuba, and now Islamism.
While it is encouraging that there are plenty of Americans who believe the opposite of what the contemporary American liberals believe – it is also worth noting that the two thousand people in the audience were primarily older people. Granted the Philly Pops orchestra does not appeal to many of the Baby Boomer, Slacker, and X generations, yet one does need to ask the question if entertainers who would appeal to these generations and provided the same message would be greeted by audiences just as enthusiastic.
I think they would. I think the younger and middle-aged generations of Americans are very patriotic – despite being indoctrinated with anti-Americanism by media and academia. These generations need to have their patriotic beliefs validated in the popular culture. They need the popular culture to mirror their perspectives.
How, when, where, and why the popular culture will again be happy to be American is anybody’s guess. Where the next Irving Berlin who writes God Bless America will come from no one can say (although Lee Greenwood’s Proud to Be an American was pretty close).
What can be said is that, if and when, these expressions of patriotism are brought to the marketplace of the popular culture - and not just the marketplace of ideas - there will be an audience for them. This is at least a comforting thought.
Michael P. Tremoglie is a writer whose work has appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, Human Events, Front Page and Insight magazines. He is working on his first novel 'A Sense of Duty'. E-mail him at elfegobaca2@earthlink.net
Plenty of young people are listening to patriotic popular music ... country music and contemporary Christian music. If he's never heard of them (while he exposes his child to the performances of "singing" strippers and aging British pedophiles), it's his loss.
Hey, East Coast dude ... TOBY KEITH!
The problem is that art made specifically for advancing an agenda (conservative or liberal) stinks. So I'd agree that "Conservatives Need to Make Inroads into Pop Culture," but only in the most general sense. Conservative artists will create their work imbued with conservative principles, which is the only way to make "conservative art" that doesn't blow.
This also overlooks that it is corporations who control the production of art. It's all about money. Why aren't there more patriotic songs? Because patriotic songs don't sell as well. Plain and simple - it's Adam Smith at work.
I guess that is the point then isn't it. That more people will be exposed to those types of things then the cultlike Christian and Country music.
On btw he did mention Christian and Country music.
You mean the free concerts like the Philly Pops?
I guess not everyone is as principled as you are. Maybe you can climb down from your high horse and tell us how we should all live.
Then again maybe that is the point of the article isn't it? That we are not all as Godlike as you and that the popular culture does effect more people than your highmindedness.
Then again like most holier-than-thou people you are probably nothing more than a hypocrite - and vocal one at that.
Personally I'll stick with what Tremoglie says and you can go live in your own little world with its high road and principles. Just remember your principles when you ask someone to take care of you when you are sick or fix your plumbing or clean your streets for you or collect your trash you better make sure that they only listen to Christian music or Country music. Because more than likely they listen to Elton John or Blackeyed Peas.
Oh yeah the ELton John and Blackeyed Peas fans vote too!!
He mentioned one country music song, that is true. However, it seemed to me that he was unaware of country or Christian music as financially significant segments of the "popular music" market.
Oh, well ... doesn't really matter.
Hey dixie broad
TOBY KEITH WAS AT THE LIVE 8 CONCERT
Open your eyes not just your mouth!!!!!!
Bless your heart, dear. You're upset. I'm sorry I didn't realize you were so identified with the author's opinion. Have a nice day.
Does it matter whether I identify or do not. The fact is he is making an excellent point. You cannot stay in your own universe - especially when the very people you idolize like Toby Keith - are doing the very same thing you are condemning.
This is why conservatives get fooled by judicial nominees.
Whatever.
A not very sophisticated response. That's okay though now I know who I am dealing with.
Thanks for corresponding. It doesn't sound like there is much to be gained for continuing though.
I'm not a very sophisticated person. But I agree that this exchange has exhausted its utility. Cheers!
AN AYn Rand Objectivist? Great a woman whose philosophy was full of contradictions and qualifications. No wonder your posts do not make any sense.
Let me try to say this as slowly as possible. Since you don't like people because of their musical tastes you won't like plumbers, doctors etc to take care of you.
Tremoglie is saying that the popular culture reaches all people not just smug self-serving dolts - like Ayn Rand followers. This is why conservatives need to reach all people and use the popular culture which is the best available vehicle.
I don't know if you are capable of understanding this or not - that's not my problem it is yours.
You seem to be stuck in gear - claiming I don't respond only insult.
This is not true. You are the one who insults people.
Saying that popular culture has no effect is ludicrous. If it did not why is advertising such a big industry. Was it not Chesterton who said literature is luxury fiction a necessity.
Did not Aristotle say something about simplicity in addressing mass audiences.
If you do not understand the correlation between popular culture, popular opinion, and law then there ain't much I can do to help you pal
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