Master drummers sound call for 7-day murder moratorium

The Times-Picayune ^ | Wednesday December 03, 2003 | Leslie Williams

[ownZero]

Listen.

The ambitious volunteer project by 10 master percussionists and others will take the drum call to schools, public housing complexes, auditoriums, Armstrong Park and other venues.

"It's an African tradition in which the drummer plays the talking drums, using drums as a means of communication. On a spiritual level we're calling on the ancestors to help us in this work," said Luther Gray, leader and percussionist for Bamboula 2000, a band whose West African-influenced music is inspired by the memory of Congo Square, now a part of Armstrong Park, where slaves danced and played African music on Sundays in the 1800s.

[ownZero]

Drummers drumming to stop murder.

[yankeedame]

Call me a cynic but do you suppose there's going to be any follow up on this story? You know, to see if this dog-and-pony show really made a difference.

[gg188]

Criminals are no doubt thinking, "Gee, in honor of the moritorium, I think I will wait a few days before I murder anyone."

[martin_fierro]

Well, isn't that special.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

So let me get this straight. People are supposed to hear these performances and think, "OK, I'll wait seven days before I shoot that sonofabitch."

???

[Jack Wilson]

Well, I had to kill him, but at least that drumming has stopped...

[jocon307]

"OK, I'll wait seven days before I shoot that sonofabitch."

No, no, you've got to shot him NOW! They are just advocating murderers take off Christmas week. I'm not sure why it's supposed to take 3 weeks of drumming to convince them. Maybe they don't want to crimp the style of those who would rob holiday shoppers, laden down with cash and/or gifts.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

No, no, you've got to shot him NOW! They are just advocating murderers take off Christmas week.

Dang! Anybody planning a murder better get the package all wrapped up by December 15th!

[Joe Marine 76]

Hmmmmm. I see that it's okay to use the word "MASTER" to describe a job or trade in Louisianna, but in California one cannot use words "MASTER" or "SLAVE" to describe inanimate objects such as CABLES?

[Tacis]

I'm sorry, but does this mean you can shoot a white dude?

What will they do to a black guy who kills another black during this sacred period, execute him?

[Wilhelm Tell]

Music won't stop murders, but dancing mignt. Let me explain. If convicted murderers were taken to the public square and forced to "dance" while suspended by the neck from a rope, you would see the murder rate go to nothing in a snap!