Archive for edgewatertalkingstick.myfreeforum.org The talking stick has been used in many cultures to promote discussion and community. It is our hope that citizens will join in and gain a greater sense of community involvement. Note: This is not a government sanctioned forum.
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Still Pondering
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Land of the FreeOkay, let’s hop across the double yellow lines for a second.
What did you all think about Rene Marie’s performance for Hickenlooper’s office?
Was it appropriate?
Was it offensive?
Was it effective? (you get to define the objective on this one)
Was it art?
Are you proud? (again, you get to define what you may or may not be proud of)
For me, I’m way too patriotic to approve of her decision at any level, but...
I am very sadden at what a powerful statement her performance COULD have been if she had she chosen a different time and place. For example, had her rendition been properly introduced and performed during the DNC it might have been received by the whole nation as a proud statement of our diversity.
O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave... she was free enough to do it, and she was brave enough to do it...
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JamieMac.
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2 thoughtsWhen I first heard it I thought that it was artsy and different. It's a beautiful song. But then, the more I thought about it, I began to think that it was inappropriate. She was asked to perform a particular song because that song was traditional for that venue. Although it was a beautiful and moving song, it was not what she agreed to do.
And when Mayor Hickenlooper introduced the Star Spangled Banner, and she sang something else without any sort of introduction to the change, that was inappropriate.
The song itself was beautiful. The singer is beautiful. The message is beautiful. It just wasn't the right way to do it.
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Mister Bill
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Land of the FreeHer (and I don't even want to use her name) performance was totally inappropriate and very offensive to me. I am fiercely patriotic and have no tolerance for anyone messing with my National Anthem. It's bad enough when we more often than not get it butchered at sporting events, etc. when someone wants to "express themselves". You do not "express yourself" when singing it, just sing it. I was at the Rockies game Monday night and the young lady sang a beautiful, straight-ahead version, no ooh-aahs, screeching, or up and down the scale notes. I am of the opinion that the audience at the Mayor's speech should have gotten up and left the room during her song, believe me, I would have!! [/b]
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The Harlander
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I'm with you Bill. The State of the City address is not a place for "artistc" display. This is the National Anthem of the United States of America, it's words are clear and unchangeable, it's meaning is clear and above reproach, it's melody is well defined. Let's stop messing with it. Let's start singing it in our schools again along with reciting our Nations Pledge of Allegiance.
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Devon Barclay
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just as a cursory viewer...I didn't see the performance, though I did see the front page coverage in the Rocky, checked out the lyrics online, and read the posts here. I think, by and large, I agree with what people are saying.
I don't know. I'm surprised by two things - first, that such an accomplished singer would make such a risky move, and second, that Hickenlooper's advance team WEREN'T smart enough a) to better screen the singer they hired, given the importance of the event right before the DNC, and b) to pull the mike and fake technical difficulties once it became obvious that things had gone awry (i.e. seconds into the performance).
All of that said, I've got to say: if you're hired to do one job, you should do that job. Especially at a government event. Especially when the issues involved are patriotism. These are politically sensitive times, and any sort of scandal can have weird repercussions that might even affect the general election - especially given the candidates. It was a risky move, and as someone hoping for things to go a certain way in November, I'm annoyed by this entire thing, by both the singer and the administration.
Which brings me to my second question: why, exactly, did she take that risk? Especially given what it looks like she was trying to accomplish?
I don't approve of what she did. I also don't approve of Hickenlooper pulling her jazz license (whatever THAT means). There's something really ironic about trying to silence an artist for offending American ideals.
I AM proud, however, that we live in a place where someone (or several people) can take these sorts of risks and fight them out in the papers, or on the 'Stick, and not in a secret courtroom someplace. I'm ashamed that so many smart and talented people seem to have made so many poor decisions. In doing that, they're hurting the strength of our representative democracy in a way much more serious than messing up the Anthem.
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