I guess it doesn’t take much to push some folks’ ethnocentric buttons. We’ve heard some grumbles, and have seen some well-plucked eyebrows raised, over an issue that is so minor, so, so piddling, that it’s almost embarrassing to bring it up. A letter to the daily paper today, however, has brought this momentous controversy out into the open, so we may as well acknowledge the growing local discontent over … ready for it? … one single, solitary musical selection to be played by the Symphony Pops.
Evidently, some folks don’t like it that the Symphony’s Summer Pops July Fourth show, called “Celebrate America,” will include a medley called … you may want to send your children out of the room for this … “Fiesta Latina.” GASP! NOOOO!! NOT THAT!!!
As we said, we’ve heard some discreet griping about this blatant intrusion of evil foreign influences into a strictly all-American, whitebread event, but those complaints were private and lowkey. One brave Fort Mill woman, however, decided she didn’t care how bitter or ignorant she would seem, so she wrote to the Observer about this travesty. The writer says when she read that “Fiesta Latina” would be part of the July Fourth show, “I was absolutely dumbstruck,” and we believe her. She goes on to chastise the symphony for focusing on just one of America’s cultural heritages, “to the exclusion of all others,” never mind that all the other selections, save the national anthem, are focused on pleasing Suburban Vanilla Dullard culture. Here’s another problem with that attitude:
The symphony schedule clearly notes that “Festival Latina” is “A celebration of Latin dance in popular American music” – you know, as in, say, Desi Arnaz, “Blame It On The Bossa Nova,” Xavier Cugat, “Rum and Coca-Cola,” Conga lines, etc. Heck, even the country hit “El Paso” and the early rock classic “Little Darlin’” (written by Charlottean Maurice Williams) evinced strong Latin flavors. All in all, this isn’t a collection of tunes that makes you think: “Tribute To Illegal Lawn Care Workers.” Unless, of course, you’re just inclined to think of anything non-whitebread as something foreign. In which case, if you’re not careful, spouting your prejudices in public could possibly make you seem sorta culturally backward, and maybe also just a wee bit, well, stupido.
This article appears in Jun 1-7, 2010.
I can’t wait to see how Frank Griffin twists this one around.
The song isn’t the problem, chief. The problem is racism. Let’s get rid of that and the problem is solved.
If I understand our resident right wing nut job’s daily post, If it is no big deal then you should have no problem with pandering to his xenophobia and doing it his way.
And in his twisted mind, he is on the moral side of this argument.
Pay no attention to the ignorant fascist bastard behind the “Frank Griffin” curtain, DP. He’s probably just drunk, as usual.
Goddam, Griffy, can’t you find anyone who’ll hang out with you after hours in Oak Ridge?
NYTimes, CNN, MSNBC and the other lib outlets are about to do.
^ I’d like a timeframe on this.
Or are you just talking out your ass again?