Brendan Calling

Why I Unsubscribed from Bluegrass-L.

Since 1999, I’ve been a member of bluegrass-L, a list-serv for bluegrass music fans and professionals. The reasons I joined are pretty obvious: I like bluegrass, and at the time I was touring close to full-time with Jim and Jennie.
Because the roots of bluegrass are in the Southeastern United States and Appalachia, many of the people involved with the genre are conservative, socially and politically. It is not uncommon to see American flags on the same pole as confederate flags at festivals, and while patriotism doens’t play a huge role in the music’s lyrics, you can bet your bottom dollar that there is a strong Christian streak: gospel music, especially Sacred Harp singing, is one of the foundations of bluegrass music. To my mind, bluegrass gospel is some of the most powerful bluegrass there is.

Many of my friends from the bluegrass-L are conservatives and Republicans, but there is one thing we try to do at all costs: keep politics off the list. As Bill Knowlton put it to me at Wind Gap Bluegrass Festival over the summer, “One of my best friends is the former regional big-wig for NOW. Years ago, we each decided the other was a lost cause, a hopeless case, and decided not to talk about politics. This decision saved our friendship.” I have always done my best to suck it up and avoid politics on the list. But this morning I read a polemic I simply could not abide, and unsubscribed.

A week or so ago, the IBMA held their annual conference. Apparently the Navy’s bluegrass band, Country Current, was one of the featured performers. They were asked by the organizers not to perform their usual medley of theme songs of the various branches of the service, because it was felt that because the conference is international in nature, a wholesale patriotism show would be inappropriate. While others may not agree with that request, one thing is certain: the band agreed to this request, and then broke their agreement. When the President of the IBMA confronted them, the band told him that the change was authorized, but would not say who gave them permission. The President of the IBMA then resigned in protest. Again, you may disagree with the request that certain songs be left off the set list, but this was the agreement the band made: their refusal to honor their agreement is, IMO, bad business and they deserved reproach.

This became fodder on the list, and there was some heated discussion, which is always fun. but someone went beyond the pale yesterday:

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2006 11:22:07 +0000
From: D C Blood
Subject: The Issue at Hand

Here are the REAL issues at hand:

1. This is AMERICA - freedom of speech and song. You seem to believe that your freedom of speech over-rides MY freedom of speech. It doesn’t. I can love America, God, and yes, I can say the J-word….Jesus, Jesus, Jesus….in my speech and in my
songs…you can’t control me.

2. I’m going to say out loud what entirely too many Americans are too nice to say to the Far Left Wing Liberals: “You think, believe, speak, and act out of nothing more than GUILT - either guilts of commission or guilts of omission.” It is guilt that motivates you, and for that I pity you, but you need to get a grip on your guilts, go to long-term counselling, find a church, whatever it takes to get over it.

3. And, while I’m speaking, hear this - for all you non-Christians and Unholy Ones out there that bring up gospel songs as being politically incorrect - I do have your number. Here it is:

Everybody has a god, everybody worships their god, and everybody evangelizes their god. If you don’t believe in a power higher than yourself, then you are your OWN god.

The Unholy Ones would quench the spirit of every American and Christian if they could. They cannot. This is still America, and I can speak and sing of my country and my God, and no one can stop me. Now, if I cannot be stopped, what makes anyone think
they can stop an organization, take away the freedom of speech (song) from the IBMA??

The spirit of Americans cannot be quenched by the Unholy Ones. Give it up.

–
Monkey, Mixt Company

I unsubscribed from the list. It’s been 7 years since I joined and discussion has overhwlemingly gone downhill over that time. For the past three weeks, the big discussion has been whether or not it was inappropriate for mandolin player Chris Thile to use the word “fuck” in a song on his latest album. It’s totally inappropriate, but the discussion went on and on and on. People are still talking about it, and the other merits of the album have been totally ignored. Frankly, the only reasons I’ve remained subscribed is for the obituaries. Ninety percent of the digests I recieve from the list get deleted.

But this morning’s post was the last starw, and after years of saying nothing for the sake of getting along, I finally had it:

The Unholy Ones would quench the spirit of every
American and Christian if they could. They cannot.

I try to stay off my high horse, but I’ve just had it.

I take great offense at this characterization, especially since I personally go out of my way to moderate my language and political expression on this list, in an effort to not offend anyone. And you know, while that has been frustrating on occasion when
people make claims I know are untrue or ill-informed about current events (and you folks know who you are), I still keep my mouth shut. If you were to see my draft file, you would see all manner of retorts to all manner of people. But i keep my mouth shut because I believe in getting along, and more importantly because I believe that there is room for all stripes of politics and religious beliefs in this country, and more importantly than that because our personal politics and beliefs have no place on this list as intelligent people like Knowlton, Aridas, and Chandler have all noted in the past.

But this? I’m going to say out loud what entirely too many Americans are too nice to say to the Far Left Wing Liberals: “You think, believe, speak, and act out of nothing more than GUILT - either guilts of commission or guilts of omission.” It is guilt that
motivates you, and for that I pity you, but you need to get a grip on your guilts, go to long-term counselling, find a church, whatever it takes to get over it.”

This is beyond the pale. How DARE you make such stupid, ignorant, and offensive blanket statements? I could make some statements myself about Far Right Wing Conservatives, who just yesterday were loudly defending the disgusting behavior of Mark Foley in a smarmy and blatant attempt to hold onto power. So
please, don’t blow smoke up my behind about “guilt of commission” and the need for counseling. At least those of us on the left aren’t trying to diddle teenaged boys and then covering up the whole thing for five years or more.

And please, don’t shove your religion in MY face to act like you’re somehow better than other people because you happen to believe in this or that version of God.

3. And, while I’m speaking, hear this - for all you non-Christians and Unholy Ones out there that bring up gospel songs as being politically incorrect… The Unholy Ones would quench the spirit of every American and Christian if they could. They cannot.

Who says this about gospel songs? Name these people, because this looks more to me like a straw man argument than anything else. But while we’re on the topic, it sounds like YOU have a problem with non-Christians. What’s this “unholy ones” crap? You sound like Osama bin Laden with that one. What’s next,
“death to the infidels”?

I think I’m going to unsubscribe from this list. It’s become absolutely worthless.

Screw this. I joined this list in 1999 to talk about bluegrass and promote my band. I certainly did not join this list to have some ignoramus cast aspersions on me for my religious beliefs and politics.

Get bent, bluegrass-L. Good bye and good riddance.

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