Tom Paine 1949
Diamond Member
- Mar 15, 2020
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I
I remember when he broke with the shibboleths of the liberal “boycott and divestment” movement against apartheid — a campaign he was otherwise profoundly in sympathy with — to go to South Africa, reach across divides and bring back to the world new black African music, musicians, and his own crossover rhythms and themes of universal brotherhood. He was a genius. Not a politician. Just an ordinary liberal, a great musician and poet, who never “sold out” to money or even the pressure of good friends.
Anyway, that’s how I see things. I respect Paul Simon. His “liberalism” was genuine, tolerant and inclusive, and still admirable.
I think Paul Simon and Bob Dylan were both telling it like it was in the late 60s and early 70s. Their genius had nothing to do with the Nobel Prize or the “beautiful people.” It was there before they became famous and endures in their music, regardless of what “the Man” may say or what tune “he” sings today. Dylan’s music and themes were more “dated,” went through more changes. In my opinion time and fame took its toll on Bob Dylan, especially as the Civil Rights and Anti-War movements faded. Paul Simon’s genius and spirit, however, seemed almost changeless and perfect over decades.Bob Dylan got a Nobel Prize. It was a way for very dark establishment to absorb him and use him for propaganda. When you take antiheroes and turn them into heroes, that's propaganda. Simon today no doubt sees himself as one of the beautiful people but in 1973 he, like Dylan was telling it like it was.
I remember when he broke with the shibboleths of the liberal “boycott and divestment” movement against apartheid — a campaign he was otherwise profoundly in sympathy with — to go to South Africa, reach across divides and bring back to the world new black African music, musicians, and his own crossover rhythms and themes of universal brotherhood. He was a genius. Not a politician. Just an ordinary liberal, a great musician and poet, who never “sold out” to money or even the pressure of good friends.
Anyway, that’s how I see things. I respect Paul Simon. His “liberalism” was genuine, tolerant and inclusive, and still admirable.
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