[HANASHIR:16447] RE: Ah... the double-edged sword

[Adrian A. Durlester <adrian...>]

Chaverim:

I have written off-list to Fran, but I do want to state publicly that my
comments were not directed at any individual, and most especially not at
Fran. Frankly, if there is anyone out there that I feel meets the criteria I
wrote for being an appropriate judge and critic, it is Fran.

I think this is exemplified by these comments:

"So if someone is not a great singer, then their 
other talents need to be amplified - set out in a different manner. We all
have 
strengths and weaknesses. It is not about discouraging, but rather about 
encouraging - and challenging!!!!"

On this we agree. But I'm not sure that everyone sees it that way, and that
is at the root of my concern, and my diatribe. Rather than flat out telling
someone they aren't a good singer and should try something else, Fran's
approach of working to accentuate their strengths in other areas is the kind
of menschlikeit approach I'm looking for. Perhaps I am misreading or
misinterpreting what some have written on this list, but it's not clear to
me that this kind of critical yet supportive ethic is entirely embraced by
all who have commented on this issue. Maybe my own sensitivities and bias
are  causing me to hear a more vituperative tone of "those who can't, just
shouldn't" that just isn't there?

And I do think I am hearing some amount of sentiment that goes "there's so
much crap out there it's making it hard for the works of quality to stand
out" or "all this crap impugns the integrity of what we do." If one truly
believes that "quality will out" then these are specious complaints.

To anyone I have offended, my humble apologies. And I once again remind
everyone that in my role as list owner I do often play gadfly. I want to be
sure all sides of an issue get heard, so I may sometime posit ideas that
aren't in concert with my own personal feelings on an issue.

B'vracha,

Adrian

Adrian A. Durlester, MTS
E-mail: adrian (at) durlester(dot)com  URL:www.durlester.com
Director of Education & Congregational Life, Bethesda Jewish Congregation
director (at) bethesdajewish(dot)com
Co-Director, Hazamir/JTAI Choir of Greater DC
Past Conf Chair, CAJE 27, August 4-8, 2002, Trinity University, San Antonio,
TX
List Owner, hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org; Jewish Songleaders/Performers List
Co-Owner, l-torah (at) shamash(dot)org; Liberal Torah Discussion List 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org] On Behalf Of FAVNI (at) 
> aol(dot)com
> Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 6:54 PM
> To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject: [HANASHIR:16444] RE: Ah... the double-edged sword
> 
> 


------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+
Hosted by Shamash: The Jewish Network, http://shamash.org
a service of Hebrew College, which offers online courses and an
online MA in Jewish Studies, http://hebrewcollege.edu/online/

To unsubscribe email listproc (at) shamash(dot)org and have your message read:
unsubscribe hanashir
------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------