Re: Reply to Gerben Z and others

[richard_wolpoe <richard_wolpoe...>]

Dear Ingemar Johanssohn,
        I think that the real reason peopl are uspet is that they are 
intimidated by the former world heavywieght boxing champion and are afraid 
you might beat us all up!

        On a more serious note, the reason people objected, IMHO was due  
to the TONE of your letter NOT to your right to disagree with Ari.  This 
might be a cultural thing, but most of the list felt so offended by the WAY 
things were stated that they ignored the content of WHAT was stated.

        I am reminded of a cute anecdote from American baseball.  An umpire made
a very controversial call, and the manager of the offended home team went out to
"protest".  Being that he agreed with the umpire he couldn't oppose him 
literally, but he felt obligated to "act out" a protest on behalf of the local 
fans.  So he shouted at the top of his lungs using his most belligerent body 
language: " I AGREE with you!  You're ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!..etc".  Well the fans 
perceived this as a protest even though he literally was agreeing, and the 
umpire (probably dumbfounded by the entire scenario) did not eject him because 
the words were technically appropriate.  But the crowd DID miss the point (i.e. 
that he agreed) because of the WAY he presented his agreement.

Happy Shushan Purim

Rich Wolpoe

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Reply to Gerben Z and others 
Author:  <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org > at Tcpgate
Date:    3/13/98 10:43 AM

Dear Gerben:


In the same way it must be permitted to discuss the role of leading critics 
of Jewish Music. I did that in my mails on "Ari Dawidow as an authority" 
some ten days ago. Although I got some private reactions of support, the 
bulk of this mailing-list seems to have reacted not to what I actually 
wrote, but to what it thinks was my bad behaviour. Critics shouldn't be 
criticized, that's the conclusion I must draw ...
  
All the best,
Ingemar Johansson