Zappa v Congress
I got to reading Zappa's congressional testimony years ago about the music thing, because Gamecore was trying to make a case that we need a Zappa for gaming.
I love the term "Cycle of Dumb". Someone needs to make a wiki. It so well describes the whole thing, although I would prefer "Cycle of Stupid", because I'm pretty sure these people can mostly all talk.
Zappa was eloquent - mostly. I can't imagine being in that sort of position, and doing any better, so I'll skip details.
I found his illuminati-style statements fascinating, and it makes me want to find out what else is going on in so many situations... Wag The Dog, and all that. Also, I'm curious how likely it is that this hearing would have taken place at all if two or more of the members had not been wives of Senators. Ok, I'm not so much curious as confident that it wouldn't have happened.
Senator Gorton - wow, what an assclown. First of all, Zappa's motives are as suspect as anyone else's, when it comes to His Thing, I think we can all agree on that. But to make such rude statements in a public forum, and then, as a Senator in an official capacity tell Zappa that he does "not have the slightest understanding of the difference between government action and private action" ... The man has not the slightest understanding of the English language. There is plenty more I could say about this guy, but I think his own words do a fair job of that. I'm not sure he was listening to the same thing as the rest of us, you know?
Now, the other thing I've got to say is this: Zappa was too far removed from these people's position, too unable or unwilling to aknowledge their point of view. We (whoever that is) find hime effective, but it was clear to me that he wasn't getting through to some of those Senators. Gore seemed reasonable, which is kind of funny, given that his wife was so ... bitchy ... about the whole thing. My wife pulls some wierd shit which I don't get, and suspect that I do the same to her now and again. Meh.
But my point about Frank is that there is a reason that the term diplomat exists. A diplomat, regardless of any official defenitions, has to be someone who is capable of placing himself in the other party's shoes, and understanding, if only partially, the opposing opinion. Zappa was a witness, and not a diplomat, where I think a real diplomat could have done better. He seemed to be saying that he could see their point of view, but I don't think he'd ever really tried to do so. They were all there for different reasons. Gore was bored up until Zappa showed, up, and only stuck being involved because he wanted to get laid that night; the fishsticks guy was obviously there because he hates everything that doesnt' conform to his narrow view of How Things Should Be; doubtless some of them were involved because they wanted to boost their position in the Senate, and this was one way to do it; someone was probably on the comittee because he owed or wanted to be owed a favor; someone probably couldn't figure a way out of it; some of them probably genuinely cared about the issue.
You have to take all of that into account. You have to accept that there are people (loosely defined, I suppose) who aren't going to hear anything you say, because their minds are made up. You have to talk past them, but have answers ready if they ask you questions. You have to talk to the people who have genuine concern, because they represent the people all around the country who are genuinely concerned, and because if they get passionate about it, they're going to run with it. Etc Etc etc, ad endless naseum.
Zappa was eloquent, but it almost seemed like he was talking for those who agreed with him, and everyone else had damned well better get out of his way.
I tend to agree with him on the sexuality thing, but a lot of people do not. He didn't address himself to those people ... many of whom are quite reasonable people who have some silly ideas. He sort of acted like they were simply stupid.
Meh.
I love the term "Cycle of Dumb". Someone needs to make a wiki. It so well describes the whole thing, although I would prefer "Cycle of Stupid", because I'm pretty sure these people can mostly all talk.
Zappa was eloquent - mostly. I can't imagine being in that sort of position, and doing any better, so I'll skip details.
I found his illuminati-style statements fascinating, and it makes me want to find out what else is going on in so many situations... Wag The Dog, and all that. Also, I'm curious how likely it is that this hearing would have taken place at all if two or more of the members had not been wives of Senators. Ok, I'm not so much curious as confident that it wouldn't have happened.
Senator Gorton - wow, what an assclown. First of all, Zappa's motives are as suspect as anyone else's, when it comes to His Thing, I think we can all agree on that. But to make such rude statements in a public forum, and then, as a Senator in an official capacity tell Zappa that he does "not have the slightest understanding of the difference between government action and private action" ... The man has not the slightest understanding of the English language. There is plenty more I could say about this guy, but I think his own words do a fair job of that. I'm not sure he was listening to the same thing as the rest of us, you know?
Now, the other thing I've got to say is this: Zappa was too far removed from these people's position, too unable or unwilling to aknowledge their point of view. We (whoever that is) find hime effective, but it was clear to me that he wasn't getting through to some of those Senators. Gore seemed reasonable, which is kind of funny, given that his wife was so ... bitchy ... about the whole thing. My wife pulls some wierd shit which I don't get, and suspect that I do the same to her now and again. Meh.
But my point about Frank is that there is a reason that the term diplomat exists. A diplomat, regardless of any official defenitions, has to be someone who is capable of placing himself in the other party's shoes, and understanding, if only partially, the opposing opinion. Zappa was a witness, and not a diplomat, where I think a real diplomat could have done better. He seemed to be saying that he could see their point of view, but I don't think he'd ever really tried to do so. They were all there for different reasons. Gore was bored up until Zappa showed, up, and only stuck being involved because he wanted to get laid that night; the fishsticks guy was obviously there because he hates everything that doesnt' conform to his narrow view of How Things Should Be; doubtless some of them were involved because they wanted to boost their position in the Senate, and this was one way to do it; someone was probably on the comittee because he owed or wanted to be owed a favor; someone probably couldn't figure a way out of it; some of them probably genuinely cared about the issue.
You have to take all of that into account. You have to accept that there are people (loosely defined, I suppose) who aren't going to hear anything you say, because their minds are made up. You have to talk past them, but have answers ready if they ask you questions. You have to talk to the people who have genuine concern, because they represent the people all around the country who are genuinely concerned, and because if they get passionate about it, they're going to run with it. Etc Etc etc, ad endless naseum.
Zappa was eloquent, but it almost seemed like he was talking for those who agreed with him, and everyone else had damned well better get out of his way.
I tend to agree with him on the sexuality thing, but a lot of people do not. He didn't address himself to those people ... many of whom are quite reasonable people who have some silly ideas. He sort of acted like they were simply stupid.
Meh.