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MUSIC BIAS
Recently I have become dismayed at the
biased music coverage in your otherwise fine mag
azine. Repeatedly I have read articles (particularly
Threats & Promises) putting down hippie bands
and the fens who go to their shows. I am a music
lover, as well as a musician, and I love all dif
ferent kinds of music, including so-called hippie
music. Most so-called hippies enjoy listening to
all different types of music from blues to blue-
grass, folk, funk, hip hop, jam band, punk, indie
rock and beyond. You will see hippies at all of
these types of shows, but chances are the suppos
edly liberal open-minded punk and indie fens
wouldn't be caught dead at any show outside their
music genre. Too much great music exists in the
world to limit yourself to one type. Try listening
to different music styles once in a while before
you jadge them; you will be a better, more well-
rounded human being as a result
Bill Bokas
Athens
WHY R.E.M.?
I am writing in response to Mr. Benko's letter
(May 11) and I welcome this opportunity to tell
about the many contributions R.E.M. makes to
this community and the reason the band is fre
quently in the news. Full disclosure: I am cur
rently and have been employed by R.E.M. for close
to 12 years. Am I biased? Certainly—but perhaps
my perspective can help others to better under
stand why so many people and organizations in
our community and elsewhere appreciate R.E.M.
both as a band and as individuals.
Mr. Benko questions why Flagpole continues to
write about R.E.M., since Rolling Stone writes
about them. Flagpole is a local publication which
chooses to keep Athens' citizens informed of the
goings-on. It's their purpose. Should Flagpole be
relegated to writing only about people/ organiza
tions/ bands that haven't made the 'Big Time'
yet? As a member of their office staff, I can assure
you the only person R.E.M. pays to write about
them is the Fan Club director. R.E.M. is news
worthy because of the many contributions the
band and its members make to the community:
• They help put Athens on the world map.
• Their presence brings culture and celebrity to
the community.
• Maintaining their headquarters in Athens
supports the economic strength of the community
through jobs and business transactions.
• The continued residence of bandmembers in
the community and the loyalty this reflects.
• The many personal and financial contribu
tions the band and its members make to chari
table and civic organizations in the community.
Why has R.E.M. stayed here all these years? As
I see it—because the support and appreciation
CONTACT US AT P.0. BOX 1027, ATHENS, GA 30603, EDITOR@FLAGPOLE.COM
OR VIA THE “TALK BACK TO US” LINK AT FLAGP0LE.COM
from this community are mutual and it still feels
good to come home after a recording session or
tour. Twenty-five years—that's a very long time
to exist as a band or for a career in any field in
these times. I tip my hat to R.E.M. and what they
have accomplished.
Sarah Petit Frierson
Athens
REPLY TO PAGAN
Jeremy Jacobs of Lavonia (Letters, April 27j
seems to think you cannot be a p^gan and partici
pate in society. Statements such as those men
tioned by Mr. Jacobs are very common, and largely
stem from ignorance concerning Paganism. First of
all Paganism is an umbrella term that includes
many traditions such as Shamanism, Druidism,
Celtic and Wicca. The traditions of Paganism can
also come in several blends, for example
Judeopaganism or Christopaganism. With all these
traditions and blends comes a variety of 'rules' to
live by. Pagans, like people from other traditions,
have the freedom to choose their form of employ
ment entertainment or to be a part of the 'herd
morality.' Rebellion against the “herd morality' is
probably more associated with groups such as the
Church of Satan or the Temple of Set which do
not worship Satane, but the ideas he represents:
autonomy and self determination. So Mr. Jacobs,
there is your mini-lesson on Paganism: I suggest
further reading to fill that void of knowledge con
cerning the various earth-centered traditions. As
for the rest of the letter, I agree with you.
Joshua Kincaid
Athens
PAGAN AGAIN
Thank you, Jeremy Jacobs, for your unenlight
ening, self-righteous diatribe (Letters, April 27). I
suppose you hold the key to a fulfilling life. Why
are you so concerned with how others conceptu
alize themselves? The 'selT is up to the indi
vidual, not you. Please do society a favor ard look
at yourself in the mirror. The tone of your letter is
not only arrogant but also disheartening.
Kara Ballentine
Athens
MORE PAGAN .
I am writing in response to the 'Reply to
Pagan' letter in the May 18 edition of the
Flagpole. I am a great fen of the Flagpole and
have been an avid reader for several years now. I
cannot quite believe, at times, the lack of under
standing some people have for subtlety, nuance
and, indeed, sarcasm. Which brings me to Ms.
Julie Whitmire's response to Mr. Jacobs' rather
impassioned plea for sanity in a world that he
sees as a bit off kilter. My dear, I do not mean to
be condescending, but the original letter in ques
tion was pointing out hypocrisy among all of the
faiths. Your particular faith of Christianity has
indeed been given a very hard time over the
years. And truly when one looks upon the violent
history carried out in the name of Jesus under the
banner of Christianity, one can hardly blame the
rather negative tone lent to some of these argu
ments. When one rushes to defend the principles
upon which one's life is based, much is lost if
time is not given in reflection to the offending
viewpoint Your passions were inflamed at the
label of 'hypocrite' imposed on you by your asso
ciation with Christianity, but if we do not start
putting some distance between our personal feel
ings and our convictions, we will never escape the
temptation of our violent emotions and the lack
of understanding that results thereof. Do not let
our passionate responses lead us into tired old
rehashings of the infinite arguments, but let us
try to understand each other in the light of our
fellow struggle and find hope in mutual insight
Jonathan Mallard
Athens
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Thanks for al the hilarious
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There certainty are a lot of
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