Isn’t it ironic that the rethuglicans, who usually are against public support of the arts, suddenly want to force an artist to perform at a publicly supported venue.
Well I learned stuff from reading this. The travails of the Kennedy Centre for the Arts (I refuse to use the new name) don't make it to regional Australia where I live.
I'm a lot more sensitive to the world of the intellect than the world of the arts but it occurs to me that there is something to be said for a jazz musician to play to the public regardless of politics....but surely this is a decision for individual artists to make and they should be free to do as they think best? Not for the first time do I suspect that American conservatives don't really have much respect for the right of individuals to make their own moral choices.
Speaking of duty and the freedom of speech, SCOTUS unanimously emphasized the duty of all citizens, artists or not. In New York Times Co. v. Sullivan in 1964, a unanimous SCOTUS emphasized the following and repeatedly emphasized that the First Amendment was essentially a call to duty.
Clearly, all “public officials” are “public servants” and “public men” are “public property,” so “discussion cannot be denied and the right” and “the duty” of “criticism must not be stifled.” The primary purpose of the First Amendment was to secure “the privilege for the citizen-critic of government. It is as much his duty to criticize as it is the official’s duty to administer.” No public servant can “give public servants” a “preference over the public they serve” by denying “critics of official conduct” at least “the immunity” that the people, themselves, “granted” to “officials.”
"Madison [emphasized vital principles that permeated every part of our system of national government, i.e.,] that the [original] Constitution created a form of government under which ‘The people, not the government, possess the absolute sovereignty.’ The structure of the government [prescribed by our Constitution] dispersed power in reflection of the people’s distrust of concentrated power, and of power itself at all levels."
SCOTUS in Sullivan (quoting Madison) emphasized that in our “Republican Government” (in which the people are sovereign), in general “the censorial power” necessarily “is in the people over the Government, and not in the Government over the people.” Clearly, our freedom of thought, speech and press flow from our sovereign power over our public servants.
The Von Trapp family fled from Austria rather than perform for Hitler. The only other alternative to performing on command would have been Dachau. The story of their escape, heavily romanticized, of course, in the musical and movie, has become a cultural icon. They did not actually flee on foot over the Alps, they got on a train to Italy, where they had dual citizenship, but they had to abandon everything -- their home, their property, their social status and Captain Von Trapp's career. That is why we remember them as heroic examples of artistic resistance.
The artists who agreed with “The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” to perform at that venue but now are expected to perform at “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” might take a page from Hamilton and history.
Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton advised President Washington that the treaty the U.S. made with France before the French Revolution didn't bind the U.S. regarding France after its revolution had reached a certain point. See https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/cabinet-paper-to-the-president/
I remind readers regarding Mr. Redd and the cancellation of his jazz concert at the Kennedy Center that IT WAS FREE OF CHARGE. So, toady Grennell's threats are just an obvious SLAPP lawsuit as the Center suffered no financial damages (just another blow to our culture and dignity). If this goes to court, I hope some upstanding law firm offers its services to Mr. Redd free of charge.
It's worth bearing in mind that this issue implicates our First Amendment freedom of association as much as our freedom of expression. "We have repeatedly held that freedom of association is protected by the First Amendment. And of course this freedom protected against federal encroachment by the First Amendment is entitled under the Fourteenth Amendment to the same protection from infringement by the States." Williams v. Rhodes, 393 U.S. 23 (1968).
The words of SCOTUS in NAACP v. Button in 1963 protecting the First Amendment rights and freedoms of people who perform in court are relevant now regarding other public performers. Our public servants "may not prohibit" constitutionally-protected "modes of expression and association" even by actual attorneys and even by invoking the general "power to regulate the legal profession." "[I]t is no answer" that "the purpose of" any "regulations" (including court rules or rulings or mere letters from judges) "was merely to ensure high professional standards." The "liberties" in the First Amendment, including "speech, press, or association" are "indispensable." Even actual courts "may not," even "under the guise of prohibiting" actual "professional misconduct" by actual attorneys, "ignore" (knowingly violate) "constitutional rights."
It is yet another sign of the cancer that infects American during this Dark Age when CBS/Bari Weiss nix a 60 Minutes expose about the notorious CECOT prison...yes, 60 Minutes!! This national treasure has won 138 Emmys and 25 Peabody Awards. It has been speaking truth to power since 1968 to great acclaim. In spite of the efforts of the goons at CBS/Ms. Weiss, the CECOT episode appeared on Canadian TV (bless them) and is also available with a simple internet search. This whole mess has renewed my interest in watching the show again.
The Kennedy Center renaming scandal is just another day of life in North Korea. The name and likeness of the insecure, narcissistic Dear Leader (the unhinged, doddering piece of s***) are proliferating like the COVID virus during the pandemic. Members of the cabinet shamefully slather praise all over the DL to make up for his numerous shortcomings. The House headed in name only by Little Mikie "Bible Thumper" Johnson (the DL is Mikie's puppet master, you know) sits idly by while the executive branch commits countless illegal acts and unbridled abuses of power. Our only hope is that the upcoming midterm election will send these compliant sycophants packing and a new era of accountability will begin. In the meantime, artists of all genres and "we the people" must give the middle finger to the DL as Chuck Redd, the Cookers, Doug Verone and the Dancers among a growing number of other artists have done.
Isn’t it ironic that the rethuglicans, who usually are against public support of the arts, suddenly want to force an artist to perform at a publicly supported venue.
At last! Stalin-era art is making a comeback!
Well I learned stuff from reading this. The travails of the Kennedy Centre for the Arts (I refuse to use the new name) don't make it to regional Australia where I live.
I'm a lot more sensitive to the world of the intellect than the world of the arts but it occurs to me that there is something to be said for a jazz musician to play to the public regardless of politics....but surely this is a decision for individual artists to make and they should be free to do as they think best? Not for the first time do I suspect that American conservatives don't really have much respect for the right of individuals to make their own moral choices.
Speaking of duty and the freedom of speech, SCOTUS unanimously emphasized the duty of all citizens, artists or not. In New York Times Co. v. Sullivan in 1964, a unanimous SCOTUS emphasized the following and repeatedly emphasized that the First Amendment was essentially a call to duty.
Clearly, all “public officials” are “public servants” and “public men” are “public property,” so “discussion cannot be denied and the right” and “the duty” of “criticism must not be stifled.” The primary purpose of the First Amendment was to secure “the privilege for the citizen-critic of government. It is as much his duty to criticize as it is the official’s duty to administer.” No public servant can “give public servants” a “preference over the public they serve” by denying “critics of official conduct” at least “the immunity” that the people, themselves, “granted” to “officials.”
"Madison [emphasized vital principles that permeated every part of our system of national government, i.e.,] that the [original] Constitution created a form of government under which ‘The people, not the government, possess the absolute sovereignty.’ The structure of the government [prescribed by our Constitution] dispersed power in reflection of the people’s distrust of concentrated power, and of power itself at all levels."
SCOTUS in Sullivan (quoting Madison) emphasized that in our “Republican Government” (in which the people are sovereign), in general “the censorial power” necessarily “is in the people over the Government, and not in the Government over the people.” Clearly, our freedom of thought, speech and press flow from our sovereign power over our public servants.
The Von Trapp family fled from Austria rather than perform for Hitler. The only other alternative to performing on command would have been Dachau. The story of their escape, heavily romanticized, of course, in the musical and movie, has become a cultural icon. They did not actually flee on foot over the Alps, they got on a train to Italy, where they had dual citizenship, but they had to abandon everything -- their home, their property, their social status and Captain Von Trapp's career. That is why we remember them as heroic examples of artistic resistance.
Thanks, Noah. Daravi is totally screaming “Dance, monkey, dance!”
And to replace the artists who canceled … Klan clog dancing!
The artists who agreed with “The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” to perform at that venue but now are expected to perform at “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” might take a page from Hamilton and history.
Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton advised President Washington that the treaty the U.S. made with France before the French Revolution didn't bind the U.S. regarding France after its revolution had reached a certain point. See https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/cabinet-paper-to-the-president/
Donald J Trump will forever be a smear and a stain on our nation’s history.
Someone needs to remind Trump and Co. that we are allowed to disagree with him. It is our right, our duty, as Americans.
I remind readers regarding Mr. Redd and the cancellation of his jazz concert at the Kennedy Center that IT WAS FREE OF CHARGE. So, toady Grennell's threats are just an obvious SLAPP lawsuit as the Center suffered no financial damages (just another blow to our culture and dignity). If this goes to court, I hope some upstanding law firm offers its services to Mr. Redd free of charge.
It's worth bearing in mind that this issue implicates our First Amendment freedom of association as much as our freedom of expression. "We have repeatedly held that freedom of association is protected by the First Amendment. And of course this freedom protected against federal encroachment by the First Amendment is entitled under the Fourteenth Amendment to the same protection from infringement by the States." Williams v. Rhodes, 393 U.S. 23 (1968).
The words of SCOTUS in NAACP v. Button in 1963 protecting the First Amendment rights and freedoms of people who perform in court are relevant now regarding other public performers. Our public servants "may not prohibit" constitutionally-protected "modes of expression and association" even by actual attorneys and even by invoking the general "power to regulate the legal profession." "[I]t is no answer" that "the purpose of" any "regulations" (including court rules or rulings or mere letters from judges) "was merely to ensure high professional standards." The "liberties" in the First Amendment, including "speech, press, or association" are "indispensable." Even actual courts "may not," even "under the guise of prohibiting" actual "professional misconduct" by actual attorneys, "ignore" (knowingly violate) "constitutional rights."
It is yet another sign of the cancer that infects American during this Dark Age when CBS/Bari Weiss nix a 60 Minutes expose about the notorious CECOT prison...yes, 60 Minutes!! This national treasure has won 138 Emmys and 25 Peabody Awards. It has been speaking truth to power since 1968 to great acclaim. In spite of the efforts of the goons at CBS/Ms. Weiss, the CECOT episode appeared on Canadian TV (bless them) and is also available with a simple internet search. This whole mess has renewed my interest in watching the show again.
The Kennedy Center renaming scandal is just another day of life in North Korea. The name and likeness of the insecure, narcissistic Dear Leader (the unhinged, doddering piece of s***) are proliferating like the COVID virus during the pandemic. Members of the cabinet shamefully slather praise all over the DL to make up for his numerous shortcomings. The House headed in name only by Little Mikie "Bible Thumper" Johnson (the DL is Mikie's puppet master, you know) sits idly by while the executive branch commits countless illegal acts and unbridled abuses of power. Our only hope is that the upcoming midterm election will send these compliant sycophants packing and a new era of accountability will begin. In the meantime, artists of all genres and "we the people" must give the middle finger to the DL as Chuck Redd, the Cookers, Doug Verone and the Dancers among a growing number of other artists have done.
Are there Go Fund Me pages for any of these artists who have cancelled their performances? Where?
hear, hear!