I think what needs to be done is to stop looking at foreign music as foreign music, and just look at it as music. Stop thinking about the country that it comes from, stop trying to see what it has to say about that country, and just take it for what it is. Because the people in that country are listening to their own music simply as music, and so should we. You know, when we listen to American music, we don’t think about what it tells us about the American condition and whatnot (unless either the music is intended to be taken this way, or we are doing some kind of research or something).

Also the US has the tendency to take things from other nations and then pretend to have originated them, for example, reality tv, american idol, the sitcom oh and enjoy our fashion from 2 years ago.

Dont try and tell me that pop culture right now is that complex.

I’m sure that I’d rather hear music from the British invasion then music from the Southern hip hop Invasion.

Unless we are talking about kings of leon or sparta. Or Willie fucking Nelson for that matter. I’d rather hear him than TI.

I’m not an egalitarian either. Because I am pretty sure that southern rap is not equal.

On a related note… I think the reason that Rap, Rock, Jazz and Blues originated in The States is due to the introduction of African music to European melodies.

Popular music before that had been shit like ditties, classical, folklore/Irish music and flute reels.

Blacks infused rythyms into these melodies things quickly evolved from there.

I think it was this mix that explains why we have shaped pop music so often for the last century. It doesn’t have much to do with complexity though, just circumstance.

If foreigners are such complex and interesting people, how come most pop culture tends to originate in the United States?

You obviously do not drive a 2007 Passat.

I guess I’m just a chauvinist.

I think you need to consider how many American morons there are. Look at this fucking message board as evidence.

Then, look at Houston, Texas. I rest my case goddamnit.

Fahreal doh:
It is indeed difficult to find that middle ground and to find a way to look at an international scene completely and objectively.

The two main factors that stifle those goals are pre-existing ideologies and agendas.

Try to enlist the services of a journalist who can separate pre-existing notions of a foreign country (especially like Israel) and the facts and images they experienced firsthand, and will not reveal their bias within their writing.

(Perhaps a certain Canuck?)

Compounding that are groups such as the America-Israel Friendship League, who bucked up the capital and only care about one thing, a positive image of Israel portrayed to clueless U.S. readers. After all, why would they pay for objective columns? That would be a waste of their money.

So who would be the group that would pony up the greenbacks and arrange not only the necessary schooling of the political system and state of the society, as well as visiting relevant spots in the country?

Certainly not XXL. Or maybe XXL.
______________________________________

P.S. Nice try, but I refuse to sign the divorce papers.

______________________________________

I guess we’ll find out exactly what kind of journalists they are. Nothing new here, Have you never had an interview where the subject tried to pull the wool over your eyes? You have to figure out what’s real and what’s not for yourself.
truth be told that you get the feeling that something’s wrong when it is, you have to trust your gut(instinct) and find the story,
and in this case, I believe you did…

May 31st, 2006 at 4:12 am
“Great article, I personally believe Israel are in the right, and I love the Israeli guys out there….

Maybe its because I know they don’t have a bomb as a belt?? I dunno..

Thanks again..”

How ignorant are you? Show’s how much you know about the reasons behind the conflict in the middle east doesn’t it? Stop watching CNN, ABC etc and pick up a history book.

Great article Tara.

I guess I’m just a chauvinist.

Maybe its because I know they don’t have a bomb as a belt?? I dunno..

Thanks again..