A Gospel Song at the National Press Club



The scoundrels at Gawker were impressed, or horrified, by the apparent success of this song at quelling the media at the National Press Club.  I've been there a few times myself -- it's kind of an interesting place.  The sort of journalists who frequent it are often the sort who believe in the old patriotic model of journalism.  I mean by this that they believe that the press has a duty to the Republic, which is to ensure that the truth is understood and readily available to those of the people who wish to understand.  These are the good guys of journalism, so to speak:  they have their flaws, chief among them an inability to accept that their desire to avoid bias merely causes them to push their bias into their subconscious, so that they cannot honestly track it.  Nevertheless, their hearts are in the right place.  They seem really to believe that they are serving the Republic in the performance of their work; and I've occasionally been impressed by the kind of knowledge and analysis that they can bring to bear -- not from their own corps, as they lack the practical experience of the world that would let them have a capacity for either, but out of the various think tanks and organizations in D.C. who wish to have their voices heard.  You can learn a lot by listening to the thinkers who come to talk to the press.

Watch the eyes of the lady seated at the table to Mr. Cain's right.  I'm not quite sure how to characterize the glance she gives to the camera, although I might start at "disbelief."  When the song is over, though, she joins in the cheery handling of the performance.  Why is that?  How many politicians would try to sing at a moment like this?  Is it good that he does?  Should more of us feel inclined to resort to beautiful and moving music to try to explain ourselves?  If so, why?  If not, why not?

13 comments:

  1. DL Sly9:25 AM

    As one who literally lives her life with a soundtrack (music plays in pretty much every room in my house, in my garage, when I'm driving in my car, etc. constantly) I have long thought that we as a society lost something when we stopped singing and creating music for personal joy. As you well know from your own gift for poetry and lyrics, getting just the right fit of word to meaning is not a happenstance occurance. A lot of forethought and emotion is invested in such creative endeavors for them to be successful -- and by successful, I mean a completed work that conveys the meaning you intended.
    The negro spirituals that were sung in the cotton fields were expressions of faith and hope that one day, someday, life would be better. They inspired many to focus on the hope of a better future instead of the misery of their present.
    Few things can unite a disparate group of people quite like singing. Witness the impromptu singing of the national anthem at any sporting event when people who rabidly support their individual teams to the point of rude and uncouth behaviour will join voices with the *enemy* to sing the praises of our country. Or, more recently, the (true) flash mobs that have cropped up around the world. For a few moments of time, all within listening distance of those incredibly courageous musicians and singers (and it most certainly does take incredible courage to do this) take a break from the day's business and revel in the sheer beauty of the music. And, if you look at the faces of the the "audience" after each flash mob performance, you will see a difference in attitude and demeanor from the person that first stopped to listen.
    "Music has charms to soothe the savage breast
    To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak."
    -- William Congreve, The Morning Bride
    We used to define generations by the music it played. Sadly not so much anymore. Maybe the question should be more "Why don't more people use beautiful and moving music to explain or define themselves?"

    As to the young lady seated at the table, her glances seem, to me, to be surreptitiously checking out the approval factor within the crowd.

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  2. I loved it, but then I think people should sing constantly. One of my favorite memories from 9/11 was several heartbroken senators stopping on the steps outside the U.S. Congress and singing "God Bless America." They couldn't have done it before, and soon after they lost the ability again. But it was just right in that moment.

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  3. I think the lady's glance was nothing more than the camera's motion in the corner of her eye drawing her attention briefly. The frown on her face I think is equally meaningless--I usually have a frown on my face, yet I'm not necessarily upset about anything. Sometimes I'm deep in what passes for thought for me while I'm simultaneously attending to some other matter.

    As to a politician singing--or anyone else singing, come to that--a politician's interest is in either of two things: clarity of his message, or suitable obfuscation of it. Singing can serve either purpose, and especially in attempts to be clear (not in the manner of "Let me just say this about that," or "Let me be perfectly clear"), if a song or a verse adds clarity, I'm all for it. Unless the person involved can't carry a tune in a bucket. Then he should just speak, including rhythmically, if poetry suits.

    Eric Hines

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  4. I remember there was an outbreak of political song just after 9/11 -- Congress singing "God Bless America," and the Queen ordering her guard to play "The Star Spangled Banner"(!).

    I remember wondering, at the time, if anyone would dare to reach for "the Battle Hymn of the Republic." No one dared that I recall.

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  5. It doesn't particularly bother me that Cain chose to break into song. I can't tell from the context whether it was an appropriate/informative response or not.

    While I agree that music conveys things that are hard to put into words, my instinctive response would be that though there are times when this is entirely appropriate, there are other times when it could be used as an evasive tactic or possibly event in a way that is a bit manipulative.

    It's not my sense that this is what he did here (especially since I don't know what prompted the response), but in general I would tend to be suspicious of a politician who did that too often :p

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  6. Manishevitz. I need to be more careful with editing quick comments during work breaks

    ... there are other times when it could be used as an evasive tactic or possibly in a way that is a bit manipulative.

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  7. They did break out "The Battle Hymn" right away, though -- I heard it on the radio, NPR no less, within days. We also sang it at church. It was pretty overwhelming.

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  8. Manishevitz. I need to be more careful with editing quick comments during work breaks

    You also need to be more careful with your rotten grape juice selections on your work breaks....

    Eric Hines

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  9. "Ppppphhhhhtttthhhhh!!!" is all I have to say to you, sir!

    *sniff*

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  10. "Ppppphhhhhtttthhhhh!!!" is all I have to say to you, sir!

    *sniff*

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  11. douglas4:32 AM

    I always liked "Battle Hymn of the Republic".

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  12. DL Sly8:40 AM

    Oh man, Eric. You got a double raspberry! Best watch out, the trivet can't be far behind.
    0>;~}

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  13. Oh man, Eric. You got a double raspberry! Best watch out, the trivet can't be far behind.

    I'm not worried. The same indulgence that spoiled her aim on the ENTER key will spoil her aim with the trivet.

    Eric Hines

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