seekerofwisdom
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Post by seekerofwisdom on Aug 6, 2009 15:56:44 GMT
Subject: Would you have stopped and listened? Below is a story I was told in a yoga class last night. I wanted to share it and hope everyone would try and stop for a moment today and enjoy something of beauty. Happy Thursday S. A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule. A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk. A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work. The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on. In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context? One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?” www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html Passed on by Shy.
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Post by billliggins on Aug 6, 2009 18:40:13 GMT
There again, Yo-Yo Ma, probably the greatest cellist in the world 'played' at the inaugration of Barak Obama. The point being that he didn't play at all, he used soap on his bow because it was too cold to play and the music we heard was recorded.
Does this (and the fact that children stopped to hear Joshua Bell) tell us more about American taste than that of the rest of the world?
Question. What is the difference between the good 'ol US of A and an agar dish?
Answer. There's more culture on an agar dish.
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seekerofwisdom
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Post by seekerofwisdom on Aug 6, 2009 19:47:50 GMT
Hey there Bill, up till now you have presented as a fairly moderate man with a degree of humour, so I hope this post is typical midland sarcasm?
There again, Yo-Yo Ma, probably the greatest cellist in the world 'played' at the inaugration of Barak Obama. The point being that he didn't play at all, he used soap on his bow because it was too cold to play and the music we heard was recorded.
Does this (and the fact that children stopped to hear Joshua Bell) tell us more about American taste than that of the rest of the world?
Question. What is the difference between the good 'ol US of A and an agar dish?
Answer. There's more culture on an agar dish.
To categorize the inhabitants of a massive sub Continent as Americans shows just how insular we British are. I once thought of the population of America as Americans, but since becoming 'inlawed' to a Virginian I have had to rethink my ideas.
While the 'modern America' may have a relatively short history it's multi ethnic population brought with it a lot of 'cultures'. That mix may or may noty have influenced it's present values.
However the good ol'e UK has a long history of integrating outside cultures, but slowly, unlike the PC philosophy now which says we should embrace diversity, which means
England my England
Goodbye to my England, So long my old friend Your days are numbered, being brought to an end
To be Scottish, Irish or Welsh that's fine But don't say you're English, that's way out of line.
The French and the Germans may call themselves such So may Norwegians, the Swedes and the Dutch
You can say you are Russian or maybe a Dane But don't say you're English ever again.
At Broadcasting House the word is taboo In Brussels it's scrapped, in Parliament too Even schools are affected; staff do as they're told They must not teach children about England of old. Writers like Shakespeare, Milton and Shaw The pupils don't learn about them anymore
How about Agincourt, Hastings, Arnhem or Mons? when England lost hosts of her very brave sons.
We are not Europeans, how can we be? Europe is miles away, over the sea We're the English from England, let's all be proud stand up and be counted - Shout it out loud!
Let's tell our Government and Brussels too we're proud of our heritage and the Red, White and Blue
Fly the flag of Saint George or the Union Jack Let the world know - WE WANT OUR ENGLAND BACK! If you are English,or sympathise please pass it on .
So you can say what you want about the Yanks but the above will I am sure be considered racist?
Shy
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