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Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Sorry for bringing this up as, maybe, you are all trying to keep it at the back of your minds.
However, I'm wondering if all the latest problems are likely to deter anyone from travelling out to sessions or attending festivals. It will probably have an effect on tourism but what about those of us who "live here"(wherever that may be-not necessarily the UK).
The Edinburgh Festival and Fringe will be happening shortly and could be a target but I don't see myself altering my plans too much, although I'll feel more nervous about open air concerts in Princes Street gardens and the like.
Also, I'm booked up to fly from Prestwick to Lubeck to get to Tonder Festival this year. It was really because of the £32 fare rather than anything else but I'm still relieved to be avoiding travelling via London Transport and airports such as Stansted or Luton. More so because of the possible disruption rather than for fear of my own safety.
How about you?
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Not to make you more paranoid, but security experts (whatever that means) seem to agree that once a target has been utilized (planes, the Underground, whatever), since security measures are often hiked up on that sort of means, terrorists must perforce pick another sort of transport for their madness.
In other words, what you really have to worry about after one sort of transport is used isn't that sort of transport, but everything else that's still left.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
I'm Canadian. We haven't been major aggressors in the current conflict, so I feel safe. I do have a new habit of writing to my political representatives to encourage them to keep out of American wars so I can continue to feel safe.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
I try to keep things in perspective. The total number of people killed in terrorist attacks each year is certainly below 10,000 and will likely remain so unless terrorists get their hands on certain biological or nuclear weapons (Chemical is unlikely to kill more than a few thousand for a variety of reasons).
In contrast, in the USA alone, more than 40,000 die each year in traffic accidents and more than 10,000 die of murder (In much of the 80s and 90s the number was closer to 20,000).
A quick back of the envolope calculation shows that if we assume that the average rate of natural population growth in the USA is near 0 and that the average person lives to be 80 (actually a little high) and that there are roughly 250,000,000 people in the USA (on the low side but its a nice round number) that over 8 thousand people die every day of all causes. This means even on September 11th, there were approximately three to four deaths from other causes for every terrorist related death.
In other words, to put sum all this up... while it is possible, that I will die in a terrorist attack, it is far more likely that I will die from some other cause so there seems little point in worrying about it. From the perspective of this thread, I think it should also be noted that ITM is almost certainly not high on the radar of terrorists; even a big ITM event will gather at most a few thousand together while other events in popular culture (like pop music and sporting events) can get tens of thousands together; a much more tempting target for terrorits.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
The worst part about terrorism and the effort to deal with it on musicians is the hassle of bringing your instruments with you. William Jackson related a story the other day about traveling around the U.S. by jet with his harp, and how anal the Transportation Security Administration was about it, swabbing it down, running it through the X-ray, and querying him closely. TSA, for those who haven't yet dealt with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (cue up images from the movie "Brazil") is the Keystone Kops of our terrorism defense system, straight out of the old Soviet Union. Imagine a bunch of people whose only other career choice probably would include working for Wal-Mart, wearing uniforms and having the power to order you to be strip-searched if they are having a bad hair day. It's all I can do not to start shouting at them when I see them frisking grandmothers and children and women. The "terrorist threat" will reduce us all to playing penny whistle or the spoons one day...
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Mark, I'd have thought the Caversham Charity Folk Festival might be at risk if a few bad boys from town got over the bridge. You could put a crack corps of goatwhackers in the Moderation to watch the approaches and act as a Forlorn Hope.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Actually, I haven't had any problems at all bringing my fiddle with me while traveling, and having just done a circuit of Denver-Baltimore-Cape Cod-NYC-Boston-Philadelphia-Denver, I feel like I could have logically expected someone to have gotten officious on me. But even the airlines were very good about it, and only put my carryon bag under the plane when I offered to do so on a very full flight -- they usually let me pre-board with the fiddle to make sure it gets into an overhead. (I always approach the matter by asking the gate folks if the flight is full, and if it is, ask if it would be possible for me to preboard with the violin. No one's ever said no.)
All in all, I'd rather have the security measures than not.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
showaddydadito!!!
I'm afraid the border morris patrol will be paying you a visit in the very near future. You've just divulged our entire anti-terrorist strategy to the entire world, including Tilehurst (and Purley) mosque!
What were you thinking man?
You won't be so flippant after 3 months without charge in Sid Littlebotham's Coal bunker, I tell you.
Now we're going to have to revert to plan B, which is to sit in the Clifton Arms and hope the bad boys don't get any further than Waitrose!
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Bad news for you, showaddydadito, and all the other apologists for the terrorist menace that threatens to swamp our Green And Pleasant shores.
Sid Littlebotham's coal bunker has been closed because of the lack of disabled access and rumours that he would sometimes have mates in for a sing-song (He failed to apply for the free entertainments license within the specified period).
This means that Reading and District (Security) Council will be setting up a new secure unit for the likes of you dregs behind Waitrose, in that parking lot where they chuck out the mouldy avocados.
Yes, as soon as the Border Morris Patrol arrive, I'm afraid you and your band of lickspittle appeasers are bound for Guacamolé (parking) Bay.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
I would hesitate to bring my instrument to a train station as i would probably get shot by the police, being innocent. Nice shoot to cool policy isn't it?
It seriously needs to be changed before more innocent people die.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Back in the days before the RAF, when the military were trying to figure just what use these new-fangled aeroplanes might be, they started dropping molotov-cocktail type bombs from them on enemy troops.
There was a serious debate about whether this was fair play and/or morally acceptable, but then the other chaps started doing it as well, and after a while it just seemed like a natural use for the planes. It took a while for the idea of dropping them on civilian targets to become part of the game, but as long as johnny Bosch would place their ammo factories near where the workers lived, well, it became their fault, their responsibility if we dropped bombs on them, didn't it?
Now that's all very well, but it's bloody outragious that these Middle Eastern Wallahs can come along and think they can do the same thing back to us!
What is the world coming to? Don't they know that we're the only ones who can legitimately blow up civilians?
Harrrumph!
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
High-Strung wrote: "The "terrorist threat" will reduce us all to playing penny whistle or the spoons one day..."
You better pick a non-metallic instrument there, bud. Have you ever been found with a Clarke whistle in your carry-on? Looks mighty suspicious in the x-ray machine, and can lead to some extra delays until you prove you are harmless. Not that I am speaking from personal experience......
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
It is getting difficult, inconvenient and sometimes expensive to travel with instruments anymore. The last time I flew, I was made to submit my mandolin to checked luggage. It survived unscathed fortunately. Crossing into Canada they searched my mandolin’s insides, leaving a small scratch on the finish. I’m a little scruffy, but hardly resemble a terrorist or drug-dealer.
So to answer the question, in a way terrorism is changing my musical habits (traveling to listen and play), albeit not due to the terrorism itself, but our sometimes ridiculous response to the terrorism.
And High-Strung, please be fair. A good number of people may resemble Wal-Mart employees, but painting all people with the same brush is a little unfair. Yes, even to Wal-Mart employees.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
You're right, TaoCat. One of the absolute best bodhran players I've ever had the pleasure of playing music with--and one of my favorite human beings--was a Wal-Mart employee. She used to regale me with stories about how badly run that chain really is. And now she's married to a Morris dancer and is a librarian. It's the system, not the majority of those who work there.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
The saddest thing is that they printed today a biography of one of the victims from the seventh, and he sounded a real alternatives/openness/community sort of guy,and quite local to me too. That's the worst bit of it, that not merely ordinary and innocent but also talented people with so much to give find themselves in the firing line for these anarchists.
Meanwhile, I have already been out to sessions since then.
So, no, definitely not.
And see you'all at the Red Lion and Sun on Thursday.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
I agree, Pete. To date, the body count of ordinary, innocent, and talented people with so much to give in Iraq is somewhere between 22,938 and 25,980. Heartbreaking, isn't it?
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Bodhran Bliss, yes it is a matter of luck, but then again it is a matter of luck pretty much any day we don't die. Unless and until the terrorists (not alleged unless we are identifying someone specific) get their hands on WMDs, one is still far more likely to die of something besides a terrorist bomb.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
That's what I figured, david - sounded low to me too, but I just googled up "Iraqi body count" and posted what turned up. Grim affair altogether.
I can't take the "us" and "them" - must get out of here before I start shooting my mouth off and offending all those who swallow the "suicide bombers hate us because we wear short skirts" argument.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
No, not mine. I just play music. I feel for all the unfortunates who have died without choosing to be involved. I feel also for those who's brains have been stewed by zealots of any persuasion/nation.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
The first thing that came to mind on seeing this topic was to ask if any sessions had been attacked in NI during the previous terrorist Emergency.
BB just about answered that question. up there ^ somewhere.
re: his post, I'm not sure who the "pan-nationalists" were or why anyone would hate them. I have visions of a K-Tel Wolfetones album on Peruvian pipes. Tell us more BB.
I know of a session in Halifax, NS, that was disrupted by a shotgun-wielding robber, who had everyone lie down while he robbed them of jewellery, purses and watches, leaving expensive fiddles and (despite pleas) bodhrans untouched.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
The pan-nationalists were supposed to be a united front of Sinn Fein, SDLP, Nationalist political parties in the North, the Southern Irish government, and Irish or descendants abroad, notably in the good old US of A. This was to bring about peace and a united Ireland.
One Loyalist paramilitary outfit began to brand all sorts of sports and past-times as being "pan-nationalist". Unfortunately in Norn Ireland ITM would be associated with the "Nationalist" community, despite Trevor Stewart, Gary hastings, the Bingham's and a host of other "protestent" musicians.
Anyway this paramilitary outfit threatened that "pan-nationalist" musicians were a legitimate target. They then attacked a session in a place called Newtownards, were many or most of the musicians are protestants.
The following week they decided to attack us, a "folk group", tunes and songs. Our banjo player actually knew them and the landlord had already asked us not to play anyway, as he must have been warned during the day.
I think quite a few sessions were "dangerous" to attend over the years.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Now, more relevant. Briban Joe asks about people moaning about being bombed and yet do it to themselves. Perhaps these people, "suicide" bombers object to racist jokes, just like me.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
As a teenager in Belfast during the 70's I travelled with friends of various religions and none, to sessions and folk clubs on both sides of the political divide, without worrying about the consequences. Maybe we were naive, but we had, in common with a lot of Belfast people, a determination to not let anyone else dictate where we went or what we did with our lives. So I guess that means my answer to the question is "No".
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Pete that's real true, there were pictures of his heart-broken parents and like Kerri said, a biography. Y'know, it's just a real shame, a stupid mistake that can never be forgiven, that police officer must feel real guilty, and let him be for the rest of his life as he has deprived another of his own.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
If I may make a plea to keep politics out of this...if such is indeed possible. Terrible things have happened, for many people of many nations. Only history will really sort out the events transpiring now (and then only dimly, as history is wont to do). We follow the dictates of morality in voting and activism, but here we' re just a bunch of musicians arguing about miniscual differences in how we like our sessions. Or so I hope. And happy birthday to me, I see it's midinight.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Yes, but we're talking the effects here, not causes, rationales or political loyalty. All this crap has an effect on us as musicians, but we don' t need to take sides or become indignant about each other's positions, politically. This is about music. There are lots of other wonderful places to debate politics and world events.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
No, it won't affect me. I do my best to avoid London and all big cities at all times. Too much pavement just upsets me!
But I don't like to think about what could happen to some of my friends whith heavy touring schedules - still they're probably more likely to get hurt in an accident that has nothing to do with terrorism anyway...
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Zoukman, I was actually refering to one of the original victims from 7/7, but, yes, one has to be sorry for the guy who ran from the police, there's nothing you might be in trouble about it's worth dying for.
Meanwhile, what's it all about anyway ?
Anything to do with non-existant weapons of mass-destruction, fighting for oil for the humbees, and our glorious PM having his head up the rectum of a rectum ? Whoops - little bit of politics there! Don't blame me, I marched against the war, as did my non-Blairite MP. Meanwhile, our glorious leader appeals for us to stay calm from behind his security cordon. I have more sympathy for Red Ken, who at least always travels on public transport.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Jode, I was on about that thoughtless comment two posts above mine that implies "moaning" when somebody drops a bomb on you is hypocritical when other people from a similar geographical region are bombing somebody else.
If that's the case, after decades of bombing people and fomenting bloody revolution, the US and England would be hypocritical to "moan" when their war comes home to haunt them.
I personally think anyone who's had a run-in with a bomb of any sort has every right to moan and complain.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
The DUP do want a United Ireland, as they would be co-alition partners in every government. Sinn Fein wouldn't, so we have to wait. Unionists also opposed conscription during the second world war, something for which they should be admired. It didn't matter to the people of Belfast how many volkswagens the Germans were making, so why go to war?
Until we all realise that it would be better off if all guns, bombs, rockets and all the rest were banned, someone will always be bullying and killing other people. Pity we couldn't ban all weapons, and make instruments for everyone with the savings.
And remember, ALL violence is caused by fear, or cowardice if you like.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
My mom told me about this wacky dream she had where she and I had gathered up all the guns, bombs, knives, scabers, switchblades, etc. on the whole planet and turned it into one big massive sculpture. When it was finished it looked so ridiculous that we laughed and laughed and laughed. She woke up laughing, even.
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Well said Mr. Bliss!
"Until we all realise that it would be better off if all guns, bombs, rockets and all the rest were banned, someone will always be bullying and killing other people. Pity we couldn't ban all weapons, and make instruments for everyone with the savings."
I'd like to add that until we all make it our business to insure that all peoples are well cared for getting rid of all of the weapons will have little effect. There are always rocks and sticks.
Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Sorry for bringing this up as, maybe, you are all trying to keep it at the back of your minds.
However, I'm wondering if all the latest problems are likely to deter anyone from travelling out to sessions or attending festivals. It will probably have an effect on tourism but what about those of us who "live here"(wherever that may be-not necessarily the UK).
The Edinburgh Festival and Fringe will be happening shortly and could be a target but I don't see myself altering my plans too much, although I'll feel more nervous about open air concerts in Princes Street gardens and the like.
Also, I'm booked up to fly from Prestwick to Lubeck to get to Tonder Festival this year. It was really because of the £32 fare rather than anything else but I'm still relieved to be avoiding travelling via London Transport and airports such as Stansted or Luton. More so because of the possible disruption rather than for fear of my own safety.
How about you?
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Doesn't seem to bother the "Tallaght Band"...
Their touring schedule seems to be undeterred, but I hear they go through havoc at customs...
See:
http://www.tallaghtyouthband.com
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Murrough
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Not at all.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Janek
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
I'll probably leave the duffel-coat and Pele t-shirt at home.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Not to make you more paranoid, but security experts (whatever that means) seem to agree that once a target has been utilized (planes, the Underground, whatever), since security measures are often hiked up on that sort of means, terrorists must perforce pick another sort of transport for their madness.
In other words, what you really have to worry about after one sort of transport is used isn't that sort of transport, but everything else that's still left.
Comforting, isn't it?
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
hmm...dunno 'bout that, Zina - they attacked our tubes twice (fortunately with minimal effect the 2nd time.)
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Rudall the time
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Danny, that's no way to talk about The Metropolitan Police.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Sorry, if the pun on "Our tubes" was a bit tasteless. The incident at the weekend wasn't funny at all sometimes a bit of dark humour helps.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Johnny Jay
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Not very much. I will probably visit London and Leeds again next spring if nothing worse happens.
Earthquakes are more threatening here in Far East. A big one hit Tokyo areas quite recently, but I didn't stop learning a new tune at home then.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by slainte
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
I'm Canadian. We haven't been major aggressors in the current conflict, so I feel safe. I do have a new habit of writing to my political representatives to encourage them to keep out of American wars so I can continue to feel safe.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
I try to keep things in perspective. The total number of people killed in terrorist attacks each year is certainly below 10,000 and will likely remain so unless terrorists get their hands on certain biological or nuclear weapons (Chemical is unlikely to kill more than a few thousand for a variety of reasons).
In contrast, in the USA alone, more than 40,000 die each year in traffic accidents and more than 10,000 die of murder (In much of the 80s and 90s the number was closer to 20,000).
A quick back of the envolope calculation shows that if we assume that the average rate of natural population growth in the USA is near 0 and that the average person lives to be 80 (actually a little high) and that there are roughly 250,000,000 people in the USA (on the low side but its a nice round number) that over 8 thousand people die every day of all causes. This means even on September 11th, there were approximately three to four deaths from other causes for every terrorist related death.
In other words, to put sum all this up... while it is possible, that I will die in a terrorist attack, it is far more likely that I will die from some other cause so there seems little point in worrying about it. From the perspective of this thread, I think it should also be noted that ITM is almost certainly not high on the radar of terrorists; even a big ITM event will gather at most a few thousand together while other events in popular culture (like pop music and sporting events) can get tens of thousands together; a much more tempting target for terrorits.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by bill_mchale
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
So The Wallingford Bunkfest, or the Caversham Charity Folk Festival is unlikely to be a prime Al-Quaida target?
Phew!
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
You have to stick the maple leaf on all of your belongings, Kerri.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by slainte
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
No thanks, that's corny.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
The worst part about terrorism and the effort to deal with it on musicians is the hassle of bringing your instruments with you. William Jackson related a story the other day about traveling around the U.S. by jet with his harp, and how anal the Transportation Security Administration was about it, swabbing it down, running it through the X-ray, and querying him closely. TSA, for those who haven't yet dealt with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (cue up images from the movie "Brazil") is the Keystone Kops of our terrorism defense system, straight out of the old Soviet Union. Imagine a bunch of people whose only other career choice probably would include working for Wal-Mart, wearing uniforms and having the power to order you to be strip-searched if they are having a bad hair day. It's all I can do not to start shouting at them when I see them frisking grandmothers and children and women. The "terrorist threat" will reduce us all to playing penny whistle or the spoons one day...
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Audeamus
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Mark, I'd have thought the Caversham Charity Folk Festival might be at risk if a few bad boys from town got over the bridge. You could put a crack corps of goatwhackers in the Moderation to watch the approaches and act as a Forlorn Hope.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by showaddydadito
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Actually, I haven't had any problems at all bringing my fiddle with me while traveling, and having just done a circuit of Denver-Baltimore-Cape Cod-NYC-Boston-Philadelphia-Denver, I feel like I could have logically expected someone to have gotten officious on me. But even the airlines were very good about it, and only put my carryon bag under the plane when I offered to do so on a very full flight -- they usually let me pre-board with the fiddle to make sure it gets into an overhead. (I always approach the matter by asking the gate folks if the flight is full, and if it is, ask if it would be possible for me to preboard with the violin. No one's ever said no.)
All in all, I'd rather have the security measures than not.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
In no way what-so-ever. On September 10th 2001 I had not guarantee of any time past the present and that still stands today.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by ejsant
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
should read "no" not "not"
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by ejsant
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
showaddydadito!!!
I'm afraid the border morris patrol will be paying you a visit in the very near future. You've just divulged our entire anti-terrorist strategy to the entire world, including Tilehurst (and Purley) mosque!
What were you thinking man?
You won't be so flippant after 3 months without charge in Sid Littlebotham's Coal bunker, I tell you.
Now we're going to have to revert to plan B, which is to sit in the Clifton Arms and hope the bad boys don't get any further than Waitrose!
Ooops - there goes plan B!
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
absolutely not
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Pete D
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Bad news for you, showaddydadito, and all the other apologists for the terrorist menace that threatens to swamp our Green And Pleasant shores.
Sid Littlebotham's coal bunker has been closed because of the lack of disabled access and rumours that he would sometimes have mates in for a sing-song (He failed to apply for the free entertainments license within the specified period).
This means that Reading and District (Security) Council will be setting up a new secure unit for the likes of you dregs behind Waitrose, in that parking lot where they chuck out the mouldy avocados.
Yes, as soon as the Border Morris Patrol arrive, I'm afraid you and your band of lickspittle appeasers are bound for Guacamolé (parking) Bay.
I'll get my coat ....
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
I assumed Bill McHale, that Bush or Blair had already sold WMD to the alleged terrorists.
After 30 years of N.Ireland there is only one rule of thumb. It's a matter of luck.
Paramilitary terrorists arrived one night to shoot us as pan-nationalist musicians (sic) but it turned out we knew them. That's what I mean by luck.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
I would hesitate to bring my instrument to a train station as i would probably get shot by the police, being innocent. Nice shoot to cool policy isn't it?
It seriously needs to be changed before more innocent people die.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by ecidralla
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
sorry for that comment, it's unfair
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by ecidralla
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Back in the days before the RAF, when the military were trying to figure just what use these new-fangled aeroplanes might be, they started dropping molotov-cocktail type bombs from them on enemy troops.
There was a serious debate about whether this was fair play and/or morally acceptable, but then the other chaps started doing it as well, and after a while it just seemed like a natural use for the planes. It took a while for the idea of dropping them on civilian targets to become part of the game, but as long as johnny Bosch would place their ammo factories near where the workers lived, well, it became their fault, their responsibility if we dropped bombs on them, didn't it?
Now that's all very well, but it's bloody outragious that these Middle Eastern Wallahs can come along and think they can do the same thing back to us!
What is the world coming to? Don't they know that we're the only ones who can legitimately blow up civilians?
Harrrumph!
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
High-Strung wrote: "The "terrorist threat" will reduce us all to playing penny whistle or the spoons one day..."
You better pick a non-metallic instrument there, bud. Have you ever been found with a Clarke whistle in your carry-on? Looks mighty suspicious in the x-ray machine, and can lead to some extra delays until you prove you are harmless. Not that I am speaking from personal experience......
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by AlBrown
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Don't they make plastic penny whistles? Ocarinas? Whistles?
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Audeamus
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
It is getting difficult, inconvenient and sometimes expensive to travel with instruments anymore. The last time I flew, I was made to submit my mandolin to checked luggage. It survived unscathed fortunately. Crossing into Canada they searched my mandolin’s insides, leaving a small scratch on the finish. I’m a little scruffy, but hardly resemble a terrorist or drug-dealer.
So to answer the question, in a way terrorism is changing my musical habits (traveling to listen and play), albeit not due to the terrorism itself, but our sometimes ridiculous response to the terrorism.
And High-Strung, please be fair. A good number of people may resemble Wal-Mart employees, but painting all people with the same brush is a little unfair. Yes, even to Wal-Mart employees.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by TaoCat
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
You're right, TaoCat. One of the absolute best bodhran players I've ever had the pleasure of playing music with--and one of my favorite human beings--was a Wal-Mart employee. She used to regale me with stories about how badly run that chain really is. And now she's married to a Morris dancer and is a librarian. It's the system, not the majority of those who work there.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Audeamus
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
The saddest thing is that they printed today a biography of one of the victims from the seventh, and he sounded a real alternatives/openness/community sort of guy,and quite local to me too. That's the worst bit of it, that not merely ordinary and innocent but also talented people with so much to give find themselves in the firing line for these anarchists.
Meanwhile, I have already been out to sessions since then.
So, no, definitely not.
And see you'all at the Red Lion and Sun on Thursday.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
I agree, Pete. To date, the body count of ordinary, innocent, and talented people with so much to give in Iraq is somewhere between 22,938 and 25,980. Heartbreaking, isn't it?
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Kerri Brown
In fact, I wonder how their sessions have been keeping up...
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Bodhran Bliss, yes it is a matter of luck, but then again it is a matter of luck pretty much any day we don't die. Unless and until the terrorists (not alleged unless we are identifying someone specific) get their hands on WMDs, one is still far more likely to die of something besides a terrorist bomb.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by bill_mchale
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
lol, bri, how tasteless.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
It's about time someone started executing accordion players on sight.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. Especially after they become the new government.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Nah, there are still too many Bodhran players out there
.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by bill_mchale
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
That's what I figured, david - sounded low to me too, but I just googled up "Iraqi body count" and posted what turned up. Grim affair altogether.
I can't take the "us" and "them" - must get out of here before I start shooting my mouth off and offending all those who swallow the "suicide bombers hate us because we wear short skirts" argument.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
No, not mine. I just play music. I feel for all the unfortunates who have died without choosing to be involved. I feel also for those who's brains have been stewed by zealots of any persuasion/nation.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Backer
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
I know where you're coming from, bri. I was similarly perplexed when the US made such a fuss about people blowing up new york.
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
http://www.harpers.org/CartoonPatterson.html
# Posted on July 25th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
The first thing that came to mind on seeing this topic was to ask if any sessions had been attacked in NI during the previous terrorist Emergency.
BB just about answered that question. up there ^ somewhere.
re: his post, I'm not sure who the "pan-nationalists" were or why anyone would hate them. I have visions of a K-Tel Wolfetones album on Peruvian pipes. Tell us more BB.
I know of a session in Halifax, NS, that was disrupted by a shotgun-wielding robber, who had everyone lie down while he robbed them of jewellery, purses and watches, leaving expensive fiddles and (despite pleas) bodhrans untouched.
Anyonme here who was there?
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by Bren
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
The pan-nationalists were supposed to be a united front of Sinn Fein, SDLP, Nationalist political parties in the North, the Southern Irish government, and Irish or descendants abroad, notably in the good old US of A. This was to bring about peace and a united Ireland.
One Loyalist paramilitary outfit began to brand all sorts of sports and past-times as being "pan-nationalist". Unfortunately in Norn Ireland ITM would be associated with the "Nationalist" community, despite Trevor Stewart, Gary hastings, the Bingham's and a host of other "protestent" musicians.
Anyway this paramilitary outfit threatened that "pan-nationalist" musicians were a legitimate target. They then attacked a session in a place called Newtownards, were many or most of the musicians are protestants.
The following week they decided to attack us, a "folk group", tunes and songs. Our banjo player actually knew them and the landlord had already asked us not to play anyway, as he must have been warned during the day.
I think quite a few sessions were "dangerous" to attend over the years.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Now, more relevant. Briban Joe asks about people moaning about being bombed and yet do it to themselves. Perhaps these people, "suicide" bombers object to racist jokes, just like me.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
As a teenager in Belfast during the 70's I travelled with friends of various religions and none, to sessions and folk clubs on both sides of the political divide, without worrying about the consequences. Maybe we were naive, but we had, in common with a lot of Belfast people, a determination to not let anyone else dictate where we went or what we did with our lives. So I guess that means my answer to the question is "No".
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by Ruamac
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Pete that's real true, there were pictures of his heart-broken parents and like Kerri said, a biography. Y'know, it's just a real shame, a stupid mistake that can never be forgiven, that police officer must feel real guilty, and let him be for the rest of his life as he has deprived another of his own.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by ecidralla
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Kerri says:
"I know where you're coming from, bri. I was similarly perplexed when the US made such a fuss about people blowing up new york."
Such a fuss? What are you on about here?
Have you ever read about Peaceful Tomorrows or those that quote "Not in Our Name"? Are you writing off the death of merely a few thousand people?
I must be missing the picture here, misinterpreting.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by Jode
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
If I may make a plea to keep politics out of this...if such is indeed possible. Terrible things have happened, for many people of many nations. Only history will really sort out the events transpiring now (and then only dimly, as history is wont to do). We follow the dictates of morality in voting and activism, but here we' re just a bunch of musicians arguing about miniscual differences in how we like our sessions. Or so I hope. And happy birthday to me, I see it's midinight.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by TaoCat
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Excuse me, midnight. I may have had a toast or three already.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by TaoCat
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Having a discussion about terrorism without talking about politics would be like discussing instruments and not talking about music.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by Phantom Button
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Yes, but we're talking the effects here, not causes, rationales or political loyalty. All this crap has an effect on us as musicians, but we don' t need to take sides or become indignant about each other's positions, politically. This is about music. There are lots of other wonderful places to debate politics and world events.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by TaoCat
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
No, it won't affect me. I do my best to avoid London and all big cities at all times. Too much pavement just upsets me!
But I don't like to think about what could happen to some of my friends whith heavy touring schedules - still they're probably more likely to get hurt in an accident that has nothing to do with terrorism anyway...
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by kris
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
If I changed my musical habits, I am sure another anarchist-accordionist would still muscle in to fill the gap.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by geoffwright
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
You must be joking bri.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by Rudall the time
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Yes, if they manage to blow my arms off. Otherwise no.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by Lissagriffin
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Zoukman, I was actually refering to one of the original victims from 7/7, but, yes, one has to be sorry for the guy who ran from the police, there's nothing you might be in trouble about it's worth dying for.
Meanwhile, what's it all about anyway ?
Anything to do with non-existant weapons of mass-destruction, fighting for oil for the humbees, and our glorious PM having his head up the rectum of a rectum ? Whoops - little bit of politics there! Don't blame me, I marched against the war, as did my non-Blairite MP. Meanwhile, our glorious leader appeals for us to stay calm from behind his security cordon. I have more sympathy for Red Ken, who at least always travels on public transport.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Jode, I was on about that thoughtless comment two posts above mine that implies "moaning" when somebody drops a bomb on you is hypocritical when other people from a similar geographical region are bombing somebody else.
If that's the case, after decades of bombing people and fomenting bloody revolution, the US and England would be hypocritical to "moan" when their war comes home to haunt them.
I personally think anyone who's had a run-in with a bomb of any sort has every right to moan and complain.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
The DUP do want a United Ireland, as they would be co-alition partners in every government. Sinn Fein wouldn't, so we have to wait. Unionists also opposed conscription during the second world war, something for which they should be admired. It didn't matter to the people of Belfast how many volkswagens the Germans were making, so why go to war?
Until we all realise that it would be better off if all guns, bombs, rockets and all the rest were banned, someone will always be bullying and killing other people. Pity we couldn't ban all weapons, and make instruments for everyone with the savings.
And remember, ALL violence is caused by fear, or cowardice if you like.
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by bodhran bliss
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
My mom told me about this wacky dream she had where she and I had gathered up all the guns, bombs, knives, scabers, switchblades, etc. on the whole planet and turned it into one big massive sculpture. When it was finished it looked so ridiculous that we laughed and laughed and laughed. She woke up laughing, even.
What does it mean, doctor?
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
My Mum told me she dreamed she was being chased by an enormous snake and when she woke up she was all sweaty.
How wacky is that?
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by Ottery
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
Well said Mr. Bliss!
"Until we all realise that it would be better off if all guns, bombs, rockets and all the rest were banned, someone will always be bullying and killing other people. Pity we couldn't ban all weapons, and make instruments for everyone with the savings."
I'd like to add that until we all make it our business to insure that all peoples are well cared for getting rid of all of the weapons will have little effect. There are always rocks and sticks.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by ejsant
Re: Is the terrorist threat likely to cause you to change your musical habits?
and box cutters
# Posted on July 26th 2005 by Ottery