From: mece3d@elroy.uh.edu (Chris Struble)
Subject: Re: New poll results
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: University of Houston
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 19:39:00 GMT

In article <1992Sep10.233124.1837@bradley.bradley.edu>, sreardon@bradley.bradley.edu (Steven Reardon) writes...

>I sent a letter to Chris, but I'd just like to state publicly that I
>believe he has misjudged and maligned the 'alternative' music crowd.

You're reading a lot into my statement. I believe I said "kids AND freaks",
not all freaks. The crowd WAS very young on average, though we got the 
older people at our booth for the most part. 

By "freaks" I mean, for example, the Skinhead hoodlums who were smashing
Japanese TV sets on one stage with nightsticks. Too much racism and nihilism
for my liking, thanks. At least, that's what it LOOKED like. Tell me it
was something ELSE, if you know so much about it. 

>It doesn't take any thought to adhere to the 'norm', in music or anything
>else.  

Nor to smash things and shave your head. Unless you think Skinheads are 
closet Ph.D.s. BTW, I make no distinction between left-skinheads motivated
by "love" and right-skinheads motivated by "hate". Violence is violence.

>These people are not afraid to be themselves and like what they like.
>These people have a vested interest in seeing freedom of expression protected.
>It only makes sense that the LP should appeal to them.

I have no problem with their freedom of expression. I have a problem 
with their smashing things. Senseless destruction is stupid, even when
its legal (such as smashing your own TV). 

>You sound like a Republican when you call them freaks.

No, more like an Objectivist, maybe. You see, I think TV sets and cars
and computers, etc. are GOOD, because they can enrich our lives. I see
no difference between smashing such things and the Hilter Youth's book-
burning. Both are assaults on the products of human intellect. Both are
the acts of sick minds. 

Perhaps the fact that I'm an ex-Leftie myself, whose mind was polluted
with all kinds of socialist junk (like "all rich people are evil greedy
exploiters", etc.) which I have spent the last two years trying to purge,
makes me especially sensitive to any contact with anything that looks
like it.

>I like most of the music of the groups who are participating in
>Lollapalooza.

I couldn't hear enough of it so say. Though I think SOME of the songs
by the Red Hot Chili Peppers have a "wealth redistribution" and 
"equality of outcome" kind of tone. Not exactly laissez-faire. I'll
give another listen to their album sometime to make sure.

>I watch C-Span and CNN. You'd be surprised how thoughtful
>and intelligent most of the people who like 'alternative' music are. 
>You might also be surprised at how thoughtful and intelligent the lyrics
>to the songs are.

So are Rush's songs. But they don't shave their heads and smash things.
I'll admit they do scream a bit (or did before Geddy Lee lost his voice
:-)

>They certainly require more thought than the mindless
>generic fluff that the popular media spoon feeds the public.

Hear, hear.

>The LP is the thinking person's party.  It only makes sense that the LP
>should appeal to the 'alternative' music crowd.
> 
>I am a freak.

I doubt it. At least not the way I meant it. Your thoughts are too 
coherent. Anyway, peace.

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|  Christian Struble       |  The true civilization is where every     |
|  Mechanical Engineering  |  man gives to every other every right     |
|  University of Houston   |  that he claims for himself               |
|  mece3d@jetson.uh.edu    |                  --  Robert Ingersoll     |
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Newsgroups: alt.politics.marrou,sci.econ