The American Spectator

Reader Mail

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8.5.08 @ 12:01AM

(Page 4 of 4)

STAIRWAY TO HIP-HOP
Re: Mark Gauvreau Judge's The Rap on Hip-Hop:

I share Mark Judge's skepticism of Mr. McWhorter's book about rap music. However, I came to a stop at the 4th paragraph when I read, "McWhorter, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, is actually a fan of hip-hop music..." Haha, yeah right! A "senior fellow" (I assume that means he is over 25, at least), at any institute (possibly with the exception of the Ponds Institute of hand Cream) or basically any person over 25, for that matter, does not like rap music. I think Mr. McWhorter is a liar.

I can see that a young person may put up with the sound, due to a combination of peer pressure and the fact that they have not ever been exposed to Zeppelin, the Dead, Collective Soul or even Lynyrd Skynyrd, God help him. But, I have been around the block (as you can tell from my taste in good music), and nobody can tell me that listening to a bunch of [African American] guys yell at them is their idea of a good time. Give me a break! It is not even music in any sense.

If Mr. McWhorter feels he has to say he likes Hip Hop just to fit in with his homeys at the Manhattan Institute, OK, he is just weak, as in "I didn't inhale -- I just wanted people to think I was cool, but did not want the actual effects of the THC." (Why not? I ask.) Otherwise, it is a flat out lie (as in "I didn't inhale, and you can't prove it now"). Nobody could like that crap; it's just that annoying other people is more important to some kids than actually hearing a good sound.

Heck, we didn't mind annoying the elders once in a while with our music, at a high volume, back when I was a kid too. There was one big difference, however. Our music did not suck to high heaven!
-- James Antley
Gadsden, Alabama

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS
Re: Deborah Durkee's letter (under "Not Taken Lightly") in Reader Mail's Packer Problems:

Deborah Durkee writes: "I know Mr. Shreve needs no one to defend him because he is quite capable of that himself."

For someone who needs no one to defend him, I was impressed by the amount of ink expended by Diane Smith, Deborah Durkee and Eric Edwards defending Mr. Shreve. I am sure the three of you would have extended the same courtesy to one who doesn't share your political point of view. From the tone of Mr. Shreve's "thank you" letter, I could tell he was genuinely pleased for the exoneration.
-- Mike Roush

Letter to the Editor

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