Where Angels fear to tread……..

Artists are always amongst the first ones that totalitarian regimes suppress. It is the individuality that makes dictators nervous, and the ability through art to expose fundamental truths. The question arises today about the value of cultural exchanges between (relative) democracies and dictatorships. Is it worth while? The New York Philharmonic is about to find out.


In case you are living in a cultural cave (why then are you reading this blog of all things?)the NYPhil just announced that they are going to play in North Korea at the end of their Asian tour. This has generated a fair share of controversy. No less of a pundit than Terry Teachout is pretty dead set against this idea, as are various National Security advisers, etc. They argue that this act will merely legitimize a totalitarian regime. Not to start a blog war between myself and Terry, someone who’s opinion I happen to take very seriously, but he is dead wrong. And here’s why:

The problem is not legitimizing the North Korean regime. There is no one involved in this exchange, including said regime, that doesn’t think that Kim Jong-Il is anything but a megalomaniacal lunatic. But this concert is not about him. This concert is about the fact that human beings are connecting with other human beings. As much as the North Koreans have been demonized by the governments of the West, and in many cases deservedly so, the people of North Korean have been fed a steady diet of propaganda about us westerners that reads like the worst dreck of all times. What this does is dehumanize people, we see other folks as “them” rather than a different “us.” This is what the ping-pong diplomacy between the USA and China was all about. This is what the orchestra tours to the USSR were all about. Eventually we are forced to look at each other as human beings, not as “communists” or “capitalists” or “socialists” or any other “ists” you care to come up with. We are forced to confront each other as members of the same species, with the same number of eyes and ears, similar hair, etc.

Music, is uniquely suited to do this. I am sure there will be those in the audience in Pyongyang who are so far wrapped up in propaganda that they will actually not see and hear what is in front of them. The power of the mind to create its own reality is amazing. But there will be others who will look on stage and see this incredible orchestra, hear their incredible music, and wonder why these people, these Americans, these human beings are the enemy. It will not make sense to them and something inside them will change. God knows it may take a while but this can and will be a first step.

Two other reasons to go to North Korea pop into my mind from my own experience: first of all, sometimes people need to see a place for themselves. In 1984 I found myself on a plane to South Africa where I was to take part in the First Johannesburgh International Piano Competition. In case ya’ll are color blind and can’t really see the photo at the top of this blog – I’m what we call today African-American (with much splashings of Irish and various natives tribes mixed in thankyouverymuch). What was a black kid with no chance at the prize podium doing going to South Africa? Very simple – I was observing. I had an opportunity to witness firsthand what was going on and to do it in relative security – meaning that I didn’t even go to the bathroom without my U.S. passport firmly stapled to my forehead. Frankly it was an amazing experience and it taught me a lot about people. It also taught me a lot about my own country, because I got back here and Reagan was spouting his stuff about how we should leave South Africa alone, and Apartheid really isn’t that bad, and all that crap. That had a profound impact on my political outlook in life as well as my socio-religious world view. I’ll blog about my experiences in South Africa another time.

One other more recent experience: for much of the past six years I have joyfully been going to Ireland to work with the National Symphony Orchestra in Dublin. I love Ireland and the Irish. One question I always seem to get from my fellow Americans was “how do they treat Americans these days?” This always puzzled me. Yes, the Irish think that George W. Bush may be the stupidest leader in the history of western democracy, and they are completely puzzled by policies of his administration. But they are politically and socially savvy enough to understand that there is a difference between the policies of one’s government and the individuals that said government represents. I was always welcomed with open arms and flowing Guinness, and I count my Ireland experiences as some of the most fun I have ever had in my life. Of course, I don’t think it hurt that I happened to agree with their assessment of the Bush administration, but that’s yet another matter.

So to the NYPhil I say: Go!!! Take the chance. Watch with open eyes and play your hearts out. I have several friends in that orchestra and you can be sure I shall get in touch with them to get their impressions firsthand.

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