Music & Immigration

There are quite a few side comments (in parenthesis), but I feel they add a lot to the piece.

I'm a big fan of music. As I grew older, I regressed into it. By 1990, ("Get with it, it's the 90's") I appreciated music . I remember an early, seminal moment concerning my musical evaluative skills. NKTB (that's New Kids on The Block, for you squares) vs. Rush (still one of my all time favorites). I sided with Rush and ever since I've delved deeper into musical history than most my age.

At 23, I enjoy the classics (Beethoven's Romantic for Violin, a personal fave), big band (with all it's brass), blues and a bit of jazz (though I'm more of a blues fan), to the King, the Beatles, Stones, and all the rock n' roll that followed. As I get older, I feel I appreciate music as I compare the patheon of those who've influenced others; ex. the start of The Doors L.A. Woman sounds strikingly similar to Ray Charles What'd I Say, Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love steals lyrics straight from Muddy Water's You Need Love, etcetera. But as a great man one once said, "Everyone steals from the best." Music allows for interpretive alterations and a savvy listener can hear the influences of any artist (unless the band was formed around a delusional neurotic, like Syd Barrett, thus creating a new realm).

My favorite part of music is the emotion transmitted (for this paragraph, think Pink Floyd's The Great Gig In The Sky ). Many songs include 'Oh's and whatever else, but it's through these basic sounds that talented singers convey all that's necessary (language is an imperfect (at best) conveyance of a person's meaning. I often struggle finding a proper descriptive to accurately communicate my interpretation). Lyricists create "muscial emotion" and listeners relate to what's conveyed; it's a scientific principle (jape).

I need to close, but I want to finish with a serious thought (though it may expose my flank to character assassins). I was working in a restaurant several years ago, and while finishing my clean-up at the end of a shift, I was singing Sing Low Sweet Chariot. A co-worker pointed out I was singing music originally sung by slaves. That moment created an awareness of a powerful American cultural influence (music), dominated by black Americans. I won't pretend to understand why this phenomenon has occurred.

The point is simple: this was just one is a series of moments where I've discovered value in the elements composing America. Every conservative who opposes easier immigration better damn well be an American Indian (forgive my language, but it's half past 3. Such is my schedule). I like to site the Irish; they were hated and discriminated against when they first arrived. Yet today, few of Irish ancestry would claim social intolerance against their nationality. They became part of the melting pot. We should embrace those with a desire to come and prosper. They all add to the richness of America.