The role of Music in defeating Communism and maybe the Middle Eastern Dictators
By bobmnu
@bobmnu (8157)
United States
June 21, 2011 2:31am CST
With the struggles going on in the Middle East many people are giving credit to the Internet, Facebook, and You Tube. I was talking to a friend and he suggested that in a study as to the downfall of Communism that some credit should go to Jazz and Rock Music. Up until Jazz was introduced music was played as an individual or as a group working together. Jazz introduced the idea of a group playing and one or more individuals could go off on their own and the group could back them up, they could continue to play the piece or they could go in a different direction. Something similar is done in Rock music. What this music showed other people is that in the West you are free to be part of the group and still be an individual. You can break from the group and rejoin them later.
When you hear the radicals talking about why they hate the west one of the items mentioned as one or two is our music. Jazz was outlawed in many countries and was an underground culture.
As much as I do not like the Rock Music Let Freedom Ring with it.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@chhetp1 (467)
• India
21 Jun 11
I think it is not wise to give credit to the Western Culture for the recent uprising in Middle east and downfall of Communism. The simple reason being no civilization could be greater. Every one of them have pros and cons. I have seen so called rock lovers come to India and become a devotees of Krishna and Vishnu and keep chanting the religious songs.
No offense!! What I would like to point out here is that the credit should go to people over there who despite all restriction and limitation could stand out unanimously to break the shackles. The age of mass communication, technological advancement, peep into other cultures from the rest of the world, these all have actually shaped for what is happening in this decade. Let not the rock and Jazz only take away the credit of their being greater human beings.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
21 Jun 11
As I stated earlier when condemning the west the radicals almost always point to music as one of the reasons to defeat the west. When the youth, which by nature are rebellious, see that western music allows for the group to work together yet individual players can go off and do something different it sends a message that it is alright to be different and still be part of a group. It points out the importance of the individual which is something that the leaders do not want.
Is music the only reason for the unrest - no - but it does inspire people and should be one more weapon to be used to defeat the radicals. We should broadcast it into the region along with factual news reports as to what is happening in the world. Sort of an alternative to state controlled media.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
23 Jun 11
I've heard for years that music and other facets of American pop culture was at least partly responsible for the downfall of Communism and it sure makes sense to me. It's interesting how one thing that possibly could get the young people in the Middle East to stop hating us could be our music when they decide for themselves that it's not the evil thing they've been told it is. They might decide there could be other things not to hate about us.
Annie
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
21 Jun 11
I've always been interested on jazz music mainly because it's relaxing to hear and is off-beat most of time. I like it's free style play that gives musicians to maneuver around the scale. To think that jazz had this history connected to communism is very intriguing to me.
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
21 Jun 11
I've always been interested on jazz music mainly because it's relaxing to hear and is off-beat most of time. I like it's free style play that gives musicians to maneuver around the scale. To think that jazz had this history connected to communism is very intriguing to me.
