“Creative expression is ageless”
I enjoyed spending time with reporters Chris Norton and Mary Katherine Stump during last weekend’s Georgetown Independent Film Festival-an annual venue celebrating creativity, originality and uninhibited personal expression. While their story on the festival was quite positive, I was puzzled by the personal jab they took at me and my band, The Clyde (www.clyde55.com) in their article.
Their article (“G’town warehouse hosts film fest,” Leisure, Sept. 25) referred to The Clyde as “a textbook example of a mid-life crisis, 55 seems to be the mean age of the members of The Clyde.” I have been a musician/guitarist for most of my life and have toured with The Cars, J. Geils, John Mayall, Leon Redbone, The Dead Kennedys, John Hammond, Spider John Koenerr, Little Feat, David Bromberg, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and many others.
The desire to perform is in no way the result of aging. Furthermore, the mean age of The Clyde is not 55. More like 37. If there is a better guitar player on your campus, or within a five mile radius, I dare you to find them. In fact, you get them and we’ll have a guitar play-off at your coffee house on campus. You set it up, and we’ll go song for song and get the audience to vote.
I’m surprised that The Georgetown Voice is a supporter of ageism, especially reporters who cover the arts and entertainment arena. By your reporters’ prognosis, it seems that any artist/entertainer over the age of 40 is suffering from some sort of psychological trauma.
By their standards, artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, etc. are no longer relevant, are collectively engaged in a massive mid-life crisis and, what, should call it quits?
I hope that’s not what they’re teaching at Georgetown. Creative expression is ageless.
Eric Sommer, Founder, Georgetown Independent Film Festival
Boathouse reporting error
I applaud your decision to address the difficult boathouse-versus-public park-land issue (“A badly needed facility,” Editorials, Sept 4). You have every right to express your opinion, and it would be na?ve to not expect a bias towards the University position.
You do, however, have a responsibility to report factually. You state that the proposed boathouse site is “adjacent” to the C&O Canal National Historical Park, but the truth is that the site is in the Park. That is the whole point behind the opposition.
Did your writer presume to opine on the location of the boathouse while ignorant of that location? Or did you feel that reporting the location honestly would not adequately support your position? Either reason is chilling, and shows a lack of responsibility to your readers and minimal standards of a free and fair press.
Please respect the rights and judgment of your readers by presenting the facts so they can arrive at an informed opinion. The facts are that the University wants to extend the campus to the Potomac riverbank. A public National Park stands in the way. The University is using its wealth and connections to take that parkland out of the public domain and build a monumental private recreation facility for a small, select, private clientele. The taxpaying public is objecting to this “taking” by a powerful, non-taxpaying private interest.
Agree with this action if you feel it appropriate, but please don’t twist the facts for convenience.
Bob Morris, Environmental and Social Justice Activist
