Humour & Wisdom
In a world of political, economic, and personal disintegration, music is not a luxury but a necessity, not simply because it is therapeutic nor because it is the “universal language”, but because it is the persistent focus of man’s intelligence, aspiration, and good will. Robert Shaw
We have to laugh! Cartoons! Parody! Anything to give relief to our struggle against intransigence!
If you would like to submit your humour and wisdom to this page, please contact (click on) standonguardforcbc [at] earsay [dot] com
“The life of the arts, far from being an interruption, a distraction, in the life of a nation, is very close to the center of a nation’s purpose – and is a test of the quality of a nation’s civilization.” –John F. Kennedy
VIDEOS
The Yellow-bellied Stursberger
Effervescent Artists’ Tribunal
Culture in Danger (Culture en Péril, with subtitles)
It amazes me that at a time when Canada is riding the commodities wave to unprecedented wealth, with most levels of government experiencing budgetary surpluses, that we are ridding ourselves of a piddley piddling little orchestra. If this is how we are when in fortune, how will we be when in misfortune? How much culture exactly can we do without before we have become lifeless, corporate drones? I believe that both in good and bad times we need beautiful music. -Yann Martel, author, Life of Pi
CARTOONS!
Click on the cartoons to enlarge.
CBC-NOT.com - great spoof logos
Mr. Harper’s idea of an ordinary person is that of an envious hater without a scrap of artistic talent or creativity or curiosity, and no appreciation for anything that’s attractive or beautiful. My idea of an ordinary person is quite different. Human beings are creative by nature. For millenniums we have been putting our creativity into our cultures - cultures with unique languages, architecture, religious ceremonies, dances, music, furnishings, textiles, clothing and special cuisines. “Ordinary people” pack into the cheap seats at concerts and fill theatres where operas are brought to them live. The total attendance for “the arts” in Canada in fact exceeds that for sports events. “The arts” are not a “niche interest.” They are part of being human. -Margaret Atwood, To be creative is, in fact, Canadian, Globe and Mail, September 25, 2008
Dear Mr. Harper: you are wrong. It is a fundamental Canadian value to cherish the arts. Just look on your twenty dollar bill!
CHEQUER LE DOS D’UN BILLET DE 20$ :
Nous connaîtrons-nous seulement un peu nous-mêmes sans les arts?
CHECK THE BACK OF YOUR $20 DOLLAR BILL TO READ THIS:
Could we ever know each other in the slightest without the arts?
-Gabrielle Roy (1909-1981)
HUMOUR
The Steinmetz/McGuire
CBC Radio Orchestra PLAN
In the beginning was the Steinmetz/McGuire PLAN
And then came the Stursberg Assumptions.
And the Assumptions were without form.
And the Plan was without substance.
And the darkness was upon the face of the orchestra players.
And they spoke among themselves, saying:
“It is a crock of shit, and it stinketh.”
And the players went unto their Conductor and said,
“it is a pail of dung, and none may abide by the odor thereof.”
And the Conductor went unto the CBC Producer, saying,
“It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong,
Such that none may abide by it.”
And the Producer went to the CBC Directors, saying,
“It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength.”
And the Directors spoke amongst themselves, saying to one another,
“It contains that which aids plant growth, and it is very strong.”
And the Directors then went to the CBC Vice-Presidents, saying unto them,
“It promotes growth, and it is very powerful.”
And the Vice-Presidents went unto the CBC President, saying unto him,
“This new Plan to demolish the Radio Orchestra will actively promote
The growth and vigor of the CBC, with powerful effects.”
And the President looked upon the Plan, and saw that it was good.
And the Plan to destroy the Radio Orchestra became Policy.
This is how shit happens.
-Gene Ramsbottom
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