Redstate

By smagar Posted in Archived — Comments (9) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

I am going to print out and save this article by Leon Fleisher. Pianist, composer, 2007 Kennedy center honoree...and one first-class, self-absorbed jerk.

"Son," I'm going to say, as he grows up and I begin to mentor him into manhood, "become a man. Not a Leon Fleisher."

Read on

Hat tip to Mona Charen and NRO

I am a musician, one of five artists -- the others being Brian Wilson, Steve Martin, Diana Ross and Martin Scorsese -- honored recently by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

...

What made me unhappy and continues to trouble me was that I was required to attend a White House reception on the afternoon of the gala.

Leon, you see, is not only an accomplished musician. He is a deep, reasoned and mature thinker on national and international security matters.

In the past seven years, Bush administration policies have amounted to a systematic shredding of our nation's Constitution -- the illegal war it initiated and perpetuates; the torturing of prisoners; the espousing of "values" that include a careful defense of the "rights" of embryos but show a profligate disregard for the lives of flesh-and-blood human beings; and the flagrant dismantling of environmental protections. These, among many other depressing policies, have left us weak and shamed at home and in the world.

Apparently, pianists and conductors also regularly listen to Air America. Anyhoo, on to the crux of Leon's dilemma: How could he, a sophisticated world thinker and talented musician, stoop to visit the House of BusHitler?

For several weeks before the honors, I wrestled with this dilemma, deciding in the end that I would not attend the reception at the White House. That decision was met with deep, if understandable, disapproval by the powers that be. I was informed that I was hardly the first honoree to express such reserve; cited to me, among others, were Arthur Miller and Isaac Stern during the Reagan years and several during the present administration. I was asked to attend all of the scheduled events and to follow the well-established protocol of silence.

"protocol of silence." Hmmm, Leon, let me help you here. President Bush was inviting you to a party at his house, in which you'd be honored. All we asked of you was to be gracious and polite, and return the hospitality he was showing you. That's not a "protocol of silence"---that's called MANNERS.

Manners, it appears, are apparently something we can't expect liberals to be bothered with.

In the end, I decided to attend wearing a peace symbol around my neck and a purple ribbon on my lapel, at once showing support for our young men and women in the armed services and calling for their earliest return home. My family did the same, as did a number of fellow attendees who, over the weekend's various events, asked me for ribbons of their own.

Translation:In the end, I decided I wanted to reap the benefits of being a Kennedy Center honoree. But, I wanted to take a shot at BusHitler, too. So, I compromised. I made a public statement that everyone was sure to notice---especially my hosts. And, I got to enjoy the party. Voila! Courage without sacrifice. I got to Speak Truth To Power and STILL enjoy all the perks of a White House visit.

I had no wish to pressure or embarrass the other honorees. I did not want to disappoint my family, and I certainly did not want to embarrass or injure the Kennedy Center,

No, I just wanted to make my host and his wife uncomfortable. You know---the host who's kept me safe since 9/11, so I can live and work comfortably in big cities, and enjoy all the benefits of a free and healthy democratic society. Benefits such as...being rude to my host!

I can't say yet whether these small gestures were or will be sufficient to neutralize the sense of regret that came with having agreed to follow protocol.

Oh Leon, don't worry! You DIDN'T follow protocol! Protocol required you to be polite to your host. You weren't. Trust me.

But, it appears you wanted more than just the inner personal satisfaction of Speaking Truth To Power (When Power Has Invited You As A Guest In Their House). While the Kennedy Center honors are a big deal, it IS possible that many of America's fine elite might have missed knowing about your Show of Heroism. (As the old saying goes, if a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it...) And, if the glitterati don't know of your heroism, how can they fete you properly at all the right parties and in the right arts/society columns?

Enter today's Washington Post:

Therefore I am making known the dilemma I faced during my most celebrated hours. Perhaps speaking about my internal struggle will loosen the ties that bind future honorees -- not to mention the generations of artists they mentor and for which they serve as models -- from the code of silence that has pervaded this pinnacle of artistic recognition.

Leon, I can hear the claps and "Bravos" at the Hamptons and Manhattan and Hollywood parties now.

Of course, Leon, you could have made a personal sacrifice. You could have stood on principle, refused the honor and told the media why.

But, why not have your cake and eat it too, eh?

I compare your dilemma. Leon, with those faced by soldiers going to Iraq on their third tour. Of Reservists who are watching their civilian careers crumble because they're gone...but they still go and do the duty they agreed to do.

Somehow, Leon, I don't think I'll ever, ever confuse their heroism with yours. Actually, I'll never confuse your actions with any kind of "heroism."

So, in the years ahead, when my son can listen to my bedtime stories and understand the meanings of the words I say. I'll tell him of Mike Murphy and Paul Ray Smith and Brian Chontosh and David Petraeus and Jason Dunham. I'll say, "son, those men are heroes. Not posers."

"Daddy, what's a 'poser'?"

"Well, son, I saved this old newspaper article, just for you. THIS, son, is a 'poser.'"