Serve, volley, return.
Seems someone has taken exception to my comments on his diatribe against Tony Gore. One nice thing about these exchanges, it’s easy enough for readers to see both sides and draw their own conclusions. Mr. Commentator seems to think I twisted and stretched his words to make him look bad. I’ve re-read his original article and subsequent defense, and I can’t see how you can draw any other conclusion than I originally did.

I pointed out that having additional income sources should not be a negative reflection on artists. Then he responds that he “never said anything about an SG artist having a part-time job to supplement their income.” So you, gentle reader, get to make your own decision. The comment he wrote that started this was “if your music is not paying the bills, get a job and sing on the weekends.” The assertion he makes in that statement is very clear. Now, I think he probably doesn’t really feel that way. I think he got caught up in a moment of “holier-than-thou”-ness while writing (it’s easy to do sometimes, believe me) and expected a chorus of “Amen’s!” to come his way. Happens to us all. But once he got called on it, it would have been a little more graceful to come back and say “I got a little carried away there. Sorry.” rather than “I never said anything like that, you’re just being mean.”

Since we’ve revisited this topic, I’ll touch on another comment that I let slide the first time. “Why have some stooped so low as to sell things on their tables that have nothing whatsoever to do with their music or Jesus?” A clever little sentence disguised as a question. He doesn’t really want an answer, but rather it's crafted to creep in the concept that selling something like a blinky-light rose or a “Grandma Loves Me” t-shirt is degrading to the artist. (Unless now Mr. Commentator claims that "Stooping" isn't meant to be a degrading term) And probably more than a few people would agree with that. But this is one point you can consider with a scowl or a smile. You can whine that they’ve “lost their dignity” for “stooping” this low, or be impressed and grateful that they apparently are willing to do whatever it takes to stay on the road doing what they’re doing. Some take the first point of view, I take the second.

(Side note: I think the “losing dignity” comment directed at Tony Gore was in poor taste and plain wrong.)

This Mother's Day, show your mom you care and support Southern Gospel music at the same time. Send her a dozen blinky-light roses.

- posted by SGM Blogger @ 7:09 PM or here to Email me