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is Prince "divisive"? DIVISIVE: Creating dissension or discord.
DISCORD: Lack of agreement among persons, groups or things. Tension or strife resulting from a lack of agreement; dissension. *** I constantly hear Prince referred to as "divisive" when it comes to spiritual or racial topics. But obviously any "lack of agreement" there may be amongst his diverse fanbase exists already, it's just not readily discussed b/c most often we're collectively wrapped up in the bliss of a song, the anticipation of a tour, a funky utopia where nothing matters but the music. I suppose that's fair - it's what we know of him, what we've come to expect, what we love about the way his music makes us feel... but how many of us realize that feeling of unity via the funk is indeed momentary? An illusion? That you can cling to it if you want but something WILL inevitably (@ least momentarily) shake you out of it? Instead of blaming Prince for that shake, we need to look @ ourselves. Prince is NOT divisive. The divisions are already there among people who disagree despite any unawareness of disagreement. And agreement will never occur w/o the presence of truth, the ability to look @ truth, & ulitmately the acceptance of truth. Now PLEASE hear this - I'm not saying Prince knows "the truth" about religion or race history. But I am saying it's wrong to fault him b/c of your inability to discuss issues that are very real in the world (even if it's not your world). It's wrong to hold him responsible for your illusion, i.e. "we were fine before he said this, this & that... why can't we just dance?" Everything is not fine & has never been. And just as you are allowed (encouraged even) to grow & learn all you can, so can he - why hold him to a lesser standard? Should he never feel free to bring something else to the table? To speak his mind? Anything more than skimming the surface of race or religion is extremely hard for some to even consider, let alone discuss rationally. He gets nailed w/ terms like "racist" & "divisive" when he's only doing what he's always done by speaking his mind & sharing what's on his heart. Yet that practice isn't appreciated on the whole, only when it suits our individual needs - how fair is that? I think some people feel betrayed when Prince does anything other than promote that cozy utopia, make you feel sexy & compliment the veil you're wearing. How dare he even have a thought that might actually make you lift that thing, let alone share it. And let me repeat, I ain't sayin he knows the way & to digest his version of "truth" word for word. Find the truth for yourself, just don't be mad @ him b/c he's exercising his right as a thinking being w/ a pen & paper. It's appauling the way folks want nothing more than to shut him down as quickly as possible if he dares to ponder something different from what your ear is ready to hear. Prince is a grown-ass man, not a puppet. As much as I'd like him to sing Red House instead of Purple House, he's gonna do it the way he wants (LOL). As much as some don't want so much religion in his music (me being one of them) or worship of any particular slant, he's gonna inject as much as he wants of whatever variety he wants. As much as some don't wanna think about his race, he's gonna throw out a reminder every now & again for those that forget. He does what he feels - it's his life, his path. He's not divisive, but the feelings WE have about certain topics are. Point the finger where it belongs - stop glaring @ him for a moment & take a good look @ yourself... . [This message was edited Thu May 22 8:13:21 PDT 2003 by CalhounSq] | |
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standin ovation | |
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Dammit, I told y'all I didn't want to get up, but...
I have no choice. The Normal Whores Club | |
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"[Prince discriminates] between black and white folks, between colored and white folks, between religious and non religious folks, between JW's with "accurate knowledge of God and His law" and non JW's with unaccurate knowledge, between fams and fans, between Jews and African Americans, between Moors and white European "barbarians", who lived ages ago..."
As was written on t'other thread. And it's true. | |
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Break it down Cal..break it the funk down "Climb in my fur." | |
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unremarkable said: "[Prince discriminates] between black and white folks, between colored and white folks, between religious and non religious folks, between JW's with "accurate knowledge of God and His law" and non JW's with unaccurate knowledge, between fams and fans, between Jews and African Americans, between Moors and white European "barbarians", who lived ages ago..."
As was written on t'other thread. And it's true. read this thread again, s'ilvous plait. | |
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unremarkable said: "[Prince discriminates] between black and white folks, between colored and white folks, between religious and non religious folks, between JW's with "accurate knowledge of God and His law" and non JW's with unaccurate knowledge, between fams and fans, between Jews and African Americans, between Moors and white European "barbarians", who lived ages ago..."
As was written on t'other thread. And it's true. Okay. Did you read CalhounSq's post? Or are you just wildly flinging your around to see where it sticks? The Normal Whores Club | |
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FunkMistress said: Dammit, I told y'all I didn't want to get up, but...
I have no choice. a get uppah!-Bootsy "Climb in my fur." | |
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Handclapsfingasnapz said: read this thread again, s'ilvous plait. Stop reading my mind! The Normal Whores Club | |
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Please don't patronize me.
Prince getting people to sit in different seats in a gig according to their beliefs is creating a division, is it not? And he is doing the same thing in his songs and his preaching. | |
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FunkMistress said: Handclapsfingasnapz said: read this thread again, s'ilvous plait. Stop reading my mind! | |
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unremarkable said: Prince getting people to sit in different seats in a gig according to their beliefs is creating a division, is it not?
And he is doing the same thing in his songs and his preaching. do like i do: if ya think somethin p sez or does ain't cool...turn off the cd player, turn your back 2 it, move the hell on 2 the next episode. it ain't that crucial......man, how many times have i said that this week??? shake yo edit-maker.... [This message was edited Thu May 22 8:25:40 PDT 2003 by Handclapsfingasnapz] | |
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unremarkable said: Please don't patronize me.
Prince getting people to sit in different seats in a gig according to their beliefs is creating a division, is it not? And he is doing the same thing in his songs and his preaching. What in the world are u talking about...??? So...how's everybody doing? | |
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CalhounSq said: DIVISIVE: Creating dissension or discord.
DISCORD: Lack of agreement among persons, groups or things. Tension or strife resulting from a lack of agreement; dissension. *** I constantly hear Prince referred to as "divisive" when it comes to spiritual or racial topics. But obviously any "lack of agreement" there may be amongst his diverse fanbase exists already, it's just not readily discussed b/c most often we're collectively wrapped up in the bliss of a song, the anticipation of a tour, a funky utopia where nothing matters but the music. I suppose that's fair - it's what we know of him, what we've come to expect, what we love about the way his music makes us feel... but how many of us realize that feeling of unity via the funk is indeed momentary? An illusion? That you can cling to it if you want but something WILL inevitably (@ least momentarily) shake you out of it? Instead of blaming Prince for that shake, we need to look @ ourselves. Prince is NOT divisive. The divisions are already there among people who disagree despite any unawareness of disagreement. And agreement will never occur w/o the presence of truth, the ability to look @ truth, & ulitmately the acceptance of truth. Now PLEASE hear this - I'm not saying Prince knows "the truth" about religion or race history. But I am saying it's wrong to fault him b/c of your inability to discuss issues that are very real in the world (even if it's not your world). It's wrong to hold him responsible for your illusion, i.e. "we were fine before he said this, this & that... why can't we just dance?" Everything is not fine & has never been. And just as you are allowed (encouraged even) to grow & learn all you can, so can he - why hold him to a lesser standard? Should he never feel free to bring something else to the table? To speak his mind? Anything more than skimming the surface of race or religion is extremely hard for some to even consider, let alone discuss rationally. He gets nailed w/ terms like "racist" & "divisive" when he's only doing what he's always done by speaking his mind & sharing what's on his heart. Yet that practice isn't appreciated on the whole, only when it suits our individual needs - how fair is that? I think some people feel betrayed when Prince does anything other than promote that cozy utopia, make you feel sexy & compliment the veil you're wearing. How dare he even have a thought that might actually make you lift that thing, let alone share it. And let me repeat, I ain't sayin he knows the way & to digest his version of "truth" word for word. Find the truth for yourself, just don't be mad @ him b/c he's exercising his right as a thinking being w/ a pen & paper. It's appauling the way folks want nothing more than to shut him down as quickly as possible if he dares to ponder something different from what your ear is ready to hear. Prince is a grown-ass man, not a puppet. As much as I'd like him to sing Red House instead of Purple House, he's gonna do it the way he wants (LOL). As much as some don't want so much religion in his music (me being one of them) or worship of any particular slant, he's gonna inject as much as he wants of whatever variety he wants. As much as some don't wanna think about his race, he's gonna throw out a reminder every now & again for those that forget. He does what he feels - it's his life, his path. He's not divisive, but the feelings WE have about certain topics are. Point the finger where it belongs - stop glaring @ him for a moment & take a good look @ yourself... . [This message was edited Thu May 22 8:13:21 PDT 2003 by CalhounSq] When will certain people realize that they do not own a man just because they buy his music? So...how's everybody doing? | |
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Cal you DA bomb diggity!!! "That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32 | |
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FunkMistress said: Or are you just wildly flinging your around to see where it sticks?
I love it. A lot of flyin round these days. "That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32 | |
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My is that Calhoun Square said all that needs to be said! I'm firmly planted in denial | |
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I know that this is just an online fan community but I feel great sadness in my heart for what has transpired over these last couple of days. | |
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stymie said: I know that this is just an online fan community but I feel great sadness in my heart for what has transpired over these last couple of days.
| |
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That was a very articulate piece Calhoun, thank you.
I must say that just because we all like Prince's music, that doesn't mean we all have to share the same ideology. I'm a huge believer in people being individuals, and having different opinions and ideas about the world around them - but with that notion comes the huge responsibility of tollerance. Without individualism, there is no need for tollerance, but I would rather take the burden of tollerance than lose my individuality. | |
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oh worrrk, there u go... that just shut everything else down from this morning | |
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Marrk said: stymie said: I know that this is just an online fan community but I feel great sadness in my heart for what has transpired over these last couple of days.
ditto. this has been a dark time here on the org...it will pass, tho' (and soon, i hope). | |
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VelvetSplash said: That was a very articulate piece Calhoun, thank you.
I must say that just because we all like Prince's music, that doesn't mean we all have to share the same ideology. I'm a huge believer in people being individuals, and having different opinions and ideas about the world around them - but with that notion comes the huge responsibility of tollerance. Without individualism, there is no need for tollerance, but I would rather take the burden of tollerance than lose my individuality. blah blah blah yappity yap...propaHahndist "Climb in my fur." | |
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I feel so...dirty.
The Normal Whores Club | |
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stymie said: I know that this is just an online fan community but I feel great sadness in my heart for what has transpired over these last couple of days.
then u must have been asleep..GD forum has had this atmosphere for many months. "Climb in my fur." | |
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rdhull said: stymie said: I know that this is just an online fan community but I feel great sadness in my heart for what has transpired over these last couple of days.
then u must have been asleep..GD forum has had this atmosphere for many months. | |
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CalhounSq!
Grabbing those intellectual ankles! | |
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rdhull said: VelvetSplash said: That was a very articulate piece Calhoun, thank you.
I must say that just because we all like Prince's music, that doesn't mean we all have to share the same ideology. I'm a huge believer in people being individuals, and having different opinions and ideas about the world around them - but with that notion comes the huge responsibility of tollerance. Without individualism, there is no need for tollerance, but I would rather take the burden of tollerance than lose my individuality. blah blah blah yappity yap...propaHahndist Ooops, I guess the secret subliminal pro-Possessed message in that post wasn't as hidden as I had hoped | |
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unremarkable said: "[Prince discriminates] between black and white folks, between colored and white folks, between religious and non religious folks, between JW's with "accurate knowledge of God and His law" and non JW's with unaccurate knowledge, between fams and fans, between Jews and African Americans, between Moors and white European "barbarians", who lived ages ago..."
As was written on t'other thread. And it's true. Put your money where your mouth is; STOP buying his recordings, STOP visiting sites dedicated to him, STOP listening to his old music on the radio, GET RID of your Prince collection, DON'T go to his gigs, DON'T buy magazines with stories about him, STOP supporting him in general. Since you deem him a "racist" develop a backbone and walk your rambling talk. But you WON'T do that, will you? Because either you have no integrity whatsoever, or you're just running your mouth knowing he's not a racist, you're just upset that he's saying things that pierce your overly delicate sensibilities. Like the rest of the whining, crybabies who can't stand it when Prince writes or says ANYTHING about race or religion. It's time out for talk for all you wet noodle whiners who consider Prince a "racist," it's time for you to develop a spine and stop being so damn emotionally invested in every damn thing Prince writes, says, or what you believe he's saying by cutting your losses from this so-called "racist" and moving on. Or on the other hand, you will continue to talk out of your ass. This post not for the wimp contingent. All whiny wusses avert your eyes. | |
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Damn, Cal! | |
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