So it seems Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman will no longer play in the USA. In the LA Times blog Culture Monster, it is reported right before his final song at Disney Hall, he announced this would be his last performance in America. Zimerman can say these things because we have the Freedom of Speech. He can protest during a performance, finish his concert, get back in his truck with his piano parts and depart on his own of his own free will. And by the way, those people who walked out? Th"Before playing the final work on his recital, Karol Szymanowski’s "Variations on a Polish Folk Theme," Zimerman sat silently at the piano for a moment, almost began to play, but then turned to the audience. In a quiet but angry voice that did not project well, he indicated that he could no longer play in a country whose military wants to control the whole world.
“Get your hands off of my country,” he said. He also made reference to the U.S. military detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
About 30 or 40 people in the audience walked out, some shouting obscenities. “Yes,” he answered, “some people when they hear the word military start marching.”
Others remained but booed or yelled for him to shut up and play the piano. But many more cheered. Zimerman responded by saying that America has far finer things to export than the military, and he thanked those who support democracy."
ey were exercising their right to dissent from his opinion. In other words, freedom of speech works both ways. But where he is wrong is to say the military wants to take over the world. The military goes where our elected officials send them, who are put there by voters. Furthermore, our public policy is a reflection of our own values. It's carried out after a lot of debate by those we put into office. It's not an perfect system, and often there isn't nearly the debate that should take place. But to single out the military, as Zimerman and his supporters have done, marginalizes these men and women.
They carry out their job, whether or not they personally agree with the motives. They face stereotyping by the liberal elites, and glorifying by others who use them for political gain, only to vote against benefits later on. If they come back injured, later they face obstacles which are compounded by politicians who can easily make cutbacks in their lifetime health benefits. So Zimerman's attack on the military is, I think, a bit myopic.
The pianist is going to be working from a very short list of countries who don't have a military presence, or who haven't pledged financial support. Pretty soon, he'll be playing in his own studio.
We're willing to listen to his protest during his paid performance. But if he disagrees with Poland's decision to let our military use their air base and be a part of the war on global terror, then perhaps he needs to get to work on his home turf. And frankly --if he were so upset, why come all the way over here, play, get paid in one of the most expensive venues in the US, and make your case and leave? One might say, why come at all? Or why not stay and articulate your views better in a setting conducive to discussion? But to bark at an audience, then pack up your piano without it is missing the whole point of partaking in a free society.
One thing for sure, one cannot respond mutely to terrorism, which can only be solved by the world coming together to work on economics, justice, and lifelong opportunities.
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