It is natural for humans to connect with a winner, someone who has prevailed over another, or someone who has overcome their own weakness and self doubt and conquered some feat. It is natural for humans to claim winners to their party, tribe, band, team or nation, but is it also natural for us to rebuke and deny those that have yet to achieve, those that are still in the metamorphic stages of their journey to greatness, or those that aim to achieve far beyond our own limited perception of possibility?
All historically great minds; scholars, artists and leaders have been doubted as they ascended their ladders of life, and some had to taste death before savouring the sweet and well ripened flavour of success. Before Einstein was regarded as one of the most intelligent men to ever live he was thought to be daft, before Van Gogh was studied in classrooms and discussed in lecture halls around the world he was tormented, unappreciated and marginalized in his community. If Capernicus, Galileo, Socretes or El-Hajj Malik El-Shabbaz looked at the world through the same lense as those that told them that they couldn't where would we be? If Bootsy Collins, Michael Jackson, or Kanye West did as society expected the music of today would be the music of yesterday and the day before that. If Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas and countless others didnt abandon the distorted perceptions of the complacent, "realistic" and "normal" people of their time, a black president would never govern the most powerful nation of our time. In spite of all this the idea that "everyone loves a winner" remains true, just as soon as they recognize their victories as such. People will claim a star only when it is high in the sky, and being marvelled at by others, yet no one banks on a star as it rises out of the dust, nor will anyone will help raise it. No one will defend it, protect it or champion it but when it reaches high all bask in its warm light.
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You write with such passion and authenticity. I like what you have to say, especially about the nature of great minds, great personalities, and great people. Defying unjust authority, breaking despotic rules, and having the courage to hold unpopular opinions are not just unique traits, but moral responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteI must say though - and I consider myself a harsh critic of writing - that you have an obvious plan B (writing) if music does not work out!