Comments

we were in alaska this past summer and the people there treat him like a living legend for taking good care of the state and its people. too bad the feds thinks that spending time with a bunch of drug dealers will restitute the situation. That is fantastic Emily to be a part of such a special event, playing a world premiere for a distinguished head of state. Not many can say they have done that. Congratulations! You're awesome, Nate. So nicely put - I love your ability to meld current events, personal experience, classical music, hopes and dreams all into a few compulsively readable paragraphs.

Terez, Actually I admire you and others who commented to this blog for depoliticizing  and returning the focus to the art.  When I read this blog first, my jaw dropped. He was found guilty on all seven accounts. Somehow, making an event possible, an event that he probably doesn't even remember he tried to secure funding for exonerate him seemed mind boggling. From what I understand from the blog, he didn't do anything wrong just skewed judicial system finding him guilty, if they lose the election tomorrow it's not because people feel the country is in a bad shape but due to some weird twist of fortune. We should throw out our judicial system, electoral system, and the media who are trampling politicians' first amendment. I think there used to be a country without judicial, electoral, and mass communication systems. I wonder what happened to it.

Ah, I can finally read it.  Just to clarify Ihnsouk, I had written that not everyone gets a fair trial, but not everyone in power is honest.  That was my way of saying that I was undecided on whether I believed Stevens was guilty of his crimes.  I'm leaning toward thinking that he was, actually.

And yes, the focus of my blog was gratefulness toward someone who made funding available for the arts.  I suppose I should have written it without even mentioning the trial, since that was not relevant to the topic.  Hindsight proves wise.

Also, I'm curious as to whether you kept up with the charges and the trial from start to finish?  Do you know exactly what those seven counts were?  Did you read anything about the false evidence, for instance?  Were you keeping track of it day in and day out, as I was?  (Being in Alaska and all, we do tend to get a lot of Stevens coverage.)  If the answer is yes, then I'm sure we can have a worthwhile discussion, and I will be more than happy to read your well-educated opinions.  Otherwise, you read the cliff notes and formed an opionion from it, just like 90% of the rest of the population.

Oh, and Terez, thank you so much for the compliment.  It means a lot coming from a fellow writer.