I've been thinking a lot lately about lies. I've come to realize that it's not love that makes the world go round -- it's lies. Think about it: in virtually every book you've ever read, in every movie you've ever seen -- hell, in any piece of storytelling in any genre, it is one character lying to another that keeps the plot going. The next time you watch TV see if I'm not right; lying is the prime force of drama; it's what makes things happen.
I've already quoted Gregory House's favorite line: "everybody lies." He's right; I do, you do, we all do. But what would the world be if we didn't? (The Invention of Lying tackled this subject; alas, I haven't seen it, so can't comment).
What if Bill Clinton had simply said; "yes, we had sex and it's none of your damn business"? What if Richard Nixon had said, "yeah, we hired those burglars and we shouldn't have"? What if George Alan Rekers had simply said "of course I knew he was a hustler"?
With all this lying going on it's breathtakingly refreshing to hear someone speak the truth. Ransom Wilson, world famous flutist, conductor and teacher, directed his final concert as conductor of the orchestra of the North Carolina School of the Arts on Friday night. As one would expect at such an occasion he took a few minutes to address the audience before the final piece -- a dazzling reading of Stravinsky's Firebird.
His remarks were no less dazzling as he bid his farewell and told us why he left with heavy heart. Things are not all sweetness and light at NCSA (ok, it's officially now UNCSA, for University of North Carolina School of the Arts, a change that Mr. Wilson, its most famous alumnus, fought hard against, feeling it diluted the history and importance of this special place).
It was a moving speech but given quietly and simply, with no emotional flourishes. Those who agreed with Ransom's assessment of what's wrong in Winston-Salem thought he took a courageous stand; those who disagreed thought he was unprofessional. You can read his thoughts here.
The emails have been pouring in; NSCA students have been overwhelmingly supportive; so have most of Ransom's colleagues.
It was quite something to have someone say "I will lie no longer; I will remain silent no longer; I will speak truth to power; I will instigate change."
In the interest of full disclosure let me add that Ransom Wilson is my husband. I have never been more proud of him.
Your hubby disgraced the school the other night, and is a horribly dishonest person. NCSA's most famous alumni? Who are you kidding? Students and faculty have overwhelmingly called him out for his classless actions in the form of emails, letters, and comments on the ws journal article.
ReplyDeleteI thought of deleting the above comment since the writer does not have the integrity to identify him/her self. But I decided to let it stand. Hatred and stupidity are out there; no point in pretending otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that The Invention of Lying would shed much light on what a world without lies would be like. It has a few moments of humor, though.
ReplyDelete-Stephen
Unbelievable, the comments connected to that W-S piece. About a quarter of them spoke relatively intelligently on the situation; the rest comprised a study on how easily truth and fact are confused and/or replaced with opinion and heresay.
ReplyDeleteI applaud Ransom for telling it as he saw and experienced it.
As a student in the orchestra that night who values everything that Ransom brought to our school, I am extremely proud of your husband, too. Thank you for writing this.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, everyone: the pathetic comments after the article, amid some intelligent ones, are by the very few students who disagree with Ransom, but the vast majority are with him. They are just resorting to false reports and childish ad-hominem attacks because they can't actually defend their point, as another student duly noted. Don't worry about them - the students and faculty, as a general whole, are with him and applaud him. Thank you, Ransom.
I'm sorry to tell you students who are on Mr. Wilson's "side," but you have been fed a pack of lies. Neither you nor Mr. Ransom seem to understand how an institution like UNCSA works, where the money comes from, how priorities are set, and how choices are made. I am a concerned outsider and I can assure those of you who read this who have not been brainwashed that your school is in good hands.
ReplyDeleteYour husband was so gorgeous when he was young. I had the hots for him but did not know for sure until now that he is gay.
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