"The Devil Went Down to Georgia"

[Steven Jamar]

A few people beating the drum of the illegitimacy of the judiciary  
have led to people to consider the judiciary illegitimate -- despite  
the few cases that are truly problematic politically or otherwise.

A few people beating the drum of god being drummed out of school lead  
people to believe what the critic was saying -- that you can't play  
"Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" by Bach because of the title -- but you  
could play "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."  Both equally  
preposterous propositions.

The law is not nearly as bad or restrictive as it is painted to be by  
many.  But to tell it like it really is makes a poor fund raiser,  
rallying point, or emotional lever.

To me the most interesting point here is the chilling effect of one  
letter.

That is a serious problem -- from all sides.


Steve

On Oct 15, 2005, at 3:26 PM, Richard Dougherty wrote:

> The band director doesn't seem to make clear whether he thinks it  
> is illegal to play it, but is trying to prevent trouble.
>
> List members so far have suggested this is an over-reaction; if  
> that is true (it may very well be), why do you think people have  
> drawn that conclusion?  Answering that may lead us to some  
> conclusions about the connection between academic life and the more  
> common American perception.
>
> Richard Dougherty
>
> _

-- 
Prof. Steven D. Jamar                               vox:  202-806-8017
Howard University School of Law                     fax:  202-806-8567
2900 Van Ness Street NW
mailto:stevenjamar at gmail.com
Washington, DC  20008   http://www.law.howard.edu/faculty/pages/jamar/

"There is no cosmic law forbidding the triumph of extremism in America."

Thomas McIntyre


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