When Princeton University professor Cornel West compared Jimi Hendrix and John Coltrane to the “mostly young activists” he lost some credibility. [“Mayor tells 84-year-old: Sorry for pepper spray,” The Seattle Times, page one, Nov. 17.]
When the late, great baseball manager Sparky Anderson was asked if there was any other catcher comparable to Johnny Bench he said, “Don’t embarrass other catchers by comparing them to Johnny Bench.” I think the same thing can be said about West’s analogy.
He also said, “When you have a love supreme you will stand out in the rain.” He was referring to the John Coltrane song, “A Love Supreme.” What a mockery of a great artist. I don’t understand how standing out in the rain and blocking an intersection has anything to do with writing, composing and performing great music. Anyone can stand out in the rain and block an intersection. All you’re really accomplishing is wasting time and taxpayers’ money.
Hendrix and Coltrane spent years developing their god-given talent. They spent every available moment mastering their respective instruments. There is little correlation between these great artists and the activists. They might have supported some of the Occupy Seattle protesters in their movement, but not at the risk of anyone getting hurt.