Concert comment (about Bush) gets host fired

[onehandle]

Longtime park volunteer dismissed by county after remark about president

Working with friends in the folk music scene, Max Ochs co-founded a summer concert series at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis eight years ago. He has played host ever since, volunteering his Saturdays to introduce bands, strum a guitar and read poetry during intermission to an audience of hundreds.

But after Ochs made what Anne Arundel County officials say were intemperate remarks about President Bush at a concert July 12, the county told the 62-year-old former civil rights activist his services were no longer needed.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.fired23jul23,0,4678653.story?coll=bal-pe-arundel

[neuvocat]

1. A former civil rights attorney.

Geez these pukes really set themselves up. Its amazing.

[whathappened]

2. what do you bet

they all loved this mans service to his town befro jr. took office now that the grown ups are in charge , our work has no bearing in there lifes , just another round of the right wings and there lust for control of everything in site

[NYC]

3. What got him fired:

By all accounts, Ochs told the audience that "our leader" was one of the few Americans who dislike reading. He wondered aloud whether the pauses in Bush's speeches reflected an inability to follow words on the TelePrompTer.

He then read from Walt Whitman's...

[Pastiche423]

4. I love his attitude!

"What I take away from this is that even though I'm 62, I can still be made to feel like a teen-age rebel."

He only spoke the truth and he was a volunteer. It's the country's loss. Screw 'em.

[DagmarK]

5. I think every liberal in that area should boycott the concert series......

Including the bands who play there.

And find another venue for their concerts and use Max as the MC.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. That side is made for you and me!

At another point, she said, Ochs sang a final verse to "This Land is Your Land" that she said was "full of vitriol against people who own property."

Ochs ... said the verse in question was one of folk singer Woody Guthrie's originals.

That must be this one

When I was walking
I saw a sign there
and on that sign it
said 'No Trespassing'
but on the other side
it didn't say nuthin'
That side was made for you and me!

I love that verse

[DemBones DemBones]

7. The part about "This Land Is Your Land" is funny.

An unidentified woman wrote a letter complaining about Ochs's comments about Bush* and. . .

"In addition to his comments about Bush, the writer said that Ochs groused at an earlier concert about displays of patriotism after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. At another point, she said, Ochs sang a final verse to "This Land is Your Land" that she said was "full of vitriol against people who own property."

"Ochs was adamant yesterday that he made no such comments after the Sept. 11 attacks. And he said the verse in question was one of folk singer Woody Guthrie's originals."


I'm sure I'm not the only one who hooted at this, knowing before reading past the woman's words that Ochs sang Woody Guthrie's verse:

"As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!"

Is that verse really "full of vitriol against people who own property"?

Or is the letter writer full of something else?

[Clete]

8. I never understood how you fire a volunteer.

:eyes:

[Generic Other]

9. Seems like beggars in that county are certainly choosy

Maybe if they are lucky next time they will get some John Wayne Gacy in a clown suit to volunteer.

[JohnyCanuck]

10. By the time next year's show rolls around

I think CondiLIARza Rice might find herself with lots of free time on her hands. Maybe they could ask Condi to host next year's event.

[stanwyck]

11. Well, maybe they should fire this guy

A guy I work with went to the Cyclorama here in Atlanta which depicts the battle of Atlanta during the Civil War. The "moderator" gave a speech endorsing the Bush administration and the invasion of Iraq. According to my co-worker, he kept trying to draw parallels between the Civil War and the "war" in Iraq. I guess this is OK if you're a winger. But quoting Woodie Guthrie will get you canned. Welcome to John Ashcroft's America.

[w4rma]

12. Stupid officials should have, at the very least, TALKED to Ochs

before getting rid of a volunteer who was as great as he is.

They'll never find someone as good as he was to replace him.

[dweller]

13. For one Ochs

from another.

When I'm Gone

by Phil Ochs

There's no place in this world where I'll belong when I'm gone
And I won't know the right from the wrong when I'm gone
And you won't find me singin' on this song when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't feel the flowing of the time when I'm gone
All the pleasures of love will not be mine when I'm gone
My pen won't pour out a lyric line when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't breathe the bracing air when I'm gone
And I can't even worry 'bout my cares when I'm gone
Won't be asked to do my share when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't be running from the rain when I'm gone
And I can't even suffer from the pain when I'm gone
Can't say who's to praise and who's to blame when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

Won't see the golden of the sun when I'm gone
And the evenings and the mornings will be one when I'm gone
Can't be singing louder than the guns when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

All my days won't be dances of delight when I'm gone
And the sands will be shifting from my sight when I'm gone
Can't add my name into the fight while I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here

And I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone
And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone
Can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here


enjoy, http://www.cs.pdx.edu/~trent/ochs/lyrics.html

peace,
dp

[dweller]

15. self-aggrandizing kick

http://www.furious.com/perfect/philochs.html

jus so's you don't forget.

never giving up,
dp

[DemLikr]

14. ONE tight-ass b***h writes a letter, and that's it?

What a crock of BS...I wish Ochs would fight back, though I do envy his serenity, if that's what it really is.

[el_gato]

16. contact them

her email:
CountyExecutiveOwens @mail.aacounty.org


http://www.co.anne-arundel.md.us/

These people deserve to catch a little heat over this.