Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post

geodeticman · 06-12-2006, 04:36 AM

I think there is a full moon out. LOL YES. There is. I think what is happening, (setting aside spurious corrolations between full moons and unusual behavior), is intelligent people having differing opinions, and bad days, good days, and overall just being bipodal hominids.

Don't we all have a right to our opinion, as long as it is within the bounds of good taste,
spoken with respect for one another and thankfulness for the right to the above ?

I just read several well made points of view, and a few defensive, and a few journalistically balanced with both sides of the same point in the same post ( well done !).

The family's wishes sound like a fair point.

As far as religion, I have learned to be VARY careful about this one, ....but why ?...well it IS reasonable to not espouse any ONE religion eggregiously in a forum not meant for prosthelytizing (sp?) over another.

But is it reasonable to NOT welcome a few thoughtfully made comments on the FACT that some (actually, a lot of) Gord's lyrics are in any event spiritual, if not religious?

Actually, the examples are rife. I would personally point out "Make Way For the Lady" with lyrics (by memory): "shake hands with the Father, the Son and the.. Holy Ghost.. the impossible believer, and the Heavenly Host" Hmmm I'd say those are religious lyrics, but does that mean Gord's message is religion, any one religion, or that his music is religious ? Not necessarily at all.

Does the fact that a painter paints a picture of say... people in poverty at Christmas while a circle of steel revolves mean that Christmas is beset by sadness ? Perhaps, but only the artist knows. We were intended, I think... to enjoy it and draw our own conclusions.

I must agree, despite the generally agreed upon three things to not bring up in polite discussion - politics, religion, and (dang it whats that third one....LOL) that this a fair forum for thoughtful, intelligent , if not sparkling reparte about the question of his lyrics that generally speaking, quite often mention man's spirituality.

And perhaps therin lies the considerate middle ground: Gordon writing frequent, or occassional (opinion) religious or spiritual (opinion) lyrics does in and of itself demand that we agree that Gord is spiritual (and yes, that is private IMHO), but rather that clearly, his lyrics frequently, and whole songs (less frquently) are at least spiritual in nature.

The music, the thought, the pondering, the exploration of [religion], all fair to say come up undeniably. May we draw conclusions ? I don't think so.... but its only fair and reasonable to appreciate intelligent comments on both the hypothesis and the null hypothesis both in the most balnced comments I've read. I thought all had some good points.

I maintain again that what we generally agree on as truisms about Gord are no revelations to most members, but finer points about his lyrics SHOULD be enjoyed as foddder for discussion and examined like a fine painting.... and may we not be presumptious enough to announce what the painter was thinking? Rather, speculate within good taste what we see/hear.

Seems cool to me. Sounds.....human. I welcome discussion about it, personally. I am inclined to agree Gord at least thinks about, and writes about, what sounds to me very mcuh like Christian Spirituality. His own religion ? Waaaay to private a subject, I agree.

I am only expressing my opinion, and do not mean to espouse what many of us would generally agree upon as being my own ideas, just truisms as they may be. I am catching myself speaking somewhat circularly, please accept my apologies for that fact. I've enjoyed each posting in this brave thread... where most fear to tread...

geo Steve

[ June 12, 2006, 05:09: Message edited by: geodeticman ]

06-12-2006, 04:36 AM	#33
geodeticman Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado Rockies- Rampart Range Posts: 261	I think there is a full moon out. LOL YES. There is. I think what is happening, (setting aside spurious corrolations between full moons and unusual behavior), is intelligent people having differing opinions, and bad days, good days, and overall just being bipodal hominids. Don't we all have a right to our opinion, as long as it is within the bounds of good taste, spoken with respect for one another and thankfulness for the right to the above ? I just read several well made points of view, and a few defensive, and a few journalistically balanced with both sides of the same point in the same post ( well done !). The family's wishes sound like a fair point. As far as religion, I have learned to be VARY careful about this one, ....but why ?...well it IS reasonable to not espouse any ONE religion eggregiously in a forum not meant for prosthelytizing (sp?) over another. But is it reasonable to NOT welcome a few thoughtfully made comments on the FACT that some (actually, a lot of) Gord's lyrics are in any event spiritual, if not religious? Actually, the examples are rife. I would personally point out "Make Way For the Lady" with lyrics (by memory): "shake hands with the Father, the Son and the.. Holy Ghost.. the impossible believer, and the Heavenly Host" Hmmm I'd say those are religious lyrics, but does that mean Gord's message is religion, any one religion, or that his music is religious ? Not necessarily at all. Does the fact that a painter paints a picture of say... people in poverty at Christmas while a circle of steel revolves mean that Christmas is beset by sadness ? Perhaps, but only the artist knows. We were intended, I think... to enjoy it and draw our own conclusions. I must agree, despite the generally agreed upon three things to not bring up in polite discussion - politics, religion, and (dang it whats that third one....LOL) that this a fair forum for thoughtful, intelligent , if not sparkling reparte about the question of his lyrics that generally speaking, quite often mention man's spirituality. And perhaps therin lies the considerate middle ground: Gordon writing frequent, or occassional (opinion) religious or spiritual (opinion) lyrics does in and of itself demand that we agree that Gord is spiritual (and yes, that is private IMHO), but rather that clearly, his lyrics frequently, and whole songs (less frquently) are at least spiritual in nature. The music, the thought, the pondering, the exploration of [religion], all fair to say come up undeniably. May we draw conclusions ? I don't think so.... but its only fair and reasonable to appreciate intelligent comments on both the hypothesis and the null hypothesis both in the most balnced comments I've read. I thought all had some good points. I maintain again that what we generally agree on as truisms about Gord are no revelations to most members, but finer points about his lyrics SHOULD be enjoyed as foddder for discussion and examined like a fine painting.... and may we not be presumptious enough to announce what the painter was thinking? Rather, speculate within good taste what we see/hear. Seems cool to me. Sounds.....human. I welcome discussion about it, personally. I am inclined to agree Gord at least thinks about, and writes about, what sounds to me very mcuh like Christian Spirituality. His own religion ? Waaaay to private a subject, I agree. I am only expressing my opinion, and do not mean to espouse what many of us would generally agree upon as being my own ideas, just truisms as they may be. I am catching myself speaking somewhat circularly, please accept my apologies for that fact. I've enjoyed each posting in this brave thread... where most fear to tread... geo Steve [ June 12, 2006, 05:09: Message edited by: geodeticman ]