Comments on: Reggae Proper(My virtual date with Lisa Silverman)

By: John Rippo

John Rippo — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:16:54 +0000

Christ Jesus, Ed, I hope nobody ever tells ol’ Honeyknucks that Tango came from whorehouses in Buenos Aires, or that jazz was born in the whorehouses in New Orleans, or that blues exists, or that opera was the 17th century Italian version of the Jerry Springer show performing the works of Krafft-Ebbing, or many early American folk songs have lyrics that would not be approved by the DAR. Obviously this lady has no sense of art, taste, humanity or public relations and I think you ought to let her have it with both barrels.

By: Reggae fans, musicians feel slighted by the fair « Edwin Decker

Reggae fans, musicians feel slighted by the fair « Edwin Decker — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:49:42 +0000

[...] my original article about her campaign to stop reggae, cuz of, you know, [...]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 03:01:44 +0000

Couldn’t agree more. If you hate my words so much, turn the channel (to mix a metaphor).
Don’t understand this irrational fear/hatred for marijuana. It is so much less of a societal decayer than pot could ever be.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:06:17 +0000

Wow Ed, your pieces are simply funny. But I have one question..Why are there all these people that pretty much hate your writings but apparently they read the whole pieces? I find that funny that in their free time they spend time reading your works and then bashing them when these people could be doing stuff way better. For the people that think Marijuana is bad..Why? Give a just reason. It is much safer than any drug and even safer than alcohol. Instead of just giving my opinions, I'll also cite. http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/ http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7305

By: howardk

howardk — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:52:11 +0000

Bizwiz wrote:
> Following his line of ‘thinking’ I suppose it’s just
> fine if we look the other way at anyone shooting
> dope at the next Doors-tribute band? Heck, don’t
> heroin users just lay there and drool? How about
> our kids all go to an underground rave and get all
> whacked out on Ecstasy – it’s a harmless drug?
> Or, how about we start promoting that it’s just
> fine if at the next Metallica concert everyone is
> welcome to bring their meth and spark it up!
Shooting dope, heroin, ecstasy, and meth? These drugs can be lethal if they are abused. How many cases of marijuana overdose have you heard of? Death by pot? How many 7-11′s and liquor stores have been robbed by a pot-adict? How many people have been mugged by a crazed freak so he can get his next fix of pot? Hmm? Also, I didn’t see you mention alcohol in your list. I guess that _drug_ is ok. Hmm?
> Might be a few fights, stabbings and all but, it’s
> perfectly fine…
If anything, marijuana mellows people out, it doesn’t make them violent. You really don’t know what you’re talking about, do you?
> Her work to educate and hopefully stem the
> rampant use of pot is laudable and should be
> supported.
Educate? She’s on a moral crusade… She’s not trying to educate anyone. HARM’s (Health Advocates Rejecting Marijuana) charter (manifesto?) is full of fallacies. And are we supposed to take Silverman’s word when she makes statements like, “There were very few attendees who were not smoking marijuana”, and “I was offered a couple of doobies myself”? Bull!
> I didn’t hear Silverman suggest that any type of
> music is the problem…
Are you suggesting that she just picked a Ziggy Marley concert at random?
In any case, Silverman’s moral crusade against marijuana, and her (and HARM’s) blatant lies about its societal and medical problems is despicable. Unfortunately, ignorant idiots like you believe and support her and her cronies.

By: bizwiz

bizwiz — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:51:18 +0000

Yet another amazing pile of crap-logic from Edwin Decker. He attacks Lisa Silverman because of her work to enlighten the public about rampant illegal narcotic use at a Reggae concert she attended.
Decker’s logic is flawed at best. Following his line of ‘thinking’ I suppose it’s just fine if we look the other way at anyone shooting dope at the next Doors-tribute band? Heck, don’t heroin users just lay there and drool? How about our kids all go to an underground rave and get all whacked out on Ecstasy – it’s a harmless drug? Or, how about we start promoting that it’s just fine if at the next Metallica concert everyone is welcome to bring their meth and spark it up! Might be a few fights, stabbings and all but, it’s perfectly fine – just adults having fun right?
Decker crosses the line personally attacking (even describing his dream date is a personal assault) Silverman. His narrow-minded heck, even if widely agreed-upon, opinion about pot has nothing to with Silverman’s character or work. Sure, pot is legal for medicinal use but, it’s not last I checked ok for widespread distribution and use in public venues. Her work to educate and hopefully stem the rampant use of pot is laudable and should be supported.
Personally I love reggae music but, I often stay away from the larger venues as I experienced open and widespread pot smoking inside 4th and B at a Steel Pulse concert a few years ago. Police? Security guards? The guards were there but, had taken absolutely no action towards stopping any of the smoking let alone detaining or kicking anyone out. Police, I imagine are a bit over-whelmed seeing they are over 10% understaffed.
I didn’t hear Silverman suggest that any type of music is the problem or, that any such music should be banned. All I read about her doing is making the management of the Del Mar Fair aware of a legal issue. I’d also exhort her to check out 4th and B, Street Scene or any venue that tolerates any illegal drug activity. Go after them with the full force of the law.
And Decker’s fantasy that he and Silverman party and end up in some tangle? Ha! I’m almost certain that she’s most likely interested in intelligent, handsome, law-abiding and upright guys. Funny, over all the years’ I’ve seen people bash Decker for his pin-headed opinions and reviews I’ve never heard him called any one, much less all of, those things.
Fat chance Decker. Get off the crack and back to reality.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:54:28 +0000

Bruce, I’m not a Rastafarian, never claimed to be. So I am not beholden to their ideas of how to treat other human beings.
I am down with tolerance though, and my column was not intolerant of anyone. It was merely a rant against someone with whom I vehemently disagree.
Ranting is not intolerance. I tolerate Ms. Silverman just fine and have no interest in dictating what leisure activities she may enjoy. THAT would be intolerant.
Ed Decker

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:40:49 +0000

Hey Ed -
I love reggae, and have been to many, many concerts over the past 30 years. I’ve also read a lot about the Rastafari movement and Haile Selassie. I’m not sure that either would condone your mean-spirited trashing and ridiculing of another human being. And in fact, the message is love and tolerance…is it not?
More inhaling and less typing Ed…then maybe you too will get the message.

By: edwin decker

edwin decker — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:34:02 +0000

Mark, for the record, I do not consider myself — not when I’m writing my Sordid Tales column anyway — a journalist. Not in the way you mean. I’m a satirist. Whether or not you think it was funny is one thing, but to call me a journalistic hack is unfair because I do not, nor do the editors of the paper in which my column runs, purport it to be a work of serious journalism.
E.D.

By: mary stanford

mary stanford — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:32:46 +0000

I was very surprised that insulting women who feel passionately about youth and their marijuana use became the focus of a journalistic article..what a cheap shot.
Your article wasn’t funny, wasn’t truthful, and represents why newspaper journalists like you are considered hacks. It doesn’t take talent to offend people.