Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

Dude, Really?

—

by

James A. Bacon
in

opera_singer

Opera singer Krista Clouse was arrested last week by Alexandria police officers for performing on the street. Well, technically, she was arrested for using a speaker system without a permit. City Manager Mark B. Jinks later apologized for the way the situation was  handled, noting that Clouse should have been issued a written order to stop singing. The Washington Post has the story here.

In my view, Clouse’s real offense wasn’t singing in public, it was singing “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” in public. The only thing worse would have been belting out the score from “Cats.” But you can’t arrest someone for singing Andrew Lloyd Weber!

— JAB

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Comments

17 responses to “Dude, Really?”

  1. Peter Galuszka Avatar
    Peter Galuszka

    What kind of snarky nonsense is this?

    “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina” is a beautiful song.

    1. Voice of Reason Avatar
      Voice of Reason

      It was a random select! She was singing Ave Maria while they handcuffed her! Officers walked passed loud bands in restaurants and huge amps on the street to single her out. No complaint just another police officer that thought he would be a little aggressive. She was the only female. Guess he thought she was easy prey!

  2. James A. Bacon Avatar
    James A. Bacon

    “Don’t Whine for Me, Argentina” is more like it.

    1. Voice of Reason Avatar
      Voice of Reason

      It was a random select! She was singing Ave Maria while they handcuffed her! Officers walked passed loud bands in restaurants and huge amps on the street to single her out. No complaint just another police officer that thought he would be a little aggressive. She was the only female. Guess he thought she was easy prey!

    2. Voice of Reason Avatar
      Voice of Reason

      The comment from this so called gentleman speaks much for his character. Yawn… Ignore…

  3. James A. Bacon Avatar
    James A. Bacon

    I bet you like the songs in “Cats,” too, don’t you?

    1. Voice of Reason Avatar
      Voice of Reason

      Let me guess… You are of Nazi descent… The hair certainly lends to that in your comb over…

  4. Peter Galuszka Avatar
    Peter Galuszka

    I am not a cat person. “Lady and the Tramp” is more like it,

  5. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    I don’t care what you’re singing.. if you’re disturbing the peace – the maximum penalty… don’t be trying to claim it’s “culture”.

    😉

    1. Voice of Reason Avatar
      Voice of Reason

      Let me guess… You live in a cave… She was singing in a commercial district where she had been for nearly 6 years. Even the mayor had stopped by and a state senator for a pleasant visit. It is very New Orleans style on Friday nights. Music of all genres used to ring throw the streets.

      Here is the law… if you think you can read it. If you do not like the constitution you have options sir like… Russia…China or perhaps North Korea. Hope this helps with your lack of education in this area.

      In the United States there have been numerous legal cases about regulations and laws that have decided the rights of buskers to perform in public. Most of these laws and regulations have been found to be unconstitutional when challenged. In the US, free speech is considered a fundamental right of every individual, guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth constitutional amendments, and in the majority of legal cases it has been concluded that practicing artistic free speech is legal. Busking is legally considered to be artistic free speech and clearly not panhandling or begging.

      In the United States, reasons to regulate or ban busking behavior include public safety issues and noise issues in certain areas such as hospital zones and residential zones. In residential zones, a reasonable curfew may be allowed. Such laws must be narrowly tailored to eliminate only the perceived evils by limiting the time, place and manner that busking may be practiced. They must also leave open reasonable alternative venues

    2. Voice of Reason Avatar
      Voice of Reason

      She is an international award winning opera artist. It actually is not cultural it is a musical art! Enjoy your cave!

  6. Inthemiddle Avatar
    Inthemiddle

    LarrytheG hit the C note on the head. Rumor has it that the Ms Clouse’s night of terror began when she opened the door of a local eatery to ensure that her voice would be inflicted on the diners. Oddly, the eatery (and at least some of its clients) objected.

    Unfortunately, a US Federal District Court already chastised the City of Alexandria for trying to protect its citizens against unwanted entertainment. (Davenport v. City of Alexandria.).

    As a result, the Alexandria city leaders are a bit hesitant to take on the buskers.

    Communities should have some means to protect themselves from unwanted noise pollution. Hopefully, the City of Alexandria will find a way to successfully ban the use of amplifiers even if it cannot succeed in limiting buskers to a specific buskers paradise.

  7. Voice of Reason Avatar
    Voice of Reason

    WRONG… No Call… No Complaint… Skipped dinner…

    They owner of the Italian Restaurant “Il Portos” was angry. His customers are drawn to her Italian opera arias and the ambiance it brings. Here is an old town resident’s response in

    THE WASHINGTON POST RESPONSE from lastunas
    9/9/2016 2:23 AM EDT

    Many of those who’ve commented here have never personally heard her sing in Alexandria and are making many assumptions about where she sings, how loud she sings, whether she uses amplification or whether her performance could be a nuisance to neighbors. Those of us who live in Alexandria and have heard her know that (1) she uses a small speaker that plays orchestral track and she does not use any amplification for her voice, (2) she usually sings in a covered commercial section of the Torpedo a Factory building at King and Union (where many other much less talented musicians/artists) regularly perform, (3) she is very courteous and provides a beautiful performance. Perhaps she has been singled out because she is an Opera singer rather than the regular guys who amplify their not so classic flute, guitar, juggling, etc. performances.

  8. Voice of Reason Avatar
    Voice of Reason

    Inthemiddle must be having flashbacks to when he was a general for Hilter… He must have forgotten which country he lives in.

  9. Voice of Reason Avatar
    Voice of Reason

    Let me guess… This trashy news wannabe source is run by and sourced by the same descendants of the Jamestown Colony that were cannibals…

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/thefold/jamestown-colonys-cannibal-past/2013/05/01/94accab2-b269-11e2-baf7-5bc2a9dc6f44_video.html

    1. James A. Bacon Avatar
      James A. Bacon

      Wow, “Voice of Reason,” between describing us as cave dwellers, descendants of Nazis and descendants of Jamestown cannibals, that’s quite a series of indictments! But I’ll only respond to the most vicious — I do not have a comb-over! I have a full head of hair!

      (As for Larry Gross living in a cave… I don’t know that to be a fact, but I find it highly plausible.)

      1. James A. Bacon Avatar
        James A. Bacon

        Oh, oh, I get it — you’re drawing analogy between the way I comb my bangs and the way Hitler combed his bangs!

        https://www.baconsrebellion.com-content/uploads/2016/09/hitler_combover.jpg

        But his comb-over goes right to left, mine goes left to right.

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