Where do I stand?

Jul 16, 2024 | Authenticity, Connection

Ben Jaffe, Creative Director of Preservation Hall (New Orleans), was asked how to honor an artist’s contribution to a genre that has a rich history. Jaffe’s answer was you must honor both the history and your own artistic vision. But be prepared to get beat up by both sides!

This made me think about how often we all struggle with complexity. My friend Ian and I were talking more about that this morning and he mentioned the three ideals of the French Revolution–Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. Liberty and Equality, he pointed out, are in conflict with each other. It is through Fraternity that their relationship with each other is forged. How do we begin to find the common ground in our polarities? Ian believes that it is only through the balancing of opposites that we can transcend the seeming divides. That’s something worth contemplating.

I have struggled to take a stand for fear of the backlash I anticipate will follow. Hearing that named by Jaffe freed me to stand strong in my own truth. Ian helped me see that there are truths on every side and that there is value in weaving them into something new. I will get pushback whether I cleave to one side or the other–or if I acknowledge those truths that make sense to me from both.

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