You don't have to be gay or from the Heartland to love this piece. But you should be ready to sit with your ear next to the speaker for the entire ten plus minutes, because it will grab you and MAKE you listen. From the deviled eggs to the "no fags in heaven," protestors--we could use a little more of this kind of heart on the radio.
It's awesome.
Ok, seriously, this piece is profound. I can't even begin.."That was my Baptist father." and it was this wonderful, enlightened view of sexuality! very surprising, beginning to end. The kind of subtle activism expressed here (living the life, "being the change," as apposed to forcing the message) and the unsuspecting support from the traditional community,(enough support? maybe not, but then again, communities seem to develop in stages as people do, so who knows?), makes this piece unforgettable, and also frustrating. "Change will come in it's own time." There is a multi-perspectival space opening in this interview...the bona fide Phelps-like activist was treated as a human being, as someone simply stopping at a certain perspective and expressing it fully, valuably. That's what it is...that's why this piece is so interesting-it's loaded with values, flooded with perspectives, throbbing with multi-colored threads all woven together in an elusive rainbow rug with some dirt on it. "How much more simple can life be? How much more simple can the message be?". The conclusion highlights the power of music and traditional values to inspire confidence and a hometown identity able to embrace every neighbor, (grow up by reaching down?) and it makes this work interestingly integral..Covering areas from politics to religion to tradition, the meaning of community and sacrifice and coming out, as well as the awesome power of music.. um, yeah...it's a good one! Highly recommended.
Comments for Gay in the Heartland
Produced by Sarah Neal (Neal-Estes)
Other pieces by Sarah Neal (Neal-Estes)
Rating Summary
2 comments
Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock
Posted on March 12, 2008 at 08:56 PM | Permalink
Review of Gay in the Heartland
You don't have to be gay or from the Heartland to love this piece. But you should be ready to sit with your ear next to the speaker for the entire ten plus minutes, because it will grab you and MAKE you listen. From the deviled eggs to the "no fags in heaven," protestors--we could use a little more of this kind of heart on the radio.
It's awesome.
david titterington
Posted on January 11, 2009 at 05:45 AM | Permalink
grow up by reaching down?
Ok, seriously, this piece is profound. I can't even begin.."That was my Baptist father." and it was this wonderful, enlightened view of sexuality! very surprising, beginning to end. The kind of subtle activism expressed here (living the life, "being the change," as apposed to forcing the message) and the unsuspecting support from the traditional community,(enough support? maybe not, but then again, communities seem to develop in stages as people do, so who knows?), makes this piece unforgettable, and also frustrating. "Change will come in it's own time." There is a multi-perspectival space opening in this interview...the bona fide Phelps-like activist was treated as a human being, as someone simply stopping at a certain perspective and expressing it fully, valuably. That's what it is...that's why this piece is so interesting-it's loaded with values, flooded with perspectives, throbbing with multi-colored threads all woven together in an elusive rainbow rug with some dirt on it. "How much more simple can life be? How much more simple can the message be?". The conclusion highlights the power of music and traditional values to inspire confidence and a hometown identity able to embrace every neighbor, (grow up by reaching down?) and it makes this work interestingly integral..Covering areas from politics to religion to tradition, the meaning of community and sacrifice and coming out, as well as the awesome power of music.. um, yeah...it's a good one! Highly recommended.