(idm) Robert Anton Wilson

From Noah
Sent Wed, Apr 28th 1999, 20:55

        Went up to a party in Fon du Lac, Wisconson this past weekend.
        Not really for the music (which was pretty good while it lasted,
        also this is the only IDM content here so move on if you're the
        annoyed type),  but to see Robert Anton Wilson speak.  He
        apparently was flown in special for this event, which was
        surprisingly underpopulated.

        When a writer like Wilson is going to show up, people should 
        make every effort to check the event out.  But kids these days,        
        either they're oblivious or were too tired to make the trek.

        Anyway, we got seats on the floor only about 10 feet from Wilson
        as he spoke on various topics.  I actually recognized some of
        what he said from the last time i saw him in Chicago.  Toward
        the end of his half-hour speech, it was obvious things were coming
        to a close (some idiots were becoming restless: "Is there music
        tonight?!"), random questions were called out by people in the
        audience.  At this point, no particular topic was in focus and
        people felt obliged to shout out just about any question they
        wanted answered.  It was then that some fuckhead dork-raver
        (typical these day, really) shouted, "Do you think you'll ever see
        your daughter Luna again??"  For those who don't know, Wilson's
        daughter Luna was beaten to death (in a robbery i believe), so to
        ask this question was basically a slap in the face to one of the
        few remaining intelligent voices left out there.  Wilson lowered
        the microphone, we were close enough to hear him mumble to himself
        "Who would ask such a question?"

        It was a powerful embarrassment and ignorant thing, and a damn
        shame that he had to be flown all the way out here from his
        home to witness it at all.

        "These are the last days..." Wilson had said near the beginning of
        his talk.  The possibility that he may be correct in that
        declaration becomes more real each day.  Bombs are falling, people
        are being raped of (and because of) their heritage, corporations
        continue to fatten themselves as millions starve, and the simple
        ignorance of the populace is amplified by a puppet mass media.

        It's grim times indeed when someone like him is treated in that
        way.  He should have been given every possible polite gesture,
        but instead he was hit with an inappropriate shout from the crowd.
        A few minutes passed, he stood up, someone took him by the arm and
        ushered him off, and the party was subsequently shut down b/c of
        alledged "anonymous noise complaints."
        Fancy they already had a 2nd venue set up.  We made our 3 hour
        journey home instead.

        xx@x
        onnow:  Gonzalo Martinez & His Thinking Congas

        
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