evolution

I saw this on public television last night [IRONY BREAK: I got tired of a special on racial diversity so I switched to the other public television station and watched a documentary on the life and times at... Windsor Castle], and they billed it as something like an opportunity for openness and cultural exchange. The media has taken that ball and run with it — CNN calls it “historic”; the Beeb calls it “a remarkable display of cultural diplomacy”;

Really? I’d call it “neat, but barely noteworthy”. The people of North Korea — who, I might add, will be force-fed this performance on state radio and TV, which will take a break from its all-Kim Jong Il, all-the-time programming to carry it — will be disappointed to learn that you can’t eat a New York Philharmonic performance.

Certainly the Philharmonic players will remember it. I don’t mean to denigrate them — no doubt they are highly talented and among the best in the world. There’s no reason to think that they won’t put on a good show, and I’d imagine the people Kim handpicks to attend the event will have a good time, what with the Hennessy VSOP, the Pleasure Brigade, and one of the world’s finest orchestras.

The talk about “cultural openness” and such is just that — talk. A showy gesture, which the people who talk about such things are famous for. It will change nothing.

UPDATE [21:42]: Reuters: “a unique moment of unity.” Do journalists have some standardized “lofty cliche” handbook they consult at times like these?

UPDATE [21:49]: All of the news stories said that the orchestra wanted to open with “The Star-Spangled Banner”, but they opened the dress rehearsal with the North Korean anthem, followed up by the national anthem. Make of that what you will.