No More Music

I am unsure how exactly to phrase my words for this blog. Most of you might know that Weber State University had a concert on Sunday where the director, Michael Palumbo, got angry and asked a noisy audience member to leave. He thought someone had brought in a child.

I understand his frustrations - when I give a talk, it's monstrously annoying when people talk or whisper. But I would never say anything. And never ask anyone to leave the room, that would totally kill the mood of any message given anywhere.

Anyway, Michael Palumbo stopped the music and turned around and asked the noisy audience member to leave...but the noisy audience member was a severely disabled girl who was reacting favorably to the music (though it sounded like a howling cry).

Michael Palumbo is a jerk but the real story isn't with him. I'm really kind of sure that he would have had a little more patience had he known she was disabled.

What's had me in tears today is the poll I read in the Salt Lake Tribune which shows that almost 81% of voters think that disabled people shouldn't be allowed to come to live music events.


Really? Is a quiet music hall so important that you're going to tell someone that they can't see it? I know that this poll doesn't really affect me - I mean after all, I'm not brain damaged. I can see any live music event I want.

But I'm finding now that I really don't want.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=18110746&title=group-calls-wsu-concert-ejection-a-big-misunderstanding