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The idea that learning a foreign language and traveling to another country to stop a future conflict is nothing new. The International organization call AIESEC http://aiesec.org/ was started for this reason. It was originally put together by students who wanted to stop another World War. It helps people learn a foreign culture and encouraged the learning of the language, culture and people.

I have studied multiple languages and traveled in many countries. Yes, it has made a difference and a different respect for other countries and people. The idea that you don't want to start a conflict with your friend is the basic idea to why you should learn another language and another culture. One is more likely work out problems with people they know then dehumanized them and attack them from afar.

posted 4 years, 9 months ago
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Having spent an entire year going out to music everyday with 95%+ in Portland I think I have a rather unique perspective on the music scene in Portland.

I find constantly the "hip talk" is always about popular culture and yet fails to mention the music that is coming from Portland. Everyone wants to talk about this famous band or that famous musician live in Portland. The comments by Slate are fairly accurate but only in respect to the "Indie" aka Pop music scene. The media seems to only ever talks about signed artist who are on tour or are already famous. I understand this need as it is the same problem many radio stations, music shows, and publications fall victim too.

They have to sell product. Be that a magazine or tickets to a show.

In doing so they constantly over look some of the best places this town offers and what I think is a better representative of the sound of Portland outside and beyond the Indie scene.

There are many small venues in town that do music 7 days a week. Happy hour times where you will see some amazing artist perform. These artist go beyond Indie and into some of the best guitar, violin, bass, and drum playing that you may ever see. Not to mention banjo, mandolin, and cello.

One thing I have also discovered that has happened to Portland is the Quarterfication. Yes, that is not a word but more of a definition. It is becoming more and more common for folks not to leave their quarter of the city. To stick to the SE, NW, SW, NE, and now North parts of the city (yes that's five areas). To venture across the river or across Burnside seem more and more a challenge for many folks these days. I think this is a sign of a growing city. It is interesting how a small city for all its charm grows into a large city then is again sectioned up into small charming areas. I'd suggest that folks venture out of their quarter of the city and go see what other areas of the town offer. Take a leap of faith out of your musical genre and get inspired by another. This towns music scene like the town is made up of many different people with different styles. Something I love and have watched evolve over the years. Go see some blues, jazz, country, folk, rock, punk, roots rock, drunken bluegrass, and of course Indie. It is this cross culture awareness that will eventually help define what is the "Music Scene" in Portland.

Thanks,

Josh

posted 5 years, 2 months ago
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