Thanks for the reference. I’d never heard of Goldwin’s law before. I like it and actually agree with the concept, and even though never having seen this reference I can claim ignorance of the rules, I will concede crushing defeat in my argument.

Although I wasn’t really debating a position, just making an observation that seemed appropriate to the tone of your review, which seems to say “admittedly he is an unrepentant fuck, but taken out of the context of association with him his music is entertaining”.

Truth of the matter is, I just couldn’t think of any other really evil bastards who were also accomplished artists (and the recent sale of some of Hitler’s work brought him to mind).

We do agree don’t we that Bufu is an Evil Bastard but he’s gotta beat you can dance too.

Right?

There is no shortage of politically reprehensible people who have made art. Hitler, of course, is different in that he actually acted on those awful political ideas he expressed. Unlike, say, Buju Banton.

The fashionable exemplar these days of hideous political ideas combined with impressive art is Celine, but you can use anyone you like, depending on your own political outlook— Mark Helprin, H.L. Mencken, Stockhausen, Jack Hirschman, Gunter Grass, C.S. Lewis, whatever floats your boat.

Stalin wrote poetry when he was young, too, if all you're interested in is dodging Godwin's Law.

Sounds like the jury is out (or if there was one it may have been rigged) on if he has ever acted on his stated beliefs. Word is he beat the bloody hell out of some fag back home, but the court found him not guilty. Jamaican courts never seem to be able to find a conviction for a hate crime against gays.

I would actually use something a bit stronger than “politically reprehensible” to describe him. Calling for a Community’s extermination, mutilation and incineration seems a bit more egregious than “politically reprehensible”. That’s a phrase I’d reserve for politicians who take bribes or lie under oath.

But thanks for the heads up on Céline Dion, I had no idea that she was today's fashionable exemplar of hideous political ideas combined with impressive art. I mean I know she’s French Canadian and all…

;-)

For me, the artist that brings me the most grief is James Brown. So much talent and so many great songs, but so much wife beating. *sigh*

And hopefully, the proceeds go to compensate the families of the 6 million human beings he murdered.

Who would have been convicted for acting on "those awful political ideas he expressed", were it not for a corrupt Jamaican judiciary, and an inept, turn-a-blind-eye constabulary.

I believe RS is referring to Louis-Ferdinand Celine, a mid-century French novelist, and avouched Fascist. Thought he'd pretty much dropped off the cultural radar back in the mid '80's. Interesting to hear he's become the artistic whipping boy du-jour - again.

I believe Helprin's "crimes" are his rather rabid support for Israel, his conservative stances in the areas of U.S. foreign policy, and the fact that he was briefly a speech writer for Bob Dole's presidential campaign back in 1996.

I understood his reference, but thought it would be more beautiful world if the worst we could find to make our fashionable exemplar of hideous political ideas combined with impressive art was Céline Dion since she’s Canadian and all. (Hence painfully lame ;-) at the end of my post.)