Andrew Carlan wrote of the US President:
>He is more than just our chief executive. He is a model and if he likes
>classical music and requests in performance at White House functions that
>would do more to promote classical music and expose young people to it than
>almost anything else.
While I agree with the sentiment, I'm not sure that it necessarily works
in practice. Our last prime minister, Paul Keating, was well-known for his
passions for Mahler and French antique clocks. These were almost always
reported as examples of eccentricity, elitism, insert-derogatory-word-here.
However, the politician who likes it to be known that he/she enjoys the
same pursuits as The Common Man/Woman will be suspected of attempted
self-promotion. Alas, it may be ever thus.
Richard Pennycuick
[log in to unmask]