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heard outside <strong>the</strong> entertainment areas <strong>of</strong> Bourbon Street, Marigny or o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

areas at time families are sleeping 4. it violates existing zoning, licensing<br />

and noise ordinances which were passed for people’s health and safety<br />

We don’t want <strong>the</strong> city to stop being New Orleans. but <strong>the</strong>re is no<br />

reason to believe New Orleans is synonymous with subwo<strong>of</strong>ers and<br />

tweeters at 3 a.m. That’s just rude behavior — and it’s unlawful — no<br />

matter where it takes place. Many <strong>of</strong> us believe in great music, but we also<br />

believe in science. And researchers have found time and time again that<br />

exposure to excessive, unwarranted noise can cause serious health<br />

problems – not just hearing damage but even problems such as high blood<br />

pressure and even heart disease over a prolonged period.<br />

Of course, you won’t learn any <strong>of</strong> that in this so-called pr<strong>of</strong>essor’s<br />

surprisingly ill-informed rant. Indeed, <strong>the</strong> piece in <strong>the</strong> Oxford American is<br />

a classic case <strong>of</strong> what we call a strawman argument, building a case<br />

around a reality that doesn’t actually exist. And that’s an insult to those <strong>of</strong><br />

who live in New Orleans and are trying to build a better city — where <strong>the</strong><br />

world’s best live music can peaceably co-exist with respect for neighbors,<br />

and for good health. Musical distortion was great when it came from Jimi<br />

Hendrix’s fuzzy guitar, but coming from Duncan Murrell it’s just pointless<br />

feedback. I would like him to visit with a client who has to put ear plugs in<br />

her and her children’s ears every night since an illegal bar started having<br />

live entertainment. Nuff said.<br />

If you must read <strong>the</strong> Oxford American piece, it’s at: http://<br />

www.oxfordamerican.org/articles/2012/dec/10/anxiety-au<strong>the</strong>nticity/<br />

To read my Sept. 28 essay on music and noise pollution in New<br />

Orleans, go to: http://www.stuarthsmith.com/new-orleans-memo-you-canstill-have-great-music-without-noise-pollution/<br />

To keep informed about <strong>the</strong> battle for balance in New Orleans, visit<br />

<strong>the</strong> “Hear The Music Stop <strong>the</strong> Noise” website – and sign our petition:<br />

http://hear<strong>the</strong>nolamusic.org<br />

Please visit and “like” our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/<br />

Hear<strong>the</strong>NolaMusic

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