Frank Zappa, Part One: How to Debate Conservatives
Posted by David Koff on Jun 17, 2007 - 2:29:00 AM
The late Frank Zappa was a prolific musician, a shocking lyricist, a comedy genius and certainly no stranger to politics. He was an articulate, well-educated chap and sometimes went on to talk shows to defend his positions on art, freedom of speech, and the politics of hatred.
Additionally, Frank Zappa was a Conservative. Only he wasn't like today's breed of neo-cons or religious fanatics or right-wing extremists. Rather, he was a traditionalist who believed in a small government that wasn't involved in the matters of the home. Seen below is Zappa in a 1986 appearance of the show "Crossfire". The show is co-hosted even then by the man who'd later go on to expose Valerie Plame as an undercover CIA operative: Robert Novak. But what makes this episode of "Crossfire" isn't Novak, it's Zappa and the way he deals so simply with the narrow-minded conservative with whom he's debating: #1) Zappa answers yes/no questions directly, without being afraid to state what he thinks simply. #2) He never apologizes for his rationale nor acts like he's wrong in principal. #3) He answers questions with other questions, putting his questioners on the defensive and forceing them to account for their own position first. #4) He stays on point. Throughout the debate with the foaming-at-the-mouth conservative, Zappa continues to press the notion that the debate is about words and that no word is pornographic. #5) He shifts his body language such that - at some point - he actually stops making eye contact with his detractor. This gives him the advantage of rising above the fight and making his opponent not even seem worthy of being looked upon.
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