PAUL SIMON--BRIDGING THE CULTURE GAP

In the first essay in Calendar’s new Popping Off series, William K. Knoedelseder Jr. defended Paul Simon’s decision to record “Graceland� in South Africa, and to use South African musicians. Knoedelseder’s commentary, prompted by protests against Simon by students at Howard University, drew spirited response from readers. Here is a sampling of opinion, the overwhelming majority of which supported Simon’s actions. Popping Off is an occasional forum commenting on timely issues in pop music.

As an Afro-American, I enjoyed “Graceland� for its haunting beauty, radiant clarity and daring diversity. Simon has bought African music to the American mainstream and made our global village a little smaller.

Strange, I haven’t heard any Louisianians protest the use of Zydeco music. I think the way Lionel Richie waters down reggae in his latest single “Sela� is incredibly offensive.

CATHERINE MIMS

Lynwood