By Mandy Feder
Burke Hilburn was on the stage at the Broken Strings show like a man on fire. He was screaming and singing as if he was the future of punk rock. His arms flailed in peculiar motions that were similar to the legendary Jim Morrison of the Doors. He sang with such booming vigor and confidence, perhaps these are characteristics of his father, a traveling evangelical minister that were passed on to him.
His voice was amplified. He didn”t really need a microphone. Impressed by the show and the fact that he was readying to embark on a tour of the United States on his bicycle, I asked if I could do an article about him. I was surprised when I interviewed him that he was bashful and soft-spoken. I told him I enjoyed his music immensely. He tilted his head a bit and held it down, sporting a sort of a half smile, he said, “Oh, oh, thank you very much,” almost with an Elvis air.
His music is absolutely his voice.
I speak with a pen, a pencil or a computer keyboard.
Writing is my medium, if you will.
The point is that communication is frequently non-verbal.
My friend Austin communicates fiercely through painting, rapping, playing the piano and writing. The spoken word can be interpreted a number of ways, by the tone and volume of voice; so can art, music, attire and a number of other forms of expression.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright communicated her mood and intentions in a subtle way, with brooches and pins.
Sometimes the most powerful thing a person can say is nothing at all. Albright was able to convey messages of respect, compassion, understanding and power without saying a word. I imagine this was an effective tool politically, primarily when there was a language barrier. The pin collection exemplifies the complexity of her life and career along with all of the important aspects of being a parent, politician and a person. The simple act of wearing the pins crossed cultural divides and created a clear message.
The Museum of Arts & Design in New York City is now displaying the first exhibition of Albright”s pin collection, “Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection,” featuring about 200 of her favorites, including a golden snake pin that she wore after Saddam Hussein”s government called her a serpent.
The exhibit featured a pin Albright frequently wore, a dove given to her by Leah Rabin, the wife of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated in 1995 by a radical who was opposed to his role in peace efforts.
The collection is fascinating, each piece with a story and a purpose. Some of her other favorites included those given to her by her children.
Some folks verbally scream from frustration, perhaps because they think they are not being heard.
After all, people talk a lot, oftentimes without thinking or purpose.
Everyone wants to be heard and acknowledged.
I like Albright”s unobtrusive communication method.
For myself, I concur with Ernest Hemingway when he said that “My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.”
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee news editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 Ext. 32.
