Maple Leaf Rag was Joplin's first commercial success and kicked off the ragtime era. The notion that the Ragtime era (or any other era (for that matter)) was kicked off by a specific composition (albeit as important as The Maple Leaf Rag or Scott Joplins career in this case) is generalized historical ridiculousness... especially within the theoretical confines of what a *rag is. I suppose you can find one that kicked off the Jazz era?!? Or more specifically, you can tell us when *it stopped.
Speaking of flags and ridiculousness; the battered and torn flag from the top WTC should be either ceremoniously burned, as is the *correct way do dispose of it, or possibly hung in the Smithsonian as a symbol of history. The US parade-ing it in front of the whole world whenever the chance arises is far from patriotic... at least within consistent definitions.
Martyrdom is a direct descendant of pride.
Anonymous, 2002
