A Discussion On The 2016 Election at Keuka College

2016 Election - What Does The Future Hold?

Obviously this year's presidential and congressional elections will be important. People care about this election as they should and a number of opportunities are presenting themselves for people to talk about and think about the choices that we have.

I've been involved for the past few years with people in the Schuyler and Yates county communities who are part of an entity called the Civic Diversity and Dialogue Group. A small core group of people meet every other week to identify topics that are important for community discussion. The topics range from community policing to educational type forums on health care, education, poverty, etc. The whole idea is for people to hear and participate in civil conversations that focus on diversity and social justice. Communities many times find themselves polarized by issues and sometimes there just aren't venues available for people to sit back and discuss things in an informal way. Our group has tried to fill that gap and provide the opportunity for conversations

On April 13, 2016 the group is sponsoring a presentation and discussion at Keuka College near Penn Yan, NY relative to the 2016 Election & Political Forecasts just days before New York's April 19 primary. The election is shaping up to be one of the most contentious, and potentially the most momentous in US history.

How will the election turn out? How will the result affect the United States, the world and you? Everyone is welcome to come and join what promises to be a lively discussion at this presentation.

Political scientist Ray Copson will start things off by presenting his 18 month and 5 year forecasts for the United States. Copson holds a Ph.D. in political science/International relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked as an analyst in Washington for many years and has taught at colleges and universities in the United States and Africa. 

Copson's political forecasts and various scenarios will be presented and discussed. Keuka College students, faculty and members of the community will participate in the discussion that follows. If you have concerns about the election or are just interested in what the future holds, this is your chance to participate and express your views and hear from others.

As I said, the event will be held on April 13, from 4-6pm in Jephson Hall, Room 104 at Keuka College. The event is organized by the Civic Diversity and Dialogue Group and is hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Keuka College.

Here is a link to Copson's political forecasts as they currently stand. Take a look:

US Political Forecast

The Anti Bullying Challenge

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Can you imagine how difficult it is, in the environment we're all seeing play out on TV, in papers, on Twitter, Facebook Instagram, etc. to talk to kids or administer anti bullying programs in schools and neighborhoods? Just a few short years ago people saw the consequences of public bullying - things like depression in young people, drug use, and most sadly suicides, as people were ridiculed and made fun of on social media and in real time on school properties or in cyber space.

Everyone seemed to jump on board and voice how terrible this behavior was and how it needed to stop. Making fun of people, badgering people due to weight issues, a disability, their sexuality, appearance, etc. was seen for what it was - bad behavior that needed to be called out and dealt with. Parents demanded it. The courts weighed in. School administrators, college presidents, politicians, psychologists and medical professionals all spoke out and began doing things. Funding was made available. T-shirts were printed, rallies were held and speakers were invited to school assemblies. In many cases, bad behavior was turned around. In other cases, individuals found their voice and spoke out. These were positive results I think and perhaps some lives were even saved.

Fast forward to today. Our adult world has been turned upside down. In a few short months it has become acceptable to turn all of this around. People cheer and wave their fists as people are tossed to the ground or punched at political rallies. It is ok to provoke political adversaries with obscenities on placards or to shout in someones face. Pictures, flattering and unflattering, of political candidates' wives are fair game. And when it gets really rough, front runners in campaigns say things like "he started it" in defense of their behavior.

I can't imagine what an administrator of an anti bullying program is supposed to do or say in this environment. How do you explain gross and bullying behavior by adults who are supposed to know better? How do you continue to talk to employees about positive workplace behavior?

We're going to feel and see some serious consequences to what is playing out in the current national political campaign I fear. People do respond to other people's behavior. Role models exist based on positions and historical context. Young people, and from what we've seen older people, model people they view as leaders.

The basic fact remains though. Bullying is wrong. It's hurtful and has consequences to the victim. It leads to long term behavior issues. Most importantly it has no political party or religious affiliation. It is a part of the human condition that needs to be controlled and most importantly not tolerated.

We can do things about this. Actually we should do things about this. Speaking up is a start. Letting people know when things cross lines that we all know are there and being respectful of differences and differences of opinion. Encouraging conversations and debates on issues while promoting tolerance. These are just some of the positive steps we can take. But we also have to be able to look young people in the eye and tell them what's acceptable and what's not.

It's a challenge but we have to meet it.

Brussels - May 22, 2016

We live in a hateful and hurting world. Today it's the people of Brussels who have felt it and who are suffering the consequences. All I can do is offer them a wish for peace, hope and strength as they struggle through the events of the day. I can also speak out about about hateful language and hateful policies. It's shameful that in my country, people involved in a political campaign for President are using these events for their own political purposes and that they're spewing words of hate, torture and bigotry. Hate plus hate always equals more hate. Reactive policies, repressive policies only feed the root cause what the world id dealing with. Historically, young people have always been radicalized by repression. The acts of terror in Brussel are meant to cause reactive and repressive responses.

A small part of what we can do is to offer our support to people who have been attacked, senselessly as they went about their daily lives. And yes, we need to slow down the haters, step back and try to understand how to move forward. The work of peace is hard, very hard.

Manipulated Violence - News Loops, The Media & Trump

Responsible and open journalism is one of the most important things to have in any democracy. This is a pretty basic concept and most people support it. Some would be and have been jailed or worse to protect it. This year's presidential election cycle is causing many to really think about and analyze all of this and how important a free and responsible press is to a democracy.

From the beginning of Donald Trump's entry into the race, cable news made a choice to turn news coverage into a mix of a documentary and a reality TV show. Obviously it was done for the sake of ratings. CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and others early on decided to take Trump's phone call interviews whenever he called them. Pundits and moderators laughed before and after these calls (they cannot in truth be called interviews). All of this did not bode well for journalism.

So a marketing pro manipulated the media into covering him, his way and on his terms. He played them like a fiddle. Now as everyone has reaped what they've sown - the GOP, cable news, congress and so on, we have an even worse manipulation and it goes to the heart of good and responsible journalism. The Trump rally on Friday, March 11 in Chicago looks more and more like a manufactured event with very dark purposes. An impression has been given that the rally was canceled due to violence and the potential for people being hurt. A cursory review of what occurred though doesn't lead one to that conclusion. The event was planned on a college campus in an area known for organized activism, so demonstrations could/should have been expected. The campus and city police indicate that they did not give any advice on canceling the event, although Trump says they did.

If the video of the event is reviewed closely it seems the violence occurred after the announcement canceling it was made. But it was a Friday night and there was a need for some good TV. Trump has made it clear that he believes protesters and violence help his candidacy.

But the manipulation and the message gets worse and the media is complicit. If you watched on Friday what you saw were continuous video loops of blacks and whites pushing, shoving and swinging/punching each other. All of these repetitious videos gave Trump the opportunity to reference thugs, disrupters, violent protesters, etc. In addition they fed in to some peoples' worse fears - that black people were going on the offensive and the future is indeed bleak.

Certainly protesters planned on being there and were prepared to take a stand but my point is that Trump knew that and also understood how it would look and yes how it would play on TV. The media so concerned about their ratings followed and fell once again into his hands.

Sadly, Trump loves the violence or so it seems. He even says its good for his campaign. His face as he shouts, screams and yells is filled with hatred and it seems very real. There may be very serious consequences to all of this and Trump as well as the media will have to be held accountable.

Journalists and editors should really review how and why they're covering things like phone calls from Trump, or why they agree to be held in a pen at his events. All of us should try to see the manipulation of these stories and how they are pitting one group against "the others" - the "they" that are always referenced at Trump's rallies. The biggest danger is how easy it is to become a member of "the others".

Transitions, Elections and The History of Rock & Roll

I got word the other day about the death of an old friend and colleague. He was a youngster at 62, at least to me, 9 years his senior. He was also one of the good guys - never a bad word about anyone and always a smile and a twinkle in his eye. As always I was saddened, a bit confused and in wonder about his passing. Matters of life and death do seem to become a bit more intense as you age, at least for me. It's all part of a transition that we go through though, from our earliest years that dance around in memories to our current lives and status. Those memories help us in the transition but they also, sometimes, make it difficult. A paradox I suppose.

And then there's the present, staring us in the face. I'm tired and sick of debates, primaries, candidates, mock news conferences and pundits trying to interpret what I do or should think. It goes on and on. Both parties are reaping what they've sown. Obstructionism and non cooperation have led to people losing faith in government. I never thought I would see in America, the day when people would stand in rallies raising their right arms and hands, pledging to vote for someone as he knowingly mimics what many thought was the worst that the world had seen. Fascism seems to be alive and well. I have a backlog of writing about all of this but just shutter at publishing any more. It's tiring and depressing.

A funk that is usually shaken by the appearance of St. Patrick's Day on the calendar isn't shaken so easily this year. The call of spring and summer are not far off but I see more debates, more made up scandals, more shouting and blaming, yard signs, bumper stickers and on and on. Too much for far too long.

Then, through the magic of the internet comes a message from another friend. He shares a site, a video that helps to clear the mind. Something that helps to categorize some of those memories filed away - the days of learning, exploring, experimenting, dancing, bonding and just plain enjoying. I begin to remember each of those days well. I enjoy the noise and movement of life in the music that I hear. So now, I share it with you for as long as it's available. A click that may help take you through your own experiences, enjoyment and beliefs. Sit back and escape for a bit and be thankful for what this brings. It's 15 minutes of enjoying The History of Rock & Roll. Enjoy & Peace.