Yes, the Trump - Pelosi feud has been building for weeks, maybe even months, but it certainly shouldn't be a model for governing on any level. People not working together, not resolving differences and insulting each other, accomplishes little. Perhaps some find it fun to watch or the two main participants feel cleansed once they spew their anger but for the rest of us, its mostly embarrassing and tiresome.
By now we know Donald Trump. We know he lies and embellishes. We know he has violated every norm. We also know that he reacts to what he perceives as attacks on his character, his manhood, his wealth, his family, etc. Nancy Pelosi knows it too. She also knows that his anger, most of the time, makes him say silly and ignorant things. He can be put off balance by a comment or a verbal jab. She is also a master of political theatre.
My own view of this latest jousting between the two is that a pro impeachment Congressman or aide leaked Pelosi's comment about prison for Trump vs impeachment to put her on the spot relative to moving toward impeachment. I'm pretty sure Pelosi has a good idea of who leaked the comment and that a price will eventually be paid. The reality is however that this feud was building. Trump and Pelosi have been on a collision course for a long time and now it's in full view.
Yes, full view and not very pretty. Let me remind people that this just isn't the way any government, on any level should work. Two leaders talking about jailing their opponents. This is the stuff of dictators and banana republics. If this were the norm, local school boards, village boards and county governments would get nothing done.
Every once in awhile, we all have to take a deep breath and realize that chants of "Lock her up" or "Lock him up" are just rubbish and mob governance based on emotion. Debate and compromise are the key to getting things done. They are also hard work and require a commitment to that work. Political theatre on the other hand is pretty easy and accomplishes little beyond entertainment. This show will end as they all do and it probably won't be pretty but for the sake of us all, don't let this be the model that you adopt. It's a failure from the beginning.
Sunday, June 9, 2019
Friday, May 3, 2019
Re-Posting of Piece On Pete Seeger's Passing
This piece was written and posted in 2014 after Pete's Passing. Thought it would be appropriate to re-post on the 100th anniversary of his birth on May 3, 2019. Enjoy!
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2014
Thank You Pete Seeger
Lots of us need to thank Pete Seeger for what he showed us and taught us over the years. Pete passed away last night, peacefully in his sleep. Ten days ago, according to his grandson, he was chopping wood for the fire in his cabin home in Beacon, NY, as he did for many years.
Pete Seeger taught us the importance of song and participation. He had a passion for song, music and making sure everyone was part of the expierience. But on top of all of that he believed in things. He believed in peace, the protection of the environment, justice for all, racial eguality and had fun doing it. He was banned, blacklisted and shunned. He was handcuffed, arrested and jailed for singing and protesting. He brought people together through song and showed people how to participate. Sometimes we were embarresed or shy about our voices or what we thought was our lack of musical talent but Pete Seeger made sure we all sounded good.
Singing This Land is Your Land or We Shall Overcome with Pete Seeger was often a life changing expierience. Thousands had that expierience and won't forget it.
Many years ago I was working at the Catholic Worker in NYC. I fancied myself a folk singer, protest singer, etc. I had written a few songs and sang many of the old ones in the tradition of Seeger, Woody Gutherie, The Weavers and others. One day Pete Seeger was on the phone talking to someone and they told him there was a young fella there who had an interesting anti war song. Next thing I knew I was on the phone with Pete Seeger and he wanted to hear the song my friend had told him about. So there I was, trying to sing my song with no guitar to a legend. He was kind. Said I had something there and should keep singing.
I also found out about thirty years later that a high school classmate of mine, Bob Killian, worked and sang with Pete Seeger on The Clearwater, the sailing ship that he used to promote clean water, particularly on the Hudson River. Bob went on to get involved with an educational sailing and environmental program in Florida.
I'm sure there are hundreds and thousands of stories of how Pete Seeger connected and influenced people throughout the world. His mantra was participation. Everybody sounded good to Pete. They really did. He just loved to hear another voice. One more thing he did. He took the time every Christmas to send cards of encouragement to prisoners of conscience. I was lucky enough to hear from him a couple of times.
So I just want to add my thanks to Pete Seeger for what he offered all of us. A chance to sing, participate and bring about change along with gleeful encouragement. Rest in peace Pete.
Pete Seeger taught us the importance of song and participation. He had a passion for song, music and making sure everyone was part of the expierience. But on top of all of that he believed in things. He believed in peace, the protection of the environment, justice for all, racial eguality and had fun doing it. He was banned, blacklisted and shunned. He was handcuffed, arrested and jailed for singing and protesting. He brought people together through song and showed people how to participate. Sometimes we were embarresed or shy about our voices or what we thought was our lack of musical talent but Pete Seeger made sure we all sounded good.
Singing This Land is Your Land or We Shall Overcome with Pete Seeger was often a life changing expierience. Thousands had that expierience and won't forget it.
Many years ago I was working at the Catholic Worker in NYC. I fancied myself a folk singer, protest singer, etc. I had written a few songs and sang many of the old ones in the tradition of Seeger, Woody Gutherie, The Weavers and others. One day Pete Seeger was on the phone talking to someone and they told him there was a young fella there who had an interesting anti war song. Next thing I knew I was on the phone with Pete Seeger and he wanted to hear the song my friend had told him about. So there I was, trying to sing my song with no guitar to a legend. He was kind. Said I had something there and should keep singing.
I also found out about thirty years later that a high school classmate of mine, Bob Killian, worked and sang with Pete Seeger on The Clearwater, the sailing ship that he used to promote clean water, particularly on the Hudson River. Bob went on to get involved with an educational sailing and environmental program in Florida.
I'm sure there are hundreds and thousands of stories of how Pete Seeger connected and influenced people throughout the world. His mantra was participation. Everybody sounded good to Pete. They really did. He just loved to hear another voice. One more thing he did. He took the time every Christmas to send cards of encouragement to prisoners of conscience. I was lucky enough to hear from him a couple of times.
So I just want to add my thanks to Pete Seeger for what he offered all of us. A chance to sing, participate and bring about change along with gleeful encouragement. Rest in peace Pete.
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Choosing Not To Feed The Hate
It has become way too easy to feed the hate that exists in America and the world. Donald Trump has made it easier as have all the people who have found it easier to spew hate because of him. I'm not just talking about his base and his strongest supporters. No, the hate is coming from every angle and from every part of the political spectrum. It's coming from Republicans, Democrats, progressives and conservatives, young and old, black and white. Yes, people are finding it easier to yell and scream at each other with their voices or through their keypads. The hatred that has been spawned by our current political environment is being justified and encouraged as a way to fight back. People honestly believe that they shouldn't just sit back and take hate or even a philosophical disagreement with those they disagree with anymore.
So the divisions widen, positions harden, terrible things are said and generalizations are made about Republicans, Democrats, Muslims, Jews and Christians. Our tribalism kicks in and we are encouraged by those who think like us and insulted by those who don't. In the end, we see the results with 19 year-olds or 70 somethings who grab a weapon and attack people they deem to be the enemy on that particular day and in that particular place.
I decided a long time ago that my beliefs require me to speak up and act against injustice, poverty and violence. But speaking up and acting against those things doesn't require that I feed the hatred. I'm struggling along with many others to find ways to cope and move forward in a world that has become one big punching bag. A world where we let others dictate our decency by showing how outrageous they can be. I don't like the results. I don't believe this is the way people should treat each other.
Some will ask, what's your solution and I have to admit that I don't have many answers. The only thing I know is that I'm choosing not to feed the hate. I would rather not spend the energy on the hate. I'd rather find ways to help other people become whole if they've been hurt, fed if they're hungry or respected if they need it. We all have to change if we want the world to change. We can't keep living in a tabloid world or looking for reality show leaders and we can't continue to hate at the level that I'm seeing.
So the divisions widen, positions harden, terrible things are said and generalizations are made about Republicans, Democrats, Muslims, Jews and Christians. Our tribalism kicks in and we are encouraged by those who think like us and insulted by those who don't. In the end, we see the results with 19 year-olds or 70 somethings who grab a weapon and attack people they deem to be the enemy on that particular day and in that particular place.
I decided a long time ago that my beliefs require me to speak up and act against injustice, poverty and violence. But speaking up and acting against those things doesn't require that I feed the hatred. I'm struggling along with many others to find ways to cope and move forward in a world that has become one big punching bag. A world where we let others dictate our decency by showing how outrageous they can be. I don't like the results. I don't believe this is the way people should treat each other.
Some will ask, what's your solution and I have to admit that I don't have many answers. The only thing I know is that I'm choosing not to feed the hate. I would rather not spend the energy on the hate. I'd rather find ways to help other people become whole if they've been hurt, fed if they're hungry or respected if they need it. We all have to change if we want the world to change. We can't keep living in a tabloid world or looking for reality show leaders and we can't continue to hate at the level that I'm seeing.
Monday, April 22, 2019
Pondering A Presidential Library
Every once in awhile we have to take a leap into the future and think about what some things will look like given our current state of affairs. So I sat the other day just pondering what Donald Trump's Presidential Library would be like. It was an odd thought actually, but I decided to go ahead with it and let my mind explore all of the possibilities.
We certainly know that it won't have any books other than the ghostwritten "The Art of The Deal". But based on information we've seen from the Mueller Report, no notes, no emails, no text messages, nothing really in writing from his presidency other than those Executive Orders he holds up so proudly after filling half a page with his signature.
So if there isn't any written material, what will there be. Well as I see it, lots of videos. Videos of rallies with fist pumping, lower lip biting and chants of 'lock her up' and 'build that Wall'. Of course there will also be videos of hand shakes and back slaps with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. No translator notes but perhaps a few copies of love letters between the three of them. Yes, videos will dominate the Library itself along with displays of Photoshopped pictures, self portraits and magazine covers. Life size or bigger I think.
The building itself will be magnificent, a huge tower like structure with many gold plated amenities, a huge clean coal fired furnace will heat the building. There will be a wonderful escalator ride for the kids from the first to the second floor. Of course many of the rooms and areas will be empty due to the lack of written material but the drapes and carpets will be wonderful.
The main attraction will be the gift and souvenir shop located on the 52nd floor or perhaps the 60th floor depending on your particular attitude about the building and the Trump Presidency. The shop will offer everything - MAGA Hats and T-Shirts, Trump Water, Trump Steaks, Trump Wine, golf clubs, golf shirts, yes everything you can imagine. Before you leave, you and your family or guests will be directed to the Mar-A-Largo all you can eat Buffet.
The biggest question of course is where the structure will be located. New York State is out of the question. Codes, and regulations make NYS next to impossible but Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin are all vying for site selection. There will definitely have to be a big, huge, beautiful wall around the building, something akin to Lewisburg Penitentiary or the US Penitentiary at Leavenworth, and the property itself should be swamp like but solid. Visitors on weekends only.
Yes, it will be magnificent. Nothing but the best.
We certainly know that it won't have any books other than the ghostwritten "The Art of The Deal". But based on information we've seen from the Mueller Report, no notes, no emails, no text messages, nothing really in writing from his presidency other than those Executive Orders he holds up so proudly after filling half a page with his signature.
So if there isn't any written material, what will there be. Well as I see it, lots of videos. Videos of rallies with fist pumping, lower lip biting and chants of 'lock her up' and 'build that Wall'. Of course there will also be videos of hand shakes and back slaps with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. No translator notes but perhaps a few copies of love letters between the three of them. Yes, videos will dominate the Library itself along with displays of Photoshopped pictures, self portraits and magazine covers. Life size or bigger I think.
The building itself will be magnificent, a huge tower like structure with many gold plated amenities, a huge clean coal fired furnace will heat the building. There will be a wonderful escalator ride for the kids from the first to the second floor. Of course many of the rooms and areas will be empty due to the lack of written material but the drapes and carpets will be wonderful.
The main attraction will be the gift and souvenir shop located on the 52nd floor or perhaps the 60th floor depending on your particular attitude about the building and the Trump Presidency. The shop will offer everything - MAGA Hats and T-Shirts, Trump Water, Trump Steaks, Trump Wine, golf clubs, golf shirts, yes everything you can imagine. Before you leave, you and your family or guests will be directed to the Mar-A-Largo all you can eat Buffet.
The biggest question of course is where the structure will be located. New York State is out of the question. Codes, and regulations make NYS next to impossible but Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin are all vying for site selection. There will definitely have to be a big, huge, beautiful wall around the building, something akin to Lewisburg Penitentiary or the US Penitentiary at Leavenworth, and the property itself should be swamp like but solid. Visitors on weekends only.
Yes, it will be magnificent. Nothing but the best.
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