datamusicata

This is a very challenging time for all of us. I have been watching all the election coverage almost non stop and, of course, I have a take on it all. Mostly, I am disturbed by all the negative campaigning going on, the "us versus them" rhetoric.

I don't believe that it is healthy to incite hate and divisiveness. If someone at your rally yells out racial epithets or calls to "kill him", these are not acceptable. Yes, this is the country of "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." But still a candidate must address that kind of unacceptable behavior by identifying it and by chastising it right then, right there. Make it plain that , yes, this is America, and you have a right to your opinion, but you don't have the right to mob rule, or mob violence. You have the right to your opinion.

If your opinion is "kill him", then that's like someone who's opinion is that it is okay to yell, "FIRE" in a theatre. You have no right to do that as it extends past your own person and impacts others, negatively. You simply have a right to your opinion.

Along with that comes the responsibility to speak with forethought, with conscience; with respect for everyone else's opinion. You can denigrate their position, but nothing good from denigrating the person.

In my business, there are very many musicians, composers, artists, singers, etc, who have obviously done a lot of work to get where they are, bringing with them the expertise they have developed from doing that work. That doesn't mean it's going to reach me, or that I'm going to like it, but I have to give credit for doing the work and getting as far as they've gotten. But that may not be enough for me to be enrolled in what they do. Their abilities have to be commensurate with their position or the imbalance becomes intolerable and it falls over. That being said, ...

What would it serve me to denigrate their character? Their race? Nothing is served from that perspective, except a continuation of divisiveness and polarization.

One of the most wonderful things about living in this country is the fact that we can and do all live next to each other and interact with each other. Whether we like each other or not, ideally there is tolerance and there is respect.

In my neighborhood there are Muslims, Christians, Jews, Asians, Negroes, Hispanics, Europeans, etc. Maybe we don't hang out. Maybe we don't see each other very much, but when we do see each other, there is respect and there is tolerance.

People that would be killing each other someplace else on earth are living here in this country, next door to each other and working it out. In the Unites States, we have a long history of learning to deal with our prejudice, our intolerance and our fear. But look at our history. No matter how badly we do, no matter what dreadful mistakes we may have made, at some point we recognize it and we try to fix it. We keep trying to make it work for everyone. We want the world to be a better place to live and for most of my life that is what has been happening. But now there is something else in the wind. Like the smell of smoke before you see the fire.

Every so often the politics of distraction; the politics of fear try to resurrect prejudice and fear and intolerance. They depersonalize someone by calling them names. You can't know someone personally and think of them by those sad and mean spirited labels.

These Rovian politics are now trying more than ever, to make denigrations out of political positions (commie, socialist); religious positions (muslim is now an INSULT?) or even one's life work (community service spoken of condescendingly?) What is going on here? Anything that is good for you? Good for the country? Good for the world?

I have noticed these non-stop attacks on the character of Obama. And I have noticed that Obama does not rise to the bait. He never demeans or denigrates those people with whom he is vying for the Presidential prize. I didn't start out in his corner, but his conduct and his background; his education and his consistency; his elegance and his grace have won me over.

I have already voted, but I would like all of you reading this to consider who has demonstrated grace under pressure? Who has not given in to temper, nastiness, impatience or petulance? Who has looked over the people available and tried to find the best qualified people to gather around him? Who has looked at his own weaknesses and tried to find a counterpart who would fill in that weakness? Who invites opposing opinions and views and who displays respect for all those opinions? Vote for that one.

Okay, Friday I'll be back in the music business. Thanks for reading this far.