Tag: Life

BEGINNING TO FEEL SOME SYMPATHY FOR CHRISTIE?

~ Jnana Hodson ~ 3 Comments

There’s something pathetically tragic in New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s fall from good graces in the Donald Trump camp, and I hope the situation grows in public awareness.

As news stories surface regarding the reason Christie was knocked from the vice president spot on the ticket, it becomes obvious he won’t even be considered for the other top plum he desired, Attorney General.

The reason?

As the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, Christie successfully prosecuted Charles Kushner, who pleaded guilty to 18 counts of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering in 2005. Kushner was sentenced to two years in prison. Oh, there were sordid details in what included a nasty family fight for the Democratic Party supporter. All of which might have given the Trump ticket some creds in its upcoming battle with the Clintons.

Alas, Kushner is the father of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared – the husband of Ivanka, a husband-wife team that makes up his two closest advisors. And Jared, by all accounts, adamantly opposed Christie, no matter what he might have brought to the race.

Think about it. Christie is denied a spot because he’s fought illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering. What does this say about Trump himself? His values? His practices? Even, now, his family?

For months now, Christie has been the most prominent Republican official in Trump’s camp. And now he’s cast as a pariah? For acting in the public interest? For fighting corruption? What kind of Justice Department do you think Trump would permit? One based on retribution, no doubt. One-sided, at all costs. Makes me think of Nixon’s back in the Whitewater years. Makes me also see John Kasich as a successor to another Ohio Republican of personal integrity, Bill Saxbe, who had the courage to stand up to Nixon and in the end, helped take him down.

You might see it as a warning to others to stay away from this platform. Why would any other elected Republican want to rally around this ticket? It’s an ominous sign, indeed. Please stay tuned, as they say. To something other than Fox.

WHY I’M SKIPPING MY HIGH SCHOOL REUNION

~ Jnana Hodson ~ 3 Comments

With the 50th anniversary of my high school class graduation coming up next month, I’ve found myself debating whether to attend.

Some of the conflict is spurred by tight personal finances these days – the event’s 900 miles from where I now live, a 15-hour drive each way in an auto that already has 270,000 miles on its odometer. Flying and then renting a car would be more practical but also more expensive. And that’s before we get to the event admission and related costs. Frankly, I’d rather spend the money on a couple of weekend escapes with my wife.

Scheduling adds its own complication. The reunion’s set for shortly after the annual session of New England Yearly Meeting of Friends, where I’ll spend an intense week in Vermont attending to Quaker business. Add to that that my local Friends Meeting is planning its own retreat right the same time as the reunion. That’s a lot of time away from home just about the time the ocean here is finally warm enough for some brisk swimming. Why would I want to be in hot, humid Ohio when I could be at a refreshing seaside in nearby Maine?

When I broached the subject with a fellow choir member, he turned the focus slightly by asking if there was anyone I particularly wanted to see and talk with and then told of his own experience at his 10th anniversary class reunion where he found himself brushed off by those he wanted to speak with and was then stuck amid those with whom he had nothing in common. This had me realizing I’ve been out of touch with everyone for decades now, and when I tried to reconnect via email a decade ago – after the 40th reunion – there was no acknowledgement. My curiosity about what’s happened to many of the members has found answers online. More than anything, I’m sensing, is that any inclination to attend is being compelled by a perceived duty – I did hold some leadership roles as editor-in-chief of the newspaper and in a handful of clubs.

As I ponder the event, I’m also realizing my high school years were not particularly happy or even intellectually stimulating, apart from a few special teachers. Do I want to open those emotions, then?

Or would I want to go simply to brag, “Look how far I’ve come since!” I’m not sure that would be particularly welcome or rewarding.

Any advice? Or similar insights to share? Is this even a necessary rite of passage? Do tell!

NO ROOM FOR DEBATE WITH IDEOLOGUES LIKE THIS

~ Jnana Hodson ~ 4 Comments

The other day, as we returned to our car in the supermarket parking lot, my wife noticed a small magnetic tag stuck to the back fender. It said:

~*~

So you support a Socialist. This means you …

  1. Are stupid. (Which can’t be cured.)
  2. Have been duped, indoctrinated or brainwashed (curable!)
  3. Actually believe in class warfare, entitlement mentality or the failed concepts of Collectivism, Marxism, etc. (which makes you a domestic enemy of the Constitution & the USA)
  4. Are ignorant of the facts – which are readily available. …

~*~

Others were amused by this reaction to my Bernie sticker, but I find myself quietly enraged on so many fronts it’s hard to know where to begin.

The utter ignorance and arrogance of this SOB are the first things to fuel my fire. How dare he call me stupid? How dare he assume any of my beliefs, actually? How dare he try to silence my right of free speech and, I’ll add, religion! How dare he call me an enemy of the Constitution?

I’m deeply bothered by the way he smears one word into other concepts with no room for clarity of definition or precise thinking. Supporting a democratic-socialist does not make me one, any more than supporting a reasonable Republican candidate would make me a racist, gun-totin’ warmonger or right-wing nut job. I see through both Marxism, on one side, and the multinational corporate conglomerates now ruling the world, on the other. (I could claim a college minor in economics, by the way. How about him?) (Oh, my, why do I assume the offender’s male?) And, yes, I do support some collective action – the way politically conservative apple growers in Washington state long ago banded together for united marketing and quality control, as well as the federal water system they realize is essential for their precious irrigation.

As for his “facts,” he could use a class about the perils of propaganda. If anyone’s been brainwashed, duped, or indoctrinated, he should look himself in the mirror. Which leads to an even bigger issue.

There’s no room for discussion in his limited, fear-driven, ideological mindset. He’s cornered in a box. There’s no way to admit error or correct a course of action or even see whose pawn he’s become.

There are times I fear for the Republic, where threats to liberty keep rising from his side of the spectrum.

That’s why I have the Bernie sticker.

~*~

By the way, I’ve read my Bible, complete. Leviticus 25:10 (inscribed on the Liberty Bell) is guilty of all of his charges regarding the redistribution of wealth. (Jubilee is the redistribution of all wealth every 50 years.) Or leap ahead to Jesus telling the rich young man to sell all he has and give it away (Matthew 19: 16-24 and Mark 10: 17-31). Argue with God, if you can. But watch what you accuse the Holy One of being. Good luck.

 

ABOUT THOSE INCOME-TAX FILINGS

~ Jnana Hodson ~ 2 Comments

Donald Trump’s refusal to release his income-tax filings naturally spurs suspicions. What’s he trying to hide? What’s he afraid they’ll show?

What, you think he’s squeaky clean? Please! The fact-checkers have found little in his outrageous claims that’s really true. We don’t need a liar-in-chief, we need someone we can trust.

So Trump’s financial dealings are bound to be fair game as the campaign spirals on.

For one thing, they give us a clearer view of how a candidate handles money. The Obamas, as we discovered, are really quite frugal, even conservative. Trump, on the other hand, seems to employ a lot of sleight-of-hand, as his loans-to-donations-to-himself demonstrate. (How many times can you count the same dollar, anyway?)

Well, we can assume the accountant-types will have a feast with whatever is there, as will the tax experts and financial gurus and businessmen large and small.

In the meantime, it’s fodder for the pundits.

Among the possible reasons Trump won’t release his income-tax filings? Are there clues to indicate:

  • He’s not worth nearly as much as he claims …
  • The Clintons have more liquidity than he does …
  • Bernie’s right about billionaires as welfare queens … and right about how to fix that …
  • He’s dependent on government subsidies. Or even, that’s all he paid …
  • He’s hoping campaign contributions would provide sufficient cash-flow for him to avoid personal bankruptcy …
  • Just how much are his lawsuits costing him, anyway …
  • Just how low are the returns on his enterprises …
  • What’s he writing off as charity …
  • He says these are deductible expenses …
  • He’s playing the Wizard of Oz.

Well, right or wrong, it’s a start. The facts will either support his claims or knock them flat.

Any other wags want to weigh in?

QUIETLY, I CUT THE GRASS

~ Jnana Hodson ~ Leave a comment

A couple of years ago, when our old lawnmower died, we decided to switch to a more eco-friendly battery-powered one.

And, no, a riding mower was altogether out of the question, unless it could also handle a snowplow for the other part of the year.

Let me confess I’ve never been comfortable with the traditional power mower. You have to buy gasoline, for starters, and check the oil. As for gapping spark plugs?

None of that with the new baby. It’s lighter, quieter (only a hum instead of the cranky roar), and much easier to maneuver. And while the blade’s shorter than the old one, it does allow me to get in spots the old one couldn’t manage. (Places like those around the fireplug in the strip along the curb.)

One good friend, who once had his own lawn-care service, in fact, took a few swipes with the new one and promptly dubbed it the “mini-Prius.” The moniker’s stuck.

The one drawback is that I can’t quite do our full yard on one charge, especially if the grass is deeper than usual or damp.

I can live with that, certainly. Or even buy a second battery, to keep me running while the first one’s recharging.

At least I’m not spilling gasoline anymore.

~*~

We’re serious about gardening, too, as my poetry collection There Is No Statuary in Our Garden Except for the Plastic Spacemen Occasionally Surfacing relates.

FAREWELL AND BEST WISHES TO GEORGE

~ Jnana Hodson ~ 1 Comment

For the past four years I’ve been a member of the bass section of a remarkable community chorus in Greater Boston. We rehearse weekly through much of the year and find ourselves performing in public when occasions present. Most recently, it was as part of a summer solstice event hosted by the Harvard University museums of science and culture.

Known as the Revels Singers, we’re under the umbrella of the Boston Revels organization, which is best known for its annual Christmas productions at Harvard’s Sanders Theater.

George Emlen, the Revels music director for the past 32 years, founded the community chorus four years ago as a way to keep much of the Revels’ repertoire and spirit more active and visible throughout the year, augmenting the pub sings, concerts (spring and fall equinox and summer solstice are duly observed), educational outreach programs, harbor cruises, and the like.

And now he’s retired. How do you replace a skilled and enthusiastic conductor, one who reaches out to know his performers and their families as well? How do you replace an insightful composer and arranger or a collaborator on creating a new show every year for Christmas? (The last one was set in Wales. The next has a Cajun-Acadian base.)

It’s been an emotional year for us. At the final show of the Wales production, George was given a curtain-call, something the directors never do, preferring the applause be for the cast of singers, actors, and dancers ranging from very young to, well, admittedly old. The well-earned roar that greeted George matched what James Levine might hear at the Metropolitan Opera at the conclusion of a Ring Cycle. It was amazing. He’s touched a lot of people over the years.

For me, every rehearsal has brought new perspectives on music and music-making, from his improvised warm-ups (they’re never the same, and I wouldn’t want to sing without them beforehand) to the discoveries and interplay we share in pieces that range from the 12th century to the present, spanning more than two dozen languages and both classical and folk disciplines. How does a conductor remain patient while incrementally yet continually raising the level, anyway? We were good to begin with, but now? It’s a much higher standard than we would have had any right to imagine.

One eye-opener for us was the opportunity to audition the four finalists from the applicants to succeed him. Each was assigned three pieces to introduce to us in an hour-long rehearsal – one from the Renaissance or earlier, one from the American shape-note tradition, and one from world folk. As we found, each conductor was quite different, having something unique to bring to us. We could also sense how the fit might or might not work, which in itself was a revelation.

What I can say is that we’re excited to know that what George has established will continue and grow. We’ve had an opportunity to rehearse a full session with our new music director, Megan Henderson, and it feels like a match made in heaven. But then, as she says, we all share one thing in common: we all love George. She understands what she’s inheriting.

He plans to focus on composing, but I can’t imagine he won’t be in demand for guest conducting or teaching or travel in the arts. We all wish him and Jan all the best.

~*~

To view a video tribute to George by Michael Kolowich, including an interview and footage of productions George conducted, go to Revels.org.