Music

I’d like to write this morning about music. All music. Music is an expression of the soul. It is the melody of the spirit as experienced in the mind of creation and shared by the sensitivity of sound.

Classical music generally is in financial trouble. It needs help, not only from the cities that encourage it, but also from the unions and managements, but also especially from people who appreciate the healing qualities of music and who see the sharing benefit that a concert brings to a community.

Music is a reminder of our harmonic connection to grace, to nature, to each other and to the infinite melodies of the universe. A symphony is a visual and audible link between the spirit of a community and the Divine.

Modern music as delineated as Pop, Rock, Country, Alternative, New Age and even Acid is a connection in appreciation to a deeper part of one’s being. Only the young usually appreciate new expressions of sound for they are new to this earthly density and form and are attuned to the higher vibrations of precipitated creations.

All compositions, both those of the great masters, as well as modern lyricists and composters, calm the turmoil of the heart and body and soothe the worries and pains of daily life for they transport us to another place. A place of peace and wonder and sometimes a place away from a place that we don’t want to be.

Music cultivates the intellect, echo’s the longing of the heart and embraces the sustaining spirit of wonder  into a synergy with the sacred and through its vibration a new understanding of the glories of life emerge.

Appreciation from an audience is the gift you give back to the artist. Purchasing product and ticket attendance support is a gift you give the gifted and the future. It is an essential modality for a civic soul and a young spirit to expand and someday they blend into ONE.

No one can live without music and no one should.

May I have some more, Please?

                              Ok, here is what I learned yesterday on a number of news outlets.

 

“General Motors Co. by the end of the week will outline plans to draw down more U.S. government money it will use to aid Delphi Automotive LLP and also give an update on a closely watched escrow account of its bailout funds, according to several people familiar with the matter.

GM's additional borrowing will mostly be limited to Delphi's funding needs and is expected to be north of $2.5 billion, based on prior announcements.”

Delphi was formerly owned by GM and is a key GM supplier.

GM is promoting this to happen. It’s obvious. If Delphi goes belly up so does GM.

So GM goes to Uncle Sam for billions more.

While you think about that; perhaps you watched the World Series game last night and noticed that Chevrolet, a GM product, was sponsoring part of the telecast of the game.

It’s a guess, but some limited research suggests that a thirty second commercial would run just over $400-thousand on network television.

Here’s my question. If GM is going to the government for billions more of taxpayer  money why are they spending that kind of capitol to co-sponsor a game? I understand they need to advertise, but at that cost?

Lighten Up!

When I started writing these sometimes quasi and often direct commentaries I decided that I would try to offer an alternative way of looking at issues, events, situations, and happenings.

It was important to me that I did not always attack, but that I could find a common ground, a dispassionate place in between verbal critique and passive tolerance in which all of us could dwell for discussion, dissemination and positive direction.

Sometimes I found it, most often not, but the understanding is in the attempt, not necessarily in the success.

A couple of items came across my desk this week, which both try my understanding and my tolerance. Let me present them to you for your consideration.

Item # 1:

A bus driver in Illinois was suspended from his job because he wore a pink necktie to show support for his sister and grandmother who both battled breast cancer. Officials of the bus company said any deviation out of uniform must be approved in advance.

Come on bus company executives! Where is your common sense? You should be delighted this guy is participating in a public cause and is community minded enough to encourage others to support the cause to fight breast cancer.

This is a case of AUTHORITY gone amok.

Item # 2:

I say at the outset that the Hispanic culture is noble and honorable and worthy of its inherent grace, but sometimes, as is the case with all cultures, races and religions, some people are so super sensitive that they can’t see the light through the light.

Halloween is this Friday. Recently three big companies who sell costumes pulled one outfit from their shelves. It was a costume called, “illegal alien.”

It had a space-alien mask and a green card attacked.

A Latino organization objected saying, “it mocks hard working individuals trying to make a better life…” their objection didn’t mention the word, “Latino,” though that clearly was the reference.

I am hard pressed to see where it might offend some, and like the missing common sense of the bus executives, these overly sensitive people and organizations need to lighten up and enjoy life in all its forms. I do understand there are some phrases and actions that offend. I don't think this is one of them.

Characterization will never diminish character. Humor, by its inherent nature, brings authority to the low and that is often a good thing for too often we take ourselves too seriously and make our organizations, instead of our hearts, the arbiter of what is right.

Holiday

Good Morning,

I've declared today a holiday for me. It doesn't mean I'm not thinking about a blog. It means, I'm thinking about just being. Not becoming! Not anything before. Just BEING.

Join me and I'll see you later in the NOW of the moment.

RGS

btw:  Thank you for tuning in from time to time.

Poetry Reprise

Some thoughts on poetry.

Poetry is my avocation, my passion.

You might rightfully ask what inspires a semi-retired broadcast journalist to dwell in a poetic world. The quick answer is a balance to the daily tragedy of life. The long answer involves acknowledging the heart, spirit, and nature and the peace that comes from that awareness.

Each day contains many of the sorrowful and tragic stories of life. Emphasis is placed on information that separates our unique, yet interconnected, human nature into undesirable parts. We label them as hate, prejudice, violence, intolerance, and greed.

Poetry, whether it's rap or metered verse, quatrains or sonnets, laughs and cries, clarifies and condemns and brings the intellectual and emotional senses into a radiating body of meaningful words.

Poetry holds, sometimes forever, an emotion long past, a desire forgotten, a wish remembered or a splendor that’s vanished in the illusion of time. It is also a minute connection to the elegance of verbal choice, to the beauty of form and to the emotion of words put fitly together on the palate of the mind.

Poetry is both raw and sophisticated art available to the reader and listener as a subjective creation similar to the appreciation found in images created in oil or marble.

To me poetic word creations in whatever form they take, is love at its purist verbal level.

Bail Out Compensation

Here was the story on CNN.

"NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Washington launched its biggest offensive yet against runaway Wall Street pay practices Thursday, taking aim at everyone from senior executives to high-flying traders of complex securities.

Leading the charge was the White House, which outline a series of drastic pay cuts for top executives at the nation's biggest bailed-out companies, including AIG, Citigroup and Bank of America."

Note: These guys got millions in taxpayer bailout money, but have yet to pay a cent back.

Here’s my question and probably the question of all taxpayers who bailed out these guys last year.  Did they really think they could get away with this?

Something is terribly wrong with their personal ethics and corporate missions when these allegedly intelligent bankers, traders and brokers think our money is free and because it comes from the largess of government they can pay themselves exorbitant salaries, bonuses and financial perks.

Hey…WALL STREET, get a life.

There is not a single average wage earner in America today that thinks like your ego. Your audacity degrades the free enterprise system and you should bow your heads in permanent disgrace as a recompense for your arrogance.

Perhaps we should bring back the colonial pillory and place it next to the bull on Wall Street where the tossed rotten tomatoes of greed can cover your shame.

Believe it or not WALL STREET you are not that good at what you do.

Some suggest that an unintended consequence of a government finance czar cutting salaries and bonuses is that the top earners will go elsewhere. GO!

Most of you were at the helm when your companies had to be bailed out. Put that in your resume.

I am tired of both you and congress for swindling the taxpayer and getting away with it. YES, you too congress. Look at your perks, your earmarks to spending bills, and your junkets. Come on! In the next election I am voting for anyone who’s never been there.

Bill Of Rights

Bill Of Rights

© 2009  Rolland G Smith

I looked upon a bill today

And I was taken by surprise.

It had no stamp to mark as paid,

And never will and that is wise.

The items were of noble thought.

Ten items all and in a row,

And numbered in the Roman way

From I to X in even flow.

The first one was about some things,

We rarely give a thought about.

The right to faith and gathered groups

And saying things by speaking out.

Protection was next on the list

And barring arms, if so you choose.

It talked about militias too

So no one’s freedom is abused.

The third one had to do with force.

Of soldiers living in your space.

It could not be without consent

Unless the law does grant the grace.

The fourth one had to do with search

Of you, your home and papers too

Unless there is a reasoned cause

That law and man can’t misconstrue.

The fifth one was a longer one

Dealing with one’s self-conviction.

All have the right to talk or not

When accused of malediction.

The next one dealt with one's arrest

And a quick and speedy trial.

The right to counsel was there too

To tell the court of one’s denial.

The seventh was a master one.

In all the suits of common law

Your peers decide your truth or not.

No court can change what juries saw.

The eighth is one of great import

To keep us from excessive fines,

Or cruel unusual punishment

If we’re convicted of a crime.

The ninth is all about the rights

Set in the Constitution’s list.

But even rights not listed there

Are equal and both coexist.

Ten talks about THE DOCUMENT

And if the wording is not there

The states and people keep the rights

So that there is a balance fair.

No money pays this sacred bill

The rights are free and can’t be bought

They’re guarantees for one and all

Paid by the blood from those who fought.