“We’re a land that prides itself on being ‘the land of the free and home of the brave.’ I believe that just as much as anyone else does. But for that, we need these different perspectives. We need to see how others think.”
“If we are a society that is suppressing art, we’re a society that is afraid of what it might reveal about itself. If we’re suppressing music, we’re suppressing emotions, we’re suppressing expression, we’re suppressing vulnerability, we’re suppressing the very essence of what makes us human. We are devaluing our own Humanity.” 18-year-old Harvard teenage musician, Rishab Jain
After winning a contest for teenage musicians, Rishab was barred from playing with the 227-year-old United States Marine Band (along with thirty other students). This activity was canceled under the Trump administration's executive order banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
I hear that many are decidedly against “DEI.” They have been taught that the actions under these three letters are something to fear. But let us not hide behind an anonymous-sounding acronym.
If this is you, please use the words and say what you mean. “I am against DIVERSITY. I am against EQUITY. I am against INCLUSIVITY.” Just know that when you say these words, you somehow believe that these teenage competitors have harmed you - or someone like you. The irony lies here: the enforcement of this Trumpian policy has effectively diminished and harmed every one of us.
We have the right to express opinions, at least for now. In that spirit, I have a new set of words to offer: Homogenous Authorities Terminating Essence. For the sake of the acronyms we love so much, we can refer to this as - H.A.T.E.
Who are we becoming? Did we vote - for this?
Does this ‘Make America Great Again’ mean that we destroy every beautiful thing we have ever accomplished as a society, culture, and country?
Does this new ‘Golden Age’ mean we now remove the safety net for the actual Golden Agers?
Is it now our policy to prohibit children from artistic performances because (let us be honest) they check the ‘wrong’ box on the Census Bureau’s “Social Definition” questionnaire?
Do we let food spoil in shipping containers and accept the deaths of foreign children as acceptable while proclaiming “Pro-Life” in our country? Is this because it is a waste of money to feed them? Or perhaps they are unable to pay us back for our ‘we are better than you’ generosity. Maybe these kids did not express a proper thank you the required number of times.
Do we align ourselves with those who wish to destroy our country against those who have stood with us for decades because of a business transaction mentality that rejects short-term losses in favor of long-term personal gain? How did we become so short-sighted? How did we become not just a me-first society, but an ‘only-me’ club with firm entrance approval requirements?
How will this soon-to-be golden age show up when we reject all that is good, wholesome, and right in ourselves, compatriots, friends, and even strangers we have yet to meet?
Was Shakespeare wrong?
“Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?” The Merchant of Venice.
Have we become a nation that pricks the stranger with oppression, persecution, and exploitation? Do we then provide a soothing remedy with a warm cup of hemlock?
“We’ve ended the tyranny of the so-called diversity, equity, and inclusion policies across the entire federal government and indeed the private sector, and our military and our country will be woke no more.” Donald J. Trump
In his own ugly, authoritarian, divisive words, he proclaims the Golden Age of HATE.
Well. I for one . . .
- Reject what we are becoming.
- Reject the purposeful destruction inflicted upon the lives of civil servants who worked only to make our lives better.
- Reject the lies and abominations inflicted on the immigrant communities who work hard to provide a good and stable home for their families – all the while paying taxes like every good American – EXCEPT for the billionaire class.
- Reject the audacity that proclaims we are better than every country on earth and that they (like us) are to kneel at the foot of a self-proclaimed king while kissing the ring.
- Reject the Freedom of Speech proclamations made by leaders who restrict the meaning to include ‘ONLY as long as you agree with us.’
- Reject capitulation while watching companies, law firms, judges, retailers, universities, nonprofits, and world leaders bend to the demands of an extortionist. Did we forget that emboldened bullies always double down on their bad behaviors? Do we not realize that when we consciously elect to ignore the basic tenets of extortion, we are never ‘off the hook’? The pressure that caused our initial capitulation returns repeatedly. The bully breaks his agreement and calls you weak while demanding even more.
- Reject the boasting of new empire-building imperialistic tendencies. I am not saying that we have been, in any way, a shining beacon for the world but let us be serious - Canada is not the 51st state. The same goes for Greenland, Panama, Gaza, or any other sovereign nation no matter how attractive the real estate might be.
- Reject elected officials of both parties who choose to allow the rule of law to be casually discarded to protect the Criminal in Office, who stand by watching the US Constitution be shredded, who leave their constituents alone to fight for themselves as they participate in the idol-worship of the Chief Intimidator because they’re afraid of a tweet. They have capitulated and, in every sense, walked away from the very job they were elected to do; Work for the benefit of “the People’ while defending the country from enemies, foreign and domestic.
- Reject a fear-based, self-centered, heartless, transaction-based society as forty-seven points us to a self-serving fairy-tale called the “Golden Age of Make America Great Again.”
- Reject this polished lie taking us toward a “Back to the Future” mirage of greatness while hiding the true destination reached in the echoes of past mistakes.
- Reject anything and anyone who diminishes our humanity.
I cannot stop typing - there is just so much to say!
I cannot stop my eyes from overflowing with tears as I watch the destruction imposed upon every citizen, every member of our society, every sovereign state, and every worthwhile human value that exists in the world today.
I cannot stop the worried heart that fears the future of my grandchildren.
I cannot stop the tears that started with the 60 Minutes video below.
But in the end, I saw what regular people can and will do when faced with an opportunity to create true wealth for humanity. It is not a tit-for-tat financial gain. It’s a generous hand-holding produced by self-giving musicians as they play instruments of competing and complimentary sounds coming together to create a moment of breathtaking beauty that is only possible, not by any one individual, but by the whole in a display of togetherness through an orchestra resounding with humanities love for each other.
A typo needs correcting. I realize that the title of this article is downright wrong.
This band of teenage musicians, this band of retired volunteer musicians, yes - this band of citizens (all of us), is NOT without a country.
These people ARE the country.
- This is what my (our) country looks like.
- This is what my (our) country sounds like.
My heart grew “Two Sizes” today (the Grinch is not the only one) with the realization that great people, compassionate people, loving people, will not let any bully destroy that which is good. I am grateful – and yes, even hopeful.
