As new accusers of nominated Supreme Court Judge, Brett Kavanaugh reveal themselves, I am blown away at the critics of their stories, primarily Republicans. But, first, let me back up.
Assault is assault. It's a criminal act of someone in power physically overpowering another individual as part of an act of malicious intent. The degree to which one is injured is irrelevant. The state of toxicity of the victim is irrelevant. The fact that the accused assailant was once a victim themselves is irrelevant. The fact is that someone is being wronged, and someone else is doing the deed.
With the first accuser of Kavanaugh, her credibility was immediately called into question. How can someone remember the details of something that happened so long ago? Why wasn't it pursued then? In my experience, high school is easy to remember, especially the negative. When I was a senior, I was working on an independent art study with two classmates, a black male classmate and a white female classmate. We were outside using a spray adhesive on an art project we were working on together when underclassmen who were black decided to harass us, question us, and ultimately spit on our art project. The fact that they were black is important, because my words to them after seeing them ruin our art were harsh: "instead of wasting my time in school walking the halls, I'm trying to get an education and have a future instead of deep frying chicken for a living." It was then that one of the three boys punched me in the jaw, and another punched me in the back of my head, before running off. Long story short, we got the teacher and I was able to identify one of my attackers for the vice principal who was overseeing the resolution to the altercation. He then told my mom and dad that I provoked the boys, and was to blame. The attackers weren't expelled and only one of the three received a suspension. And that was that. To the school, I was almost as guilty as the ones throwing the punches. It's true that I chose my words poorly, as referencing fried chicken could be interpreted as a racist slur. I admit that there were months when I questioned myself and the words I used. Why didn't I say "flipping burgers?" Regardless, I remember it all in vivid detail. That was in 1993, 25 years ago.
I'm sure that the words I used are different than the exact quote I've identified above. But, I remember the teacher and the fact that it was an independent study, the fact that one of the kids who hit me was an extremely light-skinned black boy, that the project was a play on the Beatles song "Blackbird" and that it was a book which incorporated pop-ups and spray painted feathers, and I can recall the doors we used to leave the High School to use the adhesive and the location of the art teacher's classroom...and its layout, and the fact that we had jazz playing in the background while we worked...
And to that point, these women who are coming forward can also recall a similar level of detail. It's possible. What's more, it's likely. And, they're not coming forward without risking anything. Yes, ultimately, the Democratic party is using their stories as a blunt physical instrument for stopping the nomination of an extremely conservative judge who has views of women that are not modern or scientifically accurate. You can argue with me on that point, however, the testimony of these women is inarguable. It is their truths and accusations...ones that, at the very least, require far more consideration than politics is allowing. I understand that once this nomination goes through, or doesn't, the casualties in this political fight will be these women. They get nothing from this process. They get to be used and bludgeoned by our bi-polar political system, and then left to fend for themselves amid accusations, death threats, and the potential for being sued themselves for libel.
There is no winning for these women. They will get nothing, and that has to make you think: why would they come forward with these allegations? How can we trust their words? It's simple, the events in the past that are now coming to light hold a special and very negative meaning for these women. This has impacted their entire lives since either witnessing debauchery at the hand of Kavanaugh, or being a victim his advances. It's not enough to point fingers at the Democrats accusing them of political motivations. That's why they were elected, to be political, same as the Republicans who are trying to get this done before the midterms.
It's true that there have been several nationally publicized sexual assault accusations that were proven to be fabricated. However, the number of forcible rape cases is on the rise in the United States. Since 2013 when it was 23.5 cases per 100,000, the number of cases has risen to 30.7 rapes per 100,000 people. That translates to over 99,000 cases in 2017. So, before you become political judge, jury and executioner yourself based on news headlines, take into account that not only are the accusations plausible, but they're likely.
Check these statistics from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and let's give due deference to these women's accusations for a man who may be presiding over cases pertaining to sexual assault and women's rights over the course of a lifetime appointment.
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Forgive Me
I have mixed emotions about the "celebration" of the Jewish holidays/Holydays. Mostly, this stems from my inability to rationalize organized religion. At its most intense, our fates and actions are either being controlled or judged (or both) by an ever-present deity or deities. In some religions, free will is wistful and wishful thinking. Your actions are merely an extension of the divine. What happens to you is predetermined. You are but players on the stage of life, acting out perfectly scripted roles.
In the most strict sense of Judaism, the Talmud (Jewish book of law) says that on Rosh Hashana, God inscribes everyone's name into one of three books. The righteous go into the Book of Life, the evil go into the Book of Death, and those in-between have judgment suspended until Yom Kippur. You best attone for your sins that God then writes your fate into the correct book.
Some liberal observations:
No one is 100% good or 100% evil;
Plenty of good people die which flies in the face of a literal interpretation;
By the same virtue, plenty of bad people survive to do horrendous things;
From a scientific vantage point, natural systems are both orderly and, at times, chaotic. Humans, being a part of nature, are no different, and our ability to correctly predict human actions, based on precedent, is immensely difficult if not impossible. Sometimes, the signs are there, whether we see them or not (Stoneman Douglas), and other times, we are caught completely unaware (Las Vegas).
"Sometimes the lights are shining on me, other times I can barely see."
My values, shaped by a Jewish upbringing, but firmly grounded in science, makes me continuously question the self-righteous actions performed by humans in the name of religion. I am no Zionist, and the recent nationalist actions of Israel make me sick, especially the bulldozing of settlements of HUMAN BEINGS in the West Bank. Similarly, it should be obvious that I have no love for the white-supremacist-accepting millionaire, Donald Trump. I don't believe the man is intentionally racist. I do believe that the man doesn't understand anyone without his ethnic and cultural background, and has no interest in trying to. Do I understand that Jewish people in the 1940s were targeted for eradication? Yes. Do I also understand that Israel was established to ensure that a permanent place was available for an outcast people? Yes. Do I also understand that Trump's enthusiasm for Israel may be based on his understanding that a monotheistic society/nation-state with a single dominant religion is possible and it fuels his desire to move the United States in that direction through walls and tariffs and travel bans, etc.? Did you know that "In God We Trust" was added to paper currency in 1957 to perpetuate the lies of McCarthyism? Did you also know that "under god" was added to the pledge at the same time for the same nationalistic reason?
While Trump's intentions may be pure conjecture on my part, the uncertainty of human actions makes this a difficult time to live with pure convictions. By that, I mean, we (everyone) need to relax our strict definitions of religious edict. We need to be more understanding that there's more than one way to achieve a goal, and that even the smartest of us can't solve our collective problems. Whether this is your holiday or not, take this week to look past the religious veneer of your neighbors. Until we stop caring whether someone has humbled themselves before an invisible god, or attended religious services at Yom Kippur, Easter or Christmas, or fasted during Ramadan, we are doomed to continue the divisiveness born from our collective ignorance. Because, ultimately, the message of all religions is the same: don't be a jerk, and if you were successful at not being a jerk today, then try again tomorrow, and make sure to thank the people who enrich your lives the most. The actions of your goodness speak the loudest, regardless of your upbringing, or your cultural habits, but it takes courage.
"If we had any nerve at all, if we had any real balls as a society, or whatever you need, whatever quality you need, real character, we would make an effort to really address the wrongs in this society, righteously." Jerry Garcia
While my "J" may be different than yours in "WWJD," their logic about humanity frequently overlapped. Because, as Buddha says "No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path."
In the most strict sense of Judaism, the Talmud (Jewish book of law) says that on Rosh Hashana, God inscribes everyone's name into one of three books. The righteous go into the Book of Life, the evil go into the Book of Death, and those in-between have judgment suspended until Yom Kippur. You best attone for your sins that God then writes your fate into the correct book.
Some liberal observations:
No one is 100% good or 100% evil;
Plenty of good people die which flies in the face of a literal interpretation;
By the same virtue, plenty of bad people survive to do horrendous things;
From a scientific vantage point, natural systems are both orderly and, at times, chaotic. Humans, being a part of nature, are no different, and our ability to correctly predict human actions, based on precedent, is immensely difficult if not impossible. Sometimes, the signs are there, whether we see them or not (Stoneman Douglas), and other times, we are caught completely unaware (Las Vegas).
"Sometimes the lights are shining on me, other times I can barely see."
My values, shaped by a Jewish upbringing, but firmly grounded in science, makes me continuously question the self-righteous actions performed by humans in the name of religion. I am no Zionist, and the recent nationalist actions of Israel make me sick, especially the bulldozing of settlements of HUMAN BEINGS in the West Bank. Similarly, it should be obvious that I have no love for the white-supremacist-accepting millionaire, Donald Trump. I don't believe the man is intentionally racist. I do believe that the man doesn't understand anyone without his ethnic and cultural background, and has no interest in trying to. Do I understand that Jewish people in the 1940s were targeted for eradication? Yes. Do I also understand that Israel was established to ensure that a permanent place was available for an outcast people? Yes. Do I also understand that Trump's enthusiasm for Israel may be based on his understanding that a monotheistic society/nation-state with a single dominant religion is possible and it fuels his desire to move the United States in that direction through walls and tariffs and travel bans, etc.? Did you know that "In God We Trust" was added to paper currency in 1957 to perpetuate the lies of McCarthyism? Did you also know that "under god" was added to the pledge at the same time for the same nationalistic reason?
While Trump's intentions may be pure conjecture on my part, the uncertainty of human actions makes this a difficult time to live with pure convictions. By that, I mean, we (everyone) need to relax our strict definitions of religious edict. We need to be more understanding that there's more than one way to achieve a goal, and that even the smartest of us can't solve our collective problems. Whether this is your holiday or not, take this week to look past the religious veneer of your neighbors. Until we stop caring whether someone has humbled themselves before an invisible god, or attended religious services at Yom Kippur, Easter or Christmas, or fasted during Ramadan, we are doomed to continue the divisiveness born from our collective ignorance. Because, ultimately, the message of all religions is the same: don't be a jerk, and if you were successful at not being a jerk today, then try again tomorrow, and make sure to thank the people who enrich your lives the most. The actions of your goodness speak the loudest, regardless of your upbringing, or your cultural habits, but it takes courage.
"If we had any nerve at all, if we had any real balls as a society, or whatever you need, whatever quality you need, real character, we would make an effort to really address the wrongs in this society, righteously." Jerry Garcia
While my "J" may be different than yours in "WWJD," their logic about humanity frequently overlapped. Because, as Buddha says "No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path."
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
The Shakedown
This Labor Day weekend was extremely busy, but also satisfying in several ways: Labor Day tradition (grilling) and familiar outcomes (Phish, music, ramen) spoke the loudest.
As happens every school year, my wife was deep in preparing both our family and her classroom for the first week of school. Quite typically this involves several days in the classroom at the end of the summer even before she officially reports for those no-children, in-service days her contract requires. There's a lot that goes on in that classroom before she's been blessed with around 20 children she'll be required to raise until June of 2019.
Before I get on with my own thoughts, my wife, and her colleagues across the United States will be your child's teacher, therapist, nutritionist, physical trainer, mentor, and, in worst-case scenarios, the first line of defense/first responder whenever something may go wrong for the next 9+ months. And, while her benefits package rivals the more generous ones in corporate America, her salary for someone who has their masters degree, several certifications, and 30 additional credits, is less than half of the take-home of those private industry execs who also have 20 exemplary years at their profession, not to mention that she's working for the same employer. So, add the characteristics of "undying dedication" and "loyalty" to her resume, traits that are deteriorating from work-forces around the country. Hell, they pay the garbage men more than what they pay the person who has volunteered to become a metaphorical and literal human shield for your child. On behalf of her and all of the teachers returning to work this week, you're welcome.
But I digress.
This past Saturday I had arranged for one of my oldest friends, G, to stop by and catch some of the simulcast Phish concert. He came bearing gifts. Firstly, he had mentioned a while ago that he had the opportunity to pick up Dark Star by the David Murray Octet for me. Would I be interested in a Dead-inspired jazz album? Yes please. Murray had played with the band in 1993 introducing a rabid fanbase to his jazz-inspired flourishes on Grateful Dead staples such as Bird Song and Dark Star playing his alto sax. This sits firmly in my wheelhouse of pre-approved music genres: the aforementioned album (Dark Star) is a creative and sometimes cheeky take on your typical Dead set with the eponymous track being the longest, again, strongly emulating what the Dead themselves would do. Speaking of which, the album opens with Shakedown Street, and then Bobby Weir, the rhythm freight train of the Grateful Dead plays on the last track of the album. The circle is complete.
Then, G says, "hey, whatchu know about String Cheese Incident." Told him that, my impression was that it was a jam band, similar to Umphrey's McGee in scope, but with more strings as the name would suggest. Maybe cheese? Told him I wasn't super aware of either. We resorted to the YouTube where we found this gem of a jam from Umphrey's. While it was playing in the background to our old-man-card-game, we continued our conversation, but every once in a while, this band got our attention, especially at 0:17:32 into the video. Holy cow. Unbridled rock. I think I need to do more homework.
Finally, G asks about my experience with Joe Russo's Almost Dead (JRAD). This is a band that's been on my radar for quite some time. The make-up of the band starts with drummer Joe Russo, and includes Ween's bassist Dave Dreiwitz, keyboardist Marco Benevento, Scott Metzger on guitar and vocals, and American Babies' Tom Hamilton on guitar and vocals. The Wife and I had seen Benevento and Russo play together as a duo, with Mike Gordon as a trio, and then with Mike Gordon and Trey Anastasio from Phish (G.R.A.B.?). By themselves, the Benevento/Russo Duo talent pool was deep already. Adding Hamilton, Metzger and Dreiwitz made for an almost certain slam dunk. But, what, you ask, do they play?
The goddam Grateful Dead...primarily.
Shortly after G's visit, he shot me a text with a link to Archive.Org, the end-all-be-all FREE music repository for legally recorded live music. The JRAD show G shared was a recent one from their appearance at the Jam-infused Lockn' Festival and was recorded live on 8/24/2018. Good god they're awesome. Jams are more serious than the proto-typical noodling of Jerry and Co. from the days of old. And, they don't just play the Dead, but, in this set they were able to mix in tracks from The Band and The Bard, and they infused the set with hints of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Earth Wind and Fire, and Radiohead. There's some serious talent going on. This iteration of this group has been playing since 2013 and are quickly becoming one of the shows I must see...especially if they cap their shows with Feel Like A Stranger into Shakedown Street and back into Feel Like A Stranger. Full show here.
Certainly I can't blame you with thinking that this post may have had something to do with either the President's crony's legal troubles, or the pending release of Bob Woodward's latest book "Fear." However, in times of insanity, of which there are many in this administration, I'm stealin' back to my same old used to be. In times of great turmoil, find comfort in familiar tradition. For me, that's getting my Shakedown on. Proof that I'm doing it right: when the song comes on in any of its many forms (jazz, cover, live recording or studio), both of my kids sing from the back seat. While teachers are the linchpin of our future, some lessons you gotta learn on your own...or from your dad. Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
As happens every school year, my wife was deep in preparing both our family and her classroom for the first week of school. Quite typically this involves several days in the classroom at the end of the summer even before she officially reports for those no-children, in-service days her contract requires. There's a lot that goes on in that classroom before she's been blessed with around 20 children she'll be required to raise until June of 2019.
Before I get on with my own thoughts, my wife, and her colleagues across the United States will be your child's teacher, therapist, nutritionist, physical trainer, mentor, and, in worst-case scenarios, the first line of defense/first responder whenever something may go wrong for the next 9+ months. And, while her benefits package rivals the more generous ones in corporate America, her salary for someone who has their masters degree, several certifications, and 30 additional credits, is less than half of the take-home of those private industry execs who also have 20 exemplary years at their profession, not to mention that she's working for the same employer. So, add the characteristics of "undying dedication" and "loyalty" to her resume, traits that are deteriorating from work-forces around the country. Hell, they pay the garbage men more than what they pay the person who has volunteered to become a metaphorical and literal human shield for your child. On behalf of her and all of the teachers returning to work this week, you're welcome.
But I digress.
This past Saturday I had arranged for one of my oldest friends, G, to stop by and catch some of the simulcast Phish concert. He came bearing gifts. Firstly, he had mentioned a while ago that he had the opportunity to pick up Dark Star by the David Murray Octet for me. Would I be interested in a Dead-inspired jazz album? Yes please. Murray had played with the band in 1993 introducing a rabid fanbase to his jazz-inspired flourishes on Grateful Dead staples such as Bird Song and Dark Star playing his alto sax. This sits firmly in my wheelhouse of pre-approved music genres: the aforementioned album (Dark Star) is a creative and sometimes cheeky take on your typical Dead set with the eponymous track being the longest, again, strongly emulating what the Dead themselves would do. Speaking of which, the album opens with Shakedown Street, and then Bobby Weir, the rhythm freight train of the Grateful Dead plays on the last track of the album. The circle is complete.
Then, G says, "hey, whatchu know about String Cheese Incident." Told him that, my impression was that it was a jam band, similar to Umphrey's McGee in scope, but with more strings as the name would suggest. Maybe cheese? Told him I wasn't super aware of either. We resorted to the YouTube where we found this gem of a jam from Umphrey's. While it was playing in the background to our old-man-card-game, we continued our conversation, but every once in a while, this band got our attention, especially at 0:17:32 into the video. Holy cow. Unbridled rock. I think I need to do more homework.
Finally, G asks about my experience with Joe Russo's Almost Dead (JRAD). This is a band that's been on my radar for quite some time. The make-up of the band starts with drummer Joe Russo, and includes Ween's bassist Dave Dreiwitz, keyboardist Marco Benevento, Scott Metzger on guitar and vocals, and American Babies' Tom Hamilton on guitar and vocals. The Wife and I had seen Benevento and Russo play together as a duo, with Mike Gordon as a trio, and then with Mike Gordon and Trey Anastasio from Phish (G.R.A.B.?). By themselves, the Benevento/Russo Duo talent pool was deep already. Adding Hamilton, Metzger and Dreiwitz made for an almost certain slam dunk. But, what, you ask, do they play?
The goddam Grateful Dead...primarily.
Shortly after G's visit, he shot me a text with a link to Archive.Org, the end-all-be-all FREE music repository for legally recorded live music. The JRAD show G shared was a recent one from their appearance at the Jam-infused Lockn' Festival and was recorded live on 8/24/2018. Good god they're awesome. Jams are more serious than the proto-typical noodling of Jerry and Co. from the days of old. And, they don't just play the Dead, but, in this set they were able to mix in tracks from The Band and The Bard, and they infused the set with hints of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Earth Wind and Fire, and Radiohead. There's some serious talent going on. This iteration of this group has been playing since 2013 and are quickly becoming one of the shows I must see...especially if they cap their shows with Feel Like A Stranger into Shakedown Street and back into Feel Like A Stranger. Full show here.
Certainly I can't blame you with thinking that this post may have had something to do with either the President's crony's legal troubles, or the pending release of Bob Woodward's latest book "Fear." However, in times of insanity, of which there are many in this administration, I'm stealin' back to my same old used to be. In times of great turmoil, find comfort in familiar tradition. For me, that's getting my Shakedown on. Proof that I'm doing it right: when the song comes on in any of its many forms (jazz, cover, live recording or studio), both of my kids sing from the back seat. While teachers are the linchpin of our future, some lessons you gotta learn on your own...or from your dad. Don't tell me this town ain't got no heart.
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