Sometimes when the country is in an ugly mood, as it is now, it is hard to find words that can urge reason. Elected officials and sensible voters lend their patronage to organizations that espouse fanaticism, misinformation and calls for violence. What to do? I went to the Internet to find what three of my favorite American Philosophers had to say about all this to their fellow citizens.
From Will Rogers, born on a large ranch in the Cherokee Nation, now known as Oologah, Oklahoma: "We elect our Presidents, be they Republican or Democrat, then start daring 'em to make good."
From Mark Twain, son of Missouri: "Where prejudice exists, it always discolors our thoughts."
From Yogi Barri, born here in St.Louis, dealing with the jealousy that losing sometimes produces: " You wouldn't have won if we had beaten you."
Maybe a rereading of Roger, Twain and Barri, could help us understand what we are doing to ourselves as a nation when we resort to threats and violence.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
READING BODY LANGUAGE
Much is said about the importance of understanding and using body language in communications. For all of its importance, I sometimes find myself unwittingly mislead by it.
A newly wed couple live down the hall from me. He is a medical resident. She is a computer programmer. On some mornings, we meet each other on the way to work. Most of the time, they come down the hall with a light step and walking very close to each other. One morning,I noticed that they walked down the hall as if they did not know each other. Their shoulders were heavy with what I assumed must have been the weight of an argument. One walked behind the other. Their body language communicated, they were a troubled couple.
Later I learned that both had a week of exhausting heavy work that they brought home with them. My assumption based on their body language was totally wrong. It was then that I thought of an old professor of mine, admonishing me before I wrote anything to verify, verify, verify. Would that today's news pundits did the same!
A newly wed couple live down the hall from me. He is a medical resident. She is a computer programmer. On some mornings, we meet each other on the way to work. Most of the time, they come down the hall with a light step and walking very close to each other. One morning,I noticed that they walked down the hall as if they did not know each other. Their shoulders were heavy with what I assumed must have been the weight of an argument. One walked behind the other. Their body language communicated, they were a troubled couple.
Later I learned that both had a week of exhausting heavy work that they brought home with them. My assumption based on their body language was totally wrong. It was then that I thought of an old professor of mine, admonishing me before I wrote anything to verify, verify, verify. Would that today's news pundits did the same!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
CHICKENS AND KING SOLOMON
Clayton is a suburban community in St. Louis' Central West End. It has its own government which is run by a Board of Aldermen . Because of neighborly disputes, the Board is trying to come up with a new "chicken ordinance." The last one was written 40 years ago and does not provide standards, procedures for obtaining permits, or inspection of chicken coops.
Clayton seems to be reflecting a national trend to raise chickens in urban environments . If a community does not have a chicken ordinance, it could be in for a long siege of public hearings with growing numbers of pro and anti chicken advocates, neighbors shouting at each other, carrying signs, and live chickens prancing about to display their healthy estrogen to all.
In the Bible, King Solomon is depicted as a wise King able to solve difficult disputes. The chicken dispute unfolding in Clayton may need a King Solomon to resolve wisely, especially about Roosters and their early morning wake-up calls.
Clayton seems to be reflecting a national trend to raise chickens in urban environments . If a community does not have a chicken ordinance, it could be in for a long siege of public hearings with growing numbers of pro and anti chicken advocates, neighbors shouting at each other, carrying signs, and live chickens prancing about to display their healthy estrogen to all.
In the Bible, King Solomon is depicted as a wise King able to solve difficult disputes. The chicken dispute unfolding in Clayton may need a King Solomon to resolve wisely, especially about Roosters and their early morning wake-up calls.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
MOSCOW SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra played Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy here in St. Louis early in March. The program was held in the Cathedral Basilica. For me it was quite an experience.
The Orchestra's musicians tried their best to coax their score into the high domes of the Cathedral. None the less, one could almost imagine William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the ill fated lovers in the huge space. The marble columns, altars laid with one of the world's largest collections of mosaics, the statuary, and the nooks and crannies provided a sense that we were not that far removed in time.
The Pews that served as our seats were hard. The floor was cold. But the violinist chased the discomfort away with a flourish of her bow. The musician's youth and vigor seemed to overcome the vast space and the audience responded in kind to Tchaikovsky's musical tribute to Russian life.
The Orchestra's musicians tried their best to coax their score into the high domes of the Cathedral. None the less, one could almost imagine William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the ill fated lovers in the huge space. The marble columns, altars laid with one of the world's largest collections of mosaics, the statuary, and the nooks and crannies provided a sense that we were not that far removed in time.
The Pews that served as our seats were hard. The floor was cold. But the violinist chased the discomfort away with a flourish of her bow. The musician's youth and vigor seemed to overcome the vast space and the audience responded in kind to Tchaikovsky's musical tribute to Russian life.
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