The
following is the blog post to accompany our May/June radio show, “Schmidt
Happens,” airing Saturday night 3 June 2017 at 8:43 PM, and again Sunday night 4 June at 8:03 PM on WBCA-LP 102.9 FM
Boston, hosted by Rosemary Schmidt and special guest host, Ellen Iorio.
Audio
Link via SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/rosemary-schmidt-673577789/schmidthappens20170531-may2017-38percent-take2-20170531-1937
Preface:
Writing purely on topics of public concern; never seditious; but strictly out
of the primacy of the concern for the health and very future of our democracy. This is another in a series of blogs that have
been looking to make sense and explain the inner workings and motivations
driving things behind the scenes at the White House.
It’s spring in New England, everything
is blooming, and there is so much beauty in the world. And yet, as Wonder Woman
says in the opening scene, “there is darkness in the lightness.”
Two quotes keep coming back to me:
“What kind of times are these, when to
talk about trees is almost a crime, because it implies silence about so many
horrors.”
~Bertold
Brecht
“Even more than bread, we now need
poetry, in a time when it seems that it is not needed at all.”
~Leopold Staff
The past several weeks have seen an
extraordinary number of bombings, attacks, deaths. There is so much sadness, so
much darkness in the world:
· ISIS
suicide bombing at Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, left 22 dead,
and over 100 injured (May 22, 2017).
· Many
more deaths, fighting, bombings --- Baghdad, Kabul, Mosul, Egypt…And now London, too. Standing strong w/ the U.K!
·
North
Korea continues its missile tests.
· Two
Good Samaritans killed, a third injured, standing up against a man making
racial slurs against two Muslim women on a train in Portland, Oregon (May 26,
2017).
This
is what patriots, real heroes, look like:
And
this is what the basket of deplorables looks like:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/05/30/portland-train-stabbing-suspect/353963001/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/05/30/portland-train-stabbing-suspect/353963001/
· Chechnya
leaders continue to roundup and torture gay men; 26 reported dead http://www.newsweek.com/chechnya-gay-purge-ramzan-kadyrov-russia-human-rights-616445
· “In
the Hall of the Mountain King” – Tells the story of finding a mountain full of
trolls inside and escaping.
· “The
Sorcerer’s Apprentice” – The Sorcerer leaves The Apprentice (where have I heard
that before?) in charge, and his spells run amok, causing chaos, as little
broomsticks fly about, until the Sorcerer returns to reverse the spell.
·
“Harry
Potter Symphonic Suite” – Classic battle between good and evil.
· “Waltz
of the Flowers” (from the Nutcracker) – The nutcracker becomes a man.
· “Stars
and Stripes Forever” – Our Democracy will endure.
· President
Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who was leading the investigation of
possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia (May 9, 2017). When I
noted that Trump wasn’t afraid to fire people, I was thinking of Steve Bannon,
not Comey!
· The
web of potential Russian links continues to spin and expand, with news that
Jared Kushner sought to establish a back-channel line of communication with the
Kremlin (May 26, 2017) and more recently expanded to include former campaign manager
Paul Manafort (June 2, 2017).
· President
Trump went on a nine-day overseas trip to meet with foreign leaders in Saudi
Arabia, Israel, the Vatican, Brussels (NATO) and Sicily (G7 talks) (May 19 –
27).
·
President
Trump pulls out of the Paris Climate Agreement (June 1, 2017)
What is most disturbing in all of
this, though, is the 38 percent of people who still approve of Trump. They
don’t care if he lies, they don’t understand or care how his policies will
affect them, or especially some of the most vulnerable populations.
Candidate Trump tapped into an
undercurrent, no, a deep groundwater aquifer, under pressure, artesian, and he
hit a gusher. For eight years, this portion of the population has felt unheard,
unrepresented, left out, and left behind. There is a lot of pent-up rage. And a
lot of what the liberals/progressives on the coasts celebrate goes against
their core values, and everything they have ever known and believe in.
Now the tables have been turned, and
their guy is in office, and the liberals are the ones who are upset, and on the
outside looking in.
It’s as if we are living in two
alternate realities, both worlds living independently in their echo chambers,
amplifying, repeating, and reinforcing their own views.
“Funny, everyone I follow on Twitter
and Facebook agree w/ me!”
This is not an original thought, many
others have been saying the same thing:
So, what do we do? I keep asking this
question, not because I know the answer, but because I am still trying to
figure out what we can do to make a difference.
We march. Women, Scientists, Arts,
Education, Peace… Millions of people are marching. This is great, I think, until
I read this little article about a social science study that found that during
group decision-making exercises, women and African Americans were viewed as
less influential when they got angry; the same did not apply to white men
(Salerno, et al, 2017).
So, when people saw all the women
marching in January, the day after the inauguration, what do you think they
saw? Millions of angry women. So, now, even if we are angry and want to be heard,
we need to be cheerful, or no one will listen to us!
It’s all about messaging, it really
is.
There is a fantastic article by
Professor George Lakoff on the importance of framing. He has also written a
bunch of books, too, on this same topic. The renewed focus on relating a
message to an audience’s worldview has re-energized this retired UC Berkeley
professor.
His point is simply that
liberals/progressives tend to be more cerebral: “I think therefore I am.”
However, as Professor Lakoff points out, voters are not that logical. They vote
based on values and what they believe. For them, replace “I think, therefore I
am” with “I feel, therefore I do.”
Ultimately, it comes down to being
able to see the world through another’s eyes, see and hear their reality, connect,
and see that we are all part of the same tapestry. To recognize the right to
coexist. To meet people where they are. Live
and let live. The loose translation of “Namaste” – “the light in me honors the
light in you.” The hardest thing in the world is to stay at the table and keep
talking and listening when people hold deeply opposing views.
Still, practically speaking, what do
we do?
We could move to other parts of the
country so we can vote in other states in the next election, especially the 2018
mid-term elections, to tilt the numbers. Probably not going to happen.
Maybe demographics will shift
naturally over time, as the population ages, and views are dominated more by
the Millenials who tend to be more liberal and voted for Bernie Sanders, caring
about such issues as civil rights, education, and climate change.
Maybe we just need the right leader
who could be a uniter and not a divider. Someone relatable. Someone who is
“good enough, smart enough, and doggone it, people like him.” Why not the
Honorable Al Franken? If he ran, I’d be willing to serve as Vice President,
because I do have a few ideas, and mostly because we would make a great team:
#FrankenSchmidt.
Here are just a few of my ideas:
· Retrain
workers left behind by the new tech economy; our STEM industries need a talent
stream in the pipeline. Make it socially acceptable for men to move into
healthcare jobs, historically considered women’s work, especially with the
aging Baby Boomers. The jobs of the future are in STEM and healthcare. https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2017/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future/pdf/science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-occupations-past-present-and-future.pdf
· The
shortage of qualified workers is already here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/06/02/jobs-data-could-signal-shortage-qualified-workers-hire/0tZ8OQZe0Iwv0OmlXnWAuK/story.html
· Make
the 36-hr work week the norm. The number one complaint from most workers is
stress. This would give employees an extra 4 hrs per week to do what they will,
spend time with family, or volunteering in their community. They would save on
commuting. Furthermore, this should technically create 10% more jobs, getting
more people off unemployment. My Dad and I have been talking about this idea
for several years now.
· Modify
unemployment benefits to help people transition into a working self-supported
status. Sometimes people can make more money by not working. People really do
want to work, feel useful, and feel like they’re contributing to society.
·
Lastly,
semi-commercialize the US Postal Service, and add coffee shops to each Post
Office. This would create a community
gathering place, a place to write letters, and would probably be far more
profitable than the actual shipping side of things. The coffee shops would be
called: Postal Roasters!
You can call me, Al!
And I’ll have to check out his latest
book: Al Franken, Giant of the Senate.
Plus it will make the perfect Father’s
day gift.
And, just for the record: those mantras
really do work!
https://www.wsj.com/articles/one-habit-to-make-you-happier-today-1494259324?mod=e2tw
Post-Script
The opening chords this time truly
should not be recognizable, as they’re an original work, versus all the other
show intros where the song may have been rendered unrecognizable by my limited guitar
skills. Maybe Jumana will bring her ukulele and play sometime. The guitar intro
is really a nod to the movie, “Wayne’s World,” and what two guys (or gals) with
a guitar and a makeshift recording studio can do! The movie is celebrating its
25th anniversary. The movie was ostensibly set in Aurora, Illinois, and Wayne
and Garth’s show was on the semi-fictional WPWR station. (There really was a TV
station in Aurora called WPWR back in the day!)
Ironically, Aurora was recently named
one of the most diverse cities, and the best place to live the American dream,
with the potential for upward mobility despite modest beginnings.
At the same time, Aurora is facing its
challenges, and is a bit of a study in contradictions. Just announced in March,
Caterpillar is closing its Aurora plant, and cutting 800 jobs. Just like
everywhere else, those jobs have sailed.
Ironically, just weeks later
Caterpillar profits were reported to be up, way up, “smashing
expectations.” What will those laid off
union workers do? Where will they find their next job? And how many of them voted
for Trump?
This is a city that knows how to land
on its feet, though. Wayne and Garth will carry on!
Songs
For The Day:
Couldn’t resist: “You Can Call Me Al,”
by Paul Simon
https://youtu.be/ULjCSK0oOlI
Check out the Reading Symphony
Orchestra, now in their 85th year! Amazing talent outside 128, close
your eyes and they will transport you. I would match them bow-to-bow with any
big-city orchestra. They might be defined as amateurs, playing solely for the
love of the music, and that passion comes through. Bravo!
Get your tickets for the 2017-2018 season now before they run out!
On the ying-yang of lightness & darkness: "Counting Stars," by One Republic
https://youtu.be/hT_nvWreIhg
For the U.K.:
"In The Sun," by Joseph Arthur, sung by Michael Stipe and Chris Martin:
https://youtu.be/3U7aL3DHD_s
"May God's love be with you always."
Movie Recommendations:
Wonder Woman, of course, now in theaters everywhere.
The Internship, which will be on TV Thursday night, June 8th, at 5:30 PM on FX.
Mark
your calendars:
· May
26th marked the beginning of Ramadan, a month-long time of fasting
and prayers. Ramadan Mubarak to those celebrating!
·
June
2 – Wonder Woman opened at the box office. We need a hero!
· June
4 – Special performance by the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, celebrating its 35th
anniversary, with a show at Symphony Hall. For details, see: www.bgmc.org
· June
10 – Boston Gay Pride Parade
· June
18 – Father’s Day, don’t forget Dad!
· July
15 – Speaking of poetry – Calling all poets! The first-ever Poetry Night,
“Words Change Everything,” will be held at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley,
MA. For details: https://tickets.bullrunrestaurant.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=771
· Walk
For Education, United Negro College Fund (UNCF), October 14, 2017
Coming
Next:
We’ll be taking a little break from
the radio show over the summer, but we plan to be back on the air in September.
I’ll post blogs as topics come to me. Maybe we’ll even talk about something
other than politics this fall, such as matters pertaining to public health: health
insurance and the Affordable Health Care Act, concussions, stress, water
quality, antibiotics, the microbiome, nutritional supplements, and diet.
See you in September!
WBCA is a community radio station
sponsored by the Boston Neighborhood Network, and is on the air from 6 PM to 2
AM each night. Jumana Hashim is a current member of Beantown Women’s Rugby
Club, while Rosemary, aka Rosebud, Schmidt has been retired a few years.
References
Bernstein, Elizabeth. 2017. One Habit
to Make You Happier Today. The Wall
Street Journal. May 8, 2017.
Boak, Josh. 2017. Job data suggest
worker shortage. The Boston Globe. June
3, 2017.
Fayer, Stella, Alan Lacey, and Audrey
Watson. 2017. STEM Occupations: Past, Present, and Future. U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics. January 2017.
Franken, Al. 1992. I’m Good Enough, I’m Smart Enough, and
Doggone It, People Like Me! New York: Dell Publishing.
Franken, Al. 2017. Al Franken, Giant of the Senate. New
York: Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Hessan, Dianne. 2017. The multiple
personalities of the American voter. The
Boston Globe. May 30, 2017.
Hogan, Mark. 2017. Caterpillar smashes
expectations, raises forecast; shares jump. CNBC.com. April 25, 2017.
Lakoff, George. 2006. Thinking Points: Communicating Our American
Values and Vision. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.
Lakoff, George. 2004 and 2014. The All New Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know
Your Values and Frame the Debate. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green
Publishing.
Lakoff, George, and Elisabeth Wehling.
2012. The Little Blue Book: The Essential
Guide to Thinking and Talking Democratic. New York: Free Press, a Division
of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Lord, Steve. 2017. Aurora named one of America’s most diverse cities. The Beacon-News. May 4, 2017.
Perez, Lauren. 2017. The Best Cities
for Living the American Dream in 2017. SmartAsset.com. May 23, 2017.
Salerno, Jessica M., Liana C.
Peter-Hagene, and Alexander C.V. Jay. 2017. Women and African Americans are
less influential when they express anger during group decision-making. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations.
May 16, 2017.
White, Daphne. 2017. Berkeley author
George Lakoff says, ‘Don’t underestimate Trump.’ Berkeleyside.com. May 2, 2017.
Yerak, Becky. 2017. Caterpillar to
close Aurora plant, cut 800 jobs. The
Chicago Tribune. March 31, 2017.
©
2017 Rosemary A. Schmidt
Rose
Schmidt is the author of “Go Forward, Support! The Rugby of Life” (Gainline
Press 2004). The views expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do
not reflect the views of any other agency or organization. Use of individual
quotes with proper citation and attribution, within the limits of fair use, is
permitted. If you would like to request permission to use or reprint any of the
content on the site, please contact me. Twitter: Rosebud@GainlineRS
Radio
Broadcast © 2017 Jumana Hashim and Ellen Iorio and Rosemary Schmidt. For
permission to re-print or re-broadcast the radio shows, please contact the
radio hosts and/or WBCA-LP 102.9 FM Boston for permission. The views expressed
in the radio broadcast are those of the hosts, and not any other agency, entity
or organization. Every effort has been made to give proper credits and
citations for material quoted/cited. Any errors or omissions are not
intentional and every effort will be made to make corrections as soon as they
are brought to our attention.
Mission
Statement: To Educate, Inform, Entertain, Inspire, and Open Minds.
(E.I.E.I.O.M.)
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