Last year, when the NFL underwent a lockout that threatened to close down the season, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, even while dealing with his wife's terminal illness, stepped in and engineered an agreement. So, here we have the NFL in 2012, and the referees cannot come to an agreement with the league, which has gone out and hired the worst group of replacement referees imaginable, from Division 2 and 3 college programs.
They don't know the rules, they are heavily influenced by the coaches and the crowds, and they blow about 50% of the calls--that is no exaggeration. Either that or they make no calls, allowing the games to more resemble hockey than football, with repeated fights breaking out.
We're three weeks into the season, and I've watched too many of these games. It is painful...I'd rather they stopped playing altogether than continue with this farce. I'm begging you, Mr. Kraft, to work your magic again and get the NFL refs back to work. Otherwise, I will stop watching, as will millions of other viewers who feel ripped off by a sport which the league is allowing to fall apart.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Message for a Post-9/11 World
For the past 10 years, I've included a message in our Passover seders about 9/11, and I figured that today is a good day to post a version of it on my blog, so here it is:
September 11th. The image of large planes crashing into giant buildings leaps into our collective visual memory.
That a few lost lunatics could have such a dour impact on the world is almost unfathomable. It sickens us, it scares us, and it makes us wonder what kind of hold a belief can have on people’s minds to cause them to have so little regard for the lives of themselves and others.
We have no answers. We don’t even know what question to ask. Because by asking the question, we admit that it’s possible for humankind to be so wrong. Maybe we thought it ended with the Ice Age or the Dark Ages. Perhaps we assumed it had been killed with Hitler in the bunker. But the dominant feature is its resiliency. Evil waits for its moment.
That’s why it's important to remember where we came from and understand each other. The true message of any religion is the importance of spirituality in our lives. Without it, we are little more than soulless mammals on the cool wet surface of a massive ball of molten lava. With it, we can all be angels, basking in the glow of tolerance and peace.
September 11th. The image of large planes crashing into giant buildings leaps into our collective visual memory.
That a few lost lunatics could have such a dour impact on the world is almost unfathomable. It sickens us, it scares us, and it makes us wonder what kind of hold a belief can have on people’s minds to cause them to have so little regard for the lives of themselves and others.
We have no answers. We don’t even know what question to ask. Because by asking the question, we admit that it’s possible for humankind to be so wrong. Maybe we thought it ended with the Ice Age or the Dark Ages. Perhaps we assumed it had been killed with Hitler in the bunker. But the dominant feature is its resiliency. Evil waits for its moment.
That’s why it's important to remember where we came from and understand each other. The true message of any religion is the importance of spirituality in our lives. Without it, we are little more than soulless mammals on the cool wet surface of a massive ball of molten lava. With it, we can all be angels, basking in the glow of tolerance and peace.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Letter to the Boy Scouts
David Steakley and his family have been like our extended family for the past 26 years, since shortly after we moved to Framingham. We have watched Dave grow up, and we attended his Eagle Scout ceremony, as well as several other events, including his wedding last year.
Recently, Dave wrote an amazing letter to the Boy Scouts of America, and he gave me permission to post it on this blog. I hope it impresses you as much as it does me. Feel free to share it with your friends, because it carries a message that we should not ignore.
July 24, 2012
Boy Scouts of America
1325 Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
To Bob Mazzuca, Wayne Brock and the Board of Directors of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America,
My name is David Steakley and I am writing to implore that you to reconsider your recent decision to continue to ban the participation of gay youth and adult leaders from Scouting.
I earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2003 with Troop 78 in Framingham, Massachusetts and the Knox Trail Council. I was a member of the Order of the Arrow, worked as a counselor for numerous summers at my council’s summer camp, and was a very active scout for a number of years. Scouting still occupies a cherished space in my life and I hope someday to participate in scouting with my own children.
I am not gay, but I am deeply troubled that an organization that acts as a force for good in the lives of so many young men can actively choose to continue a punitive and discriminatory policy. My experiences as a scout were some of the most important moments in my life. These experiences helped to mold me into the confident, productive adult and citizen of the community, the nation and the world that I am today. Above all, I learned that hard work and difficult tasks in service of others is a noble goal, and that boys and men must lead by example to make their communities a better place for everyone.
For these reasons, I cannot understand BSA’s decision to deny these opportunities to boys and families solely based on their sexual orientation. The BSA promotes diversity and makes space for everyone in all other areas; why not this one? Every merit badge book inclusively pictures boys of every race. It would be laughable to exclude boys or their families based on race or religion. It is similarly absurd to exclude them based on whom they love.
The BSA prides itself on fostering the ethic of service for the good of the community. What better example could the adult men in charge of the BSA demonstrate then by making the hard choice of helping these boys and their families find acceptance in the same way as everyone else? Certain members of the community will not be comfortable with this policy change, but change and personal growth are often uncomfortable. The results, however, are worth it. The Scout Oath says, “On my honor I will do my best …to help other people at all times”. Scouting should act as a leader encouraging its participants to become better people and to grow, not allow them to hide behind an institutional policy that discriminates against its own members to escape that growth. If this policy were to change tomorrow a new generation of boys would grow up to learn that gay men and women are no different than their peers. The BSA could again be a driver of meaningful social change in America.
In taking a pragmatic approach, I pose these questions: Will the BSA find itself on the right side of history with this choice? How will you reflect on this policy in 15 or 20 years? Will you be proud that you stood in the way of social progress and made the lives of these boys and their families more difficult than they already were? It is obvious that with time the public will rightly come to accept that gay people deserve to be treated with equity. Rather than standing in the way of this change why not embrace it and be on the morally just side of history and known as an organization that can be counted on for true social leadership. The real morally straight position on this issue is to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, regardless of sexual orientation.
Please do the right thing and reevaluate this policy as scouts, adults, and leaders of boys.
With hope for change,
David Steakley
Recently, Dave wrote an amazing letter to the Boy Scouts of America, and he gave me permission to post it on this blog. I hope it impresses you as much as it does me. Feel free to share it with your friends, because it carries a message that we should not ignore.
July 24, 2012
Boy Scouts of America
1325 Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079
To Bob Mazzuca, Wayne Brock and the Board of Directors of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America,
My name is David Steakley and I am writing to implore that you to reconsider your recent decision to continue to ban the participation of gay youth and adult leaders from Scouting.
I earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2003 with Troop 78 in Framingham, Massachusetts and the Knox Trail Council. I was a member of the Order of the Arrow, worked as a counselor for numerous summers at my council’s summer camp, and was a very active scout for a number of years. Scouting still occupies a cherished space in my life and I hope someday to participate in scouting with my own children.
I am not gay, but I am deeply troubled that an organization that acts as a force for good in the lives of so many young men can actively choose to continue a punitive and discriminatory policy. My experiences as a scout were some of the most important moments in my life. These experiences helped to mold me into the confident, productive adult and citizen of the community, the nation and the world that I am today. Above all, I learned that hard work and difficult tasks in service of others is a noble goal, and that boys and men must lead by example to make their communities a better place for everyone.
For these reasons, I cannot understand BSA’s decision to deny these opportunities to boys and families solely based on their sexual orientation. The BSA promotes diversity and makes space for everyone in all other areas; why not this one? Every merit badge book inclusively pictures boys of every race. It would be laughable to exclude boys or their families based on race or religion. It is similarly absurd to exclude them based on whom they love.
The BSA prides itself on fostering the ethic of service for the good of the community. What better example could the adult men in charge of the BSA demonstrate then by making the hard choice of helping these boys and their families find acceptance in the same way as everyone else? Certain members of the community will not be comfortable with this policy change, but change and personal growth are often uncomfortable. The results, however, are worth it. The Scout Oath says, “On my honor I will do my best …to help other people at all times”. Scouting should act as a leader encouraging its participants to become better people and to grow, not allow them to hide behind an institutional policy that discriminates against its own members to escape that growth. If this policy were to change tomorrow a new generation of boys would grow up to learn that gay men and women are no different than their peers. The BSA could again be a driver of meaningful social change in America.
In taking a pragmatic approach, I pose these questions: Will the BSA find itself on the right side of history with this choice? How will you reflect on this policy in 15 or 20 years? Will you be proud that you stood in the way of social progress and made the lives of these boys and their families more difficult than they already were? It is obvious that with time the public will rightly come to accept that gay people deserve to be treated with equity. Rather than standing in the way of this change why not embrace it and be on the morally just side of history and known as an organization that can be counted on for true social leadership. The real morally straight position on this issue is to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, regardless of sexual orientation.
Please do the right thing and reevaluate this policy as scouts, adults, and leaders of boys.
With hope for change,
David Steakley
Friday, June 22, 2012
No Compromise
Throughout our nation’s history, there have been rancorous
divides between political parties, with one party using filibusters,
parliamentary tactics, media pronouncements, and even impeachment as tools in
its attempts to thwart the efforts of another.
But when it comes down to it, common sense usually prevails, and aside
from the Civil War, politicians have been willing to reach some form of consensus
for the good of the country. After all,
despite their political pandering, most people in public office want to do what
is right…at least that’s what I have always believed.
Now, I’m not so sure, because there are movements afoot to quash any candidate or office-holder who is willing to compromise with his or her political opponents. Recently, members of the Tea Party succeeded in convincing a fickle electorate to defeat Senator Richard Lugar, primarily because of his propensity to compromise. They almost defeated Orrin Hatch for the same reason. As a backlash, there is a movement brewing in Democratic circles to tell President Obama to adopt a policy of “no compromise with the Tea Party.”
If the old maxim is true that “an eye-for-eye and tooth-for-tooth would lead to a world of the blind and toothless,” then it only seems reasonable that continued pronouncements of “no compromise” will eventually lead to no communication at all. When the famous Senator Henry Clay was referred to as the “great compromiser” in the early 1800s, the term “great” was not being used sarcastically. In fact, many believe that without Clay, the nation would have fallen apart way before the Civil War, and may not have been able to recover. It’s not coincidental that he died eight years before that war began.
As a more recent example, it seems clear that were it not for the efforts of Senators like Edward Kennedy and Orrin Hatch working their respective sides of the aisle, many of the successes of the past 50 years might not have occurred. Now those senators, and others like them, are either dead, defeated, or aging, and those coming behind them seem to offer a different take on the nature of consensus.
I am currently torn as to whether or not to vote for Scott Brown, if for no other reason than he seems willing to compromise. But if his election will provide more power to other Republicans more strident in their beliefs, he may have to be a casualty. I’m waiting for the Massachusetts Senate debates to learn if Elizabeth Warren will be open to hearing all sides of an issue before making a decision. While I agree with her on many issues, I will not vote for her if I believe her election will lead to greater divisiveness.
So what I am proposing is that reasonable people make this their litmus test: if a candidate is willing to compromise, even slightly, for the good of the country, and he or she demonstrates that willingness in action, that candidate should be worthy of consideration at the ballot box. If not, we may be headed down a path from which there is little redemption.
Now, I’m not so sure, because there are movements afoot to quash any candidate or office-holder who is willing to compromise with his or her political opponents. Recently, members of the Tea Party succeeded in convincing a fickle electorate to defeat Senator Richard Lugar, primarily because of his propensity to compromise. They almost defeated Orrin Hatch for the same reason. As a backlash, there is a movement brewing in Democratic circles to tell President Obama to adopt a policy of “no compromise with the Tea Party.”
If the old maxim is true that “an eye-for-eye and tooth-for-tooth would lead to a world of the blind and toothless,” then it only seems reasonable that continued pronouncements of “no compromise” will eventually lead to no communication at all. When the famous Senator Henry Clay was referred to as the “great compromiser” in the early 1800s, the term “great” was not being used sarcastically. In fact, many believe that without Clay, the nation would have fallen apart way before the Civil War, and may not have been able to recover. It’s not coincidental that he died eight years before that war began.
As a more recent example, it seems clear that were it not for the efforts of Senators like Edward Kennedy and Orrin Hatch working their respective sides of the aisle, many of the successes of the past 50 years might not have occurred. Now those senators, and others like them, are either dead, defeated, or aging, and those coming behind them seem to offer a different take on the nature of consensus.
I am currently torn as to whether or not to vote for Scott Brown, if for no other reason than he seems willing to compromise. But if his election will provide more power to other Republicans more strident in their beliefs, he may have to be a casualty. I’m waiting for the Massachusetts Senate debates to learn if Elizabeth Warren will be open to hearing all sides of an issue before making a decision. While I agree with her on many issues, I will not vote for her if I believe her election will lead to greater divisiveness.
So what I am proposing is that reasonable people make this their litmus test: if a candidate is willing to compromise, even slightly, for the good of the country, and he or she demonstrates that willingness in action, that candidate should be worthy of consideration at the ballot box. If not, we may be headed down a path from which there is little redemption.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
New Songs for a Passover Seder
I was thinking about our modern seder, and I realized that all of the songs are either original Hewbrew songs or silly ditties based on very old melodies. So, I thought I'd take a hand at crafting some Passover songs that delved a little deeper into the meaning of Passover and the characters who populate its story.
I wrote the lyrics for the seven songs below, basing them on popular songs from the 60s through last year. Feel free to use them in your seder, but keep in mind that these original melodies have been copyrighted, and so it is illegal to record them or to sell them.
Also, the songs on which they are based are fairly complex melodies with lots of changes, so everyone may not be able to sing along with them. If you use them, I recommend at least one person rehearsing with them in advance, so he or she can become familiar and lead them. My cousin Karen, the lyrics maven, thinks they are pretty good, so here they are:
Let the Seder Start(Sung to the tune of “Let the River Run”—Lyrics
by Reid Fishman)
Let the Seder start.
It’s time to gather at the table,
and tell the tale of Passover.
Family and friends,
recall a story that’s familiar,
referred to as the Exodus.
It’s all about our freedom
from oppression,
under the Egyptians.
It matters more today
than it ever did,
because of all the bad stuff
that gets hidden…
From the media,
so for tonight we’ll be at one with
people all around the world.
What we say tonight,
we say for all who are downtrodden.
May you live in freedom and peace.
May you live in freedom and peace.
That’s Why We Do the Seder Plate(Sung to the tune of “The Way
You Do the Things You Do” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)
Let’s start off with Karpas.
Greens represent the birth of Israel.
And then there’s some Maror,
Bitterness shows that slavery was real.
And then there’s Haroset,
looks like the bricks we made when slaving.
And Matzah was the bread,
baked on our backs as we were leaving.
Oh, these are the things that we use to commemorate
our time in Egypt.
That’s why we do the Seder plate.
There’s also Zeroa,
The roasted shankbone of an animal.
It signifies sacrifice,
Within the need for our survival.
And finally there’s Baytzah,
a hard-boiled egg that has been roasted,
a symbol of rebirth,
in all the Seders that we’ve hosted.
Oh, these are the things that we use to commemorate
our time in Egypt.
That’s why we do the Seder plate.
A Passover Seder (The Four Questions)(Sung to the tune of “The End of the
World” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)
Why is this night so different
from every other night?
Don’t you know? It’s a Passover Seder.
We’re here to celebrate it right.
Why do we eat only matzah
instead of all other bread?
Don’t you know? They grabbed all of the bread dough,
And threw it in their bags when they fled.
I’ll wake tomorrow morning and I’ll wonder
why I can’t make some waffles today.
And then I will remember, that it still is Passover,
and that’s just not the kosher way.
Why do we eat bitter herbs?
Why do we dip karpas twice?
Don’t you know, it’s a Passover Seder,
these customs will be made to suffice.
I’ll wake tomorrow morning and I’ll wonder
why I can’t have some Cheerios today.
And then I will remember, that it still is Passover,
and that’s just not the kosher way.
Why sit reclined at the table,
dropping our food on our chairs?
Don’t you know? It’s a Passover Seder.
It ends when we have finished the prayers.
I Hope That Pharaoh Doesn’t Mind(Sung to the tune of “New York State of
Mind” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)
(The Pharaoh’s daughter sings)
Sometimes, I just take a walk,
take a quiet stroll here along the Nile.
I watch the blue water flow along,
and it makes me smile.
But today there’s a basket, and a baby I did find.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.
Surely it is a little boy
that was set adrift by a Jewish slave.
He’s so young and so innocent,
someone that I saved.
I would sure like to keep him;
have him with me all the time.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.
It’s been so boring living day by day,
there’s not much for me to do.
But now I have a purpose that is all my own.
I’ll raise this boy…this little Jew.
Should I go ask the Pharaoh now,
what he thinks of this new idea I’ve had?
I'm not sure I should tell him,
but he is my dad.
I’ll name the baby Moses, and with him I’ll be so kind.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.
The Leader(Sung to the tune of “The Boxer” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)
(Moses sings)
I was raised Egyptian though I always felt it strange
that no one could say exactly where I came from other than a floating bassinet.
All lies I say, but there was no explanation to describe why
I was here,
so I wondered if I’d ever find my way.
As I grew a little older, I began to realize, that I was so
very different
from the Pharaoh and all his lowly followers.
But the Jews, they just seemed to make more sense to me in
what they say and do,
and I knew that I was one of them, it’s true.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la-lie.
So I realized that I’m a Jew and must defend the slaves from
the tyranny around them,
and that I’m the one to lead them to the promised land.
I went to bat, for my people to leave Egypt,
but the Pharaoh made it clear that what I believe is just not where he’s at.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la-lie
But God saw the
situation and he hastened to our aide.
He unleashed the plagues on Egypt, culminating in the killing of the first-born
sons.
The Pharaoh cried as he said he would release us, so we
grabbed our things and left,
and we ran away before he changed his mind.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la-lie
Now they see me as the leader, and I don’t know what to do.
I can tell they are not ready to go right to the promised land.
So I guess we’re doomed to wander, and I will be the guy,
I will lead them through the desert, until the day I die.
Die-da-die.
Die-da-die-die-da-da-die.
Die-da-die. Die-da-da-da.
Die-da-die.
Die-da-die.
Die-da-da-da. Die-da-die.
Die-da-da-da-die.
Freeing the Jews
(Sung to the tune of “Someone Like You” —Lyrics
by Reid Fishman)
(Pharaoh sings)
First the water became blood red,
Frogs and lice and flies, soon the cows were dead.
We got boils, hail and locusts flew.
It got so dark that we didn’t know what to do.
But far worse is my son had to die.
He was my first born, and I could only cry.
I sent a summons out to my old friend Moses
and I asked why he did it, why he chose us.
I had hoped he’d tell me that it’s just how it goes,
but what he said is let us go now.
So I find myself freeing the Jews.
I can’t believe it’s all I can do.
I’m conflicted, I know.
Should I just let them go,
or should I send my troops to kill them instead?
So, I sent the troops to kill them, I did.
The Jews got stuck at the Red Sea shore.
My troops found them there and prepared for war.
Moses raised his staff and the waters split,
and they walked right through, crossing all of it.
I sent my troops down into the Red Sea to get them.
They were going to escape, I couldn’t let them,
but the water returned, I can’t forget the way they screamed.
My troops all drowned there.
So I found myself freeing the Jews.
I can’t believe it’s all I could do.
‘Though conflicted, I know,
I should have just let them go,
but I sent the troops to kill them instead.
Now I know just why the Red Sea is red.
So I found myself freeing the Jews.
I can’t believe it’s all I could do.
‘Though conflicted, I know,
I should have just let them go,
but I sent the troops to kill them instead.
Now I know just why the Red Sea is red.
Now the Seder Ends
(Sung to the tune of “Let the River Run”
—Lyrics by Reid Fishman)
Now the Seder ends.
We’ve told a story for the ages,
on this night of Passover.
Don’t forget this tale,
and all the messages behind it,
of liberty and freedom for all.
Help others to remain strong,
under oppression,
wherever it may happen.
Remembering what
the Seder taught
may make it better for
your sons and daughters.
So as we conclude
all the components of the Seder,
Passover has meaning for all.
And we like to say,
that maybe we can be together,
next year in Jerusalem.
Next year in Jerusalem.
I wrote the lyrics for the seven songs below, basing them on popular songs from the 60s through last year. Feel free to use them in your seder, but keep in mind that these original melodies have been copyrighted, and so it is illegal to record them or to sell them.
Also, the songs on which they are based are fairly complex melodies with lots of changes, so everyone may not be able to sing along with them. If you use them, I recommend at least one person rehearsing with them in advance, so he or she can become familiar and lead them. My cousin Karen, the lyrics maven, thinks they are pretty good, so here they are:
Let the Seder Start(Sung to the tune of “Let the River Run”—Lyrics
by Reid Fishman)
Let the Seder start.
It’s time to gather at the table,
and tell the tale of Passover.
Family and friends,
recall a story that’s familiar,
referred to as the Exodus.
It’s all about our freedom
from oppression,
under the Egyptians.
It matters more today
than it ever did,
because of all the bad stuff
that gets hidden…
From the media,
so for tonight we’ll be at one with
people all around the world.
What we say tonight,
we say for all who are downtrodden.
May you live in freedom and peace.
May you live in freedom and peace.
That’s Why We Do the Seder Plate(Sung to the tune of “The Way
You Do the Things You Do” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)
Let’s start off with Karpas.
Greens represent the birth of Israel.
And then there’s some Maror,
Bitterness shows that slavery was real.
And then there’s Haroset,
looks like the bricks we made when slaving.
And Matzah was the bread,
baked on our backs as we were leaving.
Oh, these are the things that we use to commemorate
our time in Egypt.
That’s why we do the Seder plate.
There’s also Zeroa,
The roasted shankbone of an animal.
It signifies sacrifice,
Within the need for our survival.
And finally there’s Baytzah,
a hard-boiled egg that has been roasted,
a symbol of rebirth,
in all the Seders that we’ve hosted.
Oh, these are the things that we use to commemorate
our time in Egypt.
That’s why we do the Seder plate.
A Passover Seder (The Four Questions)(Sung to the tune of “The End of the
World” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)
Why is this night so different
from every other night?
Don’t you know? It’s a Passover Seder.
We’re here to celebrate it right.
Why do we eat only matzah
instead of all other bread?
Don’t you know? They grabbed all of the bread dough,
And threw it in their bags when they fled.
I’ll wake tomorrow morning and I’ll wonder
why I can’t make some waffles today.
And then I will remember, that it still is Passover,
and that’s just not the kosher way.
Why do we eat bitter herbs?
Why do we dip karpas twice?
Don’t you know, it’s a Passover Seder,
these customs will be made to suffice.
I’ll wake tomorrow morning and I’ll wonder
why I can’t have some Cheerios today.
And then I will remember, that it still is Passover,
and that’s just not the kosher way.
Why sit reclined at the table,
dropping our food on our chairs?
Don’t you know? It’s a Passover Seder.
It ends when we have finished the prayers.
I Hope That Pharaoh Doesn’t Mind(Sung to the tune of “New York State of
Mind” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)
(The Pharaoh’s daughter sings)
Sometimes, I just take a walk,
take a quiet stroll here along the Nile.
I watch the blue water flow along,
and it makes me smile.
But today there’s a basket, and a baby I did find.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.
Surely it is a little boy
that was set adrift by a Jewish slave.
He’s so young and so innocent,
someone that I saved.
I would sure like to keep him;
have him with me all the time.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.
It’s been so boring living day by day,
there’s not much for me to do.
But now I have a purpose that is all my own.
I’ll raise this boy…this little Jew.
Should I go ask the Pharaoh now,
what he thinks of this new idea I’ve had?
I'm not sure I should tell him,
but he is my dad.
I’ll name the baby Moses, and with him I’ll be so kind.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.
I hope that Pharaoh doesn’t mind.
The Leader(Sung to the tune of “The Boxer” —Lyrics by Reid Fishman)
(Moses sings)
I was raised Egyptian though I always felt it strange
that no one could say exactly where I came from other than a floating bassinet.
All lies I say, but there was no explanation to describe why
I was here,
so I wondered if I’d ever find my way.
As I grew a little older, I began to realize, that I was so
very different
from the Pharaoh and all his lowly followers.
But the Jews, they just seemed to make more sense to me in
what they say and do,
and I knew that I was one of them, it’s true.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la-lie.
So I realized that I’m a Jew and must defend the slaves from
the tyranny around them,
and that I’m the one to lead them to the promised land.
I went to bat, for my people to leave Egypt,
but the Pharaoh made it clear that what I believe is just not where he’s at.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la-lie
But God saw the
situation and he hastened to our aide.
He unleashed the plagues on Egypt, culminating in the killing of the first-born
sons.
The Pharaoh cried as he said he would release us, so we
grabbed our things and left,
and we ran away before he changed his mind.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la. Lie-la-lie.
Lie-la-la-la-lie
Now they see me as the leader, and I don’t know what to do.
I can tell they are not ready to go right to the promised land.
So I guess we’re doomed to wander, and I will be the guy,
I will lead them through the desert, until the day I die.
Die-da-die.
Die-da-die-die-da-da-die.
Die-da-die. Die-da-da-da.
Die-da-die.
Die-da-die.
Die-da-da-da. Die-da-die.
Die-da-da-da-die.
Freeing the Jews
(Sung to the tune of “Someone Like You” —Lyrics
by Reid Fishman)
(Pharaoh sings)
First the water became blood red,
Frogs and lice and flies, soon the cows were dead.
We got boils, hail and locusts flew.
It got so dark that we didn’t know what to do.
But far worse is my son had to die.
He was my first born, and I could only cry.
I sent a summons out to my old friend Moses
and I asked why he did it, why he chose us.
I had hoped he’d tell me that it’s just how it goes,
but what he said is let us go now.
So I find myself freeing the Jews.
I can’t believe it’s all I can do.
I’m conflicted, I know.
Should I just let them go,
or should I send my troops to kill them instead?
So, I sent the troops to kill them, I did.
The Jews got stuck at the Red Sea shore.
My troops found them there and prepared for war.
Moses raised his staff and the waters split,
and they walked right through, crossing all of it.
I sent my troops down into the Red Sea to get them.
They were going to escape, I couldn’t let them,
but the water returned, I can’t forget the way they screamed.
My troops all drowned there.
So I found myself freeing the Jews.
I can’t believe it’s all I could do.
‘Though conflicted, I know,
I should have just let them go,
but I sent the troops to kill them instead.
Now I know just why the Red Sea is red.
So I found myself freeing the Jews.
I can’t believe it’s all I could do.
‘Though conflicted, I know,
I should have just let them go,
but I sent the troops to kill them instead.
Now I know just why the Red Sea is red.
Now the Seder Ends
(Sung to the tune of “Let the River Run”
—Lyrics by Reid Fishman)
Now the Seder ends.
We’ve told a story for the ages,
on this night of Passover.
Don’t forget this tale,
and all the messages behind it,
of liberty and freedom for all.
Help others to remain strong,
under oppression,
wherever it may happen.
Remembering what
the Seder taught
may make it better for
your sons and daughters.
So as we conclude
all the components of the Seder,
Passover has meaning for all.
And we like to say,
that maybe we can be together,
next year in Jerusalem.
Next year in Jerusalem.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Republican Policies
Maybe it's genetic; after all, my grandmother was a Communist, and my parents were progressive Democrats. Or maybe it's environmental; I live in Massachusetts--a place that evokes disdain in several regions of the country. Whatever the reason, I have always espoused what many would consider a liberal (another of those disdain-laden words), Democratic philosophy, but having turned 58 earlier this year (an age by which my beliefs were supposed to have become more conservative), I find myself desperately trying to understand the philosophy of the Republican party.
I no longer think that big business is bad (as I did when I was young). That would be somewhat hypocritical, given that most of my clients throughout my career have been very large companies. I also now understand the value of the CIA and the Defense Department, although I feel that their efforts have sometimes been misguided. I now read several newspapers and magazines with moderate perspectives (as opposed to Mother Jones, to which I subscribed in my younger years), and I watch CNN as opposed to MSNBC, to get a more balanced perspective (although I still can't force myself to listen to the vitriol offered on Fox News).
Having said all that, I still have several issues with Republicans and their views of government:
I no longer think that big business is bad (as I did when I was young). That would be somewhat hypocritical, given that most of my clients throughout my career have been very large companies. I also now understand the value of the CIA and the Defense Department, although I feel that their efforts have sometimes been misguided. I now read several newspapers and magazines with moderate perspectives (as opposed to Mother Jones, to which I subscribed in my younger years), and I watch CNN as opposed to MSNBC, to get a more balanced perspective (although I still can't force myself to listen to the vitriol offered on Fox News).
Having said all that, I still have several issues with Republicans and their views of government:
- Republicans have always believed that big business is good for America. They are the party that has favored "trickle down" economics and tax cuts for the wealthy and the large corporations. It was, after all, George W. Bush who initiated the bank bailout of 2008-09, without which most economists agreed that the world would have plunged into a second Great Depression. That may have been the last thing anyone has done that had substantial, bipartisan support, so why do the Republicans seem to vilify Obama for that bailout, and the subsequent stimulus packages that poured billions more into the economy? On the day that Obama was inaugurated, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell below 8,000; last week, it exceeded 13,000. Can anyone tell me how that is bad for big business or the economy?
- Along those same lines, the presumptive Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, has decried the government bailout of the US auto industry, which was initiated by Bush and continued by Obama. However, that industry has rebounded faster and stronger than anyone anticipated, and the "big three" have already paid back most of what was lent them. So, how is this bad for America?
- Switching to social issues, the latest attack has come because Obama favors full contraception insurance coverage for female employees at religiously affiliated institutions. Republicans claim that this policy abridges the first amendment, which begins, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." To me, the connection between these two concepts is highly questionable, but forgetting that, let's consider the following realities: most Catholic hospitals exist in inner-city settings or near Hispanic communities, where the employees are likely to be less affluent than their counterparts at the larger, secular, teaching hospitals. If they can't afford contraception and abortion is taboo (another misguided Republican principle), then the only option is to have more unwanted babies born into families with limited means to support and care for them. How, exactly, is this good for America? Obama placated the Republicans by backing off on this issue, but they still rally around it.
- Along those same lines, I don't understand why the Republicans are so opposed to the health care plan they deride as "Obamacare." Prior to 2008, a huge majority of Americans clamored for health care that would prohibit insurers from: (A) imposing lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits, (B) excluding pre-existing medical conditions, (C) charging co-payments or deductibles for preventive care, and (D) establishing annual spending caps. The new health plan prohibits all of those actions while insuring 32 million previously uninsured Americans. In addition, it is administered by insurance companies and not the government, a provision upon which Republicans insisted. A very similar, even stronger plan already exists in Massachusetts (as introduced by Romney), and it works; costs have not risen significantly and health care has improved. So why do the Republicans, including Romney, vow to repeal the national health plan?
- I still don't understand how a party can claim that life is too sacred to allow abortions, while favoring the death penalty and opposing restrictions on handguns and assault rifles. The gun lobby consistently cites the second amendment, which reads, "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." They cling to the second part of that amendment while completely neglecting the phrase, "well regulated," instead claiming that any effort to regulate gun ownership is unconstitutional. Let's put aside the constitution for a minute and focus on common sense...a line must be drawn somewhere, or we would allow normal citizens to own bazookas, grenade launchers, military vehicles, fighter jets, or nuclear weapons. Clearly, we don't allow that, so why can't we limit handguns and assault rifles? I don't know anyone who uses them on hunting expeditions. However, despite Republican protestations that Democrats are out to take away their guns, Obama has been silent on this issue.
- Let me move on to the issues related to "family values"...specifically gay marriage and a woman's reproductive rights. With regard to gay marriage, it wasn't so long ago that many states banned interracial marriage, but now the president is a product of such a marriage. It all falls under the "if-you're-not-like-me-then-you-must-be-wrong" approach that many Americans seem to favor. It's silly to tell someone whom they can't love, and Republicans should stop grandstanding to people's basest instincts and take the high road. With regard to women's reproductive rights, it amazes me that the same party that derides government regulation, so strongly favors regulating what a woman does with her body. The fact is that Republicans preach family values while allowing a snake like Newt Gingrich to run for president...a well-documented philanderer who divorced his wife when it was revealed she had cancer so he could marry the woman with whom he'd been cheating. I will say that Romney and Santorum both appear to be dedicated husbands and fathers, but no more so than Obama and several gay couples I know.
- So that leaves foreign policy. Obama promised that in his first term, he would end the war in Iraq and take steps to do the same in Afghanistan. He has followed through on those promises while ensuring continuity by initially retaining Bush's defense secretary and joint chiefs of staff. In the meantime, he ordered the killing of Bin Laden and many of Al Quaeda's top operatives. The main difference between Obama and Republican contenders is his realization that the era of American economic dominance is coming to an end and that we are already heavily indebted to China, which has four times our population. Consequently, he has shifted our global approach away from the jingoistic bluster of the 20th century to a softer stance of partnership and collaboration.
In addition, it's interesting to note that while the Republican party claims to be better suited to address the economy, history doesn't support that claim. Indeed, every major recession or depression of the 20th century occurred during a Republican administration while every recovery was overseen by a Democrat. Furthermore, while Republicans claim to be best suited to balance the budget, the last three Republican administrations (Reagan, Bush, and Bush) have all substantially increased the national deficit. To the contrary, Carter reduced it, and Clinton eliminated the debt and actually created a surplus. It's true that the Obama administration has ballooned the national deficit, but he had inherited the worst economy in 80 years, and only now can he start to reduce spending.
So there you have it. I should point out that I voted for Mitt Romney for governor. Back then, he was a socially progressive Republican, but now he is, in his own words, "severely conservative." It's almost like a contest to see which candidate can placate the extreme right wing of a party that already has limited prospects for 2012. I keep envisioning children arguing about who is most conservative ("Well I'm mega ultra severely conservative"). I should also refer you to the several discussions I've had with liberals who believe that Obama has turned his back on them, and how there is no difference between the two major parties.
I don't believe that any more than I believe that all Republican ideas are bad. It's just that somewhere in the last 30 years, the party took a wrong turn, ignoring what's best for America and focusing instead on what's good for me (whoever "me" might be). I dream of an America in which Santorum might say, "Mitt, that's a great idea," or Romney might admit that his foreign policy isn't much different from Obama's. Effective negotiation starts by recognizing areas of common ground, so why can't that principle be applied to politics? Of course, that goes both ways, and Democrats have to stop sniping as well. But in order for that to happen, Republicans have to adopt more realistic policies that are acceptable to most Americans, not just those who are "severely conservative."
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Whitney and Alex
This past Saturday, at the end of intermission of the concert that Joni and I were attending in Arlington, the performer, Rebecca Parris, returned to the stage to announce that Whitney Houston had died. It was particularly disheartening news because she was so young (48) and our family had a minor connection to this amazingly talented singer.
It dated back to 1985, when my parents were close friends with Whitney's financial manager and his wife. Alex was born on May 20, the day that Whitney's album went double platinum (1 million sold). My mother was with her friend, who received a call from Whitney with the news, and she told Whitney that her friend's grandson had just been born. Whitney replied, "I must meet this child." A few months later, on a visit to Boston, Whitney Houston met us at a hotel and held Alex for a while. It was a brief, tender moment with the 22-year-old superstar whose gigantic success and enormous troubles were still ahead of her.
It dated back to 1985, when my parents were close friends with Whitney's financial manager and his wife. Alex was born on May 20, the day that Whitney's album went double platinum (1 million sold). My mother was with her friend, who received a call from Whitney with the news, and she told Whitney that her friend's grandson had just been born. Whitney replied, "I must meet this child." A few months later, on a visit to Boston, Whitney Houston met us at a hotel and held Alex for a while. It was a brief, tender moment with the 22-year-old superstar whose gigantic success and enormous troubles were still ahead of her.
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