I don' think any politician has explained "We the People" more concisely.

It seems as if libertarians and Tea Party folks want to go back to a society of very limited human relationship where small tribes constantly bickered with each other ... or where you have to labor all day just to keep a roof over your head and your family fed ... or where you are susceptible to every disease know to the human race ... or where natural dangers and human-created threats lurk around every corner.

If these “movements” succeed in getting their way, then humanity is doomed.

"We the People" is about our relationship with each other. Independence is a fallacy. We became an independent society because a group of enlightened wise men had a vision of a country where our relationship was not one of oppressive top-down rule nor one of each-for-himself anarchy. They codified that vision into a framework — our constitution — within which a positive, constructive relationship with each other is absolutely necessary.

We are a society of people who have become too superficial in our relationship with each other. Unless we wish to destroy the hope of our forebearers' vision of over 200 years ago, we need to reconstitute a more perfect union — a union that cares for one another while respecting individual initiative and contributions to the whole.

Concerning the individual, Ayn Rand has been used to justify libertarianism and rampant "individualism." My take on her philosophy is that the creative power of the individual is to be respected, encouraged, and welcomed — a good thing. For sure, the individual needs to receive just recompense for their contribution to the whole (didn't another wise teacher named Jesus say the same thing?). But this does not preclude constructing social institutions that take a portion of that recompense beyond what is just to benefit the whole of society. Ayn Rand's argument was, in part, one of what "just" means, whether for the individual or in a social “contract”.

Unfortunately, some in society insist on twisting Rand's philosophy as I see it, and in a very superficial way use it to stress individual "freedom" over all else. Unfortunately, their "philosophy" is resulting in greater inequality of opportunity and as a result less freedom for all U.S. citizens — even the very rich. Unfortunately, this demagoguery screams with all it's might, "It's just to keep it all for myself; ain't no one gonna take it away from me!" (Apologies to the late blues singer, Ruth Brown.)

Our relationship with each other as fellow citizens of a society crafted in wisdom is severely damaged. Stop yelling. Listen to each other. Debate with respect. Strive for the perfect.

And don't forget that we are created in One's image; we are a part of that whole, too. That is the “under God" part. Our relationship with The Eternal — however you define it — informs our relationship with each other.

"We the People": not guided — top-down — by a ruler, but strengthened by our striving for the Best Within Us, in relationship — in Love.

Remembering 9/11

We have a lot to remember from a rather eventful summer, I’m sure, like memories of pleasant vacations and summer outings. But also we are remembering heavy rains and flooding, fires in the Southwest United States, an earthquake, and a prolonged, unwelcome visit from Hurricane Irene. Which is it – The Rapture?? Or more, relatively pleasant days on our earthly realm?? Only God knows, I’m sure.

However, foremost on my mind during the past couple of weeks was not earthquake or tempest, but an event that happened ten years ago. I was in my apartment, asleep in bed, when three planes hit, respectively, WTC Tower #1, WTC, Tower #2, and the Pentagon; another plane went down in a farmer’s field in Pennsylvania after the passengers voted to sacrifice their lives to save many others. I missed the whole thing, broadcast live on the only television station on the air (WCBS–2; I still don’t have cable), but I did not miss the impact of this horrific event on me and others.

I’m sure you all can recall the impact 9/11 had on your lives. The silence in the sky — no airplanes, only the occasional fighter jet. The neighbor who never returned home that evening. The friend, or even you, suffering from post traumatic stress and other ailments. The responses — from Afghanistan to Iraq to the Patriot Act to “See Something? Say Something!” to the loving care we show toward those who, to this day, are still significantly affected.

I wish to remember 9/11 in a meaningful, personal way. However, finding 9/11 tenth-anniversary memorial events in my neighborhood in Astoria, Queens was difficult. Of course there’s the Big One at the yet-to-be-completed World Trade Center memorial, but because of security it won’t be easy to get near enough for participation in a meaningful way. Still, with some digging and help from others, I found and listed some memorial services in the newsletter that I edit for my church, Trinity Tidings.

One of the tenants of the Jewish tradition is tikun olam — in essence, recreating/restoring/rebuilding our world. Remembering results in reactions which then result in responses. Our remembering/response/reaction of/to 9/11 is somewhat like what we may do for events in our every-day life. Hopefully, we respond with something like tz’dakah — acts of loving kindness — not because we have to but because we are happy to do so. But we also respond with security measures and violent suppression of the “enemy” not because we want to but because we have to.

Whether it be tempest, flood, horrific events, or everyday happenings, it’s good to remember where we’ve been, plan for the future, and implement those plans with love — as much as we are able to do so. May the legacy of 9/11 be not one of destruction, but instead one of building up.

Never Forget — Remember in Love.

Thought for the day:

If J.S. Bach was able to repeat something three times and have it sound really good, why wasn’t Irving Berlin able to do the same thing??

Choral Groups in Queens

I have had some people ask me recently if I could suggest some singing groups that they might join. Below are two that I know about:

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Queens Oratorio Society

David Close, Artistic Director

David is a personal friend and, in addition, was accompanist for the St. John's University Mixed Chorus for ten years before I took over in (I think) 1997. The chorus performs twice a year — a Christmas concert which includes a good part of Handel's Messiah, and a Spring concert featuring a major work from the oratorio repertoire. Rehearsals are near downtown Flushing (Queens) on Northern Boulevard. See their well-designed website for more information:
http://www.queensoratorio.org/

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Astoria Symphonic Choir

Adam Eggleston, Founder and Principal Conductor

This Chorus, founded a couple of years ago, performs and rehearses in Astoria (Queens). Rehearsals are at the church of which I'm a member, Trinity Lutheran Church, two blocks off of Steinway street within an easy walk from the R, M, N, and Q trains. Repertoire and performances are similar to those of Queens Oratorio. More information? Click here.

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Of course there are many "volunteer member" choruses in New York City and the surrounding area. These are two from whom I know singers who enjoy the camaraderie and music making of these organizations.

Happy singing!

Save Charitable Deductions and Funding

I saw the petition included below, and I immediately thought of all of the people I know or have worked with who benefit, directly or indirectly, from government support of non-profit groups.

I hope you all don't mind me forwarding this on. If you do, please contact me and I'll not do so in the future.

We are going through a period of time when the beneficial role of government in each one of our lives may be reduced. Personally, I feel that I need to take action to insure that the role of government continues to "promote the general Welfare" in a constructive, meaningful, and compassionate manner.

Here's the text that I included with the petition:

"170 Million Americans" are one very large group of people that all Senators need to keep in mind when considering the reduction of tax benefits for donation to charities. But there are many other non-profit organizations that will be significantly hurt by enacting legislation that will probably reduce the ability of citizens to support worthy causes.

If you are truly committed to "promote the general Welfare" (U.S. Constitution, Preamble), do not reduce the ability of "We the People" to do the same.

I hope you'll consider signing this petition. You are welcome to forward this email at will.

Thank you so much.

Mark Victor Smith

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Hi MV, Instead of cutting the billions in tax breaks the U.S. gives to big oil, a group of Senators wants to reduce tax deductions on charitable donations to raise federal revenues. Tell your Senator that you don't want to see charities hurt by this terrible idea.» Making it harder to financially support charitable organizations would severely impact thousands of charities and the Americans that rely on them. >From dispensing nutritious food to poor families to rescuing abused or abandoned animals, charities provide crucial services to those who need help most. In times of struggle, we need to support charities and the vital work they do, not defund them. Join us in asking the Senate not to hurt charities by reducing tax deductions on donations. » Thanks for taking action! Cori ThePetitionSite

Don't Let Congress Hurt American Charities

Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AgHqe/zlnt/Ake2r

Care2.com, Inc.
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I have two concerts coming up — one in a week, and the same concert presented at a different location the week following. The flyers are posted above. Please come if you can!

Still More Cooking Tips — Cooking "Green"

It seems that we all too often believe that each element of our meal needs to be cooked in a separate pot or dish, using a different cooking method for each. As a result, we use more energy to cook. We also use more pots, pans, and dishes, causing us to use more water, more energy to heat that water and, if we wash by hand, more human time and energy.

Try cooking everything in one pot or pan on the stovetop. Two things that I regularly cook on the stove are my "goulash" (I hate calling it "hamburger helper"; besides I don't buy that product) and barley with vegetables and precooked roast beef.

For the goulash, brown the beef (you can use a tender cut of beef cut into strips or bits). Add 2 cups of water and seasonings and a couple of handfuls of pasta. If you are using fresh vegetables, add those now. If you are using frozen vegetables, let the pasta/meat/seasonings bubble on medium heat for a few minutes before adding. If you like cheese in your goulash, add after the pasta reaches the correct texture for you. Almost immediately, add a thickener like corn starch shaken with water. Stir to mix, let thicken, and eat. Takes about 20 minutes.

What I'm doing tonight is preparing a meal of a cooked, frozen slice of roast beef with barley and vegetables. I got the barley bubbling in water for about five minutes, then added the vegetables, stirred those together, and then placed the slice of roast beef on top. There is no need to defrost the roast beef before doing this, saving use of the microwave. I would care less that my veggies and the barley are mixed together; it still makes a great meal (especially because I make great roast beef!) I also added some of the juice, kept frozen from cooking the roast beef, to the water in which to cook the barley. Yum Yum!

I also have a gas stove. Gas creates the heat more efficiently than electric stoves; electric-resistance heating elements are inherently less efficient than a gas burner.

Microwave ovens are also more efficient than electric-resistance heating in many cases.

Save energy — let your food enjoy the company of being cooked together!

Tips from Mark Victor

From time to time while roaming around the house doing chores or odds and ends, I come across a method which seems to make life a little easier for me. Think of this periodic post as the male version of "Tips from Heloise." Today's tip:

• When washing your hands, bring your reading glasses along with you. Remember to rinse both your hands and glasses, and then dry both with (a) paper towel(s). You'll see the print on the page much better, and you won't leave grease smudges on the pages!

Gird your loins — there's more to come...

• Malomars, that tasty chocolate-covered marshmallow treat, is best consumed by using the following prescription written for my father by our late family physician, Dr. Boileau: Take two the first day and one a day thereafter until finished. (True, you can't have enough Malomars, but rare treats like that need to go the distance! Ahh... but... just try that with a certain brand of potato chips...)

And... fasten your seat belts... yet more later...