My World of Religion, Politics, Entertainment and Social Issues

  For lovers of classical music, such as myself, the lengthy article I have linked to below is well worth reading. It is an in-depth analysis of what is occurring with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The situation with the BSO is not unique, in that other orchestras are facing similar difficulties/dilemmas. Although most of my Facebook posts in recent years have focused on political matters, in response to my disgust with Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, my background and heart are tied closely to classical music. Having served in both performing and administrative capacities with ensembles, it is disheartening to witness what is currently occurring, more so in the United States than Europe. The crisis with the Boston Symphony Orchestra is multi-layered, which is why reading the lengthy article I provided is worthwhile. It is safe to say that classical music is currently safe in Europe, but the scenario is different in the U.S. Orchestra boards and management are focused on ...

  Speaker Mike Johnson sent House members home early for the July 4th recess. They are not scheduled to return to Washington until July 13th. His reason for sending members home early? He knew there would not be enough votes for Donald Trump's Save America Act. So, instead of enduring a defeat and receiving a rebuke from Trump, Johnson adjourned yesterday's session. It is a sorry state of affairs when we consider that the House has abdicated its duties and the so-called Great American State Fair is essentially void of crowds. I blame both the Trump Administration and the Republican Party for our current pathetic situation. I was a Republican back in the 70's and 80's. The party was very different back then. I am not saying the present Democratic Party is perfect by any means. Democrats need to get their act together, which means stopping all the infighting between moderates and progressives within the party. Sadly, the Republican Party I was once part of is no...

This cartoon captured my attention this morning. I studied the careers and conducting styles of the late Leonard Bernstein and Herbert von Karajan intently. Their approaches to conducting and interacting with musicians were as different as night and day. Leonard Bernstein was a force of nature. I have addressed his talent as a composer in a previous post. His conducting was electric! He totally immersed himself in the music and communicated with orchestras with much passion. He valued what musicians offered, and their mutual respect resulted in collaborative concerts. Herbert von Karajan produced many wonderful concerts. However, he was rigid and very much in control of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. I always felt his conducting style was rather unusual, in that he had his eyes closed during entire performances. He claimed this helped him to concentrate on scores. While many have dismissed this as simply a reflection of his desire for perfection, I preferred Leonard Bernst...

Whenever I consider the wealth Donald Trump has accumulated while in the White House, I reflect back to Harry Truman, who was the President when I was born. Truman came from modest means, and continued to live modestly when he left office. There was no presidential pension during his lifetime, so he made due with his savings and Social Security. As he left the White House for the final time, he was not flown by Air Force One or a helicopter to his home in Independence, Missouri. He actually drove his own car there, and he had only a few Secret Service agents to protect himself and his family during his remaining years. If he were still alive, Harry Truman would be shocked by the luxury that defines Donald Trump. He would be especially appalled by the money Trump has made while in office and the structures being built to honor himself. Obviously much has changed since Harry Truman left office in 1953 after two terms. However, presidents nevertheless are required to adhere to the E...

  A movie I have seen perhaps more times than any other is THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES. It was made in 1946 and focuses on the return of World War II veterans to the U.S. It features a stellar cast, including the relatively unknown Harold Russell, who lost both of his hands in combat. His character in the film echoes some of his real-life experiences. I had the honor of meeting Harold Russell when he came to Rochester, NY for a special screening of THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES at the George Eastman House. I am glad I had an opportunity to share with him how much the movie meant to me, and how his character and real life experiences resonated with me. There is a sad story concerning Harold Russell I will never forget. Having lost both his hands, it was difficult for him to get film roles following THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES. He fell on hard times, and sold his Best Supporting Actor Oscar statue. Many actors and actresses rallied to his aid, and got the statue back to him, in ...

  The Grim Reaper has been busy in my circle in recent years. My best estimate is that around three-quarters of my friends, relatives, former classmates and co-workers are now in cemeteries. It seems that each week I am receiving notice of yet another death. At age 76, I should not be surprised by this. However, it serves as a reminder that despite my good health, we never know when the Grim Reaper is going to visit. I have come to realize that I have perhaps wasted much of the past ten years issuing warnings about Donald Trump. In some respects, I have been preaching to the choir, in that MAGA remains a strong force, despite warnings from myself and like-minded persons. I would like to leave this world knowing that the next generation can look forward to a brighter future than what we have experienced with Trump and his entourage. This is why it is important for potential candidates for public office to run for the right reasons, placing constituents ahead of themselves. I ...

  I am beginning to think that perhaps we need a president who comes from modest means, perhaps similar to Abraham Lincoln or Jimmy Carter. We have witnessed, with much disdain, what happens when a person of wealth, and greed to match, comes to the White House. Once money becomes an addiction, even the presidency won't stop a person like Donald Trump from pursuing ways of lining his pockets. A president's salary is currently $400,000 annually, in addition to some perks that come with the office. Most presidents have adhered to the stipulations in the Emoluments Clause, which restrict gifts and financial gains directly related to the presidency. Donald Trump has used every opportunity to enrich himself financially, and his family members have benefited greatly as well. After enduring almost 1-1/2 terms of Trump's presidency, I am inclined to vote for someone from modest means. Just because a candidate is a multi-millionaire, even if successful in business ventures, does...

During the past few weeks, I have been spending much time with the music of one of my all-time favorite composers, Gustav Mahler. If it had not been for the persistence of Leonard Bernstein, Mahler's musical scores may have never been retrieved and played by multiple orchestras. Gustav Mahler died in 1911 at the age of 50. During his lifetime, he found it challenging to balance his composing and conducting talents. His efforts were further complicated by anti-Semitism that was prevalent throughout much of Eastern Europe. In order to be appointed to sought-after positions, he found it necessary to convert from Judaism to Christianity. While his talents were received with much acclaim during his lifetime, Hitler banned Mahler's music because of his Jewish roots. His scores might have been lost forever, if it had not been for the tireless efforts of Leonard Bernstein. Following his long tenure with the New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein became the music director of the...

There are very good reasons to dismiss JD Vance as a credible candidate for President of the United States in 2028. First and foremost, there is the trust factor. There have certainly been many inconsistencies with his political opinions over the course of only a few years. I am also puzzled by why he changed his name three times. Over the past week, he created headlines with remarks about the Pope. Vance became a Roman Catholic in 2019, and he recently wrote a book about his conversion. However, he now feels he has a better grasp on both theology and morality than Pope Leo XIV. This bizarre twist came about after Donald Trump criticized the Pope for his position on our war with Iran. I have criticized the Catholic Church on policy matters, such as my advocating for the ordination of women and married men. However, it is problematic for our Vice President to openly criticize the Pope on matters of theology and morality, simply because Leo XIV chooses the Gospel message of peace ...

  Whenever I want to get away from the ugliness of today's politics, I retreat to my favorite endeavor, which is classical music. Both Brenda and I were trained musicians. She was a church organist for many years, and I played trumpet in several ensembles, in addition to studying piano, violin, viola, voice, and conducting. Most recently, Brenda and I have been spending many nights with Lenny. I am speaking of Leonard Bernstein. In my list of most respected persons of stature, Bernstein tops the list. We are fortunate to have a treasure trove of concerts he conducted, most with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. His concerts were recently remastered and are available for streaming on the Carnegie Hall+ channel. What I admired most about Leonard Bernstein was his conducting style and his ability to compose music of multi genres. He was admittedly frustrated during much of his long career, which was a consequence of his genius. Quite often, when he was on conducting tours, he...

  I am convinced there should be a time limit on State of the Union speeches. I didn't watch last night's speech. However, I tuned in for the local news at 11:00. Donald Trump had just completed his speech, and I couldn't help noticing that the chamber emptied very quickly. I have no doubt that after two hours, many members of Congress had to make a mad dash to the bathroom. Concerning a time limit for State of the Union Speeches, I don't think it is unreasonable for the House Speaker to impose a 45-minute time limit. When I was in college, I took a public speaking course. As part of my theological studies in graduate school, I took a preaching course. Both courses emphasized content over length. In the preaching course, the professor held up a stop watch after ten minutes. The rationale was that if you were unable to stress your important points in the allotted time, the sermon/homily was not worth delivering. The same rule should apply to presidents giving th...

  Having posted my New Year's resolution for 2026 (living life to the fullest as long as possible), I also have a prediction I would like to share. Concerning my frequent criticisms of Donald Trump over the past few years, I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel. So, my prediction for this year is that we will begin to see the end of Trump's autocracy and the demise of MAGA as a major political force. I base this on the fact that we have midterm elections in November. I not only predict Democratic victories in House and Senate races. I also envision MAGA folks growing increasingly frustrated over broken promises from the Trump Administration. From what I have analyzed, most adherents to MAGA are low to middle-class Americans, with a few wealthy individuals stirring the pot. I have to believe that MAGA folks are feeling the economic pinch at grocery stores, and they are seeing their health insurance rates skyrocket. In consideration of these factors, in addition to Trum...

  As the ball dropped in Times Square at midnight, I was heartened by the multitudes of young people caught on camera. The first thought that came to mind is these are our future voters, and I asked myself what type of country will they envision as they grow older. The general atmosphere in the U.S. and throughout the world is rather dark right now, but perhaps 2026 will spur the imaginations of people who will be responsible for what occurs within the next two generations. It is sad to think that some young people will follow JD Vance, since he has picked up the mantle from the late Charlie Kirk. Yet, there is hope. Perhaps once Trump is gone, young people will develop an interest in the good things politics can produce under the right conditions, as opposed to following the path of MAGA. It is perhaps too late for people in my generation to change direction in the United States, with the exception of seniors showing up in force to vote in the 2026 midterms. However, young p...

  It was sad to learn today that one of my good friends, Chuck Brucato, died. Chuck was a well-known musician/singer in the Rochester, NY area and beyond. He achieved prominence in the 1960's with his popular group, The Rustix. They recorded albums on the Rare Earth label, which was part of Motown. Following the breakup of the Rustix, Chuck went on to a lucrative career as a producer, writer, and singer for TV and radio commercials. Much of his work was in collaboration with Jay, Inc. In recent years, he often sang with his well-known musician son, Joe Brucato. Chuck and I stayed in touch over the years. It was a delight for me to attend the Rochester Music Hall of Fame presentations a few years ago, during which The Rustix was one of the inductees. It was also a pleasure for me to attend a reunion for members of the Rustix and friends at the home of one of the musicians. I am posting a photo of Chuck Brucato receiving his award during the Rochester Music Hall of Fame pres...

  The Day The Earth Stood Still is a movie that stands the test of time. I am referring to the original version that was made in 1951, as opposed to the remake. The film is especially relevant for today's world. I have seen The Day The Earth Stood Still several times. While it is classified in the science fiction genre, there is much in it that reflects the accuracy of both the cold war era and our present situation in the U.S. and throughout the world. If you have never seen the film, I highly recommend it. Michael Rennie portrayed Klaatu, a visitor from outer space who came to Washington D.C. with a message of peace. The immediate response of the U.S. military was to fire on Klaatu. This action was thwarted by Gort, a highly intelligent robot capable of much harm, but restrained when given instructions by Klaatu. Klaatu came to the U.S. to speak first with the world's leading scientists, and then to political leaders. His primary mission was to urge our nations to live ...

  For some reason, I was thinking about the Wizard of Oz yesterday. Let us assume that Donald Trump is the Wizard. His followers assume he is all-powerful and assume only he has solutions to their problems. I am waiting for the day when his minions in Washington proclaim, "Ignore the man behind the curtain." In the movie, the scarecrow, tin man, lion and Dorothy visit the Wizard in hopes of obtaining a brain, heart, courage and a return home. When the Wizard is exposed as not being able to deliver their wishes, they learn they have it within themselves to achieve their goals. As we fast forward to Washington, the curtain has been opened and Trump is being exposed as a fraud. Rather than admit his shortcomings, Trump has released the Wicked Witch, who in this case is Pam Bondi. She is going after anyone Trump perceives as a threat to his dictatorship. The flying monkeys, led by Stephen Miller in this case, are everyone Bondi sends after Trump's opponents. Unlike t...

  As I continue to advance in my senior years, I find I often reflect on my formative years and realize that I wish I had thanked a multitude of people who were important parts of my life. Most of these people have died, but whenever an opportunity presents itself, I like to reach back and extend gratitude to persons who helped to steer me on a proper path when I was headed in a wrong direction. Such an opportunity presented itself yesterday. My seventh grade teacher (1961 & 1962) at Rochester's #8 School, Bessie Fleetwood (nicknamed Betty), died in 2017 at age 95. I was able to reach out to her surviving family members yesterday and expressed how Mrs. Fleetwood was instrumental in helping me to become a better focused person. She was admittedly strict, but looking back, I must say that her discipline was well placed. Betty Fleetwood (maiden name Plummer) had a very distinguished life. She served with distinction in World War II, and then went on to earn her college and gr...

  David Fetler passed away yesterday afternoon at the age of 96. He was a prominent figure in the classical music world both locally and nationally. He, his siblings, and his parents were predecessors of the famous Von Trapp Family Singers. The Fetler Family Band began performing concerts in their native Latvia and later throughout Europe. The photos I am providing of the Fetlers are from 1934, where you can see David on the conducting podium at age 7 (one photo has been colorized). Locally, David Fetler was a legend. He spent many decades as a conductor and teacher. His teaching years were at the Eastman School of Music. He was most prominently known locally as long-time music director at St. Paul's Episcopal Church and as music director of the Rochester Chamber Orchestra for over fifty years. (I was privileged to serve as the orchestra's board president and treasurer during its final stretch.) In addition, David was music director of the Greece Symphony Orchestra for ...