In politics it is said, that when not fueled by hope there is a vacuum for fear to fill. Since artists turn to the muses, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope we are exploring what they can offer us for inspiration to have the hope fueling politics.
“Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.” 
–Anonomous
“We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope”
–Martin Luther King , Jr.
“Hope is the companion of power, and mother of success; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles.”
–Samuel Smiles
Let us first turn to Calliope who might view this person as a prince or king to accompany:
He used to be homeless. Now he's a mayor. And he's only 28.
http://www.upworthy.com/he-used-to-be-homeless-now-hes-a-mayor-and-hes-only-28?c=upw1&u=6ffb12f2d750fff1c628f4ed4366938bb526f1d5
Gives me hope in future generations, how about you?
Erato would claim this as love:
This grandma heard kids would be going lunch-less. So she went to a pub and cooked up a storm.
http://www.upworthy.com/this-grandma-heard-kids-would-be-going-lunch-less-so-she-went-to-a-pub-and-cooked-up-a-storm?c=upw1&u=6ffb12f2d750fff1c628f4ed4366938bb526f1d5
Was this a good example of how to spread hope?
Continuing with Terpsichore (education):
What would it be like if the world treated star teachers the way we treat star athletes?
Would this make our country better?
Clio (guitar) would love this one:
Japanese Man Plays Guitar With A Unique Twist (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgSX–bhZPs
I say "Wow what creativity", what about you?
And then to Thalia (Colbert comedy video clip)
Watch DeRay Mckesson help Stephen Colbert understand white privilege. (video and text)
I find myself liking Colbert more and more—do you have answers for him?
And Terpsichore (dance) brings us this delight to finish:
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers – Too Hot to Handle (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsS7B8nyw5Y
Thank you dear reader for joining me on this journey of discovery and quest for hope
9 Responses to “Monday Morning Musings January 25, 2016”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Cross posted to Care2 at:
http://www.care2.com/news/member/663679641/3948492
Calliope: Ithaca is a gorgeous city and Cornell is a lovely school (full disclosure: Yes, I have sung the parody version of "High Above Cayuga's Waters," but I never meant it!). I am so happy for them in their choice of mayor. And of course happy for him, and looking to him to see what will come next.
Erato: "For love and hope." The best possible reasons. Now, where's that hanky?
Terpsichore – Great sketch. Every so often students will honor a teacher appropriately, like with a flash dance – I'm sure you can think of other incidents – but it should be more often and not just students but communitites who give honor.
Clio – What dedication, and what well directed practicing. Apparently the technique has been used by others, but not that many, probably because – at least it looks as if – it's so darned difficult.
Thalia – I think Colbert is much easier to like as himself than as his previous right wing nut persona. He was able to use that to make a lot of good points, but many people – especially real right-wing nuts were confused, believing the satire. But I do like him better as him. And he is doing what he needs to be doing. I think probably one can't dismantle privilege – the best thing one can do is to share it as much as possible.
Terp II – Not every dance is an argument, but every argument is a kind of dance. And, yes, she did everything he did, only backwards and in high heels.
I would add a great thing Colbert is doing is creating the opportunity and platform for discussion of privilege as well.
Can't have enough hope. Hope, not money, makes the world go around.
Young Mayor Svante Myrick: Nothing can keep a good man or woman down. Kudos to Merick's single Mum for raising her four kids so well even if they were homeless at times., kudos to Svante for going after his dream, knowing he'd be good at it and kudos to the residents of Ithaca who trusted their gut feeling this African-American young man would make a good mayor to their town and voted him in. His story is indeed one of hope.
Green Lantern Lunches: How wonderful to see a small-town granny not be beaten down by idiotic decisions by the pencil-pushers at USDA and take matters into her own hands and that of other volunteers and not let kids go hungry "for love and hope". Wonderful, let's hope the USDA comes to its senses and reimburses her for all the money she has spent.
Star Teachers: Of course good teachers are worth their weight in gold and are the true heroes. Good teachers have enormous influence on the future of children, they are the real role-models children should be looking at. There's only one thing wrong with treating them like star athletes: good teachers do not teach well because of big money, just as good nurses don't nurse well because of it; there's an intrinsic motivation that inspires them to teach to the best of their abilities. This doesn't mean however that teachers shouldn't be paid better than they are now and good teachers shouldn't be given extra.
Japanese guitar player: He may not have invented the technique himslef – I've seen it before – but this young player has taken it to some new heights. Great video.
Colbert: Another ray of hope, I think. By acknowledging/supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and having DeRay Mckess on his show despite the flack he's getting for it, Colbert shows other whites how racism can be addressed by them. Ok, baby steps perhaps, but Colbert's baby steps are so much larger than yours or mine because he inspires so many other people to tackle the issue.
Fred and Ginger: It all seems so easy, so natural but this on-take scene has known hour upon hour of rehearsal and Mr. Perfect apparently wasn't the nicest man to work with. Knowing that makes it even a more admirable performance.
Thank you, dear Judi, for taking me on this journey of discovery and quest for hope.
Lona. yhis was held for moderation, because you posted it under an email address different from your norm. I released it.
Judi, you must have hunted all week to find so much sweetness and light!
No–just a habit of saving as I see for a week to limit hunt time…
Good habit!
Wow, Judi, these were all great. C2 is finally working for me again. I loved all of them, they are all inspiring.