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 is outreaching desire with expectancy of good. It is a characteristic of all living beings." Edward S. Ame 
"If we expect change we must act on our hope every day until we have accomplished what we wanted." Christopher Goodman
Let us first turn to Polymnia (geometry):
Geometry Song + lyrics (video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpI7Ox17_fM
Gives me a bit of hopeful energy, how about you?
Now to Clio (history):
Declaration of Independence Song (What Hurts the Most Parody) (brief video in honor of GW’s birthday)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnDRhOAAQ1g
History worth considering I think, how about you?
Erato (love)would claim these (hanky alert):
A surprise swoops in to help San Francisco nuns who feed the homeless and were facing eviction
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/15/1485591/-A-surprise-swoops-in-to-help-San-Francisco-nuns-who-feed-the-homeless-and-were-facing-eviction?detail=email
How 2 women and one lottery ticket changed this homeless man's life.
http://www.upworthy.com/how-2-women-and-one-lottery-ticket-changed-this-homeless-mans-life?c=upw1
A special kind of love I think, what about you?
And then to Thalia (video clip):
Watch Mary Poppins call it quits
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/07/25/1316699/-Watch-Mary-Poppins-call-it-quits?detail=emailclassic
I love humor how about you?
On to Terpsichore (dance) [short video]:
Amazing Kids Ballroom Dancing – Learn how to Ballroom dance in Utah!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6evloY0AtE
Helps me find hope in younger people, how about you?
And finally who would claim this?:
Check out a human library, where you borrow people instead of books.
http://www.upworthy.com/check-out-a-human-library-where-you-borrow-people-instead-of-books?c=upw1
Thank you dear reader for joining me on this journey of discovery and quest for hope.
6 Responses to “Monday Morning Musings February 22, 2016”
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Cross posted to Care2 at:
http://www.care2.com/news/member/663679641/3957669
Polymnia: Cute little jingle for kids to remember.
Clio: Looks like a very good re-enactment.
Erato: Having been raised Catholic, I find it commendable that these nuns are living to feed the homeless and selling baked goods for the community. Kudos to Mr. Robbins for helping. I think the Landlord needs to be more compassionate towards his renters, and lower his rent for ALL tenants. He won't, but it would be great if he did. Also, I find it very sad indeed, that the Catholic church would not assist these nuns (if not given the check by Mr. Robbins). “This is wonderful — now we don’t have to be in the street,” Sister Mary Valerie said when informed of the deal. The Church is worth billions, and they can't step up to help these impoverished nuns? The Vowed Life is of their choice, but I believe that the Church should have an obligation and compassion, to help others in need around the world. Isn't that what God would want?
Erato2: How very, very sweet of them to help this man.
Thalia: So very, very true! lol
Terpsichore: Talented little ones!
Human Library: Wow!! What a fantastic and novel idea! I love it!
Thank you, JL for this post!
Declaration – Great parody with great visuals. I do have a pet peeve about the modern understanding of the Declaration and the Founders, though. Our Founders were NOT opposed to taxation, by any means. There were no Grover Norquists among them. They were intelligent, and knew that government exists to promote the general welfare, and therefore has duties, and therefore needs funds with which to perform them. The cry was "No taxation WITHOUT REPRESENTATION." Example: You don't get to put a tax on tea without us voting for it, and for us to vote for it, it should be spent for OUR benefit, not just taken out of the colonies and spent for things that don't help us. Would the Founders have approved of the kind of so-called representation we have now, where legislators represent money instead of people? I don't think so. And, on the spending side, for just two examples, would the Founders have approved of spending money to continue to "investigate" a Planned Parenthood which has already been triumphantly vindicated? Would the Founders have approved of continuing to pay salaries to Senators who publicly refuse to even consider voting on Constitutionally prescribed issues? I don't think so.
OK, end of rant. Now I need to go get a hanky for some of the others.
I gotta agree w/ the YouTube commenter that the little girl ballroom dancer should've worrn something other than the strapless top she had to keep pulling up. But they were talented. (Not wild about all that makeup on little kids. Reminds me of JonBenét Ramsey and those little kid "Beauty Pageants" – which I think are pretty creepy.)
The make-up and beauty pageant stuff crossed my mind, too…so I watched again and just saw talent…
Erato: However nice it was of Tony Robbins to give those nuns $25 k to tie them over and broker that they can stay where they are at the same rent for another year, he completely misses the point of their charity work by turning it into just another business with a business plan and all. And as the author correctly states, he doesn't address the real problem at all which is that rank-renters can raise the already exorbitant rent with $2000 a month and can evict their tenants if the don't pay/protest. There should be laws to protect people from such greed.
In Wareham, however, a little humanity goes a long, long way. Why is it that people who have very little, but also know how it is to have nothing at all, are willing to share that little while the rich only want to take away to add to what they already have?
Thalia: Great! As I've said often before, humor gets the message across so much better.
Terpsicore: Not for me, I'm afraid, it made me very uncomfortable. Too reminiscent of those toddler beauticontests where kids are drilled like mad because their mothers want something through their kids they couldn't have themselves. Just immagine how many hours of rehersal has gone into this dance routine which is clearly an adult routine and diffucult for grown-ups let alone kids. No matter how talented these kids are, they must have been drilled to the max to get it to this level together and I just don't believe it is much fun for kids that age to have that much pressure on them to perform.
But the Human Library gave me real hope because it means that there are people (books) willing to talk about their experiences without becoming zealous and on the other side there are people (lenders) who are willing to open up to those experiences without judging. Now if we could only get more people to attend these libraries!