Phil, we need more people writing about these critical events and our reactions to them. I’ve often wondered why it’s not so easy to find artists who are creating music or visual arts about the horrors we’ve witnessed in America and in Chicago just this past summer.
After witnessing hundreds of police officers being driven into the Loop from all parts of the city, a hundred or so officers marching down Randolph toward Michigan Avenue, and being turned away multiple times from Lake Shore Drive, I couldn’t help thinking about the city in 1968. Most of the residents of Chicago didn’t drive downtown to pick up their spouse at midnight five times a week the summer of ‘20. It felt foreign, like a war zone and it was frightening to see such a militarized city.
I look forward to reading your book recommendation on how to be a good citizen. I have children ,and therefore, much hope in America and the Planet. Countries, like people, get things terribly wrong. The best thing to do is to record it as factually as possible for future readers so that it never happens again, work collectively to clean up the mess, and envision what you want to see for America and the world. I believe in the adage: Where you put your energy, that will grow.
Is there a ton of healing that needs to happen? There sure is! Our youth are looking at how we respond and we need to pull up our pants and start working to fix prejudice, inequity, education and social justice. I’m asking myself why 40% of the budget of the City of Chicago is for the police. As their budget increases, so do the guns and gun violence. We’ve become desensitized to reading about murders every day
I hope like you that Biden will bring music back to the Whitehouse and that it will reflect the mosaic that is America. There are many courses and books on how to deal with white privilege and prejudice, and there are politicians who see the way forward and who are not ashamed to work towards keeping the light shining on the city on the hill. Optimism is a choice, but you have to check-in and make sure you’re letting in more light in all the shadowy spaces. Otherwise, the light can easily fade and you’ll allow more darkness take over.
Keep writing thoughtful, informative and historical pieces! You’re making a difference!
Phil, I can't wait to read your 3 album reviews. Rumours most of all, but I am fascinated that you also include Saturday Night Fever. I am going to have to tee up those 3 on Spotify and give them a good listen. As a writer, you have a gift for juxtaposing music and cultural affairs in one single essay. I'm of mixed feelings about that. I think sometimes it dilutes both sides of your argument, but in other moments it's a breathtaking stylistic narrative device. About the political milieu of the day, I think many of us are experiencing a collective trauma, a large scale PTSD of sorts. Processing this trauma after Biden (hopefully) takes office peacefully will be a "hot topic" amongst essayists in the months ahead methinks.
I felt hopeful after Nixon resigned. I believed in America. I still do. Vietnam and Nixon defined who was and who I am today. So much more of course. Womens rights huge huge. Still is.
Phil, we need more people writing about these critical events and our reactions to them. I’ve often wondered why it’s not so easy to find artists who are creating music or visual arts about the horrors we’ve witnessed in America and in Chicago just this past summer.
After witnessing hundreds of police officers being driven into the Loop from all parts of the city, a hundred or so officers marching down Randolph toward Michigan Avenue, and being turned away multiple times from Lake Shore Drive, I couldn’t help thinking about the city in 1968. Most of the residents of Chicago didn’t drive downtown to pick up their spouse at midnight five times a week the summer of ‘20. It felt foreign, like a war zone and it was frightening to see such a militarized city.
I look forward to reading your book recommendation on how to be a good citizen. I have children ,and therefore, much hope in America and the Planet. Countries, like people, get things terribly wrong. The best thing to do is to record it as factually as possible for future readers so that it never happens again, work collectively to clean up the mess, and envision what you want to see for America and the world. I believe in the adage: Where you put your energy, that will grow.
Is there a ton of healing that needs to happen? There sure is! Our youth are looking at how we respond and we need to pull up our pants and start working to fix prejudice, inequity, education and social justice. I’m asking myself why 40% of the budget of the City of Chicago is for the police. As their budget increases, so do the guns and gun violence. We’ve become desensitized to reading about murders every day
I hope like you that Biden will bring music back to the Whitehouse and that it will reflect the mosaic that is America. There are many courses and books on how to deal with white privilege and prejudice, and there are politicians who see the way forward and who are not ashamed to work towards keeping the light shining on the city on the hill. Optimism is a choice, but you have to check-in and make sure you’re letting in more light in all the shadowy spaces. Otherwise, the light can easily fade and you’ll allow more darkness take over.
Keep writing thoughtful, informative and historical pieces! You’re making a difference!
Phil, I can't wait to read your 3 album reviews. Rumours most of all, but I am fascinated that you also include Saturday Night Fever. I am going to have to tee up those 3 on Spotify and give them a good listen. As a writer, you have a gift for juxtaposing music and cultural affairs in one single essay. I'm of mixed feelings about that. I think sometimes it dilutes both sides of your argument, but in other moments it's a breathtaking stylistic narrative device. About the political milieu of the day, I think many of us are experiencing a collective trauma, a large scale PTSD of sorts. Processing this trauma after Biden (hopefully) takes office peacefully will be a "hot topic" amongst essayists in the months ahead methinks.
I felt hopeful after Nixon resigned. I believed in America. I still do. Vietnam and Nixon defined who was and who I am today. So much more of course. Womens rights huge huge. Still is.