O for 10

Our Liar-In-Chief recently told his evangelist supports that God is on his side and they nodded their shameless heads in agreement. But is that the same God who issued the 10 Commandments to Moses?  The evidence is in that Mr. T.  has broken and continues to break the basic tenets of the Constitution he swore an oath to uphold. But he has also broken just about every one of the 10 Commandments. Just a quick reminder:

1.     Thou shalt have no other gods before me…except the almighty dollar.

2.     Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain…except on Twitter.

3.     Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day… except when golfing in Mar-a- Lago.

4.    Honor thy father and mother… when his Dad died, Don commented: “It was good for me. You know, being the son of somebody, it could have been competition to me. This way, I got Manhattan all to myself!”

5.     Thou shalt not kill…unless it be an Iranian general.

6.     Though shalt not commit adultery…well, does Stormy Daniels count?

7.     Thou shalt not steal… except when it comes to tax evasion and not paying workers.

8.     Thou shalt not bear false witness… except every single tweet

9.     Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife…unless it’s your own daughter who you publicly proclaimed as "hot."

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods… except when it becomes your mission statement as a greedy businessman. 

We’ve all transgressed in light of the 10 Commandments, but O for 10?!! I believe that after Congress does the right thing and removes him from office, the Church should impeach him and remove him from the office of moral human being. And all the people who continue to support him. Soon Hell will hang out No Vacancy signs. And Trump will get to have his own tower there. After all, heat rises. 

People Are Not Their Governments

Back in the Bush years, I was ashamed to travel around the world as an American. And yet I quickly discovered that people are not their governments, as no one I met held me accountable for the sorry politics of my country and I didn’t hold them accountable for theirs. Instead, I told the stories of the resistance within our country, things they might not hear on the mainstream news. And went on with my work of creating connection, mutual understanding, shared experience between people from all places. 

And here I am again, representing a nation that seemed to think it was perfectly fine to elect a psychologically deluded narcissistic psychopath who daily astounds us with his words and actions. But again, the people to people connection with the folks we’re supposed to hate and those who live in “shithole countries” remains unbroken. From both sides. 

Next Fall, I will be working with Iranian music teachers in Armenia and after Trump’s recent murder of an Iranian general, this is what they wrote to me:

Dear Mr. Goodkin,

Merry Christmas and wish you a great year full of happiness, joy, health, wealth, success and peace. Regards to our programs and our plans we want to let you know that the conference will be held. we are sincerely waiting for your coming and we want to assure that the problems between Iran and America can’t stop us from growing and moving forward Because we want peace for all the nations around the world and it is our job to prepare our children for better and peaceful future and teach them that humanity is the most important part of this world and war with other nations only brings sorrow and sadness.

That’s the news the Fox News—and even CNN—will never report. Spread the word. 

The Limits of BART

The other day, I rode on BART train (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to Pittsburg, CA to give an in-service workshop, about an hour ride. At one point, I noticed a young African-American woman talking to a young bearded man, helping him get oriented about what stop he would get off. The conversation was friendly and convivial. But there was one thing that bothered me. The man was wearing a Trump 2020 hat. 

Now I know to some it sounds arrogant that I feel that this person—and others like him— are completely deluded. Brainwashed by FOX News, ignorant of important real facts, blind to important stories in our history. And yet here he was and here I was and I was wondering what I would say if I wanted to open a conversation and listen to his story.

But let me be honest. The only point in listening to his story is to take any understanding of “where he was coming from” and use it as a springboard to widen his perspective and see how much harm this lying, callous, murdering narcissist is doing to people—including people like him. I have simply never heard a single story from a Trump supporter that wasn’t either filled with illusion that this pompous greedy businessman cares about them and is trying to improve the quality of their life or else simply affirmed that their worldview of blame, fear, prejudice and downright hatred had found their champion.

I was telling this story to my neighbor who was telling me I should have talked and listened to him. I excused myself saying it was only an hour ride and the only point would be if I could show him with real news, historic examples, reflective thinking and logical connection that it’s the people with compassion and kindness and intelligence who really care about our present and future. Everybody’s present and future. For we all benefit when the moral arc bends towards justice.

And my neighbor, in a brilliant repartee, replied: 

“BART doesn’t go that far.”

Deep Confession

If you’re a music teacher reading these posts and felt just a wee bit tired of hearing how much I love teaching all my classes and how I never get angry at children anymore because I’m giving them what they need and how I re-direct negative behavior immediately before it starts to bother me, I have some good news. Today I got so pissed-off at an 8^thgrade class that I just walked out of the room and told them they could sit and stare at the walls for the next 35 minutes. This was after kicking two kids out of class. 

What happened? Briefly, just that maddening sense that they weren’t with me, side-talking, giggling, interrupting me when I tried to talk and so on. I am doing a project outside of the norm, trying to get them to work with a poem that I chose (not them) and it’s the beginning of the new year when they’re just getting used to being back at school and my patience was already thin because of other things going on that wasn’t their fault. But still, this is where our kids’ entitlement to neglect giving bare-bones respect and actually listen to the teacher rose to the surface and I was having none of it. I still wasn’t yelling or screaming, but I let them know firmly that none of this was okay with me, amended my walk-out to “I’ll be back in five minutes and let’s see who’s ready to get to work,” came back and we did more or less what we had planned (though not particularly inspired) and had a fist-bump-of-renewed-mutual-respect end to class. So it could have been much worse.

But let’s face it, it still feels like crap. I went on to have a delightful class with 2^ndgrade and a soul-stirring Singing Time, so the day started to piece itself back together. But no matter if you’re 100% “right” or you’ve been unjustly treated or some explosion was necessary to release accumulated tension (all of this relates to marriage disputes as well!), still one feels some lingering psychic energy that simply is not pleasant. It will dissipate, but it will take a bit of time. I’m thinking of my new Saami acquaintances from Lapland telling me how they deal with things like this: “We go fishing.” I can see how being out in nature with the water streaming and breeze blowing and such would help enormously in the process. 

So there you have it. Though I have some status as an internationally renowned music teacher, the kids don’t care—nor should they. And now the evidence is in—I’m as fallible, vulnerable, impatient, frustrated (sometimes) as the next person. In short, human.

Hope this makes someone feel better. Now I’m going fishing. 

Life at the Crossroads

Since 1976, I’ve had the good fortune to give three Saturday workshops a year for local music teachers. More astounding, people have come and continue to come. Some old-timers for three decades, but also—and necessarily— new folks on their way up in this marvelous profession. 26 of them came yesterday and dare I say that it felt like one of the best workshops I can remember? Or at least the most varied, fun and musically satisfying. 

I once attended a retreat held by a poet about homecoming and after describing my eclectic background—Jewish by blood, Unitarian by upbringing, Zen Buddhist by practice, dabbler in jazz piano, Bulgarian bagpipe, West African xylophone, Indonesian gamelan, Irish tinwhistle, grew up on the East Coast, grew up again on the West Coast, traveled to some 60 countries and so on, where exactly is my home? He wisely ventured an answer—at the crossroads of multiple disciplines/ places/ worldviews. That feels about right. At home everywhere and equally, a little out of place everywhere. 

And may I say that it has proven a most satisfying place to be. Like the workshop yesterday. It included dynamic body percussion, evocative Gregorian Chant singing, powerful Bulgarian singing, a mesmerizing New Year’s ritual (that I had created), a poem by Tennyson, my comments on topics ranging from effective pedagogy, the Medieval Feast of Fools, the role of tricksters in mythology and ribald humor in ritual, the evil machinations of Roy Cohn and his influence on American politics, the legacy of the Minstrel tradition, the limits of political correctness, music from Iran, Finnish Saami, Czech Moravia, Turkey, Azerbhaijan, the modal improvisations of Keith Jarrett, the relationship between the overtone series and the evolution of human consciousness, the move from horizontal modal polyphony to vertical harmonic structures, the genius of the 3-year old, all with activities that released the group’s considerable musicality, comradery, spirit of fun and adventure, sense of connection and determination to move the future forward. It met my criteria for assessing one’s work. When writing, I want it to be something I would like to read. When playing piano, I want to sound like the kind of concert I would like to attend. And when doing work like this, I want it to be the kind of workshop I would like to go to. And it was.

The multiplicity of threads in the above is hardly standard fare for an Orff workshop, but the beauty is that Orff’s vision can hold it all, has prepared a nest in which such eggs can hatch. My point in sharing the above is not (I hope) some fishing for praise, but my astonishment that not only have I been driven to investigate, cultivate, nourish and attempt to master such disparate disciplines, but that a place exists that allows an audience for them all, gives me a platform to see if any of them are interesting, useful, helpful to others. I know in an Orff workshop people mostly come for good material to add to their repertoire and a couple of ideas as to how to present it. I hope they walk away with those things in hand but also a host of provoking, affirming and challenging ideas and experiences that they didn’t know they signed up for, but are finding at least intriguing and possibly life-changing. 

And beyond being astounded that I have a venue that allows all these things to have a voice and that enough people show up to make it possible and that on top of that, I get paid some useful money to do this work— well, the moral of the story is simply gratitude, gratitude and yet more gratitude. Life at the crossroads has often been a difficult, confusing, challenging place to be, but having set up my tent there for so long, it has indeed proven to be home and the place I feel most myself. Teaching these workshops is like rocking by the fire with my pipes and slippers or sitting on the front porch looking up at the stars. It's home. Thanks to all who have joined me!

Taking Down the Tree

It’s about time to take down the tree and resume life as normal—if such a word can be used these days. But before doing so, I sat and gazed at it while listening to my all-time favorite Christmas record. (Yes, a record, played on my still functioning turntable and may I say that the analog LP indeed has a warmer sound than the CD and wasn’t that a loss. And the predictable skip in the middle of Good King Wenceslas is part of its charm!) 

This recording features carols from various European countries and almost none that I knew previously but have grown to love. I looked at the liner notes to get a clearer picture of where each song was from and read a lovely introduction that warmed my heart. So here is yet another guest blogger before saying farewell to the season. A lovely piece reminding those that celebrate the holiday of its deeper meaning and feelings beyond fighting the crowds at Macy’s and that the original mission statement of a Christianity worthy of its name is “the restoration and salvation of the world through love, humility and peace.” Would that it were so!

As time passes on and year follow year, Christmas returns again and again—the most joyous holiday which reminds us of the birth of the teacher of love and goodness and peace. It recurs during the period of the Winter Solstice, the time of shortest days and longest nights and it continues, properly speaking, the ancient pagan tradition of the festivities celebrating that turning point in the cosmic arrangement when each year light increases and days become longer. Certain Roman and Slavonic folk festivities and customs of the Winter Solstice have passed into our Christmas festivities and customs.…

Christianity which teaches the restoration and salvation of the world through love, humility and peace experiences its flowering period each year between Christmas Eve and the holiday of the Three Magi when it bursts into its loveliest flowers. Christmas, this mysterious holiday, is a miracle which we bear within us from childhood to our last days. Generation after generation handed down its tradition and deepened its tenderness, preserved its beauty and all the strings of the human heart resound with its joy. It is a holiday full of poetry, child-like joy and memories, it is the enchanting dream of the home, the goal of our wayward wanderings seeking after the safe refuge amidst the family. When the voice of Christmas bells is heard over the silent and sleepy countryside and through the dim twilight of the ending advent period, the feeling of unspeakable longing, bliss and yearning awakens in each of us. It is Christmas Eve, melodies of ancient songs resound in our hearts, peace spreads over the native land, lights are burning and we breathe the warmth of the home. The day is short, the church gravely towers above the snow-covered village, the voice of bells hovers above snowdrifts, the intimately known house breathes coziness, the smell of pine needles fills the room, a lit tree lights up the vista of a lost and suddenly regained paradise of childhood. The moments of this solemn evening evoke memories of past days, gratitude for the ardent happiness of the present moment and joyful hope for the future. 

Presidential Exchange Program

As the new year turns, I would like to propose a new international policy. When a country is crippled, divided and brought down to its lowest form of human possibility by an inept leader, another country that has a President with a beating heart and intelligence beyond 4^thgrade can loan their President out for as long as needed. For the first test case, I would like to invite Finland’s president, Sauli Niinisto. We could begin this as an exchange and send ours to darkest Lapland to be sequestered in a sauna until some semblance of a human being appears. Perhaps we could export Fox News as well, shut it down here and watch formerly thinking human begins awake from their trance. Maybe the Finns could resist better than we have.

Meanwhile, imagine that America’s President made a New Year’s speech like this and compare it to the tweets of our Hall of Shame winner. In case we’ve forgotten, having endured 3 years of sub-human leadership and accepted it as the new normal, here’s what a leader is supposed to sound like:

My fellow citizens,

We are on the threshold of a new decade. The 2010s was a time of rapid change. The pace of change will continue to increase, but we can affect the direction it will take.

Unrest, instability and short-term thinking have characterized life both in Finland and the world at large. Counterforces to them must be created. We need more peace, stability and long-term thinking.

Late last year I was startled when I heard an interviewee on a street in London describing the opposing sides of the Brexit dispute: “we’ve learnt to hate each other”. When an issue, no matter how important, breeds hate towards those who think differently, we are heading for trouble. A culture of hate will not carry us far. It will lead to a fall.

I am increasingly concerned about how we in Finland treat one another. It is a matter of respecting each other, and ultimately maintaining social peace. And with it, our security.

Our way of public discussion has changed rapidly. It is increasingly rare to hear those holding opposite views seeking common ground. It is increasingly common to see existing divisions being fortified. Here are “we” who are right, over there are “they” who are wrong.

When there is no longer willingness to engage in a genuine dialogue, deliberate misunderstanding increases. When knowledge is meaningful only when it serves one’s own agenda, half-truths and even lies gain ground.

This is a development we need to end. The question is not only about a more pleasant atmosphere for those taking part in the dialogue. At stake is the single most important factor of Finland’s success. Mutual understanding.

Mutual understanding does not necessarily mean unanimity. There has always been room in this country for different opinions. Issues can be contested, and they should be. But disdaining and belittling others does not help to find solutions to those contested issues. We can do better.…

Man has always believed in the future. Been wrong repeatedly, and then made amends. And succeeded.

I wish you all a happy new year. God bless you!