12 October, 2019
The United States is seems always in the throes of schemes (AKA "campaigns") to place a candidate in the White House. There are all sorts of promises to "Make America Great Again" - which probably do not amount to the proverbial hill of beans. Military strength and economic standing seem to be the focus of both media attention and financial backers.
Positive impact of exposure to music, drama and other non-athletic programs have been recognized. Yet it seems electives in these fields are always the first to be sacrificed when any budget cutting is implemented.
Raised in middle-class America during the second half of Twentieth Century, I have been fortunate: the cartoons I watched featured soundtracks of classical music. Television shows often had theme songs with [more or less] sensible lyrics and, in the old movies I watched on a black-and-white TV set, even the thugs had a reasonable semblance of manners.
Talking with my youngest sibling once, she suggested I write about a school program she has proposed calling MAPPS: Music, Arts, Penmanship, Prosthetics Support. Having already alluded to the importance of music and art, I would like now to dwell on the two "P"s.
Penmanship is again being taught in United States schools after having been deemed obsolete, for a period. It makes me sad that some were denied this enrichment. Of the handful of individuals with whom I am in regular correspondence, fewer than half reply in cursive. The ones who do are in the "over 55" age range. Some older people stop writing as their hands start to shake with infirmity of age, but I have seen the script of nonagenarians, which is well-shaped and legible, if slightly wavering. We seem to be in such a hurry. But really, what's the rush? Unless one is allergic, shouldn't one take time to *stop and smell the flowers*?
Prosthetic devices are becoming increasingly visible among the general population. The manufacture of these items is, I would surmise, a billion-dollar industry. All too often need gives way to greed, and a person is denied something which would enable them to become a productive member of the community because they simply cannot afford it. In an age when 3-D printers can crank out a foot for a duck, why is any person forced to use a stick, padded with a wad of rags? Where are our priorities?
Awareness of prevailing conditions is a start. From there, we must think, learn, and do - each according to our abilities. My sister believes in my ability to communicate and hopes my "putting it out there" will make a difference. I hope so too.
Candidates for office should be required to spend as much promoting arts education as on their campaign. That might be a way to limit the mega-bucks spent by special interest groups. As it stands now, we are failing not only present and future generations, we are dishonoring past generations.
Everything seems to be about the bottom line, which in this case, I suppose, is: Do we really want to be great or do we just wanna have the most guns and 'win the most games'? who are we really, and does it even matter?
