Posted on June 18, 2020 under Thursday Tidbits with one comment

 

Supporting the arts

 

The short- term effects of Covid-19 are everywhere. The entire country (world) was shut down for months. People were thrown out of work, schools were closed, and the economy ground to a halt. Almost everyone except essential workers like health care workers, service sector employees, and in our province of Nova Scotia, liquor store employees, were encouraged to stay home. (See my P.S. at the bottom of the page) Governments opened up the taps out of necessity, providing emergency funding to individuals and businesses to keep the economy afloat.

Hundreds of thousands of people have died worldwide.

I rarely engage in social or political commentary in this space for obvious reasons. I’m a chicken! The few times that I have delved into shark infested waters, I have occasionally surfaced missing a limb or two.

One of the Canadian government’s support programs is called the CERB – the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. It has provided an $8,000 benefit ($2,000×4 months) for people who qualify. It has been a crucial form of income for millions of Canadians thrown out of work during the pandemic. It has also become a lightning rod as it appears that many people who were not entitled to the money, have taken advantage of the program. Others have criticized the plan as being a disincentive for people to work.

Acerbic is defined as” language or actions which are hostile or sharp”. I believe that there is a new definition: a CERB ic – someone who is opposed to government subsidies.

It’s hard to pinpoint any one sector of the economy that has been hit harder than another, but few can argue that those making their living in the entertainment industry are amongst those people. Artists, musicians, dancers, comedians, and actors have always had a tough gig. Making a living in good times can be precarious at best. This is nothing new. For centuries, the artistic community has struggled for survival.

It can be argued that a community, a province, or a country is defined by its culture. In our part of the world, music is as important as oxygen. Live theatre, dance and art define who we are. They keep our history alive and relevant.

Right now, it appears that this might be one of the last sectors of the economy to get back to any semblance of normalcy. It is hard to imagine a pub packed with enthusiastic patrons singing Barrett’s Privateers and yelling “sociable”. Health experts are even warning people not to sing as this activity can spread droplets. Hard to make a living as a musician if singing is verboten! Ditto for concerts, plays and other cultural events where the public meets in close proximity.

Many countries have stepped up to the plate, recognizing the immense importance of this sector of the economy. New Zealand, which in the eyes of many, has handled Covid-19 as well as any in the world, is showing leadership when it comes to supporting those in the arts community with robust funding and supports. https://www.creativenz.govt.nz/

It would appear that our Prime Minister was eavesdropping on me as I wrote this piece. Two days ago, he announced that the CERB was being extended for at least another two months. There are many people, like musicians who simply can’t find other work and need this support until conditions improve.

I hope all levels of government will continue to support the arts community during these most unusual times.

That’s the tune I’m singing today.

Have a great weekend.

P.S. I was listening to “Q” on CBC radio yesterday morning. Tom Power was interviewing a professional wrestler with WWE. It was in the morning. I wasn’t drinking or trying experimental drugs. The wrestler informed the host that WWE has been deemed an “essential service” in Florida during the pandemic. This is the end of civilization as we know it.

 

Posted on June 15, 2020 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet

 

A walk on the wild side

 

“I love walking because it clears your mind, enriches the soul, takes away stress, and opens your eyes to a whole new world.” Claudette Dudley.

I have used this space on more than one occasion to trumpet the merits of walking. While I can’t offer any new insights into this healthy pursuit, I believe that now, more than ever, people who have the gift of good health, might consider walking as good medicine during a pandemic.

I’m not about to suggest that you walk for hours at a time. Short walks in your own neighborhood might be a great place to start. Most experts suggest that new habits can be formed in 21 days. I know that I have developed some bad habits during these self-isolating times. It didn’t take me 21 days to resume my sugar addiction. I will confess that I have done my share to keep profits healthy at the NSLC!

I have accepted the fact that things aren’t going to return to normal any time soon, so I think we all need to hit the re-set button and figure out a plan for the next six months to a year. Healthy living is my number one priority.

It’s not like I have been sitting around on my arse for the past 2.5 months. I have kept my mind active writing a new book and doing 50 “live” Facebook shows but these were temporary diversions. I am one of the very lucky ones. At the end of July, I will return to the north to continue my education under the guise of teaching. Many people face uncertainty in the labour market.

I have walked or hiked almost every day since I ended my 14 -day self-isolation back in April. I have still managed to gain weight. This is an equation I plan to reverse.

Of all the walking I’ve done, my hikes with my son in the woods have been the most enjoyable. Once you step inside a forest, it is like entering a magical kingdom. It is particularly so at this time of the year with all the flora sprouting forth daily. I never realized how many different shades of green existed.

Pete and I chat on the trails but most of the time is spent in silence taking in the wonders of nature. All of one’s senses are on high alert. The smells are delectable. If you listen carefully, you can hear the birds chirping and the wind rustling the leaves. Invariably you find a small brook or stream running down the mountain with its cheerful gurgling urging you to stop and listen. The golden rays of the sun part the trees creating interesting lighting. Strawberry blossoms are plentiful.

As an older person with some creaky joints, most of my attention is focused on the path in front of me, trying to avoid tangled roots or indentations in the terrain… a metaphor for the pandemic.

I routinely have a song playing incessant loops in my head.

As you climb further and further, you can hear and feel the beating of your heart. You realize that you are alive and well, and incredibly blessed. Eventually, you reach the apex of your journey and make your descent back to reality.

Walking indeed clears the mind and is a great stress reliever. Your body will love you for it too.

Put your best foot forward.

Today might be a good day to start.

Have a great week.

Posted on June 11, 2020 under Thursday Tidbits with 3 comments

BLM Peace March

 

I am not an authority on race relations.

I am not an authority on policing.

I am not an expert on conflict resolution.

I am not a historian.

Last Saturday, June 6,2020, I attended one of the most extraordinary events I have ever witnessed in our small town. The Black Lives Matters Peaceful March was an opportunity for our community to come together to acknowledge that there is a problem. The recent death of a young African American man at the hands of police was the catalyst for the rally. George Floyd’s death sparked outrage all over the world.

When I heard about the march, I mentioned to one of my daughters that I expected the usual suspects to attend. I have attended other peaceful demonstrations in our community in the past and every time I, go, I see a group of people deeply committed to social justice. She suggested that this was one gathering that I really must attend.

I didn’t take lightly my decision to be a participant. Like so many other people, the coronavirus has made me leery about being in any crowds. Like so many other people, I have recoiled watching other demonstrations, wondering and worrying about social distancing. I felt like people were being irresponsible. The easy thing to do was to stay home.

My son and I decided to go to listen and to learn. It was a calculated risk to go. I cannot speak for black people but from what I know and from everything I’ve read, it appears that black people take a calculated risk every time they leave their homes. For more than 400 years, people of color have faced discrimination and racism. And lest we think that somehow we in Canada are “holier than thou”, we don’t have to look far to see examples of systemic racism including racial profiling, racial slurs, and acts of violence perpetrated on people because of the color of their skin.

Columbus Field is just around the corner from where I live. We put on protective face masks and made the short walk to where the rally was being held. After several months of our Main Street being a virtual ghost town, on this evening it was jammed with vehicles as a steady stream of people made their way towards the meeting place.

It was quite a spectacle. In all my years, I had never seen such a large group of people assembled in our town. People filed in slowly and 95% of them were wearing masks. Those who didn’t have masks were offered one by a team of volunteers including a local physician. People at the entrance were asking people to show respect by exhibiting social distancing practices.

I am 68 and in the “at risk” category. I do not have underlying health issues, but my age is a factor. I made a conscious decision to stay near the outer edges of the field. There were groupings of family bubbles. From where I was standing it appeared that most people were keeping their distance.

There were several speeches which were heartfelt and dignified. We were all asked to take a knee for 8:46. I was standing on gravel and then I was kneeling on gravel. I will admit that it was uncomfortable. That is, until I started thinking about the incident in Minneapolis. You could hear a pin drop as a hush fell over the crowd, estimated at upwards of 4,000. I’m guessing that there was emotional discomfort for many in the crowd as well thinking about our own contributions to the problem while wondering if we could be a part of the solution.

The march itself was very well organized. While video and still pictures make it look like people were bunched up, there was actually quite a bit of space between walkers. Again, one realized that some groupings were family bubbles. I don’t believe that anyone in attendance was being selfish, reckless or inconsiderate by taking part. Was it perfect? No, but nothing in this world is as far as I can tell.

I saw people from every walk of life. It was pretty obvious that they too had weighed the pros and cons of attending and decided that staying home was simply not an option.

I was barely back home when invective spewed forth on social media. I was immediately lumped in with thousands of others who, in the eyes of some, lacked intelligence by attending the march. “There is no cure for stupid” was a common thread “liked” by several people on Facebook. I have seen this epithet used widely, and in many circumstances, it is warranted. There might not be a cure for stupidity but there is also no place for racial intolerance.

We all want things to return to normal, whatever that is but one believes that there are some things that need to change because the way people of color are treated is simply not acceptable.

As mentioned from the outset, I am NOT an expert on policing. I haven’t been a police officer, so I don’t understand the inherent risks and challenges of the job. My guess is that a great percentage of law enforcement officers are decent, caring people. Policing of towns and cities is under the microscope and the whole notion of “defunding” police forces is quickly becoming a part of our new lexicon along with flattening the curve.  Many are suggesting that the present- day model of policing needs a serious overhaul with some of the money spent on policing being diverted to other programs.

One model is being closely examined. The city of Eugene ,Oregon has a program called CAHOOTS which stands for Crisis Assistance Helping Out on The Streets. CAHOOTS provides mobile crisis intervention. ( https://whitebirdclinic.org/services/cahoots/) According to their website, “Each team consists of a medic (either a nurse or an EMT) and a crisis worker who has at least several years of experience in the mental health field.” Check out their website.

The pandemic is causing seismic changes all over the world. It is hard to imagine that things will ever be the way they used to be. This is a once in a generation “re-set” where everything is being re-evaluated.

This might be the best opportunity in decades, if not centuries, where we have a chance to right some historic wrongs.

Black Lives Matter.