Sept. 10, 2010 Dear Christine, As we mark the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy and remember its victims, the signs of a renewed backlash against the Muslim population are everywhere. In New York, a cab driver was stabbed and slashed after a passenger asked if he were Muslim. Also, a man urinated on prayer rugs at a mosque while shouting anti-Muslim slurs. In Jacksonville, Fla., a pipe bomb exploded in an Islamic center occupied by 60 worshippers. In Tennessee, an arsonist torched construction equipment at the site of a planned mosque.&#160 These apparent hate crimes, and others, have come amid an ugly debate over whether an Islamic center should be built near Ground Zero. Unfortunately, reasoned dialogue has been drowned out by incendiary denunciations of Islam itself, creating a dangerous situation for millions of Muslims in the United States and, as General David Petraeus has pointed out, for U.S. troops overseas. Although most recognize that any religious group has the right to build a place of worship at a place of its choosing, some — Newt Gingrich among them — actually contend that Muslims should not be allowed to build the Islamic center near the site of the 9/11 attacks in New York. Many more pay lip service to religious freedom but condemn its exercise in such vitriolic terms as to create an atmosphere where violence is all but inevitable. With all the constant vilification, one has to wonder about the peace of mind of the hundreds of thousands of Muslim children — American children — in our nation's schools. As they hear their religion condemned and their patriotism questioned, they surely are experiencing an increasing sense of isolation and fear. They must wonder whether their classmates are turning against them. They must wonder whether they and their families will be safe in their own communities. For this reason, our Teaching Tolerance program is urging educators to commemorate 9/11 by using this opportunity to help students overcome misconceptions about Islam, confront stereotypes and deepen their understanding of different religious beliefs. We're offering lesson plans for every grade level to address these issues. &#160 It's important that we not only think about the impact of our words on our country's children but that we also engage them in a dialogue so that they can lead the way toward a more respectful society.&#160 In the days following 9/11, President George W. Bush delivered a speech to Congress in which he defined the terrorists who attacked us as radical extremists who reject the peaceful teachings of Islam. He punctuated his speech with calls for religious tolerance. "No one should be singled out for unfair treatment or unkind words because of their ethnic background or religious faith," the president told the nation. It's a reminder, not just for our nation's school children, but for all Americans. Sincerely, J. Richard Cohen President, Southern Poverty Law Center This commentary is also available on splcenter.org.

 

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I couldn't not watch the second round of hearings today in which the unflappable BP CEO Tony Hayward kept his cool despite an unseemly barrage of emotional questions from the children of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce.  Children who apparently have never been on the business end of corporate personhood.  Well, now they know.  Time and time again the committee members asked the same questions expecting a different result, the epitome of Einstein's definition of insanity.  Time and time again they sought to find a crack in the cool European demeanor of Mr. Hayward, but time and time again they failed -- miserably.  No matter how many pictures of oil soaked pelicans you keep on your desk, this won't install a conscience into a corporation.  

This was much more a cultural clash than a legal one.  Hot headed Americans finally confronted with the consequences of their oil habit turning their rage against the machine that supplies them.  Mr. Hayward, by comparison, seems quite comfortable and at ease with the cold, hard fact that an oil corporation (composed of international sectors in which local subsidiaries and other corporations engage in actual production) is not a republic.  He has not been invited to serve at the pleasure of anyone other than his stock holders who don't give a damn about pelicans.  His job is to keep an abstract legal entity efficiently making a profit.  Accountability, what the brats on Capital Hill were after today from Mr. Hayward, is in fact *their* job. 

For now, we'll have to wait for accountability.  For the time being the kids have been sent back to their offices without their pound of flesh for dinner and in time they'll drink themselves to sleep.  The rest of us should be hip deep in muck and not watching this happen on C-SPAN.

I'm not a big fan of the President because his policies tend to be much too hawkish and centrist compared to mine. However, I do feel like his efforts on health reform are desperately needed and I'm sick of hearing the paranoid Tea Party whining about "Obama Care".  So here's a small contribution that uses their lame policy moniker against them:

http://obama-cares.com

http://obama-cares.net

http://obama-cares.org

http://obama-cares.us

When corresponding with others about the issue of health reform, direct your contacts to get the facts straight by using these URLs that direct you straight to the WhiteHouse.gov health reform page.  Thank you.

Cheers,
Christine Bush

I'm sorry, but there is nothing "progressive" about using a holiday (which, like it or not, does have *spiritual* significance for many) as an excuse to provoke political adversaries and solicit money for the joy of doing so.  In fact, *it is completely contrary* to the spirit of the season. There are millions of people who need our help, who are out of work, who are losing their homes, and you're trying to pocket $5 donations just to do something spiteful?  

I am disappointed in this action on your part.  You should know better. This is something Glenn Beck would do. I will henceforth think twice before blogging on your behalf or supporting you in the future.

Sincerely,
Christine Bush
Mountain View, California

Dear friend,

Remember when Glenn Beck said President Obama had "a deep-seated hatred of white people?" Or when he told Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim ever elected to Congress, that he felt like asking him "to prove he was not working with our enemies?" Yeah. Well, there is one bright spot in all of his rantings - it's a reminder of what we're up against. Right wingers like Glenn Beck will do and say ANYTHING to get what they want. I don't know about you, but every time he opens his mouth, I feel inspired to do a little more, work a little harder for the progressive causes you and I both care about.

So we were thinking about sending Glenn a special holiday message - and I'm inviting you to sign onto it.

Dear Glenn- I just wanted to say thanks for a year filled with your hatemongering, your hissy fits, and your misogynistic, xenophobic, and racist remarks. Every time we forget for even a moment how important our work is, you are right there to remind us. Thanks for the inspiration - it keeps me motivated to fight for all the people and progressive causes I believe in! Sincerely, A proud supporter of Progressive Majority

We're asking all of our supporters to send an end of year gift of $5 or more to Progressive Majority in honor of Glenn. He would probably hate you for it - but who doesn't he hate?  Click here to make a donation of Glenn today!  

Thanks,

Gloria A. Totten President Progressive Majority

Press Release
Source: http://community.sfsymphony.org/profiles/blogs/san-francisco-symphonys-mahler


THE SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY AND MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS’ RECORDING OF MAHLER’S SYMPHONY NO. 8 AND ADAGIO FROM SYMPHONY NO. 10 RECEIVES THREE GRAMMY® AWARD NOMINATIONS

The Latest Release in Ongoing Mahler Cycle Nominated For Best Classical Album, Best Choral Performance, and Best Engineered Classical Album in the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards


SAN FRANCISCO, December 2, 2009 –The San Francisco Symphony’s (SFS) live concert recording of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 and the Adagio from Symphony No. 10 conducted by Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) received three Grammy® Award nominations today in the categories of Best Classical Album, Best Choral Performance and Best Engineered Classical Album. This recording is the latest release in the ongoing Mahler recording cycle for the orchestra’s own SFS Media label. Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in E flat major, Symphony of a Thousand, was recorded live in Davies Symphony Hall November 19, 21, 22 and 23, 2008 and features performances by sopranos Erin Wall, Elza van den Heever, and Laura Claycomb; mezzo-sopranos Katarina Karnéus and Yvonne Naef; tenor Anthony Dean Griffey; baritone Quinn Kelsey; and bass-baritone James Morris. The San Francisco Symphony Chorus under the direction of Ragnar Bohlin is featured on the recording as well as the San Francisco Girls Chorus and the Pacific Boychoir. The Adagio from Symphony No. 10 which opens this two-disc set was recorded April 6-8, 2006. A short video with behind the scenes footage and insights from the recording can be viewed here: “A Universe of Sound: Recording Mahler’s Symphony No. 8.”. The 52nd annual Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 31, 2010.

With these three nominations the SFS’s Mahler cycle has now received a total of nine Grammy nominations and four Grammy awards to date. The first recording, Mahler’s Symphony No. 6, was released in February 2002 and won the Grammy for Best Orchestral Performance of 2005 and was also nominated for Best Classical Album. Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 and Kindertotenlieder, featuring mezzo-soprano Michelle De Young, the women of the SFS Chorus, the San Francisco Girls Chorus and the Pacific Boy Choir won Best Classical Album in 2003, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, with soprano Laura Claycomb, was nominated for Best Surround Sound Album in 2004. Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 won Best Classical Album and Best Orchestral Performance in 2007.

Since the Mahler recording project began in 2001, the San Francisco Symphony has recorded all of the Mahler symphonies, the Adagio from the unfinished Tenth Symphony, Kindertotenlieder and Das Lied von der Erde and released a re-mastered recording of Das klagende Lied. Additional works still to be released include Mahler’s Rückert Lieder, Songs Of A Wayfarer (Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen) and selected songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn. All of the new SFS/MTT Mahler symphony recordings were produced by Andreas Neubronner and have entered the top ten of the Billboard Classical Chart.

Michael Tilson Thomas has distinguished himself as one of the world’s foremost Mahler interpreters, and through his signature performances, as one of the composer’s most compelling advocates. In 1974, at the age of 29, he made his SFS debut conducting Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. Now in his fifteenth season as Music Director, he and the SFS have formed an orchestral partnership acclaimed for their interpretations of the music of Mahler as well as for innovation and artistic excellence.

For more information about this and other Grammy nominations visit www.grammy.com.



MAHLER / SYMPHONY NO. 8 AND ADAGIO FROM SYMPHONY NO. 10

SFS Media 821936-0021-2
Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
San Francisco Symphony
Symphony No. 8 Recorded live in concert November 19, 21, 22 and 23, 2008 in Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, California
Adagio from Symphony No.10 recorded live in concert April 6-8, 2006 in Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, California

Distribution:
Harmonia Mundi (North America excluding Canada)
SRI Canada (Canada)
Avie (International)
Online: sfsymphony.org/store
MP3: iTunes, Rhapsody and eMusic and others.

"I share what I know, I find what I need, and I trust what I find at Wikipedia."
Christine Bush