How did the Repuglicans most benefit from the Muller Report? The whole country sat and waited – dazzled by the promise that we’d be saved by this one “righteous, principled” white man, the former head of the FBI, for fuck’s sake. Mueller choked - but his whole remit was so narrowly focused on the Russian bit that tRump has been allowed these two years to destroy everything else. Meanwhile the country, including the Resistance, awaited the report about this sliver of the big picture. I said this many times over the last two years: Mueller was a successful diversion and pacifier.
London just had between 1 and 2 million protesters on the street in a country of 56 million (England). We, in contrast, have been awaiting a solution from the former director of the FBI, a body with the shadiest of pedigrees. Of course there have been many groups that have kept up their protests and expressed their outrage on the streets and through words, but too many have sat back awaiting the report of this savior who has spent his life supporting the Repuglican law & order agenda.
There are no saviors. Only we can do it for ourselves. For context, watch Stephen Colbert’s monologue from last night.
Confession time. I am a groupie. I cannot resist a Young@Heart performance, even when it generally means driving 2+ hours to Northampton or, as was the case Tuesday night, all the way to Providence, RI, where they had been invited to the previously (to me) unknown Rhode Island College by the College's choir leader.
They gave a huge show, with two full halves, and the College Choir joining in for their signature song, Forever Young. To my mind, the College choir leader was trying to show them how a chorus can create an entire show full of costume changes, brilliant solos, strong group bonds, terrific staging, amazing conducting, all with a live band.
But during the intermission, in the line in the women’s bathroom (so much of my life has passed in such lines), I was behind one of the college girls who was about to perform with Young@Heart. I asked her what she thought of the show so far and she squealed, “They’re so cute!” We’re talking here about people in their 70s and 80s and 90s, many of whom have been singing for half a century or more. Cute? Then someone asked her if she’d be on stage with them and she answered with a giggle, “Yes, of course. And they’re such a sweet little bunch.”
I’m afraid her condescension, her stark ageism, and her inability to recognize talent and professionalism right before her eyes kinda dulled the second half for me. Young@Heart works their asses off to maintain the standards they have established in their 37 years of performing. They travel abroad. The 10-year-old documentary made of them is one of the 50 top docus of all time. They do new material constantly. What more does that little fool want?
Anyway, I’ve seen Young@Heart at least dozen times and I will continue to be a devoted fan. I started out as a journalist reviewing them. Once. Twice. Thrice. And then I had to admit it. I hunger for my twice yearly dose of their talent and their community. I’m a groupie.
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