In politics it is said, that when not fueled by hope there is a vacuum for fear to fill. Since artists turn to the muses, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope we are exploring what they can offer us for inspiration to have the hope 
fueling politics.
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
–Desmond Tutu
“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.”
–Jonas Salk
Let us first turn to Clio (guitar):
These California Maximum-Security Prisoners Are Making an Album (text along with a video and audio links)
http://www.motherjones.com/media/2015/02/new-folsom-prison-music-project-zoe-boekbinder-ani-difranco
Before Taylor Swift and Shania Twain, There Were Sara and Maybelle Carter
"America's original country superstars have a lasting legacy."
Sounds hopeful to me, how about you?
Perhaps Erato would claim this as a love poem? (hanky alert for this video): 
Syria's Young Talent
https://www.facebook.com/aworldatschool/videos/657896257684671/?&utm_medium=email&utm_source=awas&utm_content=1&utm_campaign=2016_01_14_SoS&source=2016_01_14_SoS
Was this a good example of how to respond to tragic events?
Continuing with Terpsichore (education):
One photo captures the power of a teacher's support — and it's making the rounds
Does this inspire you?
Clio (also history) reminds us of history many of us never learned:
Sikh Soldier Allowed to Keep Beard in Rare Army Exception
Is this history we will become glad it became past tense?
And then to Thalia (Colbert comedy video clip with a sting and advice and election commentary)
Killer Mike Educates Stephen Colbert
“Rapper and Activist Killer Mike of Run The Jewels stops by The Late Show to talk about racial justice, Bernie Sanders and formal sweats.”
http://therealnews.com/t2/component/hwdvideoshare/viewvideo/80141
Would you follow this advice?
And Terpsichore (also dance) brings this inclusive delight for us to end
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hTfCwLpbaw
Thank you dear reader for joining me on this journey of discovery and quest for hope (and please forgive the large amounts of blank space that hours have not been sufficient for me to solve)
12 Responses to “Monday Morning Musings (on MLK Holiday for CA)”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Cross posted to Care2 at:
http://www.care2.com/news/member/663679641/3946632
Wonderful, caring teacher – and his comment afterwards shows he is no dummy – he knows what's happening.
I looked at the photo of Capt. Singh in the NYTimes, and read the Army's "reasons" fort not wanting beards, and I want to go on record as suspecting that the Army's real exception to Capt. Singh's beard and turban is that if you put him next to a pale, shaven, buzz cut soldier, he makes that soldier look pretty puny. The original and only reason for requiring soldiers to shave was Alexander the Great's reason – and that was that, when they got into hand to hand combat, the enemy could disconcert them by pulling their beards. Not much hand to hand today. Guns make even one-on-ones a degree more distant. If at the end of his one-month trial he is disallowed, the Army had better brace itself for plenty of jokes about not being able to stand the competition.
Since today (Monday) is MLK day, may I add one more link? The NPR show "From the Top" exists to celebrate "the power of music in the hands of America's kids." I heard tonight a podcast of their MLK show, recorded in 2010, but it would be a challenge to do any better. Hope. Every one of their shows is filled with hope, and this one more than usual. Don't be frightened by the words "classical music" – the music here is all very accessible and mostly non-traditional. (And who would want to miss the interview with the young woman whose babysitter was Archbishop Tutu's daughter?)
Thanks for the military insight and the podcast link, which I look forward to enjoying!
YVW – and I finally got through Killer Mike – I note he gave SEVERAL pieces of advice, ALL of which were excellent – right down to the advice to his daughter Michael to stop fighting LOL. I would follow any of it that I would be able to.
His advice was indeed wonderful for all of us as it applies to our walks through life.
Great links, and I cleaned up most of the space for you.
Thanks TC…the loss of Thalia's picture is a small tradeoff.
Joanne's audio link is well worth listening to today…as is:
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=15440
Never heard of Killer Mike before this, but this was two pieces of great advise!
The Carters rocked!
Tha is one VERY cool professor!
I guess the raping kid dies have talent, and more, but rap just sets my hairs, the few I still retain, on edge.
That's supposed to be 'DOES" have tatent. sorry.
Wow, "dies" and "does" are so close on the keyboard…some rotten metaphor for what is going on in the Mid-East.
Amen to that!