MM2S001: Season 1, Episode 1
By: Ken Boone A couple days ago, I voted. For the very first time, I voted by mail. I made the decision to go that route because of my pre-existing condition. My cardiologist agrees with me. All of you, no matter your ideology or political affiliation, should seriously consider voting now. Don't put it off, because there are forces out there who will try to put their thumb on the scale. So the earlier you vote – the better. The earlier yo vote, the faster the ass whipping can be administered. I know the other side is trying to use scare tactics to keep us from voting. I'm sure they're accusing us of the same thing. But in my opinion that the other side has been using implied thuggery for decades, if not longer. What do I mean? Simply look at their faces. I'm serious. It seems that for years, Republicans would run the scariest-looking candidates for office. They look like comic book villains, with permanent snarls etched on their misshaped faces. The implied messages (or threats) were:
They stopped just short of tying us to a railroad track! Where I grew up, we had a saying that... “just because you're ugly doesn't mean that you're tough. It just means that you got punched in the face a lot of times!” Although he was raised on the other side of the tracks, the President is from the same city I was raised in, and no doubt heard that saying too. That's how the “Keyboard Gangster” was able to intimidate those fake tough guys so easily. Not only did he intimidate them into falling in line, he made them all modern-day Ben Rogers. Who's Ben Rogers? Oh, he's the guy Tom Sawyer convinced to whitewash the fence. Yes, he made his followers his pack of guard dogs. If you noticed, the President would talk a whole bunch of smack, then send others out to do the fighting for him! I said all of that to say that although things seem scary, that he seems scary, things are not hopeless. He can't kill you or burn down your house. In fact, he can't do anything to you by himself. But keep your eyes on his loyal followers. Yes, you may be afraid to take action. And that's okay. But sometimes you have to do things even when you're afraid. It's called bravery! And there's support out there:
Maya Angelou once said, “without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” Remember, there are many times when the underdog wins the battle. Our current situation is in fact precarious. Our way of life is being threatened by some pretty scary-looking people, with a modern-day Tom Sawyer as their leader. But fear not because at least we still have the right to vote. I already voted... have you? If the answer is no, then what are you waiting for!
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Pre-podcast Blog Post
By: Ken Boone When it comes to writing this blog, I've been off my feed. Sorry about that. I've been a little busy trying to maintain a healthy blood pressure. I've been in a constant state of excitement, although not all of my obsessive thinking has been negative in nature. If you check my Facebook news feed, you'll notice that I'm doing a lot of cheerleading. My musician friends, old and new, are using their creativity to find alternative outlets for artistic expression. Not to mention finding alternative revenue streams. So I've been doing a lot of liking and sharing. At the forefront of the musicians' movement is my brother, Mike. With over 20 live streaming events featuring phenomenal jazz musicians and counting, he's keeping the music alive via the internet. Another artist who has been very busy is vocalist Maci Miller, a new Facebook friend of mine. She just had an event that was streamed, with the added bonus of being played live in front of a small but enthusiastic audience, due to social distancing. I mentioned in a previous post, as well as on an episode of my podcast, that I found a new calling. I vowed to use my modest platform to amplify the messages of interesting people I happen to come in contact with. I'm glad to say I've kept my word, so far. On the national stage, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) just completed an ambitious charity concert series as part of their Save Our Stages initiative. With over 35 acts performing at various iconic venues across the United States, I'm sure that this series of concerts were also wildly successful. Speaking of the Save Our Stages initiative, the act of the same name is still collecting dust in Congress. It has bi-partisan sponsorship, so where's the holdup? What's the problem? We need you to do something constructive. That's what we're paying you to do! Finally, pointing the spotlight on the home front, I'm happy to announce that we've reached 100 podcast episodes of shows on the Descant Music & Media Network! Thanks to our hosts Celia Waller Boone and Angel Snipes. It's an honor to press "Play" and see and hear you ladies do your thing! And it seems like your messages are resonating with a growing audience. I'm hoping to get back on my schedule of posting to this blog every other Monday. But in the meantime, you will always hear from me. Either through my podcasts, on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and on our website. So, thanks again my friends! |
About the HostKenneth E. Boone, Sr. is a writer, podcaster, music lover, sports enthusiast, and retired accountant. Archives
May 2024
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