Politics and Art Cannot Mate Successfully!!

The Rogue Speaks:

One Party's Idea of Creating Art

Several months ago, we received an invitation to a party at the home of a couple who are a little more than acquaintances, but not really friends. They are a nice, cheerful couple, and we have gone out to dinner with them a few times in the past.

I declined their invitation, even though I knew the food would be fabulous. The reason I declined is that they had a guest of honor--a fellow who is running for the U.S. Congress, against a person whom I helped vote into office last time around. He was expecting a donation for his war chest. I have a firm and fast rule about NOT discussing politics or religion with anyone, and I have an even firmer rule about giving money to people who don't need it to put food on their tables, or clothes on their backs.

People seem to have become pretty vicious about politics these days, and I don't need that meanness in my life. It destroys my creative spirit, and makes me want to slap that meanness right out of those vicious folks.   For the most part, I am finding that an awful lot of people are merely parroting what they have heard from the slick politicians without really understanding what those politicians are actually saying.  Countering those views usually ends with the person sticking fingers in ears and singing, “Lalalalalalalalala!”

I have found that when a certain brand of politician is voted into office, the muses suffer. Art and music programs are dropped from the schools, and grants for non-profit art organizations seem to just go up in smoke. Cuts are made to education because some narrow-minded people just don't care about our children's future.  Young people NEED the arts in their lives in order to become well-rounded adults. We had art and music classes in school when I was a kid, and I still remember just how interesting and fun they were. I cannot say that those classes made me normal by any stretch of the imagination, but I do feel that I am well-rounded, and not from eating pizza, either. Educational studies have proven that students who are exposed to art and music classes are much better at math and science. 

If you are not an artist, and you are reading this just because you are a friend, and if you have children or grandchildren in a school without an art program, don't despair! Your progeny can still reap the benefit of having art in their lives.  If you expose your children to art and music when they are young, believe me, it will stick with them.  Do art projects with them at home (like our Jenny, and JDaniel’s mom do)!  Put their art up on the walls in your house!  Let them know that you are proud of their creativity!  Find galleries and museums in your town that hold art classes for children.

Picasso once said, "Art washes away from the soul, the dust of everyday life." Our lives have become pretty dusty these days, and not only from greenhouse gas emissions, and oil spills, who deserves the most tax breaks, and which religion is America’s only true way of life. All the dirt that the politicians are throwing around is polluting our souls, and making us sick at heart and unhappy with the state of affairs. Do something healthy for yourself--make art a part of your everyday life, and see just how much better you feel.

If you thought that this post was going to be about the mating rituals of artists and politicians, so sorry to disappoint you.   Now head on over to Miss Jenny’s class, Alphabe-Thursday, and read the other students’ lessons!