Here’s the Context

Two minutes. Two minutes that made me uncomfortable.Stuck in my brain since February 29th.

Episode 88 of the Elevate Maryland podcast, beginning at around eight minutes, thirty seconds in. Co-host Tom Coale takes a stab at the dynamics of the upcoming Board of Education race. It begins, “...and here’s the context that I’m thinking about: the Howard County Board of Education race.” It concludes, “....they’re going to eat that lunch; it’s going to be served to them” at ten minutes thirty seconds. It’s two minutes.

Episode 88 Elevate Maryland  (8:30 - 10:30)

The gist of what is said is this: while local Democrats are reticent to act, the Republican Party is actively supporting candidates for the Board of Education.

When I first heard this segment this it troubled me. There’s an edge to Coale’s voice that could be anger or frustration. And, to be honest, I’m very likely the sort of person that he is angry or frustrated with. I sincerely want the Board of Education race to be non-partisan.

On the other hand, this year’s redistricting war has left a mark. It runs through the county like a gash, an unhealed wound. For a number of candidates, opposing redistricting is almost their only issue. While we have Republicans, Democrats, and Independents running, it has seemed to me that, if there were divisions, they fell more along the lines of where the candidates stood during redistricting.

And then I came across a discussion online which challenged my way of thinking. In a group devoted largely to the opposition of redistricting, a member laid out a plan to change the direction of the board entirely. It went like this:

1. Analyze candidates in every race.
2. Donate money to and campaign for the ones who espouse our goals.

And, to make sure readers understood, the speaker made it clear that no one who was “Blue” would be acceptable, and no one who was on good terms with the County Executive, either. This particular speaker was not an outlier. Their message was understood and well-received.

That, my friends, is partisan politics.

What I found the most troubling was the aim to control outcomes in races where members of this group do not reside. My friends who eat politics for breakfast will find me naive. I hadn’t anticipated this and I guess I should have. This is clearly strategic thinking: make a plan, work your plan, achieve desired domination. Control Board votes, control future policy.

The reason I supported the election of Board members by District was to make it easier for candidates from the less affluent parts of the county to get elected. These areas of the county have long been woefully under-represented on the Board. Since they would only need the funds and organization to mount a campaign in a finite area, non-traditional candidates might have a decent chance at running a successful race.

The idea that those candidates might be facing an influx of cash and/or campaign workers from outside of their district had not occurred to me. While it may not be illegal,  it clearly circumvents the entire reason that advocates worked so hard to have the law changed in Annapolis. The purpose was to give each area of the county a better shot at representation on the board.

In the past, more money generally meant a better chance of winning. So most, if not all, board members came from the more affluent parts of the county.

But now, if one faction is determined to play a “winner take all” game, and that faction contains some of the most affluent county residents, then isn’t well-to-do Howard County reaching right over the new boundaries and making a mockery of them?

Social media has been abuzz over the last 24 hours with the announcement by the Howard County Republican Club of their preferred/endorsed candidates in the Board of Education race. As a response to this (partisan) action it looks as though the Columbia Democratic Club has countered with a list of candidates that they feel comfortable asking their members to consider. (Notice the difference in tone, one that confirms what Tom Coale says about “reticence” in the face of partisan politicking.)

For me, it isn’t political affiliation bursting on the scene that concerns me. Candidates have different points of view;  their goal is to connect with like-minded voters. I don’t begrudge community members in another part of the county electing the candidate they feel best represents their values.

I absolutely and most whole heartedly object to those people trying to use their money and influence to steer the outcome of who will represent me. Or anyone else who doesn’t live where they live.

Perhaps when you are really angry and convinced that you have “Right” on your side then you think it’s fine to use any means to reach your end, even putting your thumb on the scale. So you work to circumvent the spirit of the law. Because power is more important than principle.

Here’s the context: there are some people out there who aren’t content merely to make their own choices. They’d like to make everybody’s choices. Keep an eye out for people like that. A board of education that is elected to fit the desires of the few is going to be a very bad fit when it comes to meeting the needs of all the children in Howard County.

Yes, I Said It

Yesterday Twitter directed me to a thread of things people have been saying since the start of the Covid-19 quarantine. The only one I can remember at the moment went something like this:

If you’re going to eat lo mein on a Zoom call, at least mute yourself.

There’s something I’ve been hearing a lot of lately amongst the locals, and it’s something I don’t  think many were expecting to ever say:

I didn’t vote for Governor Hogan, but...
I don't usually agree with the Governor, but...
I voted against Hogan both times, but...

...he’s doing a good job in this crisis.
...I’m grateful for his leadership right now.
...I think he’s making responsible choices to protect Marylanders.

Truth in advertising: I am one of those people. I think we are incredibly fortunate to have a governor  who takes this medical crisis seriously when, in other states, the response has been wholly inadequate. Yesterday the announcement of a deal to bring 500,000 testing kits to the state was something to cheer about, no matter what your political party.

Seeing Mr. Hogan step up and giving his all during this crisis makes me wonder. It may seem unfair to you that I could possibly be wanting more at a time like this, but here goes.

When this is all over, as much as it ever can be, imagine a world where Mr. Hogan stepped up to advocate for Baltimore in just the same way as he is fighting for the state of Maryland right now. No judging, no throwing shade, no victim blaming. Imagine a Hogan who was willing to hold press conferences that made it clear that the safety and success of Baltimore was his concern and everyone’s concern.

Surely someone who can negotiate around the difficulties of the current White House occupant’s floundering and sabotage can roll up their sleeves and work with any leaders in his own state to make things better. He’d just have to believe it’s that important. Is that too much to ask of the Governor of a State?

As a teacher, I know when a student is headed towards mastery. When they are willing to persist through struggle and multiple attempts to solve a problem, I know that they will soon be ready to tackle new challenges.

Throughout this current public health crisis, Governor Hogan has shown that he is willing to make the most of every possible asset and to forge new connections to solve problems in unexpected ways. Good for him.

Now do Baltimore. ( I mean, take a breather first, but then, let’s all get to work.)

Complicated

Local liquor stores are pushing out delivery after delivery each day. Restaurants are now permitted to sell you drinks with your dinner. Jokes appear online about the perfect quarantine cocktail, or at what time each day it is appropriate for Mom to switch from coffee to wine.

How about you? Are you quarantining with or without?

For me, it’s without. I don’t drink at home. It’s a “going out”, special occasion thing. I don’t judge anyone else, and some of those creative libations look mighty good, really. But it’s just not my thing.

The sale of liquor generates tax money for the state, which must be helpful in a time like this. And, for restaurants, the ability to sell alcohol for pickup/delivery is a lifeline, because that is where most of the money is made. On the drinks. It almost feels as though one is supporting the community by drinking.

And yet.

Drinking alcohol isn’t for everyone. And the prettiness of fancy drinks and artfully designed bottles by local distillers hides another, grimmer world of the daily purchases of whatever is affordable that feed the habit of those addicted to alcohol. It’s ugly, it’s relentless, and most of the time, it’s what keeps liquor stores in business.

I’ve heard some people say that liquor stores aren’t essential and should be closed down for the duration. On its face it seems pretty reasonable. Of course, it might not feel that way to you. Savoring that special drink may be a part of a host of things you are doing to make the best of a hard time. Some may look at it as a quality of life issue.

But for serious addicts the closure of liquor stores is a life or death issue. Severe alcohol withdrawal can mean tremors, delirium, and seizures. It can mean death.

It’s a tricky topic for me, this Quarantine Happy Hour thing. Seeing my friends online enjoy toasting one another makes me smile. Knowing how important the sale of liquor is to the local economy makes me think. Wondering if this time of isolation will push more folks into addiction as they use alcohol to self-medicate makes me sad.

It’s not a simple thing.

Personal But Public

Once upon a time I wrote a little piece about how the social media team of Maryland State Comptroller had a habit of wandering a little bit too far over the line when responding to those who disagreed with them.

Smackdown

Yesterday, one of the members of that team, the Comptroller’s Chief of Staff Len Foxwell, experienced a smackdown of his own. A statement he made using his own personal social media account about anti-quarantine protestors made a far bigger splash than I am guessing he had intended. Now Republicans around the state are calling for his dismissal.

His boss Peter Franchot felt concerned enough about the situation to address it on Facebook last night. The Comptroller expressed support for Mr. Foxwell in his position of Chief of Staff, labeled his online comments as satirical, and reminded readers that those remarks were posted on a personal social media account, not an official one.

If you want to read screenshots of what has caused this firestorm, or how people are responding, go to Twitter and search Len Foxwell. I’m not sharing it here.

Many of us have been expressing our frustration with those who, by violating quarantine and social distancing guidelines, will very likely make themselves and others sick, overburdening an already overwhelmed healthcare system. Along the way their actions will infect others who had nothing to do with their protest.

That doesn’t feel patriotic to me. It feels selfish, and I have said as much. I find it heartbreaking, and it makes me angry.

Perhaps what Mr. Foxwell wrote was his way of expressing the same thing. I don’t know. But, on its face, it’s glib, mocking, and deeply mean-spirited. From what I have observed, the glibness and sarcasm are well-known parts of Mr. Foxwell’s online persona. (Hence my original post about the Comptroller’s Facebook page.) I would imagine there are some who appreciate the expertise he brings to the job and say, “oh, that’s just his way.”

I think it’s fair to say that not everyone appreciates it.

Yes, it was probably a post written out of frustration, and not meant to be taken literally. Yes, it was his own social media account. But it wandered more than a little over the line. Mr. Foxwell is not entirely a private citizen, even in his time off, and that does place a higher burden on him when he speaks his mind.

His boss appears to have laid this to rest. I’m not entirely sure that’s going to be enough.

Lack of Balance

This morning feels like the time for a light hearted post. There’s a kind of rise and fall to the posts I write. I try to vary them. Too much of one thing can be off-putting. Heavy hitting issues day after day become a burden. So I follow an inner sense of the flow of topics. There should be a feeling of balance over the long haul.

Well, we are all experiencing a very long haul together but today I’m feeling a decided lack of balance. In scanning the news for a good local story I found word that there are Marylanders who actually think that congregating in Annapolis to protest the quarantine and social distancing is a good idea.

Please come to this protest in Annapolis Saturday. Remember to leave your facemask home and do NOT practice #SocialDistanacing Remember you are making a point... #Covid_19 #ThiningTheHerd (sic)

This is not a light hearted story. It is not a feel good story. It is jam packed with ignorance, selfishness, and downright stupidity. When one is dealing with a highly contagious and deadly virus which is easily spread by asymptomatic carriers, this kind of public action doesn’t endanger only the protestors. We can’t laugh it off as something these people are “doing to themselves”. 

They’re not simply shooting themselves in the foot. They’re turning the gun on everyone.

My heartfelt apologies that this is not a light hearted post. Feel free to send me any ideas you’ve got on that front. My daughter sent me a photo of an adorable baby duck this morning and, had I been sure that it was a local duck, I might have written about that.

Don’t Ask

A brief note to Howard County parents who enjoy virtual choir postings on the internet:

Don’t ask our HCPSS teachers to make any.

These requests, pretty much nationwide and who knows how far beyond, are the bane of music teachers everywhere. Let me tell you why.

Rehearsing a musical ensemble in one location is an interactive learning event. Each musician is responsible not only for playing their part, but paying attention to the director, and playing with their fellow musicians. Musicality is not merely playing the notes on a page. It is a collaborative endeavor.

A live rehearsal is not possible using Zoom or other similar platforms. If you don’t believe me, trying singing Happy Birthday with your online group of choice. It does not sync up. As a musician I find this maddening. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try if you are having a purely social gathering. Singing is a deeply human way of communicating.

But a true musical rehearsal or concert coming from many individual locations in real time? Not happening.

What you are seeing when you press play on a virtual choir or instrumental recording is, to be blunt, a parlor trick. It involves a huge amount of post-production work by someone who is using technology to piece it all together and make it appear to be an ensemble. The musical benefit to each individual player is negligible.

It is as though a class full of students were given identical squares of paper to color on while separated from one another, and the teacher was responsible for organizing them in such a way that they appeared to be a great work of art. This is not a legitimate learning experience. It’s far more like color-by-number. There is no listening or responding, no interplay between musicians, no opportunity to improve one’s playing or singing by rising to the musical challenges provided by the conductor.

A virtual ensemble is largely smoke and mirrors: enjoyable for the audience but providing zero learning benefit for the participants. And it is an unbelievable amount of work for whoever does the tech to “assemble” the end result. There are a zillion other ways that music teachers can be interacting with their students right now that are more musical and more pedagogically sound than the production of virtual ensembles.

So, for Heaven’s sake, don’t ask our teachers to make one. They are doing everything they can to bring out the best in their student musicians under extraordinary circumstances and it’s just not going to look the same as an ensemble rehearsal or concert. A creative and educationally sound response is not going to be a virtual choir.

Yes, they are fun. They are cool. They are amazing, and it’s not wrong to enjoy them. If you want to see more of them, make sure you support music technology programs in the school system. Those music tech kids will go out in the world and create more fun, cool, and amazing tech-facilitated musical experiences.

Let your children's music teachers do what they do best: teach.

A Mask That Reveals

When the national conversation began to turn to the advisability of wearing masks in public in order to halt the spread of the Covid-19 virus, it wasn’t greeted with enthusiasm by everyone. 


Black men fear homemade coronavirus masks could exacerbate racial profiling    - - NBC News

For Black Men, Fear That Masks Will Invite Racial Profiling  - - New York Times 

Yesterday Governor Hogan announced that he is ordering masks to be worn in public places such as retail stores and public transit, along with other requirements to support social distancing and heightened sanitary practices in places of business. From eveything that we know about spread of the virus, this is a sound decision.

From everything we know about institutionalized racism in this country, it will also have unintended consequences.

On April 4th, at the LA Mart in Oakland Mills, a Muslim man was (allegedly) tasered and restrained by a security guard because he would not remove his face mask in the store. According to the story the man in question is a health care worker who comes in contact with Covid-19 patients. 

National Muslim Group calls on Howard police to investigate alleged tasering incident at LA Mart in Columbia - - Jess Nocera, Howard County Times 

What possible reason could the security guard have had to require someone to remove a mask as a requirement for shopping in the store? Is it even remotely likely that someone would be hiding a weapon under a face mask? 

Or is it more likely that the guard thought that this man “looked suspicious” and wanted his face to be recorded by store cameras as he shopped? It seems highly unlikely that he wanted a customer to remove a mask in order to provide him with a more enthusiastic welcome. I certainly hope that the Howard County police investigate this incident and that they share the results with the public.

Some time ago, the LA Mart had already created a feeling of unease in the Oakland Mills Community by posting “no hoodie” signs at the door. It may be that ownership and management need some serious intervention on how to support safety in their establishment without compromising the civil rights of their patrons.