We Need Everyone to be Able to Vote

 Today, Sunday, March 7, is the 56th anniversary of the march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama. John Lewis, having died last summer, is not with us this year.  The attack on the marchers by state troopers on "Bloody Sunday" 1965 awakened a nation then. The sweeping Voters Rights Act was passed later that year.

Today over 40 states are trying to pass--and many succeeding--voter suppression laws.  The U.S. House of Representatives this week passed HR 1, a voting rights bill, so essential now. But it faces fierce opposition in the Senate.  

The nation has gone through a bloody year of brutality against African Americans. Are we as a nation awakened? Can we care enough, work hard enough, to reject voter suppression bills this year?  Can we care enough, work hard enough to secure voting rights for all this year?

Oh, To Sing Again!

 With masks on, and being so very careful, Mason City High School Choral Music performed the 73rd Annual Follies last evening. What a joy! Grandchildren Jennaya, a junior, and Jackson, a freshman sang and danced and acted in skits.  Their mother, Rachel, played the piano wonderfully, for all the performers.  Son Joel has been choral director for over 25 years here in Mason City, Iowa.  The theme this year was the "Fifties" which brought back memories of when I sang in Mason City High School Follies from 1953-56, yes, 68 years ago. 

Mason City schools began the year with hybrid learning and recently went to full days.  Students, educators and parents have been very responsible in keeping people well.  We are thankful. The Follies this year could not be held at the local Community College where usually 1000 people each night for three nights fill the auditorium.  Changing plans and being creative in how to perform this year, the show was held in the FEMA room a the high school (Yes, built for a place to go during a tornado.) Only 199 people could come for each performance, and we sat with two empty seats between everyone, even family groups. Each student had two tickets for people who could attend. The crowd cheered, as though there were 1000 people present.

This is a public community school.  Joel and Rachel seek to build community through music.  What did we like best?  Everything!  But perhaps what I appreciated most was that Joel met with the student musicians before hand--as they do every year--this time in the large cafeteria, and had students tell each other what they personally appreciated about one another.