Category Archives: Music

Music, Protests and Identity Politics: Reflections on a Theme

By DocJess | Published August 20, 2019

This past weekend marked the 50th anniversary of Woodstock. You knew that. W-XPN played the concert, stage whispers and all, for the entirety of the production You probably knew that, too. You may or may not know that I didn’t attend Woodstock because even though my cousin Steve got to go, and offered me a ride, my dad nailed me in my bedroom so that I couldn’t go. He thought I was too young. And, as an adult, I realize he was completely correct — but I STILL WANTED TO GO!!!!! Thanks, I feel better now.

For some reason, I felt a need to listen to the No Nukes album. That’s from the MSG concerts in 1979 protesting, with music, against nuclear proliferation.

So I am lost in my past…and thinking about what it was to protest then, the issues in play, and in so doing “Identity Politics” finally crystallized in my mind. The idea of “Identity Politics” has never sat well with me because I consider them to be unnecessarily divisive. I understand the idea, that “identity” defines people, but EVERYONE has an identity, and there are hopefully more things that unify us than separate us. Yeah, yeah, I have heard the blow-back that I don’t understand what it is to be African-American, and that’s true. Continue Reading...

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DNCC Announces Final Night Line-Up for Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia

By Oreo | Published July 28, 2016
PHILADELPHIA – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced the program for the final day of the Democratic National Convention being held in Philadelphia from July 25 to July 28. The night will end with Hillary Clinton’s acceptance of the Democratic Party’s nomination.

In Philadelphia, Democrats have laid out the clear stakes in this election – a choice between building walls and tearing people down or an optimistic unifying vision where we are stronger together and everyone has a role to play in building our future.
The program is listed below:

 

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (EDT)  Continue Reading...

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DNCC Announces Third Night Program for Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia

By Oreo | Published July 27, 2016
PHILADELPHIA – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced the program for the third day of the Democratic National Convention being held in Philadelphia fromJuly 25 to July 28.

In Philadelphia, Democrats are laying out the clear stakes in this election – a choice between building walls and tearing people down or an optimistic unifying vision where everyone has a role to play in building our future.

On Wednesday night, speakers will discuss how Hillary Clinton has the experience and steadiness to bring Americans together to get real results for our families. Her strong leadership will deliver economic results for all Americans and keep us safe. While Donald Trump is in over his head and reckless, Hillary can provide the leadership we need for the country we want to be.

The program is listed below:
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (EDT)

Call to Order
U.S. Representative Marcia Fudge (Ohio)

Invocation
Rev. William Byron

Pledge of Allegiance
Monroe Handy

National Anthem
Sebastien De La Cruz

Vice Presidential Nomination

Remarks
Daniel Driffin

HIV/AIDS Activist from Georgia

Remarks
Neera Tanden

President of the Center for American Progress Action Fund

Remarks
U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas)

Remarks
U.S. Representative Michelle Lujan Grisham (New Mexico)

Remarks
U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

Remarks
U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (California)

Remarks
U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (California)

Remarks
President of NARAL Ilyse Hogue

Remarks
Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Chair, U.S. Representative Judy Chu (California)

Remarks
Brooks Bell

Brooks is a young female tech entrepreneur from North Carolina

Remarks
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio

In Memoriam
Introduced by Convention Chair U.S. Representative Marcia Fudge (Ohio)

 

6:00 – 10:00 PM (EDT)

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Chair, U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján (New Mexico)

Our America Musical Performance

Remarks
Civil Rights Leader Reverend Jesse Jackson

Remarks
Actress Star Jones

Remarks
Flint Mayor Karen Weaver

Congressional Black Caucus
Chair, U.S. Representative GK Butterfield (NC)

Remarks
President of EMILY’s List Stephanie Schriock

Remarks
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (Nevada)

Remarks
California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom

Remarks
U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego (Arizona)

Remarks
Jamie Dorff

Jamie’s husband was Patrick Dorff, an Army helicopter pilot from Minnesota who died while on a search and rescue mission in northern Iraq. As a senator, Hillary worked with Republicans and Democrats to increase the gratuity paid to family members of fallen veterans from $12,000 to $100,000.

Remarks
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan

Remarks
Former Governor of Maryland Martin O’Malley

Introduction of Film
Actress Sigourney Weaver

Remarks
California Governor Jerry Brown

Remarks
Director Lee Daniels

Remarks
Christine Leinonen, Brandon Wolf and Jose Arraigada

Christine Leinonen is the mother of Christopher “Drew” Leinonen, who was killed in the Pulse attack in Orlando. Brandon Wolf and Jose Arraigada are survivors of the attack at the nightclub in Orlando.

Remarks
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (Connecticut)

Remarks
Erica Smegielski

Erica’s mother Dawn was the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary and was killed while trying to protect her students. Since then, Erica has become an outspoken advocate for commonsense gun violence prevention measures.

Remarks
Former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey

Remarks
Actress Angela Bassett

Remarks
Felicia Sanders & Polly Sheppard

Felicia and Polly are two of the three survivors of the Mother Emanuel Church shooting in Charleston, SC.

Remarks
Gabby Giffords & Mark Kelly

Musical Performance

Remarks
Rear Admiral John Hutson (Ret. USN)

Remarks
Kristen Kavanaugh

Kristen Kavanaugh is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a former Marine Corps Captain who deployed to Iraq. She later co-founded the Military Acceptance Project, a California-based social justice organization dedicated to promoting acceptance of marginalized populations within the military.

Remarks
Former Congressman and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta

Remarks
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (Ohio)

Introduction of Speaker
Dr. Jill Biden

Remarks
Vice President Joe Biden

Remarks
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

Remarks
Michael Bloomberg

Musical Performance
Lenny Kravitz

 

10:00 – 11:00 PM (EDT)

Remarks
Democratic Nominee for Vice President Tim Kaine

Introduction of Film
Sharon Belkofer

Sharon Belkofer is the mother of fallen Lt. Col. Thomas Belkofer. Her son was killed when a suicide bomber detonated a minibus in a convoy carrying Belkofer and three other high-ranking officers in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Remarks
President Barack Obama

Benediction
Rev. Gabriel Salguero

 

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DNCC Announces Opening Night Program for Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia

By Oreo | Published July 25, 2016

PHILADELPHIA – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced the program for the opening day of the Democratic National Convention being held in Philadelphia from July 25 to July 28. Additional speakers will continue to be announced throughout the convention. In Philadelphia, Democrats are preparing to lay out the clear stakes in this election – a choice between building walls and tearing people down or an optimistic unifying vision where everyone has a role to play in building our future.

Monday will focus on putting the future of American families front and center and how we’re stronger together when we build an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top and when everyone has a chance to live up to their God-given potential.

The program is listed below: Continue Reading...

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A Musical Interlude

By DocJess | Published August 30, 2015

This week, I’ve been reading some of the European articles on Donald Trump. Let’s just say that they’re unimpressed. Very offended by his words on Mexican people. And yet, across Europe and in the Mediterranean, there are thousands of dead: all people struggling to escape war and oppression and make it to Europe. A wall going up in Hungary. All incongruous. Better we should follow JT:

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