My Humble Plan to Change the Mindset Of Washington (with Help from Friends) – Part 2

So, to refresh your memory, I had an idea several weeks ago that maybe the argumentative/combative situation in Washington could be cured by having all of our elected representatives listen to the same playlist before they went to the floor, into committee, or held a hearing. The idea is that the right selection of music will foster a mindset that will allow for cooperation and compromise.

In the spirit of cooperation, I asked my co-workers at the Peninsula Pulse to create their own playlists and, in last issue, I shared several of their creations.

This issue we continue with their creations, beginning with Angela Sherman, our Calendar Manager and Delivery Logistics Supervisor.

• “Walk a Mile” by Tom Pease

If we could try to understand what each other are thinking and feeling we could look past one need and work toward the greater need of all. In addition to looking past our own wants and others’ hidden agendas, trying to hold back the anger and find middle ground would provide a space for compromise and positive forward movement.

• “Don’t Be Prejudice” by Max Romeo

Romeo pleads for us to “do the right and not the wrong, let’s be equal in our society and cast oppression down.” But what’s right for one isn’t always right for all and fair isn’t always equal. However, if we all aimed to treat each other with equality we could still be for the people, by the people and of the people; though it seems lately our government is for the lobbyists, by the Electoral College, and above the people.

• “Communication” by DJ Revolution

A mix of sound clips highlighting different kinds of communication and lack-thereof. Fun compilations that remind us that good communication, both listening and speaking, make change possible. Almost anyone can hear but it takes skill to listen. If you don’t understand what someone is saying find out before continuing discussions.

• “Equal Rights” by Peter Tosh

“Everyone is crying out for peace none is crying out for justice, I don’t want no peace, I need equal rights and justice,” begs Tosh. And he’s correct we should all be afforded the same rights. Lobbyists should not decide what is good for all of us simply because they have the money to support campaigns. The minority of the population, wealthy, cannot determine what is just for the majority of the population unless they are in fact concerned with the needs of majority population and not what it will mean to their bank accounts. Work towards what is right for the greater population, even if it means more money in the hands of working people and less in the hands of large corporations.

• “Radical Idea” by Rachel Brady

Cry for peace and reason thus becoming Brady’s version of a radical and revolutionary like Martin Luther King, the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa. Going against the norm has always led people to be seen as radicals but if we were all working towards peace, reason and love the stigma would change and radicals would be those with agendas contrary to those popular beliefs. It’s easier to hate and fight than to love and compromise but the harder the road, the greater reward. Where would we be if Martin Luther King had given up on fighting for desegregation?

• “One Love” by Peter Tosh

Tosh may have been singing about Jamaica but he’s words resonate with nations everywhere. One love for each other, for nature, for safety and security and, most importantly, one love for country; a country that was founded by accident and declared free so that they wouldn’t have to pay taxes or be controlled by Great Britain. So let’s follow the example of our founding fathers and the words of Peter Tosh by getting together and working towards justice for all.

I confess that I didn’t know several of these songs but, as I pointed out in last issue, I found all of them easily on You Tube. I encourage you, dear readers, to do the same.

Now we move on to the list from our Editor, Jim Lundstrom. Jim and I are from the same generation, which is just a “bit older” than everyone else who works at the Pulse.

• “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” by Aretha Franklin, for obvious reasons, and it grooves.

• “Oh, Happy Day” by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, because it will be one when the knuckleheads holding the country for ransom are voted out of office. And because it, too, grooves.

• “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie, because they need to hear it.

• “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath, just because.

• Mahler’s “4th Symphony” from start to finish – to be reminded of their humanity.

And finally, for this issue, here is the list from Madeline Harrison (many of you may still know her as Madeline Johnson), our Editor in Chief and co-owner of the Peninsula Pulse.

First off, as punishment for this latest round of idiocy, I would make them listen to a filibuster-length session of Barney the Purple Dinosaur singing “I love you, you love me” – full blast, over and over and over and over again!

With that out of the way, I’d then segue into one or all of the following:

• “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” by War.

• “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon. (I would also roll in large mirrors during this song for an extra flourish.)

• “How Deep Is Your Love” by the Bee Gees. (This, too, could be useful during the punishment session.)

• Then, when we inevitably encounter this same mess in February, I would suggest Britney Spears’s “Oops I Did It Again.”

That’s all the room I have for this issue, so we will continue this in next issue when I will finally present my own long awaited (perhaps dreaded) list. And if you have your own list, or even an individual song that you feel is appropriate, please send it my way.