Miracle of Miracles

The week of Thanksgiving, I watched Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles, a documentary on Great Performances on PBS. It's about the origins of Fiddler on the Roof, a musical so many of us love beyond measure. 

I am way too emotionally fragile these days, even more so than usual, and I cried through most of it. I mean, CRIED. I had to pause it a few times to weep for a few minutes. 

In this era of chastising people for cultural appropriation and rebuking people from one culture from wearing anything, singing anything or presenting anything from a culture not of their own culture, I was so happy to see the productions of this play in Japan and in Indonesia so celebrated, and the universal themes acknowledged over and over. I loved the comment one of the creators got when it was produced in Japan: a person asked him, "Do American audiences really like this?" He said yes, of course. And the person said, "I'm surprised, because it's so Japanese!" 

I have this fantasy of subtitling the show in Pashto and Dari and showing it annually on TV in Afghanistan. Because the story is SO Afghan to me. 

The documentary talked about how, in the spring of 1969, a group of black and Puerto Rican junior high school students staged Fiddler on the Roof in Brooklyn, as black-Jewish tension swirled around them. The drama teacher directing the production believed that the show would give these kids a more sympathetic understanding of Jews. There were teachers at the school and community members who tried to stop the production, using many of the reasons people try to stop cross-cultural productions of certain shows now. But the show went on, and the students had a very personal, intimate connection with the show, with girls identifying with many of the patriarchal restrictions by male relatives, with children witnessing evictions - or being subjected to them - from homes. 

This from New York Jewish Week, a publication of the Times of Israel:

When someone tried to stop the show by alerting the producers that they didn’t have official permission, the show’s creative team granted special permission and in fact Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick and Joseph Stein, along with producer Hal Prince, traveled to Brownsville for opening night, as their own production was flourishing on Broadway. These kids belted out “Tradition” and “If I Were A Rich Man” from their souls... While Jews felt pride at seeing a robust show of Jewish content on Broadway, they were not the only ones to feel the sometimes-painful tug between tradition and modernity, between one generation and the next.

I'm not crying, YOU'RE CRYING!!

I first saw "Fiddler" via the film version on TV. I was a teenaged Kentucky gal, raised mostly Baptist, and not really clear on much regarding the Jewish religion, let alone Eastern European history I loved it, even as my brother walked through the room repeatedly making fun of whatever was on TV at that moment or me for watching it. I saw two amateur productions in Western Kentucky when I was in high school as well, neither of which, I suspect, had any actual Jewish people in them, and with Kentucky accents hard to hide. Both productions were adored by the audiences. Both productions reached people who never would have experienced the show otherwise. I guess there is a growing number of people who just can't understand how Fiddler on the Roof would mean something so dear to people who aren't even that familiar with Jewish culture, and would, in fact, be offended by such a group daring to stage the production. And that makes me incredibly sad. 

Givings people - kids, in particular - the chance to explore different stories and different kinds of theater, music, dance, etc., creates an understanding and empathy that is so needed in the world - it's not just fun, it's transformative. As long as it comes from a place of sincerity and respect, I love seeing people from one culture explore another culture through the performing arts. No, I don't mean black face, a practice where one group makes fun and demeans another through an exaggerated, stereotypical portrayal. But I tend not to lose my mind if, say, someone of Italian and African descent playing a Hispanic person from Chilé (Breaking Bad). Or a guy from Japan playing Kentucky bluegrass music. 

On another note, there was one person in the documentary I have met, have worked with, I thought yet again about how lucky I was to get to work in professional theater for a few years. I miss theater - professional and amateur - so, so much. I miss live, in-person performance so, so much. It hurts my head, it hurts my heart, it hurts my soul. But if they all opened tomorrow, I wouldn't go. Because there's a global pandemic. We've got to get through this so we can get back to live, in-performance, among other things. Please wear a mask. Please don't socialize with people outside of those you live with.  

letter regarding Forest Grove Police Department violations of community trust

sent via email

November 23, 2020

To: the City Council members of Forest Grove, Oregon

In the early morning hours of October 31, 2020, a family living in Forest Grove was terrorized in their home by an off-duty Forest Grove police officer, Steven Teets. Later that day, that same officer returned to the family's home, terrorizing the family again without even having to raise his voice this time - he said he was there to apologize but the family was extremely alarmed by his return, as though he was there to remind them that he knows where they live.

On top of this outrage, the Forest Grove police officer that responded to the family’s emergency call didn’t say that police had anyone in custody, instead asking if the family would be able to recognize the person. And Forest Grove police don’t have body camera video of Teets' police escort home because the Forest Grove police officer who picked him up and gave him a ride home didn't record the encounter.

Violation after violation after violation. Not missteps, not mistakes and not training issues. These were willful violations by more than one Forest Grove police officer that undermine any trust in the police.

The Forest Grove police department has a systemic problem, and these series of incidents are just the ones that have made the news.

Forest Grove had a police chief through 2019 who was trying to reform this department, trying to weed out the chronic people and problems, trying to institute standards of quality and respect, trying to build bridges with a diversity of community members - and in return for her work, she was harassed and the city forced her to resign. Because, just like the police officers on October 31, what was most important was closing ranks, not addressing problems, not doing what was difficult but necessary.

It's going to take more than firing Steven Teets to restore faith in the Forest Grove police department. It's going to take more than a memo or two from anyone, no matter who they are, assuring residents of Forest Grove that there's "concern" or that "action is being taken." It's going to take more than one or two community meetings. The Forest Grove police department must be substantially reimagined and reformed.

The kind of change that's needed comes from bold requirements of the people working in the Forest Grove police department, over months and years, such as:

• Officers must be reminded regularly, through training, through actions by senior leadership and by all communications internal and external, that they are public servants, that they serve this community, and that absolutely anyone living in this community, regardless of the language they speak, regardless of their immigration status, regardless of their ethnicity, regardless of how many years they may have been in Oregon, are MEMBERS of this community that police serve. The steps taken to establish and reinforce this culture must be reported to the public each year. 
• Officers must go through yearly, meaningful, substantial anti-bias training, and this training, including who leads it, how many hours it took and sample materials, must be made available to the public each year.
• There must be a no-tolerance policy for police officers engaging in threats or violence of civilians, including while off-duty.
• All officers who are not already bilingual in English and another language relatively common to this area should be REQUIRED to take classes to learn the basics of a second language. Spanish would be most practical, but Thai, Vietnamese or Arabic would also be acceptable. Results of this training should be reported to the public each year. 
• There must be a ban on any participation by Forest Grove police officers to attend "warrior" trainings, such as those by Dave Grossman, and there must be absolutely no funding whatsoever by the city of Forest Grove for such. There must also be trainings (ongoing, not just one) to undo and refute the principles espoused in these "warrior" trainings.  
• There must be better, more regular training regarding police interactions with people with mental health issues or struggling with homelessness or addiction, and this training must be reported to the public each year.
• There must be a ban on officers fired for misconduct from any police department anywhere or who left a department before they could be fired, from being hired in Forest Grove.
• The police department should release to the public a list of how many complaints were filed against officers in a given year, how many different people filed those complaints, how many officers had complaints against them in that year, and how many of those complaints resulted in disciplinary action against an officer. Even if the details of the complaints are not given to the public, nor the officers are named, citizens have a right to these numbers, and a right to look over these numbers from year to year to decide for themselves if there is a problem that should be addressed.
• Police department policies for social media must go beyond what is standard: officers should be told that, when posting on social media, even on their own time, they must
  -- take personal responsibility for the content they publish.
  -- identify themselves truthfully in any public forum.
  -- always be factual.
  -- never post content that is inconsistent with the values of the police department.
  -- never post content that would undermine the public's trust in the Forest Grove police department.

If this city loses police officers who don't like these standards, so be it: this city will be better off without them. All of this is needed much more than a new police building.

But will any of these reforms happen? I am highly doubtful. I suspect ranks will close, general statements about how "action will be taken" will be made, even defensive statements refuting that there really is a systemic problem will be made.

Actions speak louder than words - we will all be watching those actions by the Forest Grove city council, the city manager, and police officers themselves. 

Update: On Tuesday, November 24, the following was received by me via email:

Jayne,

I have been requested to respond to your email. I want to thank you for expressing your concerns and recommendations. I also want to let you know that I share your concerns. I have spoken the victim in this case, and assured her, as I do you, that the City takes personnel matters very seriously and allegations against any officer will be investigated and they will be held accountable to assure compliance with local, state, and federal policy.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the criminal aspects of the incident. Once the case is resolved, we will proceed with an independent review of the incident. If it violated policy, personnel action will be taken at that time.

To assure objectivity and accountability, we have also requested an outside, independent investigation of the Department’s response to the incident. This will include, but not be limited to, the use of body worn cameras. As with all investigations, our goal is to assure impartiality and objectivity.

As you mention, the integrity of the Forest Grove Police Department is essential to the public trust. Please know that all allegations about the Department’s police officers are reviewed and investigated to assure compliance with local, state, and federal policy and that the officers are held accountable to those policies.

I recognize this is a difficult situation and I ask for your patience to allow the course of both investigations to be completed. These processes will take time. There are labor law guidelines that we must follow that ensure due-process. As this matter progresses, I will keep the community informed.

Your recommendations do resonate with me. Prior to this incident, I had already been working with Pacific University on implementing training in various areas, to include implicit bias training. There also policies in place that cover several of your recommendations/concerns.

Since my arrival, I have placed police policies and our stop data on our web page for public viewing. As we close out the 2020 calendar year, all of our annual reports will also be posted on our web page. This will include use of force and citizen complaints. As a quick review, in 2019 we completed 10 investigations related to complaints involving members of this agency. The complaints were categorized as follows:

Investigations – 4, Performance – 4, Use of Force - 1, Other -1 (lost property). Only one of the complaints were sustained. There were no racial bias complaints. Please note that the Forest Grove Police Department had over twenty thousand Community contacts in 2019.

Again thank you expressing your concerns and sharing the recommendations. Please have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Respectfully,

Henry

Henry Reimann
Chief
Forest Grove Police Department
2102 Pacific Ave
Forest Grove, OR 97116
503-992-3260

Update: Here's my response, sent via email on November 29, 2020

I did not write the interim police chief of Forest Grove. I wrote the city council, the people that I assumed you reported to. That they did not respond, that they have turned this over to the interim police chief to respond, speaks volumes about how they are treating this matter - and not in a good way. What's next - an email from Officer Teets telling me how sorry he is?

The integrity of the Forest Grove Police Department cannot be rebuilt by someone who doesn't believe that there is a problem. Your response implies that the problem is perception, not the current culture, and that policies already in place address my concerns. Therefore, I want a link to each policy for each bullet item I have posted below, that shows there are already policies in place for each of the concerns.

Your response also implies that a workshop or two at Pacific University will take care of any other perception issues. I would like the names of the people at Pacific University that have experience in police reform and evaluation studies on their work at previous police departments that show their expertise and training are effective. Otherwise - it's just a very small step on what should be a much, much longer journey. 

Without someone leading this department who will acknowledge that there is a cultural, systemic problem at the Forest Grove Police Department, and, indeed, in policing across this nation, the problems are not going away. And clearly, from your response, we still don't have that. 

I would prefer to see police officers quitting because they don't like changes implemented by the chief, like a focus on serving citizens and an absolute refutation by the police chief regarding "warrior" training and, instead, a focus on patrolling and interacting with residents, de-escalation and valuing the diversity to this community. I would prefer to see a chief that says, "I'm not here to be popular with the rank and file, I'm here to serve the residents of Forest Grove." 

I've heard over and over that you are very good at making people who are complaining or asking questions to feel better in the moment, but I need a lot more than "I'm concerned too." I need a lot more than "We did some cultural-sensitivity training with a local group." I'm looking beyond "he seems nice." I am looking for real acknowledgment of the seriousness of this systemic problem and real, even painful, changes, that will reform this local police department. I talk over and over to residents who have very bad experiences with police, especially when they call for help with someone, and when I say, "Why don't you write a complaint? I'll help you!" I hear over and over: "It won't matter, and then I'll become a target." I hear this at least once a month. While I appreciate have the ear and trust of so many in this community, a place I did not grow up in, it saddens me that this is how so many in this community feel.   

I say it again: actions speak louder than words. Many of us, not just me, will all be watching those actions by the Forest Grove city council, the city manager, and police officers themselves over the coming months. 

received via email, December 1, 2020

Jayne,

Thank you for the response and feedback. I apologize that my response did not meet your expectations.

Respectfully,

Henry
Henry Reimann
Chief
Forest Grove Police Department
2102 Pacific Ave
Forest Grove, OR 97116
503-992-3260

Miss him.

“I’m not going to the White House Correspondents’ dinner,” he said. “I don’t need to be laughing it up with Henry Kissinger.” He then launched into a tirade about how it sickens him, having travelled in Southeast Asia, to see Kissinger embraced by the power-lunch crowd. “Any journalist who has ever been polite to Henry Kissinger, you know, fuck that person,” he said, his indignation rising. “I’m a big believer in moral gray areas, but, when it comes to that guy, in my view he should not be able to eat at a restaurant in New York.”

I pointed out that Bourdain had made similarly categorical denunciations of many people, only to bury the hatchet and join them for dinner.

“Emeril didn’t bomb Cambodia!” he said.

From a 2017 article in the New Yorker.

I miss Anthony Bourdain. So, so much. 

All the thoughts for all the people

What a roller coaster. 

Tuesday, I went to bed as despondent as I was four years ago, so depressed I couldn't cry. Wondering when, not if, my family would handle deportation orders. Wondering how quickly my friends' marriages would be declared null and void, how quickly friends would be fired for being gay or a different religion or just some other thing that had nothing to do with their job performance. Wondering how I would protect myself from COVID-19. Wondering how we were going to survive, knowing that four more years of this would be far, far worse than the last four years. At a loss for any productive thought. Here's my post to Facebook that night:

I feel as bad as I did in November 2016. Humans are horrible. You are hateful, evil crap. It's time for a meteor to hit this planet - WHAM - so it can start over. As I said after almost getting run off the road by methed-out truckers as I rode the Alaska Highway in British Columbia: FUCK ALL YA'LL.

Wednesday, I woke up to numbers I wasn't expecting. But I should have. Whereas pollster got it wrong AGAIN, the press said this over and over: what the results are at the end of Tuesday night, when in-person voting totals are in, will not be the results when vote-by-mail results are in over the course of the next two or three days. The press repeatedly said that. We didn't listen. 

But even then, I wasn't ready to believe. I had very cautious hope when I went to bed Wednesday night. Thursday, I was just in a holding pattern. Friday, even though no delegate numbers had changed, the voting totals were clear. And I knew it: Trump lost. 

And here we are on Saturday. So. Much. Joy. We walked our dog and I danced for the postman and with three other neighbors during the course of that walk. I don't feel like everything is fine now, but I have hope. I know we'll need to hold the White House through three Presidents to undo all this crap. But I have hope. I know that there is an enormous amount to do now to undo this horror show - knowing that some things can't be undone, like the trauma of children separated from parents, like those who have died or been permanently disabled from COVID-19, like the restaurants, clubs, bars, arts groups and other businesses that have closed for good. Like the people murdered by police. 

Of course, now I'm reading right-wingers and middle-of-the-road Democrats talking about compromise, talking about not celebrating "too much," talking about "forgiveness." 

No.

I'm not at all interested in punishing Republican voters but I AM interested in prosecuting those who broke the law. I want those who have broken the law in this administration to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. It's time for the country to see actions DO have consequences and that, as President, you are NOT "King." If there are no prosecutions, there is no rule of law, period. If there are no prosecutions, this WILL happen again. 

And I want a full-throttle agenda: on health care, on restoring the protections of public lands, on restoring EPA rules, on restoring voting rights, on restoring US State Department funds and programs, on restoring protections for programs like Voice of America and AmeriCorps, on restoring DACA, on establishing a realistic path to legal residency, on addressing the pandemic, on free community college and affordable state universities, and, ALWAYS, on access to abortion. No compromise. None.  

I get it, Republican voters are going to have such a hard time: they are going to get more affordable health care. They are going to have cleaner water. They are going to see billionaires pay a fairer share of taxes and the ballooning federal deficit under Trump get reduced. They are going to have family members who are NOT going to die because of the global pandemic. They are going to have more welcoming markets abroad for the things their employers grow or make. They are still going to get to go to churches that prohibit gay marriage. They will still get to avoid black, Latino and Asian neighborhoods and businesses. They get to still buy and drive gas-guzzling pedestrian-killing trucks. They will still get to quietly take their wives, sisters, daughters and mistresses to clinics for abortion services that they publicly protest about. They still get to discourage their children and grandchildren from going to college. They still get to disparage people who read books, love the arts, study philosophy, speak languages other than English and travel to other countries. They will still get to believe stupid crap like pedophile parties in non-existent pizza restaurant basements. They will still get to go to rallies by Trump if he still wants to have them. And they'll get to keep all the guns they have now and buy even more, at least of certain kinds. 

That last paragraph was dripping with sarcasm, in case you didn't get it. In other words - ya'll Republicans get to benefit from all that is coming AND still be full of hate and bigotry and have guns.  

I wonder when you will understand that nothing changes for a white man if he hears people speaking Spanish in line at WalMart. Nothing. It doesn't make English somehow not matter anymore. There has never been a time in the history of this land we now call the USA when humans weren't speaking a myriad of languages - nothing has changed, not really. 

I wonder when you will realize that nothing changes for you if woman who is raped has access to abortion services - unless you are that woman. If you are against abortion, you never, ever have to have one, even if terminating a pregnancy would save your life. 

I wonder when you will realize that nothing changes for you at all if a mosque gets built in your county. You don't ever have to go. If you don't want to hear the call to prayer, push for an ordinance that would prevent such - but know that it will also apply to church bells and drums (I live across the street from a new Pentecostal Church - I DREAM of such an ordinance...). 

I wonder when you will realize that nothing changes for you at all if your local grocery store starts selling tamales or hummus. Unless you like tamales or hummus - then you are going to be SO HAPPY. 

I wonder when white people will realize that nothing changes for you if black people get treated by the police and courts the same way white people do. 

I wonder when you will realize that nothing changes for straight people, even Christians, if gay people get married. You get to stay married to whomever you are married to. You can be disgusted by anyone's marriage. You are always free to do that. 

I wonder when you will realize that nothing changes for you if a neighbor buys an electric car or commutes by bicycle, that even if that happens, you get to keep driving your big gas-guzzling truck.  

I wonder when you will realize that nothing changes for you whatsoever if people kneel quietly during the national anthem. 

Just so you know: I'm white. I'm middle class. I love Johnny Cash. I love honky tonks. I love Bi-mart and Costco. I love college basketball. I love the Andy Griffith Show. I love The Waltons. I love The Dirty Dozen. I love Judge Judy. I used to watch Live PD - though I tended to yell "Don't answer questions! You have the right to remain silent!" at the TV over and over. I still watch Gone With the Wind. I don't like when things that are bland are called vanilla, because, in fact, vanilla is a rich, delicious flavoring and, also, I don't think I'm bland, I don't think bluegrass is bland, I don't think opera is bland, I don't think anything I love is bland. 

Being a part of the Democratic Party doesn't mean I lose any of the "white people" things I love. Supporting civil rights and Black Lives Matter doesn't mean I lose any of the "white people" things I love. I just think about things VERY differently than I did in my younger days: I am always sad now that there are no black people in Mayberry. I love GWTW while also acknowledging it was written by a racist and represents racism. I will watch Judge Judy reruns until my dying day and also be appalled at how tone-deaf she can be about how hard it is for renters to find new places to live. 

I guess it comes down to this: I just don't get how white people that voted for Trump think they are under siege. The majority of white voters are NOT under economic stress, they are NOT economically disadvantaged, they are going to keep loving what they love, they get to keep their guns, and that's not going to change in their lifetime.

I think you, Trump supporters, are fascists. I really do. I'm not calling you that to hurt your feelings - I'm saying it as a reality. You are fascists. By definition. 

Fascism is a belief in ultra-nationalism (jingoism), fueled by xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, chauvinism, and isolationism. Fascists believe in the supremacy of their national or ethnic group over all others. Fascists are usually on the extreme political right. Fascists usually have one favored religion over all others. Fascism is characterized by an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader - a demagogue. Fascists are often elected to office in fully Democratic processes. And fascists can be happy only in the defeat of those that are not fascists - that is their only path to joy. 

Even with this election, the United States is a fascist country. That cannot be disputed. We are full of millions and millions and millions of fascist people. This is who the Republican Party is. This is who at least half the country is. And I've no idea how to make you not fascists. Can you love your country and not be a fascist? Yes - I love my country and I'm not a fascist. You can love your language, love your country, love your religion and love a person in your political party and NOT be a fascist. 

I'm exhausted. I'm tired. But I'm also relieved. I'm going to rest up and regroup so I can be part of the movement to retake a LOT of things we've lost and so we can rebuild a bigger, better "wall" between church and state, between American values and fascism, between misinformation and facts.

Lots to do. Wear a mask while you do it.