I have been feeling frightened by what is happening in Washington and here in Arizona lately, and depressed when I think of the harm that people in government are doing. At the same time, I have been heartened by events in the Middle East and North Africa, and also in Wisconsin. There is something wonderful in the human spirit, and so far it has not been crushed.
It does not assuage my fears and anger at attempts to undo the work of generations, but it helps me keep a sense of proportion. At least some of the time.
Then this morning I found this.
I was on YouTube the other day looking for Mischa Elman, and found a Vitaphone film of him from 1926, one of the first samples of the technique for making sound films that made "The Jazz Singer" possible. I went back today and searched Vitaphone and found amazing things. I saw Efrem Zimbalist playing the Kreutzer Sonata, Benjamin Gigli in Cavalieri Rusticana, Anna Case in Fiesta, George Burns and Gracie Allen, also from 1926. And then I found the film clip I post below.
I will not be able to join the demonstrations tomorrow because I have a rehearsal and don't expect to be home in time to go to the one here in Tucson. But my spirit will be with all of you who will be demonstrating across the country. If inspiration is needed, think of the smile on Helen's face at the end.
I'm ambivalent about much that has to do with religion, but I know that with our minds and our hearts we can make miracles. This clip of Helen Keller with Anne Sullivan took my breath away, and I wanted to share it.