In my last post I made some very pointed jabs concerning the situation at the Minnesota Orchestra. I have heard through the grapevine that these may have been misinterpreted by some involved in the lockout. I want to clarify my intent and apologize if anyone has been offended.
Quite simply, after a long day, and a lot of reflection over this lockout, my emotions got the best of me. What I intended to convey was my anger towards the naysayers, specifically in the local Twin Cities media, who have been so dismissive of how this all came about and the impact that the lockout has had. Instead of doing hard research and accurately reporting how this impasse developed there was much parroting of the “company” line, despite what seemed like a situation ripe for actual journalism. They have let others do their work for them, and I would like to specifically commend the local blogs Song of the Lark and Mask of the Flower Prince for their work in reporting, analyzing, and commenting on the lockout, effectively doing the job that the “established media” should have done.
If I had had a clearer mind and time to reflect on my writing I would have made that point succinctly. Instead I left room for ambiguity, and that may have led to hurt feelings on the part of some of my musical colleagues. This was absolutely not the intent of my post, and I apologize to them for being unclear about that. Mea culpa.
I agree about the superficial reporting regarding the Minn. Orchestra situation. All the focus is on the pay scale. Nothing is said about wither the offered salary quote includes health insurance and retirement benefits, and instrument insurance, which is a very big and very important item, or if it just refers to the take home pay. Also what about the 200+ work rule changes? Those would have a very significant effect on the job that could put at risk the musicians health and well being, and the safety of their instruments. I’m sure that’s a very big part of this.
Very true about the local media reporting Bill. But is it any surprise when the president /CEO of the Strib is on the MOA Board, and there are very close ties between the local television stations, particularly the Hubbard’s and the Board, and directors and major funders of MPR on the MOA Board. That’s why, for example, when Alan Fletcher comes to town for the OX community forum and says first off that the lockout must end unconditionally—-his foremost point— this statement does not appear in Strib or MPRcoverage. And SOSMN tried to get the mainstream media to cover “domaingate” for FOUR days— but no takers until after Emily E Hogstad reported it in her blog Song of the Lark(and got something in the order of 40,000 hits in one day). Graydon deserves kudos for his bombshell article last year about the 2009 MOA Board minutes in the Strib but one has the distinct impression that since then there has been pressure to only report the facts that support the MOA’s position— like not reporting that the MOA chose the mediator and rejected his proposal ( in virtually all subsequent articles after the fact about musicians and proposals. And now with the Strib/AP agreement much of that incomplete and misleading reporting is getting nationwide coverage and without any attribution of source or byline. In fact I ran into an MOA Board member at a function who was angry that I knew about the details of the Mitchell proposal at all—asking me “where did I hear about that”? Why would a board member be upset that someone might know the FACTS? Anyway the list of local media’s misleading or incomplete reporting is vast and longstanding, and in my opinion completely deliberate.
Mea culpa ma non troppo perhaps. The emotion is easy to understand in the heat of the horrible moment, and so is your commitment. A comprehensive apology is really due from the board and Mr. Henson. Well, a lot more than that of course. But the problem is the same partial disconnect that causes the government to shut itself down: A basic lack of empathy for people. This is often most noticeable in those who build barriers of financial cushion around themselves, but can’t see the lives of others. They can’t see the extent of how their decisions affect others, or they don’t care. They forget, if they ever understood, what sharing is. But what is the purpose of life? Is it people, or raising money for a building? Is it people, or trying to win a political/financial/media point? Is it people, or is it shareholder value? Is it compassion, or coldness? Is it recognition that teamwork or tribework is imperative for survival, or is it Darwinian reduction of one’s humanity in the pursuit of short term profit or savings? The list can go on. Mr. Henson, and those in Washington who just caused thousands of workers to face yet more problems paying the bills to “make a political point” may have never learned to empathize from an early age. Studies have shown that this actually causes the brain to change its physical structure for the worse around age 7, if empathy is not taught. This may be the root cause of much human strife. Where is a “people person” with enough clout, a Goddard Lieberson or William Schuman of Minnesota who will act personally, locally, and thus globally to at least get communciation going again?
I agree that the MO Board and management are full of
“highly functional” sociopaths.