[Magdalen] Times are a-Changin'

[Lynn Ronkainen]

in re 'smoking' ...

I read a tragic article in today's Houston Chronicle about a young African 
American woman who was stopped by police outside of a small college town 
between here (Houston) and Austin - Prairie View A&M (historically 'black' 
university not affiliated with TX A&M). She was an '07 grad, arriving in 
town to settle down after accepting a job offer from the university several 
days ago.  Stopped by the police after she "failed to signal a lane change", 
when the cop approached her in the car she apparently was smoking and the 
cop told her to put out her cigarette. Apparently this directive was not 
immediately followed so the cop told her to get out of the car. When she did 
exit the car 'physical' contact ensued initiated by the cop. She was 
eventually put in cuffs and into the police car and taken to jail. Shortly 
after being seen in her cell the following morning, she was found hanging 
from a 'self made plastic bag noose from the  trash can liner in her cell'.

This story is stunning in its description of what happened. Her family in 
another state is unable to believe she would take her life. A witness who 
filmed some of the scuffle from across the street when her car was stopped 
said the young woman was being harassed by the police. This is so very sad.

Lynn

website: www.ichthysdesigns.com

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not a 
single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." 
attributed to Erma Bombeck
 "Either Freedom for all or stop talking about Freedom at all" from a talk 
by Richard Rohr

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Cantor03--- via Magdalen" <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2015 1:52 PM
To: <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Cc: <Cantor03 at aol.com>
Subject: [Magdalen] Times are a-Changin'

>
>
> In the current issue of the periodical, "Opera News" (Metropolitan  Opera,
> NYC USA) there is an extended article about the historical recording
> from the 1960's of Bizet's "Carmen" with Leonard Bernstein as  conductor.
> He had his own idiosyncrasies in directing the score which are  explored
> at depth.
>
> There is, though, an historical photo of Lennie and his cohorts  listening
> to a play back of the recording they had just made of Carmen.
>
> A whole bunch of them, including Lennie, are smoking.  It is just  a
> little shocking, now.
>
> It stuck me of the positive changes (at least in the USA) regarding
> smoking in public locations (not) during the  intervening years.
>
> I've mentioned before bringing up (vestry) placing the Eau Claire
> Cathedral and complex into the non-smoking category about 1971.   The
> chain smoking Dean and parish secretary at the time nearly died at  the
> thought, but the insurance carrier made them go non-smoking within
> six months of my vestry suggestion.  Money talks.
>
> In any case, I suspect Lennie's smoking was at least a factor in his
> eventual demise.  They don't make them like Leonard Bernstein any  more.
>
>
>
> David Strang......who was once presented with the piano score of
> Bernstein's
>                         "Trouble in Tahiti".  It was the most difficult
> score I had ever
>                          seen, and I declined to get involved.  It was a
> fun  production.