You like jazz. You don’t like jazz. You are allergic to jazz. You haven’t listened to enough or any jazz to know.
Not liking jazz is like not liking fruit. So many types, so many songs, so many performers and performances.
Here are a couple of tracks and a couple of artists that might get through to you. Both are from epochal albums by epochal artists, My Favorite Things (1960) by John Coltrane and Kind of Blue (1959) by Miles Davis.
With all respect, appreciation and affection for all the other genres I’ve spent millions of hours listening to, jazz is the most liberating. It does a lot of other things, as all the other genres can, but no other genre has so many artists trying to liberate themselves, which is why listening to it is also liberating.
It is not a coincidence that following the historic horror of World War I the Jazz Age was born. In the face of existential threat—or certainty—freedom was the theme. It isn’t the only music that reflects the possibility or the imperative of breaking free. But it is one that, if you’ve missed it, you shouldn’t miss.
John Coltrane, My Favorite Things from My Favorite Things (1960).
Coltrane took the saxophone where it had never been before. On this album, accompanied by other greats McCoy Tyner on piano and Elvin Jones on drums, he plays with standards from George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and this one from a Broadway musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Sound of Music.
Miles Davis, Freddie Freeloader from Kind of Blue (1959).
Kind of Blue is a jazz milestone, for Davis and for the music. Here he is with Bill Evans on piano and John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley on sax. Coltrane was for a time part of Davis’s ever-changing lineup of stars.
Non-lawyer Americans believe they have a trove of legal knowledge, based on thousands of hours of TV. Part of that hard-viewed learning should include this:
Many serious cases are based on differing versions. Sometimes there is direct evidence or just circumstantial evidence supporting one version or the other, but sometimes it comes down to she said/he said. If the claim is plausible, it will proceed to trial, and the credibility of the victim, and of the accused if he testifies, will be evaluated by the trier of fact, either a jury or a judge. A decision will be made. At trial.
The smokescreen that women (then girls) accusing Trump are making “unsubstantiated” claims does not resolve the matter. They have been justifiably scared to come forward for decades. When we see the roster of powerful men involved, not to mention the woman who did much of Epstein’s dirty work, it would be imprudent not be scared. One of those men in fact turned out to be arguably the most powerful man in the world, and still is.
DOJ should release every claim that was made against Trump, as they are legally required to do. Every claim should be investigated, just as claims revealed against other men are, some of whom may also claim that the accusations are “unsubstantiated”. Let Trump and his shills and sycophants repeat that each one of the claims is unsubstantiated or vindictive. And if the claims don’t ever go to trial, which they should, let all Americans be the trier of fact as to what actually happened. We now know all about Trump—too much sometimes—and we’ll be the judge.
This comic, The Story of Tyranny, is dated December 1941. When it was published, America was watching tyranny spread, but had not yet entered World War II, which it would that very month.
Real Life Comics, December 1941
Dad is of course right, Billy. Being smart and knowing tyranny when you see it is never enough. Something to think about, since many Americans can see that tyranny is right here at home, but not sure what to do next.
Americans should keep these wise watchwords in mind: Brains alone won’t preserve freedom. You can’t reason with a tyrant!
US military commanders have been invoking extremist Christian rhetoric about biblical “end times” to justify involvement in the Iran war to troops, according to complaints made to a watchdog group.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) says it has received more than 200 complaints from service members across all branches of the armed forces, including the marines, air force and space force.
One complainant, identified as a noncommissioned officer (NCO) in a unit that could be deployed “at any moment to join” operations against Iran, told MRFF in a complaint viewed by the Guardian that their commander had “urged us to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’ and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ”.
“He said that ‘President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth’”, the NCO added.
The NCO’s complaint was filed on behalf of 15 troops, including 11 Christians, one Muslim person and one Jewish person.
There is a vast set of concepts and practices that comprise Buddhism. Some are simple, some are complex. They are arranged in various configurations depending on particular sectarian systems.
None is simpler than the vision and direction of Bankei.
Bankei Yōtaku (1622–1693) was a Japanese Zen master. His central teaching was about the Unborn, the Buddha-nature we avoid and act against, but which we can simply realize and reclaim. He spoke to thousands, many of them lay people, who came from all over Japan to hear his plain-spoken and easily understood teachings. He wanted to leave no written record, but fortunately his talks were transcribed. Interest in his teachings declined over the centuries, as established schools of Buddhism considered him too eccentric, but he was rediscovered in the 20th century.
It is hard to offer a basic grounding in Buddhism to those who know little or nothing. It is equally hard to offer something “new” to those who know something about it and may be engaged in particular beliefs and practices.
The good news about Bankei is that whether you know nothing or a lot about Buddhism or Zen, his teachings are open, available and helpful to anybody. You might even say you are better off knowing little or nothing, because you have less to unlearn and less pride in knowledge to set aside.
Two collections of Bankei’s talks, which include excellent biographies of his extraordinary life, are available. Do give them a try.
This post was originally published on January 20, 2020. It now seems both prescient and quaint. Quaint in that back then there were “civilian and military leaders in the administration, when asked about it, either deny that Trump said it or say that we would of course follow the law.” It was a time when the first Trump administration was mostly filled with competent people of some integrity and a time when “law” was meaningful. A time we didn’t know we would be looking back at longingly. Quaint.
Ordering or carrying out the destruction of cultural sites in Iran or anywhere else as a part of hostilities is unequivocally illegal under American and international law, reprehensible and worthy of condemnation, and unworthy of civilized nations.
This didn’t stop Trump from threatening such destruction multiple times in the past few days. This has led top civilian and military leaders in the administration, when asked about it, either to deny that Trump said it or to say that we would of course follow the law, though they never explicitly say the words “no cultural sites.”
This has been labeled just some more transgressive and unconventional bluster from Trump, spouting things he doesn’t understand and doesn’t really mean.
There is something else going on.
We begin with Iran, home of one of the oldest and culturally richest civilizations. It has 24 of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with more under consideration (see picture above).
Persia was a Zoroastrian empire before being conquered by the Caliphate in 651 CE, when it became an increasingly Islamic nation, now 99% Muslim. Note that at no time has it been a Christian nation, which makes all of its cultural progress and heritage theologically “suspect” or “evil” according to some people.
There is little in that previous paragraph that Trump knows or understands. What he does know is that a portion of his most loyal supporters respond enthusiastically to anything that threatens people and their culture who are not American, not white, and not Christian (for some of those supporters, but only some, Jews get a pass because they are part of the pathway to a Second Coming).
That is why Trump threatens Iran’s cultural sites. It is possible, given his belief that he is the Supreme and Irrefusable Leader, that he thinks the military would carry out such an order. They won’t. Mostly, though, carried out or not, he thinks it shows that he is on the side of those nationalist Christian supporters. He is.
“Although mechanical changes have been great since Biblical times…modern workers still have the basic job of providing for their families….organizing together has helped them achieve brotherhood and gain the fruits of their toil…it has helped build the communities and the nation in which they live, for 25 years…most religious denominations have recognized this and declared themselves in support of unionization and collective bargaining…there should be no gap between the working man and his church!”
The Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) was one of the two umbrella organizations representing American unions. The other was the American Federation of Labor (AFL), which merged with the CIO, forming the AFL-CIO.
In 1946 the CIO created a comic book leaflet, making the case that unionization was promoted by the Bible and by Christianity. The CIO explains:
“Since the beginning of religious history, the struggle for social justice has been the special concern of the prophets of God. To God’s militants, justice is no abstraction. It is measured by everyday conduct, by the relation between the rich and the poor, the employer and his employees, the state and its citizens.
“The early church began as a movement which sprang from the people. With few exceptions its members came from the ranks of the needy and oppressed. However, since before the days of Jesus of Nazareth, the church has periodically lapsed and forgotten its responsibility to bring glad tidings to the poor. These lapses have not been the monopoly of any faith. Catholic, Protestant and Jew alike are influenced by the world around them. The building of a grander church house has often seemed more important than whether the congregation had enough to eat. But those who place the needs of men and women above pomp and ceremony have then been stirred into renewed activity to bring God’s kingdom on earth.
“Today the age-old struggle continues. Perhaps it always will. Perhaps it is a part of the struggle between good and evil in the heart of every man. But we in the labor movement believe that all men must share in the good things of this life, and that God wills it so.
“Because of this conviction, we made this study which we present to you in pictures, because pictures are a familiar and popular way of spreading ideas. We hope that this presentation of the struggle for justice from Genesis to Revelations will be a source of greater inspiration to those who read it. It is our desire thus to stimulate a more vivid understanding of man’s duty toward his fellow man.”
The comic book leaflet can be found here. The pages are included below. Since it is not easy to read all of the text on those pages, excerpts of text are also included below.
Page 1
THE BIBLE AND THE WORKING MAN
“The truth about workers and their struggle to better their lives by group action is an old story…”
“And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” — John 8:32
Page 2
“But are unions Christian?”
“Unions want justice and justice is Christian. Ask father when he comes!”
“Father, how nice you’re here! Tell us…does the Lord approve of unions?”
“Let’s see what the Good Book says!”
“God created the earth for men and then created man in his own image…so working together with men is working with God…”
“When Adam fell, God left man the dignity of labor…”
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread!” — Genesis 3:19
“After battle with the Amalekites…David ruled that those on the home front should share in the benefits of victory….”
“As his part is that goeth down to battle…so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff…they shall part alike.” — I Samuel 30:24
Page 3
“Job knew the Lord wants employers to be just, and to hear and bargain with their workers…”
“If I did despise the cause of my man servant or of my maid servant, when they contended with me, what then shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?” — Job 31:13-14
“The Bible emphasizes many times over the value of working together and of community sharing…for none of us liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself.” — Romans 14:7
“Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“King Solomon said joining together is better than individualism…he spoke of the evil of hoarding and of the right of workers to enjoy what they produce…”
“It is good and comely for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor all the days of his life for it is his portion.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 5:9,12,13,15,18
“Jesus chose to be born into a carpenter’s family, learning the trade at his father’s bench. He supported the family by hard work…”
“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.” — Lord’s Prayer, Sermon on the Mount, St. Matthew 6:10-11
Page 4
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” — St. Matthew 25:40
“The Apostles continued to preach that everyone should be concerned with the welfare of his fellow men. St. Paul carried Jesus’ message to all people…”
“Bear ye one another’s burdens…look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” — Galatians 6:2 / Philippians 2:4
“John and Peter refused to be intimidated as they organized the people to respect the Lord.” — Acts 4:1-21; 5:17-42
“Organize to help each other…the whole purpose of trade unions is contained in the teaching of Paul and these others!”
“Long ago the guilds did some of that…they provided for sickness, accident, theft and fire insurance…”
“Complete, free, man-to-man discussion across the collective-bargaining table between employers and workers’ representatives fulfills the Good Book’s ideals today.”
Page 5
“Of course Paul was right…and the guilds were O.K….but unions….does the Bible have strikes?”
“Yes, indeed!”
“The Egyptians held the Hebrews in cruel bondage…their cries reached God….” — Exodus 1:14; 3:7,9
“God asked Moses to organize the starved and overworked people against the Pharaoh…”
“I am the God of thy fathers…bring forth my people…out of Egypt….” — Exodus 3:10, 14-15
“When Moses presented God’s demands the Pharaoh ordered the workers to make bricks without straw…a real speed-up.” — Exodus 5:1-4
“By a series of plagues, God frightened the Pharaoh into negotiating…but he did not bargain in good faith…he’d start contract negotiations but drop them as soon as each plague ended…”
Page 6
“Finally God chose Moses to lead the greatest strike and walk-out in history, when 600,000 Israelites left Egypt, the land of bondage…for the promised land of freedom and hope….” — Exodus 14
“Many had tried to break the strike, and in the desert the faint-hearted turned against Moses…God’s truth upheld him.”
“Through the union I can help my brethren…and they can help me….why, that’s what God wants us to do….I’m joining tomorrow!” — Romans 8:31
Page 7
Although mechanical changes have been great since Biblical times…modern workers still have the basic job of providing for their families….organizing together has helped them achieve brotherhood and gain the fruits of their toil…it has helped build the communities and the nation in which they live, for 25 years…most religious denominations have recognized this and declared themselves in support of unionization and collective bargaining…there should be no gap between the working man and his church!
“Will each committee member now name part of the program we want?”
A job at a good annual wage for everyone!
Unemployment, old age and health insurance!
Generous treatment for veterans!
A public works program of schools and hospitals!
A high standard of living through full production!
No racial, religious discrimination!
Good housing for our whole population!
A democratic peaceful nation!
Equal pay for equal work!
Page 8
Since the beginning of religious history, the struggle for social justice has been the special concern of the prophets of God. To God’s militants, justice is no abstraction. It is measured by everyday conduct, by the relation between the rich and the poor, the employer and his employees, the state and its citizens.
The early church began as a movement which sprang from the people. With few exceptions its members came from the ranks of the needy and oppressed. However, since before the days of Jesus of Nazareth, the church has periodically lapsed and forgotten its responsibility to bring glad tidings to the poor. These lapses have not been the monopoly of any faith. Catholic, Protestant and Jew alike are influenced by the world around them. The building of a grander church house has often seemed more important than whether the congregation had enough to eat. But those who place the needs of men and women above pomp and ceremony have then been stirred into renewed activity to bring God’s kingdom on earth.
Today the age-old struggle continues. Perhaps it always will. Perhaps it is a part of the struggle between good and evil in the heart of every man. But we in the labor movement believe that all men must share in the good things of this life, and that God wills it so.
Because of this conviction, we made this study which we present to you in pictures, because pictures are a familiar and popular way of spreading ideas. We hope that this presentation of the struggle for justice from Genesis to Revelations will be a source of greater inspiration to those who read it. It is our desire thus to stimulate a more vivid understanding of man’s duty toward his fellow man.
“President Trump said on Tuesday that officials the United States had eyed as potential new leaders of Iran had been killed in the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign, and said that the worst outcome would be that whoever takes over the country could be “as bad” as their predecessors.” New York Times, March 3, 2026
Institutions, traditions and movements have a tendency to work at making members and followers better models of the institutions, traditions and movements. For example, this 250th anniversary of America declaring independence, leadership is asking that we learn more about their version of what it means to be a real American, and act and think like a real American.
The rationale is that these institutions, traditions and movements have “the answer”, and by wholeheartedly joining in and acting and thinking like a real ________, you will help make a better world and life for yourself and for everyone.
It is easy for the institutions, traditions and movements to fall into that role, and for members and followers to fall into their role.
That is dangerous nonsense, though it may be hard to see that and hear that.
Our institutions, traditions and movements should not be there to make us better Americans, Christians, etc. They should be there to make us better people, who in turn recognize and work for better lives and a better world for all people. Once in the institution, tradition or movement, we can discern whether what it is doing and what we are doing in it is leading to such an ideal. If it doesn’t or if it is going in the wrong direction, we should evaluate ourselves and our membership and following.
“Look at that Iranian girl over there. Very hot. What do you think?”
The war on Iran, aside from questions about its international legality and its wisdom, is yet another distraction from Trump’s many devastating problems and disabilities. Most prominent among those disabilities is his long-term close engagement with a convicted pedophile, a history now being illegally covered-up. (Not to mention Trump’s own conviction for sexual abuse, though I guess I just did.)
To try to avoid the distraction from this significant matter concerning the character of our president, let us not call this the Iran War or the War on Iran. Let’s call it the Epstein War. And let’s hope Epstein’s BFF ends it soon.
Bob Schwartz 