Hello...
I sincerely thank you for listening to my rantings about the American labor force. I would love for you to come back more often and comment on my postings. Please add me to your readers, or leave some comments. I don't want my voice to go unheard.
Thanks, Jeff
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Religious Music
I've been an opera singer for many years, but this year is really upsetting. I have found that many of the organizations in my area (Chicago) have loaded their programs with religious music. I being an Atheist object to singing this material. First of all, these organizations are world class and they should be open to everybody. However, I was told that the organizations do a lot of religious music because it is in the repertior of symphonies and choruses around the world. Well I disagree with that position. These are arts organizations and should expose the general population to many points of view.
In my case I won't be singing for these organizations because of the religious music. Why should I be excluded from working for these organizations based on religious beliefs? This is Chicago. It's a pretty progressive city. These organizations (Grant Park Symphony Chorus, and Chicago Symphony Chorus) shouldn't be allowed to represent the city when they are advocating religious beliefs. In question are the masses and the requiems that many famous composers have written. Well that brings me to my next problem...
Many of the masses and requiems come directly from the Catholic tradition. I am a homosexual male and I refuse to support anything of a Catholic nature. You would think that there are many homosexuals in these choruses. Why aren't they speaking up? Are they afraid that they will lose their jobs? Chicago is one of the most gay-friendly cities in the country, the city would have their back. Or are they afraid of the Catholic church with their pedophiles?
I truly imagine the problem actually lies with the guest conductors. They are invited to conduct these organizations and then the organizations ask the conductors what they would like to do rather than say...here are your options. The conductors want to pad their resumes and say they've conducted these wonderful pieces without giving any thought to their performers. They just want to put their stink on the piece. Repulsive!
In my case I won't be singing for these organizations because of the religious music. Why should I be excluded from working for these organizations based on religious beliefs? This is Chicago. It's a pretty progressive city. These organizations (Grant Park Symphony Chorus, and Chicago Symphony Chorus) shouldn't be allowed to represent the city when they are advocating religious beliefs. In question are the masses and the requiems that many famous composers have written. Well that brings me to my next problem...
Many of the masses and requiems come directly from the Catholic tradition. I am a homosexual male and I refuse to support anything of a Catholic nature. You would think that there are many homosexuals in these choruses. Why aren't they speaking up? Are they afraid that they will lose their jobs? Chicago is one of the most gay-friendly cities in the country, the city would have their back. Or are they afraid of the Catholic church with their pedophiles?
I truly imagine the problem actually lies with the guest conductors. They are invited to conduct these organizations and then the organizations ask the conductors what they would like to do rather than say...here are your options. The conductors want to pad their resumes and say they've conducted these wonderful pieces without giving any thought to their performers. They just want to put their stink on the piece. Repulsive!
Credit Reports
I just read an article about employers using credit reports more often to make hiring decisions. This is highly outrageous considering the mess many of the "top" companies have put consumers and employees in. It's common knowledge that the banks and credit card companies are doing whatever they can to screw over consumers. What with their alternating due dates and zero-balance practices. How much more can consumers take?
With the downturn of the economy many people can't pay their credit cards or their mortgages because they have lost their jobs, or the banks have jacked up their rates so high that it is unbearable. So now we have to open up our entire lives just to work. No more privacy. Once an employer looks at your credit report they know so much more about you than you really want to tell them.
There really isn't a rating agency for employers. Oh sure every now and then somebody does a best or worst companies in America to work for article, but that really doesn't cut all the slimy things that companies do. When you talk to executives about the lead-up into the recession they readily admit the heinous things that they did to employees. So by all right shouldn't they be held accountable? A rating agency for employers would expedite this process.
A friend of mine has quit her job recently because they had bedbugs. Yes you heard me...BEDBUGS!!! How would you like to go to work and come home with bite marks and a nasty infestation. But what is really crazy is the volume of people that go to work for this company. They hire like 20 people every three weeks. The staff turns over that fast. Where are the protections for these employees? If she could have reviewed the rating for the company she would have never gone to work there. She would have realized that they sexually harass their staff constantly and when somebody complains they get fired. This is America. You are supposed to be protected from things like this.
Oh well. Maybe when the revolution comes things will be better.
With the downturn of the economy many people can't pay their credit cards or their mortgages because they have lost their jobs, or the banks have jacked up their rates so high that it is unbearable. So now we have to open up our entire lives just to work. No more privacy. Once an employer looks at your credit report they know so much more about you than you really want to tell them.
There really isn't a rating agency for employers. Oh sure every now and then somebody does a best or worst companies in America to work for article, but that really doesn't cut all the slimy things that companies do. When you talk to executives about the lead-up into the recession they readily admit the heinous things that they did to employees. So by all right shouldn't they be held accountable? A rating agency for employers would expedite this process.
A friend of mine has quit her job recently because they had bedbugs. Yes you heard me...BEDBUGS!!! How would you like to go to work and come home with bite marks and a nasty infestation. But what is really crazy is the volume of people that go to work for this company. They hire like 20 people every three weeks. The staff turns over that fast. Where are the protections for these employees? If she could have reviewed the rating for the company she would have never gone to work there. She would have realized that they sexually harass their staff constantly and when somebody complains they get fired. This is America. You are supposed to be protected from things like this.
Oh well. Maybe when the revolution comes things will be better.
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