Contrast in Societies

The differences between Amsterdam and Paris were striking. The one reflected a history of regal and absolute governance with the results of power and wealth in the hands of the few aristocracy, with their opulent palaces and homes designed to impress and overwhelme the visitor. They filled their city with grand monuments to celebrate national glories and accomplishments. With wealth held by the overly wealthy few, it was done at the expense of the common citizen.  From generation to generation the poverty and missery of the common citizen increased until the masses cried out and revolution occured. During the Napoleonic age national wealth while held more broadly, the trickle down to impact the average citizen was limited and the middle class while larger was a small part of the overall national population. While national wealth under Napoleon shifted from building grand palaces to building national infastructure, the added grandeur of the decor and statuaries of the projects reflected the design to impress attitude of the monarcal area. In Paris one has a clear sense of a world view build around national pride and view of France being one of the world's intellectual and financial leaders, not needing to draw lessons from others.

Amsterdam on the other hand reflects different mindset and view of themselves. They are a historically independently minded people with governance grounded in compromise (much like the American Declaration of Independance and the Constitution), with the common citizen having a voice in civil affairs and far more of the national wealth in the hands of a large middle class. As a result the wealthiest 5% had far less of the national wealth than found in France. With civil leadership more diverse their buildings are more functional in nature and design, grand opulence unsought. The city reflects immense wealth of the past but expressed in more subtle ways, including in building of trade and commerce with the world, and in functional public infastructure.  The city also demonstrates that wealth was diversified across the populous, and with an attitude of maintaining of pragmatic collective assets. Their strong albeit quiet national pride is coupled with a world view that is global, collective and pragmatic.

The challenge of any society is to find balance, particularly in regard to wealth and lack thereof. Pre-revolution Paris is an example of a disregard of the middle class and the average citizenry and the accommulation of immense wealth and power in the hands of a few. Amsterdam of the same era reflects a different structure. Today, numersous countries are in the process of defining if they will be more like Paris or more like Amsterdam.

 

Canals, Rivers and Lakes

Paris and Amsterdam's rivers and canals are beautiful, picturesque, and post WWII they were increasing viewed in romantic terms. Yet as I walked along their banks I could not help recall that what I saw was so sanitized from how they were 150-300years ago. Even as little as 100 years ago the canals of Amsterdam, the rivers of Paris and the canals of Venice we're  smelly, dirty sewers full of rotting dead animals and other human refuse. The wealthy of Amsterdam left town during the summer heat due to the stench of the canals. In Paris, the grand houses were some distance from the river so that the smells of a polluted river did not fill their homes. 

Polluted waterfronts were not a European issue only. Four decades ago the Toronto Harbor Front, Baltimore's Inner Harbor, the Hudson River in NYC were smelly and polluted.  Rivers in most major cities across North America were not the places of choice  for romantic and leisure strolls or where the wealthy sought to locate their homes.

I remember in the 70s the smells of the Toronto waterfront and seeing garbage filling the Hudson River and the images of the Cayuhoga River in Cleveland on fire.  I remember being in LA in December when the city was covered in a thick blanket of smog for as many as five days at a time.  Thank goodness for environmental activists who advocated for better cities in which to live and socialize. We are heirs of their work, with fresher air to fill our longs, and with cleaner and more pleasing waterways to enjoy with each other.  Let's not relax our standards, otherwise, the polluted  waterways of yesteryear will  return. 

Significant Shift in Evangelical Thinking

This year something transpired in the Evangelical and Fundamentalist church that 20 yrs. ago, or even 8 yrs. ago I thought wouldn't occur in my lifetime. In the 70s and 80s several of my professors and other Evangelical leaders claimed that Mormonism was a threat to the church. They said ministers needed to teach those sitting in the pews that though it may seem at first to be a type of Christian faith, Mormonism was anything but a Christian faith. They noted it was a heresy on so many levels. A plethora of books were published in the same age on the subject. 

 Further, since the 70s Evangelicals and Fundamentalists have maintained that the President being a Christian was of paramount importance. Since the 90s it has been more so. Hence, for many presidential election cycles we have witnessed prospective candidates pandering to the conservative church. We have seen the same with House and Senate candidates who speak openly of their faith in "born again" language yet behind the scenes living a life contrary to their claims. 

 In the last months, overwhelmingly so Evangelicals have embraced Mitt Romney's bid for for the White House. To maintain the later means viewing Mormonism as a Christian faith, not a heresy or cult. To still view Mormonism as a heretical cult means Evangelicals and Fundamentalists are not as dogmatic about their President being a Christian by their definition of orthodox faith. 

2012 Crossmen

In August 2012 the Crossmen made DCI's final 12 for the first time since 2004. Since it was so long since they marched on Saturday, their return to finals was filled with much emotion for the Corps, it's alumni, families and closest fans. The emotions on the faces during Finals Retreat at Lucus Oil Stadium in Indianapolis was clearly evident, particularly for those who have been in the Corps for three or more years who in past seasons have been in the stands on the Saturday evening watching the top 12 perform and go through Retreat wishing that they were on the field instead of the stands.

As the Crossmen finished 17th in 2011, a rise of five spots is a major accomplishment...only the 4th time in 40 years for a Corps has gone from 17 or lower to the finals a year later. It is highly likely therefore that the 2012 Crossmen will be held in the Corps' lore and history over the coming decades as a special group.

The current group of age-outs (wearing white crosses in the pictures below) are passing the mantle to those who have one or two more seasons of eligibility and to a good degree that it will be in their hands a return to the top ten rests. We  can anticipate that Fed Morrison will again assemble a strong staff for next season, a staff that will guide and teach the members well. Though the quality of the show is another factor, two other legs beyond the staff and the quality of the music and drill are critical. The leadership of the senior vets is the third leg. They need to keep faith with past senior vets who patiently encouraged and set the example the younger members.

The fourth leg, and one that should not be under stressed, will be the number of younger vets who return next year. In the past years a good number of vets moving after one to three seasons to a top six Corps has kept the Crossmen as being a young Corps that is thin on solid vets. Hopefully after this solid season and a return to the finals few current will move to a top tier Corps. The return of these vets who would normally move will provide the Corps with a solid fourth leg which in turn allows for the demands of the music and drill to be at higher level than it in past years. A young inexperienced Corps with well more than half of the Corps being rookies demands a simpler and less complex drill and music.

The 2012 Crossmen clearly savored Saturday. The joy and bounce in the their step was evidenced during breakfast and during the Corps' age-out ceremony. They marched Saturday with boldness and confidence. Normally lower standing Corps exit the Retreat field soon after the Retreat ceremony has concluded. The Crossmen did not leave quickly as they were the second last to leave the Retreat field (the champions are the last to leave as it is their field). They absorbed the moment.

When they left the stadium they did not immediately pack their horns and drums away like the other Corps. Instead the Crossmen formed their semi circle in order to play for the last time music that is dear to their hearts and identity. Doing so served not only as a celebration moment but a bonding moment too, one which hopefully will stir the hearts of many members  the desire to return and take the Crossmen the next level in the 2013 season.

Below are a few pictures from the Retreat as well as the YouTube link of the 2012 Crossmen playing their final notes together. In the pictures, Josh is the one carrying the horn flag, the flag that he has carried on and off the competition field throughout the season (interestingly the Crossmen are the only Corps to have a Corps flag that they carry onto the field at each show). You will also notice that as they exit the field behind the flag that they are walking in pairs with their linked hands held high as a symbol of unity (they do this following each show).

Crossmen 2012 Show

Below is the Crossmen run-through in Orlando. They rehersal day was at the Citris Bowl. Over the season the show will be honed.