It is impossible for Superconductor to exist in a bubble, or to allow the events of last night's election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States of America to pass without comment. This blog is not a political forum and it is not normally a place for such things, but I cannot get my regular blog writing done without getting these words out of my system.
This president and his incoming administration has promised to be unfriendly and to impugn the rights of gays, lesbians, transgender people and those who identify as queer or practice an alternative sexuality. Many people of those gender or sexual identities are active in the arts. Many are friends of mine and supporters of this blog, be they PR people, fellow critics or backstage workers. You can ask for my support here whenever you may need it and I will respond to the best of my ability.
For those of you who are reading this blog who identify themselves in that way, know you will always have a media ally here at Superconductor. It takes people of all colors, preferences and religions to make up the multi-threaded fabric of New York City, and it takes creative minds, often thinking outside the box to do great work.
We face an all-Republican congress with a Republican White House that will probably exercise its power by slashing and burning whatever meager dollars are left that go to the arts in this country. Yes, figures like former Congressman Newt Gingrich go to the opera, but this Congress will have no interest in paying tax dollars toward symphonies, opera companies or chamber ensembles. If you are a reader with the means to support those places, by all means do so before this blog has nothing left to cover.
Donald Trump does not give to the arts. He takss little interest in music, or opera. His sole entertainment pursuits appear to be those of professional wrestling, reality television, and public insult matches on Twitter. That said, he will no doubt be the subject of his own opera someday, along the lines of Anna Nicole but more "yuuuuge."
We cannot spend the next four years living in terror for our lives.
Thanks for listening. Now, back to work.
Paul J. Pelkonen,
Editor, Superonductor.
