by Harold McMillan

Do yo' dance, do yo' dance...DO YOUR DANCE!

Is it really a new world now? I mean, is the post 9/11 world a different place?

Today another jetliner fell from the sky. More New Yorkers,among others, died. As of today, 10:00pm on Monday, November 12, 2001, the cause of the crash remains unclear. Terrorism or not, the thought of getting on an airplane right now does not appeal to me. It's a bit strange, but the headlines, the CNN Top Story of the day for what's going in America, is beginning to look a lot like what we usually see/hear about life in Israel, Ireland, Columbia, or Kashmir. The rest of the world might not be so different today than it was prior to 9/11/01. But life in America definitely is. As my friend Kim would say, "I think it's all very interesting."

Waiting for my radical political statement on all of this?

It's very simple. And I invite all of you to share my plan of action. It's but a small thing and I think it's about all most of us are empowered to do. Pray for peace. Please pray for peace.

I tend to do a reevaluation, focus on what I call my artistic/cultural dilemma, every six months or so. I was due for one of those anyway at about the time of September 11. Because of what happened that day, and since, the whole process of reevaluation has gone into high gear. It's usually centered on my vocational/career choices (some would say my lack of career choice). This time there is no focus -- it's the whole enchilada, right there under the microscope. All spread out, dangling all over the place, broad and deep, lock, stock and barrel. This time my artistic/cultural dilemma (and I'd guess, yours too) is really more generally a dilemma about most other facets of my life, my life in America, my life as an American.

Can I oppose the escalation of this war and still be a good American? Could I be a good Christian and support revenge and more killing? Could I be a good Muslim and a good American at the same time? Can I just act as though none of this touches my soul and pretend to "go about doing what Americans do," without feeling terrorized? Regardless of what I think, is there really anything that I can now do to effect what George Bush or extremist Muslim terrorists have planned, in the name of God or American honor, for tomorrow? Is it possible for me/us to really fathom the mentality of those who would make heroes of anyone responsible for acts in any country that, within minutes, take the lives of 5000 fellow human beings?

Where do we find moral guidance here? Is there an ethical imperative that is clearly laid out to inform the decisions our President makes in our name? (By the way, considering the state of affairs, I think -- thank God -- George W. is consulting an authority higher than the Republican National Committee on all of this. It could be a lot worse.)

What would Jesus do? What would Allah advise? And what would God have us do now?

The thing that I will eventually get around to talking about is how all of this fits into how I'm looking at the need or want to do cultural work in these terrorized times. I am not, nor do I want to be, a political pundit. The thing that I cannot seem to get away from thinking about is that I, like so many others, have a 21 year old family member out there. He is on an aircraft carrier, in a location that he cannot reveal, sending plans out to drop bombs on Afghanistan. I am rooting for the home team here. I want/need my nephew to be on the winning team, coming home an alive hero. But what I realize is that I cannot do much at all to influence what his orders are. I can't pray to bring him home right now at the expense of another family's son or brother who would have to take his place. If you happen to be a young man who joined up during peace time for college tuition and a VA loan for a house, the situation now is that "it ain't over 'til it's over, over there."

This is all quite heavy; life and death circumstances for some folks. What the hell does it matter, some might ask, if the symphony has a season right now? What does it matter if arts organizations have funding, why should we care if Zach Scott is able to bring us more musicals or not; at least while the nation is focused on kicking some Afghani Butt?

The whole cultural work thing is tied to my situation. I work with an arts organization, publish this little magazine. My general thoughts, however, are more broad here. I do not know much. That I know. But I do know that I can' t do much to stop planes from falling from the sky. I can't stop poison letters from being dropped in the mail. I can't influence how George Bush responds and I can't anticipate -- and prevent -- the next act of terror. But you know what? I also can't anticipate the next time a drunk driver is going to go speeding down East 11th Street and kill herself and other innocent people. I pray that all of those kinds of things stop happening. I pray that George Bush acts on good, humane, ethical advice. But that's about all I've got to go on. Given the opportunity to decide, those are battles I would not choose. But we, fellow Americans, do not get a choice on those particular issues. Welcome to the New World Order.

As strange as it may seem, most of my life/lifestyle dilemma right now also ties in nicely with the message of giving thanks. I'm not talking about the myth of thankful Indians at Plymouth. I just mean that part of my personal reevaluation, in this time of terror, has a lot to do with recognizing the abundance for which I actually am thankful. And a good deal of that is the acknowledgment that there is so much about living, so many battles all around us that we have very little influence over. We just have to learn to live with them.

Given that there are so many screwed up battles out there that we don't choose for our selves (but are thrust upon us), it is pretty clear to me that the battles we do choose should be worthwhile, life affirming, enriching, cool and groovy as possible. And, that's where the blessing comes in. Because we actually can choose.

I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to accept the particular set of challenges I face. I bitch and moan and complain, but I do realize how blessed I am. I can't do anything about airplanes falling from the sky. Staying at home, glued to CNN won't make America more safe. Buying a gas mask won't stop poison letters from being dropped into the mail. Focusing my hate on Muslims won't get revenge for anything.

However, if I stop listening to jazz; if I assume that a debate on the state of the African American visual arts scene in Austin is not important; if I decide not to support the work of a progressive dance company; if I assume that the Lyric Opera doesn't need funding in these terrible times; if I stop trying to broaden the audience for live touring jazz in Austin; if I decide to just give up on keeping DiverseArts alive; and want to blame it all on the fact that airplanes are falling from the sky, then I stop living MY life because of the battles that other folks have chosen.

Especially in times of terror, if you are a dancer, you have an important contribution to make to assure sanity in these crazy times...

"Do yo' dance, do yo' dance, DO YOUR DANCE!"

I hope to see you on the dance floor.