I had a dream last night that reminded me of choir, and I recalled something just now while brushing my cat:
Freshman year of high school, we did fundraisers so that we could hire the New Orleans Philharmonic to accompany us on Handel's "Messiah." From what I understood, hiring the Philharmonic was a yearly tradition started at some point by our teacher, a woman who once took a class from that very school to a choral contest in Italy -- where she fell so ill that she couldn't do much more than move a single finger to direct. Yet her choir followed every slight twitch of that digit.
So, my Freshman year, we prepared to sing with the Philharmonic. I don't know if we did well or not. I tried my best.
The thing I remembered just now, though, is that one of the girls (and my mind tells me I heard it, though I'm certain I just heard the story afterward) overheard a member of the Philharmonic complaining to another member about having to perform with high school kids.
At the time it happened, I thought: "Well, I suppose it is a step down for them. Rude to say so, though."
Now, I realize the following:
That jerk knew in advance that he'd be performing with a high school choir. That gave him ample opportunity to complain to his director and other Philharmonic members, perhaps even to try and talk his director out of accepting the job.
Thus, the fact that he complained in hearing range of choir members meant that he intended for us to hear him. He wasn't letting off steam to someone who might share his opinions -- he knowingly informed our choir through the few that overheard him that he was too good to accompany us on his instrument and that he thought we weren't worth his time or talent. That he was, in fact, offended that we managed to purchase his services for something so plebeian.
Now, you might say "That's just snobbery. It's horrible, but there's nothing we can do about it."
No, it's not just snobbery.
That guy was 100% unprofessional.
Professionalism, to me, means that even if you don't want to do a job, you keep your opinions to yourself once you accept the job. Our teacher could have (should have, if she'd heard my choir-mate's story) called the Philharmonic director and complained that one of his people acted unprofessionally by complaining about having to play with her choir in front of her kids.
Because that's what he did.
He wasn't blowing off steam, and he wasn't having a private conversation. He was (and I'm guessing here, but it's the most likely scenario) frustrated that his director accepted such a lowly job for the Philharmonic and took it out on the only people he could -- the kids.
See, this is why I hate snobs. They're cowards and they're bullies. They make themselves feel superior by insisting that other people are less. Less worthy of kindness. Less worthy of tact.
It's a form of prejudice.
I figured out recently that prejudice and bigotry are all about cruelty. Whatever I may believe, whatever I may approve or disapprove of in this world, there is never any reason to be cruel. Never.
And that's the most recognizable result of hatred, isn't it? Cruelty.
My ideal view of the world is one where everyone treats each other with kindness. We will never all agree on the important things and we'll always end up fighting with each other, but none of that means that we can't be kind. It's possible to be so different that we'll never understand each other (or, in some cases, get along) and yet still be able to respect ourselves and those around us. The only thing stopping us is . . . us.
So my challenge to you today is to find a way to be kind while still being true to your personality, interests, and beliefs. It might not change the world, but believe me when I say kindness is never wasted.
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