Waiting for 2017 to begin

As I wait for 2016 to end I'm watching movies on cable and reading about the new laws that take effect tonight at midnight, here in California.  Here are some of these new laws that caught my eye.

In addition to the law prohibiting texting while driving, it is now illegal to play Pokemon Go while driving.

If you want to drive for Uber or Lyft, you cannot have been convicted of a violent felony or have had a conviction for DUI in the last seven years.  Also, those who drive for these "ride-hailing" companies are subject to a 0.04 blood-alcohol level standard rather than the usual 0.08 level to be considered to be driving under the influence.

Rebates from California for buying an electric car will not be limited to those with an income of $150,000 or less.

The statute of limitations on rape will no longer exist.  But fortunately for Bill Cosby, this law could not be made retroactive.

The cops cannot permanently seize your money or property worth less than $40,000 unless and until you have been convicted of a crime involving that asset.

Minor children can no longer be convicted of prostitution (makes sense to me).

The license issued to anyone to carry a concealed weapon will no longer vary from county to county.   Now if only the standard for issuing those permits were made uniform across the state.

California will not fund or force public employees to travel to states that are considered to discriminate against LGBT persons.

No smoking or vaping within 250 feet of a Little League baseball game.  Apparently no one cares enough about smoking in close proximity to Pop Warner football games.

California has declared denim to be the state's official fabric.

This one is sure to be challenged by the healthcare industry.  Anyone who goes to a hospital, lab or any other health facility for treatment that is in their insurance network will not face a larger charge if the doctor or other provider treating them is not part of the network. 

If you see a pet in a locked car and want to save it from hot weather or other threats, as long as you call the 'authorities' first, you can't be held legally liable for breaking into the car.

And of course, one that will probably cause even longer lines at the polls during elections, it will not be legal to take a selfie with your completed ballot before you put it into the ballot box.

* * *

For the longest time whenever I heard a reference to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, I've thought about a Harry Chapin song.   Back in 1975 he gave some concerts in California that were turned into a live performance album.  I was at the one in Santa Monica where he asked the audience to help him out on the song "30,000 Pounds of Bananas" by becoming what he called the "L.A. Memorial Choir."

Of course we did and at one point he described us as sounding like the "Mormon Tubercular Choir" and that phrase has always stuck with me.  But something has happened that has forever altered what I will think of when I hear a mention of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  That something is the courage of a woman named Jan Chamberlin.

She was a member of that group for five years but recently resigned rather than sing at the inauguration of Donald Trump.  In making that difficult decision she gave up being a part of something that is clearly a labor of love. 

The 360 members of the choir and 110 members of its orchestra are all volunteers.  They must attend 80% of all rehearsals and performances.  Being accepted to the choir is a difficult undertaking, requiring an audition/selection process that involves three phases over a six month period.  She gave up something she had clearly worked hard to become a part of of because of her personal beliefs regarding the incoming president.

She originally posted her emailed resignation email on her Facebook page, but has since taken it down.  Probably in response to the hate messages being posted there by Trump's legion of sycophants.  You can still read that email in its entirety here.  Here are excerpts.

"I love you all, and I know the goodness of your hearts, and your desire to go out there and show that we are politically neutral and share good will. That is the image Choir wishes to present and the message they desperately want to send.

I also know, looking from the outside in, it will appear that Choir is endorsing tyranny and facism by singing for this man."

"History is repeating itself; the same tactics are being used by Hitler (identify a problem, finding a scapegoat target to blame, and stirring up people with a combination of fanaticism, false promises, and fear, and gathering the funding). I plead with everyone to go back and read the books we all know on these topics and review the films produced to help us learn from these gargantuan crimes so that we will not allow them to be repeated. Evil people prosper when good people stand by and do nothing."

I don't see Donald Trump as the next Adolph Hitler, but I do see him as a tyrant and enabler of racism and bigotry.  The decision to not take part in his inauguration is a personal one.  Ms Chamberlin's decision and how she chose to express it is an inspiring note on which to begin 2017.