Posted: Friday, July 28, 2006 7:00 pm
I feel so grateful to call Lincoln my second home, and I am honored to be starting my ninth season as music director of Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra. It has long been my dream to perform a free outdoor concert that includes and welcomes all citizens of Lincoln.
The July 4 Uncle Sam Jam, a collaboration of the city, the Jaycees, Broadcast House, Pepsi-Cola and Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra, was my dream come true. After a beautiful day of games, picnics and family fun in the park, Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra took the stage and played a patriotic concert, ending with the fireworks show choreographed to the music.
I have traveled the world over, conducting orchestras on the East Coast, Mexico, Russia and Korea, and every time I step off the plane in Lincoln, Nebraska, I feel like the luckiest maestro in the world. Lincoln is full of thoughtful and loving citizens, a closely knit artistic community and generous individuals — as exemplified by the magnanimity of Jim and Rhonda Seacrest, who underwrote the concert at Oak Lake Park.
As many of you already know, LSO has recently changed its name, adding an apostrophe s, to Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra. Our new name reflects our commitment to community ownership. We want all members of Lincoln to feel a strong connection with LSO, and we want them to feel as comfortable in our concert hall as they were at Oak Lake Park on July 4.
Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of such a magical evening. We hope that it becomes an annual event. The Uncle Sam Jam was a great kickoff to LSO’s 80th season, and I can’t wait to see you all on Sept. 8 for our opening concert in Kimball Hall.
Edward Polochick,
Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra
Frittered away
Your July 22 editorial refers to wealth “… frittered away by irresponsible heirs …” It is, of course, their wealth to do with as they see fit. Your pejorative reference to heirs sounds like small-minded envy.
Wealth is leaving the state to avoid extreme tax rates including, especially, the 16 percent that state and county officials can confiscate from heirs’ wealth.
Your criticism would be more accurately directed at politicians who fritter away Other People’s Money (our wealth) to fund programs to buy votes. They are the cause of wealth fleeing Nebraska.
To fritter one’s own wealth is freedom. To fritter Other People’s Wealth is loathsome.
Richard L. Christensen, Lincoln
Where does he stand?
Recently I had the pleasure of attending the Fremont Days Parade in Fremont. Undoubtedly one of the most memorable entries in that parade was First District Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s enormous entourage, which included an all-black drum and dance team.
These youth were incredibly talented, and, to most parade-goers, their marching with Fortenberry probably stood as testament to the congressman’s commitment to diversity and equality. Unfortunately, they would have been mistaken.
Just three days earlier, Fortenberry had voted for amendments intended to weaken the Voting Rights Act of 1965 upon its renewal. By doing so, he turned his back on the centuries-long struggle for civil rights, choosing to stand with his party’s far-right fringe rather than the legacy and sacrifice of leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr.
Fortenberry owes an apology to Nebraska’s entire black community, whose children’s talent he is willing to exploit in a parade but whose rights he is not willing to protect in Congress.
Kyle Michaelis, Lincoln
Hatred and hyperbole
Raleigh J. Peterson (letter, July 19) equates Islamic fascists (who hack off the heads of innocent prisoners) with Bush and the Christian right because he doesn’t think the administration is doing enough to help the poor.
Pathetic. His hatred is exceeded only by his hyperbole. I would quote some facts, but that would only confuse someone whose mind is already made up.
Steve Tonkin, Lincoln