STEAM not STEM

There’s enough stupidity and related activity going on in the world so, today we’re going to be short and sweet and positive. As we hope you know, STEM is an abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. All fine and generally benevolent sectors, necessary in many ways, but not sufficient. However, if we add Arts (and Humanities), STEM becomes STEAM and, as the old saying goes, then we’re cooking!

art & science combined

Photo by J. Harrington

Unfortunately, that brings me to an embarrassing confession. Until moments ago, I was unaware that October is National Arts and Humanities Month. Admittedly, today is only October 2, but, if mainstream media covered the announcement, I missed it. (If they didn’t cover the announcement, they shouldn’t be considered MSM.) One major reason I can’t and won’t support STEM by itself is that we currently have much more of the science and technology etc. needed to respond to climate breakdown than we’re using. That’s where the Arts (and Humanities) come in, to motivate the political will and create the concurrence needed to use what we have and create whatever else we need before it’s too late.

If that line of reasoning resonates at all with you, you want to take a look at:

• Americans for the Arts Action Fund, and
• The Democracy Collaborative

That’s it, execpt for today’s poem.

Alone

Maya Angelou     1928 – 2014

Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone
I came up with one thing
And I don’t believe I’m wrong
That nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires
With money they can’t use
Their wives run round like banshees
Their children sing the blues
They’ve got expensive doctors
To cure their hearts of stone.
But nobody
No, nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely
I'll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering
The wind is gonna blow
The race of man is suffering
And I can hear the moan,
'Cause nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

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