Sometimes, Things Do Change for the Better

She loved playing the drums from the time she was a kid, and fortunately for her, she had a very supportive dad who saw her potential. She began performing locally, and gradually, she worked her way up in the music business. Other musicians who watched her perform were very impressed: they didn't expect a young woman to play as well as she did. She became a student of drumming, who eagerly learned from some of the biggest names, and always tried to improve her skills. 

But as good as she was at her craft, Viola Smith never became famous. She probably should have-- even some of the critics said she was a gifted musician. Unfortunately, she was performing during the 1920s through the 1950s-- an era when "girl drummers" were still considered a novelty. They were expected to be proficient but never lose their femininity; in fact, one of the network radio programs she regularly appeared on was called the "Hour of Charm." Most female musicians back then could only find work in an "all-girl orchestra"-- Viola's band was called the Coquettes and they were well-received wherever they toured. She repeatedly showed that she was a skilled and talented drummer, and as good as any man. But she never got the kind of recognition that her male counterparts received, nor did she make the money they made. Still, she carved out a successful niche, despite the fact that it was a different time. And although she sometimes had to fight to be taken seriously, it was a fight she usually won. When Viola Smith died in October 2020 at age 107 (!), she had a long list of remarkable achievements.

When I was at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in early October of 2025, a lot of the folks in attendance were surprised to learn from Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson that Rush would be getting back together and planning a tour with the new drummer they had chosen. And the new drummer was a woman, Anika Nilles. Of course, as a second-wave feminist, hearing that Rush would now have a female drummer made me very happy. But it also reminded me that even with Rush, things had changed. I recalled a conversation about feminism that I'd had with Neil decades ago (he wasn't a fan of it-- you may have seen the Rush Deep Dive webcast I was part of circa 2022, where I did a feminist interpretation of "The Trees"). 

In fairness to Neil, in the 1970s and 1980s, he was an acolyte of Ayn Rand, and much more traditional about gender roles. I never heard anyone in the band making sexist remarks, but I doubt they would have been seeking a female musician for their band at that time; the music industry was male-dominated, and most of the rock bands were all male (other than a couple of all-female bands, just like in Viola's day).

But times definitely changed. When his health made it impossible for him to continue, Neil was happy to teach his little daughter Olivia about drumming; he was so proud of her when she showed an aptitude for it. And I have the feeling that, were he still here, he'd be absolutely fine about a female drummer for Rush, especially someone as talented as Anika. In fact, she wouldn't be a "female drummer"-- she'd just be considered a drummer. And isn't that the way it should be? When I was growing up, young girls were not encouraged to be drummers. Today, young girls have a wide range of options, and being a drummer isn't regarded as so unusual anymore. Meanwhile, Anika has settled in as Rush's new drummer, welcomed and loved by the fans. And somewhere in rock and roll heaven, Viola Smith is probably smiling.        

What Does the Bible Say About This?

I've been blogging a few times a month since early 2015, and I find that I get the most page views whenever I write about Rush. That's not surprising. Given my long-time friendship with the band, I understand that fans would be interested to read whatever I write about that topic (interestingly, the posts I've written about Neil are among my most-read). For some reason, I get the fewest when I write about politics or religion. So I'm prepared for a lot of folks to skip this one, since it contains elements of both.

 But I hope they won't skip it, because I'm trying to understand something, and I'd like to get a few opinions. What I'm trying to make sense of is something a friend of mine said to me about the president. She said President Trump was the best friend Christians ever had. She relies mainly on conservative Christian media, and much of that seems to be pro-Trump too; the message that the president is a friend and protector of Christians is constantly reinforced. Some sources speak of him in almost messianic terms.   

I've really tried to make sense of those attitudes, but I'm getting nowhere. I used to be a chaplain. I used to teach Sunday School. Okay fine, I'm Jewish and not Christian, but we both use the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). I've also taught World Religions for years, and I'd like to think I know a few things about scripture.

So, consider this: The Bible clearly states that we are supposed to love our neighbor. It doesn't equivocate or make exceptions-- it doesn't say to only love our neighbor if they were born here, for example. The Bible also states repeatedly that we should "welcome the stranger." It does not qualify that commandment: it doesn't make exceptions for a stranger who is an immigrant or undocumented or non-white. It just says to love and welcome the stranger, and to treat the stranger with respect. The Bible also tells us not to worship money, and to make sure we take care of the poor. 

Does this president exemplify any of these values? Does he do what the Bible says? Rather than follow the scriptures, he ignores its basic tenets. He has monetized his presidency, making millions for himself and his cronies, while doing little to help the poor. He has made a mockery of the justice system, granting pardons to convicted criminals if they were willing to donate money to him. He champions policies that treat immigrants with cruelty; he even defends having ICE agents shoot at them, whether they did something wrong or not. He has turned nearly every part of the White House into a gilded monument to himself. He is crude, vulgar, mendacious, and lacking in compassion. And yet, my friend sincerely believed he is a role model and a champion for Christians.

So what am I missing? From my perspective, there is nothing Christian (nor ethical) about this president, yet a vast network of conservative media sources lifts him up as some sort of role model, and people like my friend insist he is a hero for Christians. So, this is where you come in, those of you who have read this far (and I thank you). I'd appreciate some sensible explanations, because I feel like I'm living in a different universe from my friend, and it would be helpful if I could at least see the person she is seeing-- because what I see looks entirely different.