Do, Reh, Me, So, La, Fa, Tee, Do… or at least that’s how I remember it.  3rd grade music class with Mrs. Peterson.  The first time I was ever introduced to formalized music and singing different parts.  I spent plenty of time in church and understood the concept of “making a joyful noise” with the congregation, but my music teacher was showing me something different.

I grew older and left music classes in middle school  and then came back to them in high school.   Once I was in varsity choir, I learned something incredible.  I learned that when everyone sings their part at the right time and on key, a beautiful cacophony of sound is created. A wall of  emotion in different layers that allows the listener to close their eyes and experience depth and elegance.

What most people understand,  but sometimes forget is the rehearsal and preparation needed in order to create this experience.  It is important to understand how much goes into finding harmony because the same structure can be used to build a world class company.

Harmony is defined by Princeton as:  congruity of parts with one another and with the whole.  Harmony in music allows for there to be multiple people singing different notes at the same time as part of  a greater sound.  Sometime people can be singing different words at the same time, too.  The purpose of a composer is to tie all of it together to create a focused experience for the listener.  In order to tie everything together, a well written plan must be created in the form of sheet music.

Leaders should provide the same type of written plan for their team.  Here is  a quick guide for creating harmony in your team:

• Identify the theme of your piece: What is the goal of your team? What are your values? Write them down.
• Who sings what part: Talk to your team.  See who is a bass or soprano.  Don’t make a tenor into a alto. Put the write singer in the  right place.
• Rehearse!:  Meet with each team member to discuss the plan.  Meet one on one and in groups.  Individual training and rehearsal as well as group training is critical to the success of a team.
• Give everyone their part in writing:  Provide written direction and updates to your team regularly.

I was listening to our local hero, Michael Berry, today.  I often agree with his opinions on tough subjects and I believe his humorous and passionate take on issues is refreshing.  One specific area that I appreciate about his show is his constant push against Sheila Jackson Lee.  There are certain people in life that I am amazed are able to hold a job, let alone power.  Jackson Lee is one of those people.

Berry uncovered a neat speech that Lee produced earlier this week regarding her opinion of the Tea Party.  I was able to find a transcript of the speech on Show Me Progress.  Her speech to the NAACP in Kansas City meanders-  but I wanted to jump in on her opening statements:

“And I thank you professor very much. I’m going to be engaging you with those very powerful numbers that you have offered on what the tea party recognizes, uh, or is recognized as. Might I add my own P.S.? All those who wore sheets a long time ago have now lifted them off and started wearing [applause], uh, clothing, uh, with a name, say, I am part of the tea party.”

Let’s stop right there.  This is sweet!  She is calling people in the tea party- Klansmen!  In case some people in the audience didn’t catch her point…  she then repeats her statement! Check it out…

“Don’t you be fooled.  [voices: "That's right.", applause] Those who used to wear sheets are now being able to walk down the aisle and speak as a patriot because you will not speak loudly about the lack of integrity of this movement. ”

YES!  Tea party members are now being called racists and are no longer considered patriots by incumbent Democrats.  According to Lee their movement does not have “integrity”.  Really?  Integrity is defined as: adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.

I would like Lee to consider at least one thing before throwing stones, however inaccurate her accusations may be.  Was there integrity in her making an ass of herself and Houston at Michael Jackson’s funeral?  KPRC in Houston reported on her spending habits in 2009 regarding the trip to the LA funeral.  Here is an excerpt from the interview:

“Who paid for that trip for you to go to that memorial service?” asked KPRC Local 2 anchor Joel Eisenbaum.

“Well uh … that um … those resources are … resources that I have and therefore … they are in a way that does not interfere with anything that has to do with serving the United States Congress,” replied Jackson Lee in a live interview last July.

“Understood,” said Eisenbaum. “So, public funds?”

“Those resources are resources that I have,” answered Jackson Lee.

INTEGRITY!  Seriously-  that is nice.  Nothing like someone who cannot explain how they are spending OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY calling Americans who are exercising their most fundamental freedom, racist hate-mongers.

Does anybody actually remember that Klan members lynched people? That they killed people for being different.  How is that the same as an old lady telling her local congressman that she does not want Obama-care?  How is burning crosses the same as people who rally in a square for Arizona as it tries to defend its own citizens because the federal government will not enforce the LAW?!?

Back to the show…

“Don’t let anybody tell you that those who spit on us as we were walking to vote on a health care bill for all of America or those who said Congresswoman Jackson-Lee’s braids were too tight in her hair had anything to do with justice and equality and empowerment of the American people. Don’t let them fool you on that [applause]….”

I will skip the braid comment..  not sure about that… Let’s focus on the spitting part. Emanuel Cleaver was supposedly spat on during his walk to the halls of congress to vote a massive entitlement program into law known as Healthcare Reform.  After his office made a public statement that he was spit on by members of the Tea Party, he was drilled by a local Fox affiliate about the incident and stated:

“I never, I never reported anything, never a single thing in Washington, not one thing. People assume I went somewhere, never done press conference, never done an interview on it and I’m not going to do it.“

Here is that integrity thing again…  nice!  Must be good to have a job where you can publicly say dumb things and not get fired for years at a time.

So..  According to Lee: Tea Party members do not deserve to be heard because they are racist hate-mongers and empowerment of the American people should not be extended to average Americans unless they are members of a minority group.

It is so sad to see that every few decades America goes on a hunt.  It started in Salem progressed to Eugenics moved to Communism and has now become- Racism.   Our desire to overcome our past has turned into weapon and now people with Microphones are using that weapon.  My theater teacher in high school used to call microphones “Idiot Magnets”. How right he was!