By DAN MALLOY
I’m out of town tonight in Concord, New Hampshire with members of the US Conference of Mayors, where I’ll be speaking at an “Arts and Politics” event hosted by ArtsVoteNH, a grassroots organization that educates policy-makers and the general public about the importance of the arts. Representatives from a number of Presidential campaigns will be there as well to explain how their candidates have worked to support the arts, and how they might do so as President.
Given the multitude of grave and serious issues facing our state and our nation (the war in Iraq, lack of affordable health care for millions of Americans, growing environmental concerns… just to name a few) it’s easy to lose sight of other matters that can often seem less important in comparison. There are, after all, only so many hours in the day and only so many issues on which we can expend our energy.
I’m glad that tonight I’ll be learning about an issue that I haven’t heard many Presidential candidates get a chance to touch on. Support of the arts is crucial to basic education, to civic engagement, and to our American culture. During these trying times, it’s important not to lose sight of that – and of the many other “lesser issues” we all hold dear.
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