What Happens When You Bubble Yourself?

Does it give you clearer thoughts and reactions? Or does it make you ignorant?

Lizzo playing James Madison’s flute at the Library of Congress; photo from the Library of Congress.

Pop star Lizzo played a flute that belonged to James Madison. She did this on stage at the Capitol One Arena in Washington, DC, about 8 blocks from the White House.

I’m an occasional listener of Lizzo’s music, and wouldn’t consider myself to be a fan. The songs I’ve heard have been upbeat, positive, inoffensive. But I thought the flute playing was cool for several reasons. One, Lizzo is a multi-talented pop star, and a classically trained flutist, and got to show that off. Two, she’s an American, playing music from a piece of American history in the nation’s capitol. Three, James Madison was born in my hometown, and someone famous made music on his flute 186 years after his death.

I didn’t see any backlash, nor did I even think about any potential for it. Seemed entertaining, and something to celebrate, or at least give an approving nod.

Then, some memes and screenshots of Tweets started filtering through my Instagram stories. They were in response to some sort of conservative outrage. Outrage that I saw none of.

I had to seek out the conservative outrage. I found the usual pseudo-intellectual reactionaries. You know, the right-wing media grifters who can be expected to feign outrage over just about…