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03 December 2024

“Hypocrisy is a Tribute that Vice Pays to Virtue”

Written by Michael Bihovsky

“Hypocrisy is a tribute that vice pays to virtue.”
–Francois Duc De La Rochefoucauld, “The Moral Maxims and Reflections”

I do not direct this quote toward any person or group in particular, but rather toward all people (including myself) as something to keep in mind about human nature when it comes to our own advocacy and activism. The things we say – but just as importantly, the things we don’t say. Either because we don’t think they need saying, but more often, because it muddies or even contradicts the moral purity and simplicity in which it is far more comfortable to drape ourselves.

We do this even when we know better. We do this when we speak differently in public than we do in private, generally with a lot less balance and nuance. We do this when we rob the “other” of their value and humanity, because it is far simpler and less painful to label all of “them” as the enemy (the hypocrisy being that this very tendency is often what we are speaking out against in the first place). And we do this when we do not hold our own chosen “side” accountable for their own negative behavior, which we justify by saying that there are plenty of other people making that argument already, so there’s no need to do so ourselves.

But it doesn’t work. All it does is pollute the integrity of our arguments, and worse yet, turn friends and even potential allies into enemies. And it hinders the solving of actual problems, because it radicalizes those who hear the things we say but who are ignorant of the context into believing that compromise itself and the noble goal of peaceful coexistence is in fact a cowardly act of surrender.

I hope with all my heart that we may all strive to speak complete truths, instead of merely countering the narratives that upset us. Especially when we know that those narratives contain at least some degree of merit and truth, and that our own narratives lack some fairly important facts and considerations.

Be on #TeamHuman. Stand for peace, and against all that stands in its way.

Originally published on Medium.com

Advocacy, Politics, Recent Comments are off
28 October 2024

Protest Votes Enable the Greater of “Two Evils”

Written by Michael Bihovsky

Dear Protest Voters,

If you do anything other than vote for Kamala Harris, Donald Trump will win this election.

Many of you say you refuse to vote for “the lesser of two evils.” I find it a stretch to call Kamala evil, even in a lesser way; she has flaws, as we all do, but she is a decent person and would be an effective president. Especially compared to the alternative.

But for the sake of conversation, let’s say Kamala is the lesser of two evils. To acknowledge this is to acknowledge that by not voting for her — including by voting third party or not at all — you’re enabling the greater of two evils. As so many did in 2016 by refusing to vote for Hillary. And how did that work out for us all?

Enabling the greater evil can’t possibly be considered a moral choice. If you had the power to choose the path of a train that would either hit 100 people or one person, with no other viable option, would you refuse to act because you didn’t want to facilitate the lesser of two evils? Or would you do your part to save as many people as you could?

When a choice is between bad and worse, it is a moral imperative to choose whatever does the least damage. And there is simply no doubt that Trump will cause infinitely more damage in countless more ways than Harris would.

For progressives, Gaza seems to be the main issue. Putting aside how hurtful it is that so many of you are unwilling to call out both sides in this war and treat any innocent life lost as a tragedy, Trump’s solution to the war is to “get it over with” through devastating Israeli force that would demonstrate, in the most horrific ways imaginable, just how restrained Israel has actually been this past year compared to what they are militarily capable of. Death and destruction mean nothing to Trump; as January 6 proved, he sees it as entertainment.

By contrast, Kamala wants the war in Gaza to end humanely. She wants the bombing to stop, for the scores of remaining hostages that Hamas kidnapped to be returned, and for Israelis and Palestinians both to thrive within their own autonomous countries. Trump will do whatever the person who flatters him most tells him to do, and Netanyahu is extremely good at such flattery. So if you truly care about innocent Palestinians, then this should be a very clear choice for you. And if you sit that choice out, you aren’t helping anyone. You’re just taking out your own anger in a way that will make things much worse for the very people you claim to care about.

In fact, the impulse to punish Harris comes at so many people’s expense. Under a Trump presidency, there will be so much more suffering. People of color will suffer. Muslims and Jews will suffer. Indigenous people will suffer. Women will suffer. LGBTQ people will suffer. The Earth will suffer. We already saw it clearly during Trump’s first term, and we continue to endure the ramifications today. It will be even worse — for all — in his second term.

For anyone with genuine concern and empathy, this is more than enough justification to vote for Harris with head held high. But even if you do it with a pang of resentment or regret, I beg you to do it anyway — especially if you live in a battleground state. Because if you don’t, you will bear responsibility for what happens in a second, unrestrained Trump presidency. And Trump has been very clear about what that will look like: in his own words, it will include “one really violent day” to crack down on crime, using the military against “the enemy from within” (Democrats and all nonpartisan government officials who do not declare loyalty to him personally), “a bloody story” of mass deportations for the people who are “poisoning the blood of our country,” and…

…and I won’t keep going, because you already know all this. You also know that as flawed as our country and democracy are, they are still worth preserving as we try to do better. You know that love is better than hate, that truth is better than lies, that democracy is better than autocracy, and that service to the many is better than service to one.

Stand against the greater of two evils. Vote for Kamala Harris.

Originally published on Medium.com

Featured illustration of “The Trolley Problem” by Allie Wang

Advocacy, Politics, Recent Comments are off
25 July 2024

Presenting and Performing at the Ehlers-Danlos Society’s Global Learning Conference and Gala

Written by Michael Bihovsky

Last week I had some of the most powerful experiences in both my personal and professional lives, so here are some pictures and a bit about it!

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I have wanted to attend The Ehlers-Danlos Society’s annual International Global Learning Conference for as long as they’ve been having one. Fortunately, this year it came to me right here in Philadelphia – and not only did I get the chance to attend: I also got to lead workshops with the many kids (“Junior Zebras”) in attendance about how to turn their pain into art, and to perform two original songs as the closing act in the annual gala (including “Paperweight,” which is the first time I’ve ever sung it live).

First, a word about the Society: I have never learned more about my own condition in such a short span of time. The number of global experts compiled across countless medical specialties was just staggering. When I have the official video from my live performance I’m going to post that along with a donation link, but you can also visit The Ehlers-Danlos Society‘s website right now, subscribe, and make a donation now if you’re able. The work they are doing to advance both research and advocacy for me and the millions who share my condition is second to none, and I hope you’ll consider helping them to help me and so many others like me.

I got to spend time with many dear friends at this event, some of whom are fellow advocates whom I’ve communicated with for years but never met in person before. I want to give a special shoutout to Christina Doherty, who is one of the kindest, smartest, most empathetic and resilient human beings I have ever had the privilege to know. If you want to know more about EDS, look Christina up on Instagram or YouTube – she is an incredible “expert by experience,” and an honor to call my friend.

I also got to hang with Dr. Sarah Cohen Solomon, an EDS pediatrician who has been a dear friend ever since she was in med school right here in Philly. It was such a pleasure to connect with her again, and I highly recommend checking out her own advocacy articles and podcasts.

That’s all for now, but I can’t wait to share the video of my performance as soon as I have it. Thanks so much for reading, and more soon!

Advocacy, Entertainment, Healthcare, Recent Comments are off
21 July 2024

Dear Joe Biden: Thank You For Your Service.

Written by Michael Bihovsky

I voted for Joe Biden proudly in 2020. I believed he was the right candidate to take down the bad guy, and with our support, he not only won, but received the greatest number of votes of any candidate in American history.

One of the reasons I liked President Biden was because of his humility – which is rare in politics in general, and generally absent among presidents. Despite his intention to run in 2016, he chose to sit it out after the devastating loss of his son Beau, declaring himself to not be in a mental state where he felt he could successfully run for president.

I want to honor President Biden for showing that same humility today. Especially when juxtaposed with Trump’s malignant narcissism, thirst for power, and love of cruelty and degradation, it is truly a breath of fresh air to see our Commander In Chief put all of us, and the fate of our flawed but beautiful country, before himself.

And yet it is also sad. Although there are several areas where I have voiced scathing criticism of Biden’s policies, I have never once doubted that he was a good and honest man trying his best, and all in all I think he’s been an effective President. I believe he will go down in history as the man who saved us from our country’s worst instincts, and then in a move of Washingtonian statesmanship and patriotism, stepped aside once he had internalized that staying presented the greatest threat of bringing back the very monster that he himself had defeated. And every available piece of evidence indicates that this is exactly what would have happened.

I don’t have any specific hope for who will be chosen to replace him, except that it be whomever seems most likely to win. And when that person is selected – whomever it is, and even if some of us (including me) don’t believe that the selected candidate meets that criteria – we need to all rally behind that person. No more circular firing squads, no more complaining about “the lesser of two evils,” which is an argument that admits the fact that to deny support is to enable the greater of two evils. And no matter who is chosen to run as the Democratic nominee, I promise you, Trump and Trumpism are far worse.

But for now, I hope that we may all counter Trump’s disgusting narrative that Biden is leaving “in complete disgrace.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Recognizing our own limitations and allowing ourselves to be guided by something other than pride is an incredible virtue – a concept that Trump, who is utterly devoid of virtue, goodness, or humility of any kind, could never possibly conceive of.

Let us all hope that whomever is chosen as the Democratic nominee will also have virtues that outweigh their flaws – but let us also remember that such flaws are inevitable, and that there is no potential candidate in existence without them. Our job is to see the forest through the trees, and to remember that the alternative means burning down the forest completely.

And as for Joe Biden: I wish you peace, rest, healing, and a legacy befitting a great public servant. From the bottom of my heart: thank you for your service, and for reminding us that serving at all, not being served, should be the aspiration of any politician. It’s a beautiful idea, and thanks to Joe Biden, today it remains very much alive.

Politics, Recent Comments are off
01 April 2024

Memorial Tribute for Dewey Oriente: Teacher. Director. Mentor. Friend.

Written by Michael Bihovsky

There are some people whose spirit seems too enormous for them to die. Whose largeness of personality and unshakeable perseverance must surely be an impenetrable shield against anything or anyone that would cause harm.

That was Dewey Oriente. My drama teacher starting at age 14. My director in more school and camp productions, concerts and cabarets than I could ever count. My mentor as I sought to pursue my dreams in musical theater (as an actor first – I only started regularly doing musicals because he got me addicted); my colleague, as we began to share many of the same students, and worked together to maximize their growth and development; my advocate, as he passed my plays and songs along to people he knew who might want to produce them; and above all, my dear, dear friend, who made sure I knew I was seen and appreciated, and who believed in me even and perhaps especially in moments when I didn’t believe in myself.

In my senior year of high school, I had just finished directing and performing in “Tick, Tick, Boom!” – an autobiographical musical written by Jonathan Larson, the creator of RENT. Having just played my hero – a man who was also taken from us long before his time – I found myself doubting whether I could pursue a career in both composing and performing. Because my time here might be limited too, and everyone I had ever heard of at the time needed to choose between one or the other. I went to Dewey with this crisis – this need to choose between what I loved the most (performing) and where I felt like I could have the most impact (composing). And I’ll never forget what Dewey said to me, in light of my “Tick” production:

“Michael: If there is anything you have just proved, to me and to everyone, it’s that you can accomplish absolutely anything you set your mind to. You don’t have to choose anything: you can do it all.”

I’ve lost that faith in myself over the years, as I have lost so much of my physical ability to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. But whenever I hear my own inner-voice of self-doubt and self-criticism, I hear Dewey’s voice in my head, telling me to keep going. I pray that his words and voice remain as clear in my memory as they are today, 19 years after he said it.

Dewey was the most incredible drama teacher and director you could have ever asked for. He could be hard on us at times, but we always knew it was because he believed in us and knew we could do better. He would not rest – and he rarely did rest anyway – until we had become the best performers we could possibly be. Our high school productions were renowned for being at a professional level, and there are dozens of us who have made our careers in theater because he taught us to excel.

Dewey taught us that with hard work, we could be or do anything. This is the man that made us start tap dancing lessons in October to prepare for a show in May, all so that we could perform the original Broadway choreography to 42nd Street. Which we DID. Do you know how crazy that is?? We were a bunch of white Jewish kids. We were not known for our dancing. But Dewey told us that we didn’t need to already be great to become great; we just had to work hard. There is talent, and there is skill – and one doesn’t work without the other. We call talent a gift, and rightly so – but it is also a responsibility to be the best possible version of ourselves. Dewey demanded nothing less – and from each and every one of us, he got it.

One last story. In 2019, Dewey appeared with his husband Tony (one of the most beautiful, kind, and generous souls I have ever had the privilege to know and love) on the game show “Deal or No Deal” with Howie Mandel, and may well have been the most beloved guests in game show history. During his introduction, Dewey recounted Plato’s theory on the origin of love – that before we are born we exist as one circular being, but then get separated into two at birth and spend our lives looking for the other half of ourselves. To him – and to all of us cheering them on in the wings – that was Tony.

I was so moved by that story. Partly because the love that Dewey and Tony shared was a role model to us all. And partly because I suddenly remembered Dewey telling me that story when I was just 17 years old, after I became fascinated with Plato as the subject of my first original musical, “Eclipse” (which Dewey was the first person to put songs from onstage – the first time my work had ever been publicly performed for anyone; yet another milestone that he brought into being). Hearing that same story 15 years later and remembering him telling it to me back in room 14 of Akiba Hebrew Academy filled me with so much emotion. And so I did what I always do when filled with that much emotion – I wrote a song.

The song was called “Part of Me / Part of You,” and I wrote it for Dewey and Tony. To honor them, to show them how much I loved them and their beautiful relationship, and – in my dream of dreams – for them to sing together one day. Which they were scheduled to do (with me on piano) at the annual drama department fundraiser Cabaret on March 12, 2020.

It was my first event to be cancelled due to Covid. And since Dewey’s kidney failure was brought on by multiple violent bouts with Covid early on, I never got to hear them sing it together. I never will. That remains one of my greatest regrets from the whole pandemic: to hear Dewey sing my music – music that he had inspired me to write in every way a person can – would have been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my entire life.

But I offer my demo of that song now (with me singing both parts of the duet), accompanying this video I made from some of my favorite pictures of Dewey over the years. I hope you’ll listen to it and enjoy it, and that you will remember the hard-working, passionate, beautiful man that I made it for. And Tony: I pray that you may find comfort and solace in remembering how passionately Dewey believed in this idea of the immortality of love, and in his love for you. Because there is one line in this song that I keep coming back to, with a smile and a sob:

“And if I ever lose you, I will find you once again.”


Rest in peace, Dewey. You changed thousands of lives, and your work continues through us – your students, family and friends – as we remember you and share the many lessons you taught us with our own students and children. Your legacy lives on in the hearts and minds of every single heart, mind, and soul you touched – and as devastated as I am right now, I smile through my many tears to know that I was one of those lucky people who had the privilege to be your student and friend.

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Recent Posts

  • “Hypocrisy is a Tribute that Vice Pays to Virtue” December 3, 2024
  • Protest Votes Enable the Greater of “Two Evils” October 28, 2024
  • Presenting and Performing at the Ehlers-Danlos Society’s Global Learning Conference and Gala July 25, 2024
  • Dear Joe Biden: Thank You For Your Service. July 21, 2024
  • Memorial Tribute for Dewey Oriente: Teacher. Director. Mentor. Friend. April 1, 2024
  • In Memory of Marjorie Bicknell October 13, 2023

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