On the topic of acting: Steve, I have to disagree. I’ve concluded that the finest actors tend to be liberal. My theory is that acting requires one to be exceptionally in touch and empathetic with human emotion, with an ability to “get inside” the personality of a character. At the same time, I think a really good actor may not be as skilled at reasoning or seeing society as a whole.

I liken it to singing. One of the best impromptu singing I’ve ever heard was in the women’s bathroom at Wayne State University in Detroit. I kid you not. Someone came in humming something under her breath and another burst into song, after which others joined in, harmonizing and everything. Afterwards, we found out that only two had any “training” – one sang gospel at Grace Tabernacle and another was in her high school choir. We just all grew up singing to the radio, in churches, and/or with our friends. I don’t know that young people do that anymore; they seem so much more self-conscious than we were.

This is a remarkable assemblage to go with the music.