Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)

February 1, 2026

Dusty Kelly  -  AFM International Executive Board and Executive Director Local 149 (Toronto, ON)

I was going to title my column “Everything’s Going to Hell in a Handbasket,” then I came across The Temptations’ song “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today),” recorded in 1970 against the backdrop of racism, social injustice, and civil unrest in America. It’s an apt title for today.

To say that we live in volatile times could be considered an understatement but here we are. Above the 49th parallel, aka “the 51st state,” as some individuals would have us believe, we look on alarmed at the disruptive forces at play south of the border. ICE and National Guard deployment, citizenry being stripped of their fundamental rights, arbitrary detentions, forced deportations, blatantly ignoring indigenous peoples’ rights, curbing academic freedoms, mocking disabled persons, gutting arts funding, gutting the National Labor Relations Board (NRLB), relentless efforts to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act, attacks on journalistic freedoms—the list goes on and on. 

We are told what we see and what we hear with our own eyes and ears did not actually happen. Our collective sense of security and trepidation is further heightened by the ongoing threats of the Trump administration to annex Canada and other sovereign countries. Adding to this, globally, is war and political instability: Ukraine, the Middle East, Africa. It’s a good time for the arms dealers. But, I digress.

Thank goodness we have the arts is all I can say! In all times, and even more so now, art, music, theatre, film, poetry, and story bring us solace and inner peace. They help soothe our anxieties, give meaning to our feelings, and shine a mirror on injustice, pain, and suffering. They uplift us with hope and love, joy and human connection—the arts let us know that “everything’s gonna be alright.” 

Musicians through their music have always reflected the times. Music has served as a catharsis—a powerful tool for social commentary and unity throughout the ages. And every genre—symphonic, opera, jazz, rap, folk, and more—has reflected the human condition. On both sides of the border, AFM members inspire, entertain, and transport audiences away from fear, hatred, and loathing. Music enriches our souls. It is fundamental to our collective well-being, which makes it even worse when creativity is hijacked by defunding the very institutions that the arts rely on.

During times of upheaval, great organizations and their people rise to meet the challenges that have beset them. Our union and members are no exception. Together, we have persisted through world wars, pandemics, the introduction of sound and recording, disruptive technologies and distribution systems, labour strife, financial meltdowns, and more. How? By adhering to and supporting our mission to unite professional musicians across the United States and Canada, enabling them to live and work with dignity, receive fair compensation for their labor, and have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect them.

Our AFM leadership and staff are working hard to build a stronger AFM. In both countries, our national collective agreements are addressing generative artificial intelligence, focusing on consent, credit, and compensation. The AFM has significantly expanded education offerings to local officers and staff. We now have an Organizing department that is assisting organizers with winning campaigns. We’ve enhanced freelance, symphonic, and theatre services and resources to better serve you. Our Government Affairs Office is actively promoting important policies that matter to musicians. On the global stage, the AFM is respected and building stronger alliances with our sister entertainment unions.

Resilience was an oft used term during the pandemic, guiding us as we pivoted and adapted to COVID-19. I would now add we all need fortitude to go the distance. 

In this ball of confusion, there is no room for complacency, we must collectively double down our efforts on both sides of the border. Thankfully, we have our union at our back. When we fight together, we win!

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