MEMORIAL DAY REFLECTIONS 2025

 

F LoBuono

Another Memorial Day has come and gone. My feelings towards that day, which have always been profound, have become even more so. They have certainly evolved and deepened over the years and continue to. And, in some ways, that evolution has brought me to a place of emotional conflict.

First, as is the case with most things in our overly commercialized society, the day has become literally a holiday filled with barbeques, beer, and a 3 day weekend for most. Throw in a parade with some fire engines, loud motorcycles, vintage military vehicles, a marching band or 2, some grey-haired men walking stiff-legged in old, ill-fitting uniforms, flags flying and we’ll call it a celebration. Instead, it was to intended to be solemn day when we take the time to honor those who have fallen in one the many armed conflicts this Country has endured in its 250 year history. The loss of any human being is NEVER an ultimate cause for celebration, especially of those taken in wars not of their own doing.

The challenge for me is in finding a way to honor these people who have made the ultimate sacrifice while at the same time not glorying what took them in the first place, i.e. war. You see, in an effort to rightfully acknowledge the depth of what it means to fall in conflict, there is a danger of romanticizing the use of violence as a means to a just end – ANY end. For example, there is a plethora of Hollywood movies praising the efforts of the Allies to defeat the Nazis and Fascists in WWII. Of course, our victory over such an evil foe is rightfully seen as just and necessary. But we must NEVER forget the terrible toll war takes, not only on the vanquished but on the victors as well. My father and uncle, both WWII combat veterans and proud members of The Greatest Generation, frequently suffered with the symptoms of PTSD.

I also think of 2 other friends who were combat veterans not taken IN war but BY war. And that war was Vietnam. Having seen the horrors of jungle warfare thousands of miles from their homes, all for a cause that was hard even for THEM to justify, proved too much to bear. Both died by their own hands years after their service, one by suicide and the other to a drug overdose. Both were among the finest men I have ever known.

And there is no shortage of other violence being committed in just causes all over the world. Without taking sides for this article, one just need to look to the Middle East and Gaza to see the horrors of war – with both sides claiming the so-called Moral Justification for slaughtering one another!

When will it end? How can it end?

For me, it will be when we stop glorifying violence as a means to end. ANY violence. And we see it not only on a grand scale, i.e., among nations, but within individuals too. The most recent examples are the wanton murders of an insurance executive in New York City and of a young Jewish couple in Washington, D.C. Both accused murderers have professed that these killings were in response to “larger, social issues” and they were justified in their actions. Furthermore, others (many) agree that their actions were necessary in a bigger picture sense. Some have even see them as “heroes” or “liberators”.

Really?

These people are not to be congratulated or lauded! They are cold-blooded killers whose actions CANNOT be justified on ANY level. There can be no positive outcomes associated with such actions. There is only the deaths of innocent people.

Yet even as we speak of the horrors of war, conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and too many other places around the world are raging. Some are fighting for their freedom, others their particular ideology, or religion. Whatever the case may be, each side sees their own justifications for their own causes (think Dylan’s “With God On Our Side”).

It has gotten to the point where I question whether violence is inherent in our very DNA. Is it within our nature to resort to violence to achieve our goals? I am certainly not the first one to debate this as an issue. Others more highly qualified than me have attempted to answer this question. However, I must think that despite our base nature, we are also capable of sublime thought. This is what many eastern philosophies refer to as mindfulness, i.e. a state of awareness that we are all part of a greater whole that allows us to reach a inner peace and wholeness that radiates from our very core. But this takes effort and an unshakable belief that love, in the end, does indeed conquer all. And we must not have fear in our conviction to peace.

Resist violence in all forms. Understand that anger is a real emotion. NO human lives without it. However, acknowledge it and then place it where it belongs. I use this as my guide. It is attributed to Gandhi:

“An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”

 

Born Different

 

F LoBuono

I was born left-handed. I had no choice in the matter, it just was. As simple as that seems to most, it does qualify me as just a little bit different. Only about 10% of the world’s population uses their left hand as their dominant one. That MAKES you different than “most.” And I was keenly aware of that from a very young age.

Right from the beginning, even ordinary tasks were more difficult for me because it is such a right-handed world. Some of the simplest things could confound me. Scissors, soup ladles, notebooks and so many more items are all made to be used most effectively with the right hand. Because I just could not use these tools effectively, working with them was often a frustrating experience. It made me feel uncoordinated and awkward. And to make matters worse, people were always around to make sure that I was reminded of that! Even writing is more difficult for lefties. As a right-handed person puts pen to paper, the words appear AS you write them down. We “lefties” must use that weird bend at the elbow as we create our script. Otherwise, our hand covers the words so that we can’t actually SEE what we are writing and the words wind up all over the page!

As a young man I loved to play baseball. As my birthday is in the Spring, every year my father would take me to a sporting goods store to pick out a new glove for a gift. But when we went to the store, there were hundreds of mitts – for righties – and a few, mostly for 1^st base use only, for lefties. And THAT was because lefties were limited to just pitching, playing the outfield, or 1^st base. The NATURE of the game is to be played mostly by right-handed people.

When I went to college at Rutgers University, I always had to get to the larger lecture hall classes early to make sure that I could get a seat. And, it wasn’t because there weren’t enough of them. In fact, there were hundreds. The issue was that out of those hundreds, only a handful were designed to be used by left-handed people.

Even the very word, “left” has a bad, if not downright evil connotation. It even says so in scripture: Those who are good, a.k.a., the righteous, and sit at the RIGHT hand of good will be exalted. The ones on the left will be cast out. In Italian, as taken from the Latin, the word for left is SINISTRA, i.e., sinister. Hell, lefties even have a shorter lifespan because they die at a far higher rate in accidents. Why? Because they are often out of place in such a righty dominated world.

All these things were always in the back of my mind. Why was I different? Why would people often make fun of my awkwardness? Perhaps I should try to use my right hand more. It sure would be easier.

Then, as a teenager, I read a book that changed that perspective – and life. It was called Lefties. The Origins and Consequences of Being Left-handed by Jack Fincher. Within the pages, the author explained the scientific basis for the dominant use of one side of our bodies over another. Within that science he further explained that because our creative centers our located in the part of the brain that controls left side dominance, many, if not most, of the great Renaissance masters like Leonardo and Michelangelo were left-handed. Many US Presidents in recent memory have been left-handed. Some of our greatest athletes like Babe Ruth are as well. In other words, our difference was not our weakness. Rather, it was a strength – a uniqueness to be admired! And it changed me.

I was no longer awkward in my difference. Instead, I celebrated it. I was PROUD that I was just a little bit different.

I write this in honor of Pride Month and to all my friends and family who are members of the LGBTQ+ community. In the smallest of ways, I understand your struggle, what it is like to be just a bit different. In fact, by most studies the percentage of people identifying as “gay” is about the same as those who are left-handed (7-10%). And I hope that if you haven’t already, you find a book, person, event, or moment that celebrates your difference. And since words matter, let’s change difference to uniqueness. It’s OK to be both. In fact, I kinda’ like it.

 

TAKE PRIDE

 

Words and Photo by F LoBuono

June is PRIDE MONTH when we celebrate out brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, friends and lovers from the LGBTQ+ community. We also acknowledge how far we’ve come together while at the same time realizing how far we have still to go to achieve true, universal acceptance, especially under the very real threats posed by the current administration’s draconian anti-DEI policies.

I am very fortunate to live in a village that not only embraces the LGBTQ+ community but also exalts in their presence. It is no accident that the Phyliss B. Frank Rockland County Pride Center is in that village: Nyack, NY. In fact, we live only a block away. And that mutual admiration and solidarity was never more apparent than this past Sunday, June 8^th, during Nyack’s PRIDE DAY parade and celebration.

The streets of Nyack were filled with joyful, happy, peaceful, REAL people of ALL shapes, sizes and sexual persuasion – ALL kinds of people. And it was wonderful. What a pleasure it was to be in the presence of people who could express themselves fully in a completely safe environment. Yes, the village provided amble and necessary security but within the community present there was not even a hint of violence, resentment OR judgement. It was a palpable feeling of wellbeing, again for EVERYONE.

In addition to the parade that included marching bands, groups expressing their solidarity, people in fantastic (literally) costumes, and, of course, Dykes on Bikes, the streets were lined with vendors offering arts, crafts and useful information. Inspiring, defiant speeches by Rockland County Pride Center Executive Director, Brooke Malloy, and others were given from the village square. But what impressed me most was the fact that so many people could be together in complete peace, harmony, AND joy. EVERYONE was free to be who they CHOOSE to be. And what the hell is wrong with that?

At one point as I was traveling through the festival, I found myself pacing next to Mark Mangan. Mark does an incredible job organizing and coordinating the many street fairs and public events that Nyack has become famous for. I don’t know Mark very well but well enough to know that we share many similarities including our working-class mentality and love of community. Anyway, he was walking briskly and smiling broadly. As we came side by side, I offered my congratulations on another wonderful Nyack event. He said, “thanks” and then added, “isn’t this great?” I replied, “it most certainly is. And the best part is that it’s SO easy!” “Yup, live and let live” was Mark’s response.

We shared a moment that I think so many others also did during that wonderful day; people are just people, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and lifestyles. This is not weakness. Quite to the contrary, our diversity is our strength. People who may choose to look or live on a path different from ours ultimately have NO effect on OUR choice. And that’s yet another reason to support the LGBTQ+ community. It’s not just about them. It’s about us – and the choices we all make. We just need to make sure that we never lose the freedom to do so – on any level or to any person. The Pride flag is a rainbow for a reason. Embrace it.

 

CROSSROADS

 

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Like most Americans, I support a reasonable, sustainable, effective, compassionate immigration policy, one that we have been lacking for far too long. However, like many other Americans but unfortunately not most, I am shocked and appalled at how the use of mass deportations qualifies as ANY sort of immigration policy. And I’m not even talking just about those sent to the hellish, draconian prisons that are more like death camps. I’m writing of the thousands of families, the great majority of them hardworking people who provide essential services to our Country. They want nothing more than to live in peace but have been sent cruelly packing. Even sick children under treatment have been given the boot. It’s unconscionable.

It seems that salacious and false accusations about these communities have been allowed to flourish under the current Trump Administration creating an atmosphere of fear and loathing for these people, thereby justifying their cruel actions. Here’s is just one example: Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Securities, appears in several commercials, properly attired in combat gear, hair beautiful quaffed, bright blue eyes shining, praising the leadership of her boss, President Trump, adding how many violent criminals were rounded up and deported under his watch, making us all that much safer.  Sounds impressive, right? We all want that, right? Here are some facts that show that to be nothing more than fear-mongering hyperbole:

 When looking specifically at the relationship between undocumented immigrants and crime, researchers come to similar conclusions. Numerous studies show that undocumented immigration does not increase violent crime; research examining crime rates in so-called sanctuary cities also found no discernable difference when compared to similarly situated cities without sanctuary policies. One study that focused on drug crimes and driving under the influence found that unauthorized immigration status was associated with reductions in arrests for those offenses.*

Those are the REAL numbers but let me contribute further with some personal anecdotes to add even more context. My partner Amanda and I live in a very modest house at the corners of Jackson Avenue and North Mill Street in Nyack, NY. I call it the Crossroads of The World. Well, at least it is to me, both literally and figuratively. Jackson Avenue had once been the center of a thriving Black neighborhood filled with other modest homes and successful businesses. But in the 1960’s, in response to the creation of nearby Nanuet Mall, the downtown businesses felt they needed a large parking lot to be able to compete with the new mall. So, here comes Urban Renewal and the village council decided to create the lot by bulldozing the most vulnerable neighborhood – the black one, of course. Well, they may have gotten most of it, but not all. What’s left is still a vibrant, active, tight block where WE are now in the minority. And love it. The whole neighborhood is filled with the sound of (mostly brown) children and the smell of delicious ethnic food in the air. The music is mostly Tejano and so much fun to listen to. There is a large family behind us who regularly put up a big, blue tarp, cook, sing, and laugh well into the evening. But, by 10-1030pm the tarp is down, and the place is quiet. It’s very respectful. Just the other day, one of the families across the street had a Quinceanera celebration. I stopped and watched with total enjoyment as they turned their backyard parking lot into a dance floor! All the young men were wearing black suits topped by black Stetsons. All the girls were dressed in colorful, frilly dresses. I broke into the biggest smile as they preceded to execute their perfect dance moves. It was wonderful!

Then, the other day, I watched a smallish, Latina woman push a shopping cart FULL of I assume the week’s laundry up the steep hill that is Jackson Ave. I offered to help. She smiled and said, “no, gracias.” It was her regular routine. We’ve never had an issue with stolen items, violence, noise or any other crime or nuisance so often blamed on immigrant communities.

And THESE are the people we are supposed to fear and loath? I’ll never get it because I see people who are clean, family oriented, hardworking, and have a lust for life! These are ALL the things I WANT in my life – I need in my life. They don’t detract from our lives – they ADD to them. It’s as simple as treating ALL human beings with the respect they deserve. Who gives a crap where they come from? I am not afraid! Let them be who they are and give some of it back to us. If we do, the world is a much better place. And it shouldn’t be that hard. It ain’t – to me.

 

*https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/debunking-myth-migrant-crime-wave

 

CHANCE THE MIGHTY SQUIRREL

 

Words and photo by F LoBuono

A few months ago, near the end of Autumn, I was walking home from one of my frequent sojourns into the village when I noticed something under a telephone pole at the intersection ahead. As I got closer, I realized that it was a tiny, baby squirrel and it was very much alive! I was amazed to find it there because it was such a barren corner. It was in front of one of the old black churches in town but there were absolutely no trees anywhere to be found nearby. And it was too far away from the church itself to have come from somewhere there. At first, fearing the mother might be near by and would be looking to reclaim it, I didn’t want to touch it. However, the more I looked around the more I realized that wasn’t going to happen.

Well, I certainly couldn’t leave the poor thing there and my house was just a block away, so I scooped it up not really knowing what the hell one does with a baby squirrel. I thought to myself, “do I REALLY want to do this? What the hell am I going to do with a baby squirrel on my hands, especially since I have a cat in the house?” But I couldn’t just leave it there to die, which it certainly would have done in short order. Besides, once I got her in my hand, she didn’t resist at all. In fact, she seemed comforted by it, fitting snuggly in my palm.

When I got to my house, I immediately looked for some kind of box or container that I could keep it in safely until I figured out what the heck to do with it. Luckily, the recycling had not been put out and I found the perfect cardboard box. I fluffed a towel in the bottom and placed the squirrel in, closing the top so that the cat couldn’t get to it.

Then I looked for help.

One of the positive things about social media is that when used properly it can put you in contact with all types of people with all kinds of skills. So, I made a photo of the little critter and put it at on Facebook while asking for help. In a matter of minutes, I received several responses from wildlife rehabbers all over the area. In fact, there were more than I could use! Since they all seemed caring and interested, I decided to choose the first one that responded. Her name is Taryn Dow. She gave me some basic instructions to keep the little one safe until she could get there to take possession of her. She also explained that, believe it or not, squirrels are considered wild and can only be cared for by a licensed animal rehabilitator, of which she was. I was much relieved!

Taryn drove immediately from Montvale, NJ to my place in Nyack, a trip of about a half hour. She thanked me for making the effort and transferred her from the box to a proper cage. She determined that it was a female and asked if I would like to give her a name. I thought for a second and said, “Chance. I’d like to call her Chance because that’s all I could give her”. The rest would be up to her and Taryn. Taryn further explained that she would do her best to raise Chance through the winter and then release her back to her natural habitat in the Spring when she would have the best chance of surviving.

Over the next 6 months or so, Taryn would post videos and stories of how Chance was not only surviving but thriving! She got bigger, stronger and healthier until she got to the point when it was time for her to be released. From Taryn’s correspondence it was obvious that the two had bonded and that letting her go would be very difficult. But she also knew that it was the RIGHT thing to do. Chance was born free and deserved the best life possible. Taryn just posted that the day had come and with mixed feelings let her go to lead the life she was destined for.

Now, this story about an orphaned squirrel might leave my readers thinking what the heck is this doing in an opinion column. Well, it’s in the message.

I could have looked away when I first spotted that little thing. That would have been the easiest thing to do. After all, does the world REALLY need another squirrel? Probably not. There are plenty of them. But that’s not the point. It’s not about a squirrel. It’s all about compassion, doing the right thing at the right time and for the right reasons. Compassion doesn't judge – it ACTS and in a way that often defies logic or reason. In fact, acting this way can come in conflict with our own best self-interests. Yet, there are times that it is an irresistible force.

Unfortunately, we seem to be entering an era where compassion and kindness are being associated with weakness. The MAGA crowd seems hell bent on forcing an agenda where cruelty IS the point. Mass deportations, often of innocent people including sick children, are now expected AND accepted. Due Process has been ignored. Funding has been cut in education, health, the environment, and the arts. The LGBTQ+ community and women’s rights are under constant attack. All under the guise of Making America Great Again.

It's maddening because when we lose our compassion, we also lose our humanity. We resort to “The Lord of the Flies” mentality where only the strong survive. Well, I refuse to accept that. I know that TRUE strength comes from our ability to protect the weak and innocent, i.e. our compassion. And, in the ultimate paradox, I’m willing to fight to keep it that way. THIS is what made America great and will again.

 

CBS PROUD!

 

Words and photo by F LoBuono

We’ re all familiar with the phrase “these hallowed halls” - so much so that I usually file it under the term hackneyed phrases and avoid using it whenever possible. However, there are certain times when it is MOST appropriate. This is one of those times.

As a kid, I never dreamed that I would be working for CBS News in Manhattan. I drove past that enormous monolith of a building that is their headquarters on W57th Street about a million times in my parent’s car on our way from our home in Fort Lee, NJ to visit my grandmother in Brooklyn. But the idea of working there never even crossed my mind.

Until one day about 25 years ago, I did. I completed the last 20 of my 40+ year career in television there as a technician, photographer, and part-time producer/editor.

It’s hard to describe the vastness of that building. It’s over seven stories tall and has at least 3 sub-basements that I know of. And it takes up virtually an entire city block from 11^th to 10^th Avenues. It’s so massive that in the 20 years I worked there, I don’t believe that I saw the entire building. And the amount of information that has passed through those doors over the course of so many years is just staggering.

But it’s more than just a building. It’s a place where the highest standards of journalism have been practiced by some of the greatest journalists of all time. In the tradition of Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, and countless others, CBS New has always set the standard for broadcasting news excellence. Who can forget Murrow’s Good night and good luck sign off? To walk down the long hallway and past the tiny desk where Walter Cronkite announced the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is to experience a legacy of honest, in-depth reporting that changed the world. It’s visceral, one of those “pinch yourself” moments when you realize that you are actually THERE, where it all went down. Look, I was never a big-shot at CBS, I did my job. But when I thought about it, I couldn’t have been more proud to be even a small part of a network with that kind of tradition.

And that has not only been completely reaffirmed; it was AMPLIFIED by this past Sunday's (5/3) edition of 60 Minutes, CBS News’ most powerful magazine style program whose reputation is beyond repute. For more than 50 years, 60 Minutes has been the gold standard in news magazine broadcasting.

First, a little back-story: CBS News under the umbrella of its parent company, Paramount, has been under attack by the Trump Administration, which is suing the company for $10 billion over an allegedly improper interview with then Presidential candidate Kamala Harris. They claim that the clip was edited in her favor and biased against then candidate Trump. I’ve already commented in a previous article on how inane those allegations are, but there it is. And since Paramount needs the Federal Communications Committee (FCC), under President Trump’s control to approve a potential multi-billion dollar sale of the network, the pressure on CBS to comply with the Administration’s demands is intense. It became so excessive in fact, that the VERY experienced and well-respected Executive Producer of 60 Minutes, Bill Owens, resigned in protest over his perceived capitulation of Paramount to the administration’ s demands to limit stories critical of the President. To further complicate the issue, the Administration got wind that 60 Minutes was preparing to air a segment on its abuse of the Rule of Law and the Constitution. They threatened further action against the network should 60 Minutes have the audacity to broadcast the segment. But, few programs, especially in news, have the 50+ year history that they can boast of, speaking truth to power for every single one of those years. To work for them was reserved for only the best – producers, writers, editors, correspondents, photographers, etc. Their reputation, even within CBS itself, is rightfully legendary.

Well, I couldn’t have been more proud then when they figuratively stuck their middle fingers in the face of the President when correspondent Scott Pelley led the broadcast by telling the story of how THIS Administration is flaunting the Rule of Law and that if not addressed soon, our very Democracy might be lost forever. The story, approximately 20 minutes long, showed how through shear intimidation, Mr. Trump has bullied multiple, powerful law firms to bow to his will. Many, but not all. The story featured other constitutional lawyers who would not capitulate and are fighting back with every means possible. It was powerful, inspiring, and the type of reporting that just might save this Country. The Free Press has always led the way. And still must.

Franklin D. Roosevelt once wrote: “Freedom of conscience, of education, of assembly are among the very fundamentals of democracy and all of them would be nullified should freedom of the press every be successfully challenged.”

We MUST not let that happen.  60 Minutes will not let that happen. I will not let that happen. Journalism is NOT dead!

LONG LIVE A FREE PRESS! LONG LIVE AMERICA!

DUE PROCESS

 

Image Created by Phil Sexton, Philzart

Let me make something perfectly clear right now; I am not a lawyer, a scholar of Constitutional Law or any kind of law for that matter. However, I have always had a keen interest in American jurisprudence. And one of the things I found in my research on the subject is how powerful and unique the American justice system is. Our base concept of Innocent Until Proven Guilty was as revolutionary as the creation of the Country itself. And in many ways, it still is with many countries around the world observing the opposite.

It was one Tenet of a justice system that is very much stacked in favor of the accused rather than the accuser. The Founding Fathers had come from a time and place where justice was firmly in the hands of the powerful to the detriment of the normal citizen. So, our laws were written in an effort to prevent this from happening to a new Country and a new world. To achieve this, the framers of our Constitution made sure that these laws were influenced by the ideal that it is better to free 10 guilty men than unjustly punish an innocent one. It’s a moral code that seeks a higher form of justice by preventing the abuse of power. It’s all part of what we call DUE PROCESS, i.e. theoretically, everyone has equal justice under the law. It made the American legal system the envy of the world.

With that in mind, I’m more than outraged by the mass, government sanctioned deportation of undocumented immigrants for incarceration in a prison in a foreign country that can only be described as a hellish gulag. I’M PISSED OFF!

First, I deliberately did not use the term “illegal immigrants” because as we are finding out, despite the Administration’s claims that they are ridding of us solely of vicious gang members from other countries, mistakes have been made!  Using minimally reliable police methods like tattoos and baseball caps to identify individuals as gang members, raids have already collected thousands of individuals for deportation and imprisonment in El Salvador. There is only one problem: the was NO DUE PROCESS. None of these men were given access to lawyers or even had hearings much less a trial where they may have presented evidence of their innocence or even immigration status. No one wants dangerous gang bangers infiltrating our society. But without DUE PROCESS, how do we know that they are ALL criminals?

The most glaring example is the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man, father, and husband to an American citizen who was taken ILLEGALLY by Federal ICE agents and deported to El Salvador. Abrego Garcia had originally entered the Country illegally but had lived in Maryland without incident for years. He also had been given protected status by a federal judge which should have prevented his deportation. Citing his tattoos and photos of him wearing a Chicago Bulls baseball cap as evidence of his gang affiliation and little else, he was taken from his wife and children. He was NOT given any kind of hearing, trial or immediate access to a lawyer. DUE PROCESS is the American system of justice that should be applied to everyone in this Country regardless of their status. Why? Because it’s the RIGHT thing to do. It’s the moral thing to do. It’s the AMERICAN thing to do. It’s what makes us who we are!

When confronted by the actual EVIDENCE that Abrego Garcia had protected status and no known prior convictions for gang activity, the Administration finally admitted that it was a mistake, a so-called clerical error. Even the Supreme Court acknowledged the error not only in judgement but by law and unanimously voted to have the man returned!

So, without ANY of the due process that REALLY makes America great, they sentenced a protected man to die in a hell hole of a prison located in the country from where he fled deadly violence many years ago.  Furthermore, in their efforts to deflect criticism of their acknowledged mistake, the Administration started a campaign to discredit Mr. Abrego Garcia, hoping to find ANY malfeasance on his part. However, even if they DO find something NOW, it’s not the point. The question remains; why are we ignoring our own laws and sending people to prisons in foreign countries without due process?

And I don’t give a shit if people say, “he came here illegally and so what if he was sent back the same way?”  It’s morally repugnant and strikes at the very core of an equitable society.  And just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, Mr. Trump supported by his shameless sycophants, doubled down. Despite the evidence supporting Abrego Garcia, Mr. Trump denied that he had the power to have him returned anyway, He stated this even though just a few weeks ago, Mr. Trump had negotiated the return of the accused sex trafficking Tate brothers who were being held in Romania.  Then, he compounded the whole affair further by saying that “even if I could bring Abrego Garcia home, I wouldn’t.” At the time he was making these statements he was joined by the president of El Salvador whom I won’t give the respect of naming. Dressed like he was about to make time at a Miami nightclub, he and President Trump had a hardy laugh over the situation with both in the end basically smiling, shrugging, and passing the buck. He ain’t comin’ back!

Pathetic.

Still, it got worse. Mr. Trump went on to suggest that “if it proved to be legal”, he would have no issue with sending “hardcore” AMERICAN born criminals to gulags in foreign countries. The very thought of that sends chills up my spine and should to you too. You MUST realize that at this point Trump is well on his way to dictatorship. He is already attempting to control the courts, the congress, the military, the media, and therefore, our freedom. He has even gone so far as to ignore the direct orders from The Supreme Court. His disdain for the rule of law is apparent and appalling.  And it’s just beginning.

 

 

 

 

THE FACES OF DEMOCRACY

 Originally Published in Nyack News and Views

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview four members of the steering committee for Indivisible Rockland, the local chapter of the National Indivisible organization, on my podcast BEING FRANK. Indivisible Rockland defines itself as being “residents of New York’s 17th Congressional District, united in our commitment to defend democracy and oppose any actions that undermine the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. In their efforts to weaken institutions and erode democratic norms, we stand together to ensure that the current administration is held accountable, upholding civil liberties and justice for everyone.”*

Pascale Jean-Giles, Nelcy Garcia De Leon, Tracey Obenauer, and Bill Batson shared an hour with us to describe their mission, message, methods, and tactics for uniting like-minded people in their efforts to resist what they collectively see as an Administration bent on establishing the principals of Project 2025 at the expense of personal freedoms, especially for people of color, immigrants, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Indivisible Rockland, an entirely volunteer organization without a defined budget, has been independently active since 2024 and has already created several successful, highly visible, well-attended events throughout the County. Until a recent fundraiser featuring comedians Michael Ian Black and Pete Dominick, they were entirely privately funded by members of their own committee. Included in the most recent Indivisible actions were a March Across The Cuomo Bridge from Nyack to mid-span to coincide and show solidarity with the 70^th anniversary of The March for Freedom across The Edmund Pettit Bridge in Selma, Alabama that became known as “Bloody Sunday” for the attack on peaceful marchers that day. Additionally, the event at the Four Corners Intersection on Route 59 in Nanuet on April 5th, organized to coincide with the National Day of Protest, drew a crowd estimated to be 1200, a very high number for such a small geographical area.

In addition to the incredible passion and dedication to their cause expressed by every member of our panel, what may have struck me most was how truly AMERICAN they were. It was made up of the type of diversity that really makes us great. Pascale is an African American woman with roots in Haiti.  Nelcy emigrated from the Dominican Republic and is raising her family here. Tracey, a white woman, volunteers 30-40 hours a week to the organization despite her disability. Bill is bi-racial and comes from a family that has made the diverse community of Nyack their home for many generations. In other words, each represents a spoke on the great wheel that keeps America rolling along. All have compelling reasons to resist the vision of America being constructed by the Trump Administration. And they’re willing to dedicate themselves to the cause to change it.

Yet, despite this diversity, they share a common ethos, a mind-set that binds them and everyone I have encountered within this ever-growing organization. And that’s their HUMANITY. Each person shares a vision of an inclusive America where EVERYONE is truly equal under the law with NO EXCEPTIONS. Whereas Mr. Trump seems to follow a punitive approach to governance where cruelty IS the point, Indivisible is determined to follow the principals of nonviolence and compassion as preached and practiced by Dr. Martin Luther King. This may sound like a paradox but we have to find the right way to fight for peace as he once did.

 What will never cease to amaze me is how the benevolent qualities of compassion, equality, and inclusion have been mocked and associated with weakness and failure by the current Trump supporters. As Bill Batson pointed out during our discussion, the exact opposite is true as demonstrated by Dr. King’s successful Civil Rights campaign to create a more equitable America – and world. We become the world we create. If it is created in violence, then we will live in a violent world. However, if we fight to create one where our shared humanity is at its foundation, we can finally live together in peace.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that." MLK
Strength to Love, 1963.

* https://indivisiblerockland.org/about

 

 

 

TODAY'S MOZEN: DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

 

Originally published in Nyack News and Views

On September 17, 1787, during the Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin was reportedly asked by a local woman, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a Republic or a Monarchy?” at which Dr. Franklin replied, “a Republic, if you can keep it.”

The meaning SHOULD be obvious to all Americans. And that is: having and maintaining a Republic is a participatory event. For Democracy to work, it requires the ACTIVE engagement of ALL its citizens, not only to vote but to be involved with issues that affect our Country as a whole. There is a term for that - Democracy in Action. And it was on full display this past Sunday (3/9).

A group of citizens concerned about the direction our current Administration is leading us down came together in South Nyack, NY to express not just concern, but outrage over what so many Americans see as a deliberate attempt to limit the freedom so many have sacrificed so much to win. The date of the event was also steeped in symbolism as it corresponded to the 60^th Anniversary of the infamous “Bloody Sunday” attack on a group of peaceful marchers in Alabama. Mostly blacks but with some whites, they were there to raise awareness of voting rights for ALL. As they attempted to cross The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma on their way to Montgomery, they were viciously and savagely attacked by the police and an angry mob using dogs, nightsticks, and water cannons. Many people, including the legendary John Lewis, were beaten without mercy. Can you image? All because these people were simply demanding their Constitutional right to VOTE! The images that were shown of the attack shocked not only the nation, but the world.

So, on a bitterly cold morning, under the auspices of Indivisible Rockland, a civic organization dedicated to resisting President Trump’s often draconian Executive Orders and beyond, a crowd estimated at 500 concerned citizens assembled peacefully to honor those who marched that day 60 years ago and continued marching despite the violence against them. After assembling at a local church and led by Rabbi Ariel Russo of Congregation Sons of Israel and Pastor Everett Newton of The First Emmanuel Church of Christ, the modern-day Freedom Marchers would travel in an orderly fashion on the SUP (Shared Use Path)to midspan of The Mario Cuomo Bridge, not only commemorate those who survived that fateful day but to continue in the tradition of active participation in our democratic process. There they would unfurl a banner to identify these folks as being from Rockland County, NY and then peacefully return. The relative fitness of the marches seemed not to matter. Some were even in wheelchairs, but they all managed to walk a total of about 5 or 6 miles.

Bill Batson, Indivisible Rockland Organizing Committee Member, summed it up their purpose best when he said, “The ideals enshrined in the stories of Americans like John Lewis who led the first wave of marches over the Edmund Pettus Bridge, are being expunged from the public and private sphere. In the span of one month 60 years of progress has been erased. We need to stop this mean-spirited, discriminatory backlash and reassert the Constitutional guarantees of all Civil Rights era advances.”

For me, perhaps the most poignant moment was when an elderly, but still strong and vital black woman named Cora Parker spoke. She told the crowd that she was a young girl when she was at The Edmund Pettus Bridge on that fateful day with her brothers and sisters. She spoke with tears in her eyes as she recalled first her confusion as to what was happening and then her abject terror when she saw the police savagely beating everyone, including her own brothers. She sought shelter with her sisters in a local church until the violence subsided. But even she was not immune to the violence and still bears the physical scars from the batons and a cattle prod (yes, a CATTLE PROD) that were used to beat her down. You could still see the pain in her eyes. The physical scars may have healed but the mental ones caused by being treated as less-than-human will never go away.

However, in addition to the tears, I saw a resolute rage in her eyes. She was shaking with emotion as she continued to relate her story and promising much as the Jews did after the Holocaust that it must never happen again. WE must make sure that it never happens again. The future is OURS to make. We only fail when we relinquish our humanity and yield to our baser instincts of fear and loathing. And there is HOPE. But remember what Dr. Franklin said, we have our Republic, if we can keep it. I intend to. And if last Sunday was an indication, I am not alone.

EPILOG: Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it. It is only expressing to men feebly your desire that it should prevail. A wise man will not leave the right to the mercy of chance, nor wish it to prevail through the power of the majority.

Henry David Thoreau 

 

Today's MOZEN: REEFER MADNESS

I remember the first time I smelled marijuana. It was 1970 and I was a sophomore at Fort Lee High School. I was on a bus heading to my first big concert at the old Fox Theater in Hackensack, NJ to see Leslie West and his band Mountain. There was a group of slightly older kids in the back of the bus. Hippies, I thought to myself. I’m sure they were heading to the same show. They were laughing and having a great time when suddenly a cloud of smoke wafted my way. When it enveloped me, I took note of the smell: acrid but still sweet. It intrigued me. I kinda’ liked it. And then it hit me – so THIS is what everyone was talking about. It’s marijuana, a.k.a. pot, reefer, smoke, weed, cannabis.

Although I didn’t indulge, and never really did very much in high school, I was intrigued by the whole scene. It was a counterculture way of life that interested me then and still does.  However, since it was 1970 pot was illegal EVERYWHERE. But so was its presence. It just thrived in an underground environment that despite the warnings about smoking the demon weed, was easy to access. I remember one such example:

There was a bodega at 175^th Street and Fort Washington Ave in Upper Manhattan that we called The Stop and Cop. It had a small window at the back of the store that resembled one you used to buy a ticket at the movies – you know, a round whole for speaking through and a slot at the bottom to exchange money for tickets – or in this case, pot. You asked for a nickel or dime bag at which time you slid $5 or $10 through the slot and received a package with the appropriate amount. Since I lived in Fort Lee, my friends and I could either walk across the GWB, take one bus, or if we got lucky, someone had a car and drove us there. See. Easy – stop and cop.

Well, we’ve come a long way baby!

It’s a little-known fact that so-called medicinal marijuana has been legalized in NYS since 2014. But it was the legislation to legalize recreational cannabis in October of 2021 that proved to be the Sea Shift in the way it is sold and consumed. And since 2014, According to Whitney Economics, U.S. adult-use and medical cannabis sales grew $2.6 billion (9.14%) year-over-year, totaling $31.4 billion in 2024. Whitney Economics predicts cannabis to see extreme sales growth over the next few years: 2025: $35.2 billion in sales, growing 12.1% from 2024.

In addition to that massive revenue, the law promised a safer industry through regulation and strict control. It was also an opportunity for local communities to raise significant funds for their municipality’s sales tax. They were given the choice to “opt in” to the program or not. However, once they did allow Cannabis Dispensaries, they could not prevent them from doing business in their towns and villages. But they could pass local resolutions to control where they conducted their business. This opened a potential can of worms. More later.

And that business has exploded! With that have come the many challenges associated with that type of exponential growth, i.e. people bending or breaking the rules. Plus, much of the stigma associated with the use of cannabis remains. Parents with children see dispensaries in the hearts of their towns as having the potential to become dens of iniquity, luring young people to their doors where they will be preyed upon by unsavory drug dealers. Despite little if any data to support that claim, the fear is real for many people.

This very scenario is currently being played out in the Village of Nyack, NY. With a population of about 7000 people, it prides itself on both its artistic heritage and its progressive politics. So, when given the opportunity to “opt-in” to cannabis dispensaries, the village council voted unanimously to do so. Their reasoning was that ANY well run, legitimate business that would bring commerce to the downtown area is welcome. They further added a restriction on having no more than one such business every 2000 feet. Current Mayor Joe Rand who was also at the village helm when the original vote was taken in 2023  still supports the dispensaries. He even envisions a time when based on the layout of the village, that distance restriction may even be eased to accommodate even more, again echoing that “ANY good business is good for Nyack”

Of course, this position was met with significant opposition from both local and regional residents, mostly parents of young and teenaged children, as well as some local businesses. Their concerns are mainly routed in the assumption that any such dispensary would bring unsavory characters into the heart of the village. Then, their greatest fears were realized when a Medical Marijuana Dispensary (with the option to convert to recreational) asked for and was granted permission to open in the old, long vacant Starbucks Coffee near the corner of Broadway and Main Street. They cited the fact that Nyack already HAS a legitimate licensed dispensary, Treehouse Cannabis, that was appropriated located on the edge of town. Plus, there were several other smoke shops within the heart of town that may or may not be selling cannabis illegally.

They created a petition condemning the location of the new shop and garnered nearly 900 signatures. The petition was then presented during a special open session of a town council meeting. The public was also allowed to share their thoughts on the subject. The actual presenters of the petition were given 5 minutes to state their case. Others were allowed to follow up with a 1-minute statement/reply. Despite the time limits, the debate became so passionate that the mayor had to call the meeting to order on more than one occasion. The major complaint was not against the USE of cannabis itself. It was the LOCATION, as the shop would be between a pizzeria and an ice cream shop, obviously places frequented by a lot of kids.

Despite the vocal and visceral reaction of the opposition, Mayor Rand held steadfast to his original position. He also pointed out several points of law, the most important of which were:

1. The shop will be HEAVILY regulated by the State, which includes security measures that will ensure that sales will not go to minors.

2. Smoking marijuana will NOT be tolerated in front of the store.

3. Also, the Village has NO authority to prevent this legitimate, State sanctioned business from operating within the boundaries of Nyack.

The mayor also addressed the petition directly, citing that despite the 800+ signatures, only about 400 of them came directly from Nyack. Therefore, out of a village of about 7000, it did NOT the sentiments of the majority of Nyackers.

In a recent BEING FRANK podcast I hosted Seth and Ricky Marks, co-owners of the afore mentioned Treehouse Cannabis, the family-run, only legally licensed cannabis dispensary in Rockland County. At that time, they expressed that they had NO opposition to another legally operated dispensary within proximity to their own store. In fact, in keeping with their tradition of community cooperation, they echoed the sentiments of Mayor Rand, i.e. good business is good for Nyack – and what is good for Nyack is good for Treehouse. They also dismissed the image of drug-addled, drooling pedophiles lurking in front of their store. They WORK at running a clean, legitimate shop. It’s in EVERYONE’S best interest to run a clean business. It’s up to the Town of Orangetown to shut down any other shop that is conducting illegal marijuana sales.

My thoughts are these: I feel that the location, despite the intense opposition to the contrary, in many ways, is perfect. The fact that IS so visible, right in the heart of town, means that the shop will be in constant view. Again, it will be in THEIR best interest to be good neighbors, to observe the rules, and be sensitive to the needs of the community. Assuming the opposite falls prey to the old image of REFFER MADNESS. Those days are over. The STOP AND COP is finally regulated to a funny anecdote. This way is MUCH better.