Brain Droppings: On Passion

Before you read the body of this entry, take four minutes to view and listen to this clip by going to this website: www.stjepanhauset.com/smooth criminal. It's the duo of Stjepan Hauser and Luka Sulic using their cellos to play Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal with amazing effect. In fact, I found it spectacular! (note: the file is too large to attach here).

OK. Come on back! First, Smooth Criminal is by far my favorite Jackson song (and video). Although I'm not a huge fan of all of his music, whenever I hear that tune, I take the time to listen to the entire song if I can. Second, the skill of the two players is without parallel. It is a marvel to watch them wield their instruments as if they were extensions of their very bodies. With just 2, non-amplified, "classical" instruments, they carry a complex, modern rhythm to dizzying heights. It left me breathless.

But what I noticed most was the passion that each man attacked the melody. And I think that the word attacked is most accurate in this case. Each man's fingers fly over their instruments, producing imaginary sparks in my brain. They caress, squeeze and manhandle them as if they were lovers engaging in rough, but fulfilling sex. Their faces even contort into what my wife calls their fuck faces i.e. what most of us look like at the moment of our most intense passion. How could it, or SHOULD it, be any other way?

In my mind, in order to create the things of the highest art, they must be done with the greatest degree of passion. And when I say "art" I don't mean just things done just with a paint brush and canvas, an instrument, a camera, a pen, or any other object associated with the so-called creative fields. No. I mean life. We have to approach everything worth doing with the same passion exhibited by these two talented young men. Their passion for their work is obvious and it produces obvious results i.e. greatness.

We need to incorporate that emotion into our everyday activities. We must dedicate ourselves to pursuing passion in all of our endeavors. We must be passionate about our families, our friends and lovers, our work, and our LIVES. Imagine how full our day would be if we could instill just some of the energy created by the passion of Messrs. Hauser and Sulic? It would be pretty cool - just like Smooth Criminal.

Special thanks to Bob Krist for turning me on to this special performance.

www.stjepanhauser.com

Brain Droppings: On Rubin "Hurricane" Carter

I caught Rubin "Hurricane" Carter on "Tavis Smiley" the other day, promoting his newest book Eye of the Hurricane: My Path from Darkness To Freedom. Of course, most people know Carter as the former #1 contender for the middle weight crown who in the 60's was accused of murder in Paterson, NJ. He was convicted and, eventually, sentenced to life in prison. He served 19 years in the Clinton Correctional Facility, during which time his cause became internationally known and was even immortalized in a song by Bob Dylan and a film starring Denzel Washington. He continually and steadfastly maintained his innocence, refusing to even wear prison garb or eat prison food during the entire tenure of his incarceration. His plight was picked up by many well known celebrities and athletes like Muhammad Ali who, along with Carter's own efforts from his prison cell, eventually won him his freedom (but, interestingly, not his exoneration).

The first thing I noticed was how small Carter really is. Because of the ferocity of his fighting style, it's easy to overlook the fact that in his prime, Carter weighed around 160 pounds (the middleweight division) and is not very tall. In fact, during the show, "2 shots" of Carter and host Smiley highlighted the discrepancy in size; Smiley towered over Carter.

I was also greatly impressed by what Carter had to say, and HOW he said it. Although his style of speaking bears traces of his time on the streets and in prison, he speaks WELL. His lexicon is excellent and his phrasing concise and on-point. He has an economy of words and, yet, he is not brief. He made his points eloquently and with passion. And he had ENORMOUS insight into not only our Prison system, but our Justice System as well. And, most importantly, he did so with no apparent bitterness. He spoke honestly, intelligently, and with wit and good humor. Considering that this man was brutalized by the system, this is no easy task. He pulled no punches (especially for his feelings on his home state of New Jersey!) when discussing the roles that poverty and race play in our society. Again, he did so without the bitterness one would expect from someone who was exposed to such degradation for most of his life.

It should also be noted that he is not "get out of jail free" crusader. He believes that there are bad people in prison who most definitely belong there. His passion, and now his life, is dedicated to freeing those, who like himself, are suffering the pain and indignity of false imprisonment.

I have always appreciated the stand that Carter took during his own incarceration. He became kind of a folk hero to me (I was in college when most of his story went down). Seeing him now, how focused and POSITIVE he is in his own life, reaffirms what I knew from the beginning: Rubin Carter is a man worthy of our admiration and respect.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Not everyone is convinced of Carter's innocence. Remember, he was conficted in 2 separate trials and was released on procedural issues. He has never been declared innocent. While doing research for this essay, I came upon this website. It provides a compelling argument for Carter's guilt: www.graphicwitness.com/carter

It's very complete and worth taking a look at.

And here's another that lobbies for his innocence. It is also thorough and well researched: www.answers.com/topic/rubin-carter

I would love to here your thoughts on the case! :)

Rubin Carter photo courtesy of Graphic Witness

Social Commentary: Separation, A Healthy Choice

Earlier this week, the Giles County, Virginia School Board held a public meeting to debate the issue of an earlier ruling it had made mandating that all of its schools remove The Ten Commandments from all classrooms. This came after a letter was received by the Board from an organization known as Freedom From Religion. Siting the current interpretation of the Constitution on the matter of "separation of Church and State" (the Constitution makes no direct mention of the separation in that specific way), the letter charged that the Commandments being placed in public classrooms was a violation of that this principle. The letter cited no specific party or complaint for sending the letter. It did also say that the School District could face possible legal action if the Commandments were not removed. The School District complied creating, naturally, an uproar in the community.

Of course, with a subject as emotionally charged and potentially volatile as this one, the meeting was over flowing. I applaud the School Board for scheduling the meeting to involve the community in the decision process and for the many people who attended. The TV News report that I saw, said about a dozen people spoke. I saw short sound bites of 3 or 4 people. All were emotional and all were in favor of returning the Commandments to there original spots in the classrooms. I did not see a single person speak against their return.

As easy as it would be to initially rage against such thinking, perhaps it's better to step back and look at it from a different POV; at least until I start raging again. It is clear to me that under the current interpretation of the Constitution, there are to be NO public displays of ANY religion in any State or Federal institution. ANY display of ANY religion. PERIOD.

However, at the same time, we live in a democracy whose guiding principle is government by the people, for the people. And in this particular community, apparently, the will of the people is to have those Commandments returned.

OK. So where does this leave us? We have two very strong guiding principals directly opposed to one another at work here. Eventually, as is generally well served in our democracy, the Courts will, hopefully, do their job and apply the law as it sees the law.

As for me, I hope that they will side with those of us who are strong believers in the principal of separation of Church and State. Those Commandments need to come down and stay down. There are those of a religious bent who would argue that this country was founded by the grace of a Christian god and, therefore, the Commandments have a natural and rightful place in our everyday lives, including our schools. Some go even further and say that beyond the religious significance, it has a cultural one as well; we were founded by Christians, therefore, it's also part of our heritage. Still others say it just a set of sensible, moral, guiding principles.

Respectfully, I say hogwash! I respect those who are deeply religious. Some of my best friends are. :) I was raised a nice, Italian-Catholic boy. I even went to Catholic grammar school, K-8. Believe me, I've had a lot of religious instruction! But I have rejected that indoctrination. To me, religion is like a beautiful suit that just doesn't fit: I WANT to wear it but I just can't. But why I have rejected formal religion is not relevant to my discussion today. However, the fact that I have is of the most importance here. The implication in this case, as it is in Alabama where the Governor "rejected" all non-Christians, is that if you are not a Christian then you are not really an American. This is why I believe the principal of separation is broader in its application here than majority rule is.

Those in the religious right would have you believe that it was divine inspiration that guided the hand of Thomas Jefferson and the other framers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, making this one nation, under god (which was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in the 1950's, NOT by the Founding Fathers, by the way). But if you read further, you will find that most of these men where adamant about the principal that the State should NEVER dictate a man's spiritual believe and, therefore, had NO place in the daily working of government. Most of them had seen what State sponsored religion and subsequent repression could do to a community. That's why they sought out a New World, free from religious intolerance, particularly from THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT. And, in a sense, it was two way street; one would not impose its will on the other i.e. separate.

Making this a Christian country guided solely by Christian principals is no different than radical Muslims who insist that THEIR religion is their sole guiding principal and, so, impose Sharia Law!

We are The Melting Pot, a bouillabaisse of languages, cultures, ethnicities AND religions. To choose one religion over any other just flies in the face of what America really means; as a concept AND in reality. So, logic dictates that if we can't have one, we should have none.

Worship the god of your choice to your hearts content but, please, keep within the privacy of your own home or other appropriate place, like your church or your synagogue or your temple or your mosque or your ashram or your cave. But , please, keep THEM ALL out of my school.

And on a sad note, yielding to public pressure, the School Board in Giles voted to return the 10 Commandments to their place in the classroom and take their chances in court. America, it's a beautiful thing! KEEP THE FAITH.

photo: F. LoBuono St. Paul's, Minnesota.

Today's Douche of the Day: Robert Bentley

Today's Douche of the Day (DOTD) is Robert Bentley, Republican Governor of Alabama. In a speech delivered at a celebration of Martin Luther King's birthday, Bentley, also a Baptist minister and a devote Christian, stated that "anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I'm telling you, you're not my brother and you're not my sister . . . ".

WTF? He's the FREAKIN' GOVERNOR!!!! I suppose that statement is OK in Alabama and the deep South because the only people who actually live there are, obviously, devote Christians! What about Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Trappists, Wiccans, and, of course, atheists? I guess in Bentley's world they simply don't count!!

I've spent a fair amount of time bashing religious extremists, particularly radical Muslims. Well, I detest religious FANATICS of ALL KINDS. Narrow minded, limited thinking like that exhibited by Governor Bentley is reprehensible in all people, but it is particularly so in an ELECTED OFFICIAL. In case he has forgotten, he has taken a solemn OATH to represent ALL the people of his state. No matter what he says from here on, he can NEVER again be taken seriously as a true representative of his state. SHAME on him and the people of Alabama for electing him and excepting this NONSENSE. If they have any courage at all, they will call for his HEAD. But I'm sure that they won't, because they think just like him: SMALL.

So, for his outrageously narrow minded statement, congratulations Gov. Robert Bentley of Alabama on being named today's DOTD!!

photo: Alabama's governor's office

Social Commentary: More Guns

I don't want to go off half cocked and be accused of being a flash in the pan blogger by spreading misinformation about the gun culture in this country.

Did you notice the bold faced words in my introduction? They are colloquial phrases commonly used in American English. They are also words gleaned from our obsession with guns. Half cocked refers to the "safety" position (half-way back) on a gun's hammer (full cocked means in the ready firing position). You are NOT ready to fire the weapon when it is half cocked. Flash in the pan refers to the burning of gunpowder in a black powder weapon's firing mechanism (or pan). When the powder in the pan flashes but does not ignite the main powder charge, the weapon will not discharge.

So the idea of guns is ingrained in our everyday speech, in our everyday lives. How do we find a way to reach people whose very essence is colored by such thinking? Even today, 9 days after ANOTHER gun related tragedy, we cannot find common ground on the issue of guns and gun control. The rhetoric has not abated. Rather, it has accelerated. Even today, as we celebrate the birth of a great man of NON VIOLENCE, Dr. Martin Luther King (MURDERED by a GUN), those who support gun culture have dug their heals in even more, calling not for more gun regulation, but, rather for LESS.

Florida has just proposed a new law that would allow it to join forty other states in permitting people to carry weapons openly. On Glenn Beck's website he decried violence right next to his image holding a semi-automatic hand gun!!!!! Sarah Palin continues to miss the point and dig herself a deeper hole by playing the victim's role. Poor Sarah, the press is vilifying her for her stance on guns, hunting, weapons, and life in general. Apparently, it's OK for Palin to use incendiary rhetoric but it if it used against her, she is a victim. DUH!!

And blah, blah, blah, blah . . .

Look, this terrible act was perpertrated by a very sick, young man. I don't know what ultimately motivated him and we may never really know. And I'm NOT saying that the recent inflammitory political rhetoric was the cause. I don't know if he leaned left or right. To me, ultimately, that's not the point. The point is that too many of us are in LOVE with GUNS and VIOLENCE. It is pervasive in our society: from commericals, to films, to TV, to video games, to our very LANGUAGE.

I am not necessarily against the 2nd Ammendment. It is a right worthy of debate. It must be interpreted in the light of the 21st century and what it means to and FOR our society TODAY. But we need to use this incident to STOP our fascination with guns and violence. We need to put the guns down, at least to take a breath, examine where we are as a society, and TRY to move forward TOGETHER.

Today's Douche of the Day: Sarah Palin

Today's Douche of the Day (DOTD) is a no-brainer (nod, nod, wink, wink), Sarah Palin. Like Glenn Beck, Palin is an easy choice and is definitely in the running for Douche of the Year. She was chosen today her fiery, borderline violent, rhetoric in the days before and after the killings in Tuscon AND for her plans to deliver the keynote speech at the Safari Club International 2011 Convention Jan. 26-29 in Reno Nevada. Safari Club International describes itself as "the Leader in Protecting the Freedom to Hunt and Promoting Wildlife Worldwide".

Palin is typical of people who live within the so-called gun culture that is so pervasive and divisive in our society today. Don't you dare get between them and their guns! They continue to site the 2nd Amendment (the "right to bare arms") in defense of their position. In fact, it is said that Palin intends to address this issue during her keynote speech at the Safari Club. This is a very involved topic that I do not intend to address in any great detail here.

What I'd rather discuss is her position on hunting. As with ALL hunters, Palin insists that responsible hunters (she claims MOST hunters) practice good, safe hunting techniques that only aid wildlife and conservation. She also says that hunting is part of the fabric of, not only American life, but human life. This may be the case but it doesn't address the central issue: is hunting, as it is practiced today, truly effective, responsible, and sustainable. I say NO! It is not natural or sustainable.

As a biology student in college, I did a great deal of study in the field of evolution. A strong tenant of evolution is natural selection. Another, simple and direct way of describing natural selection is survival of the fittest or "the law of the jungle". What this means within the truly natural world is this: predators (i.e. hunters) seek out the weakest in the herd for their prey. This accomplishes two things. First, the predators insure themselves a greater chance of a successful kill. Second, it benefits the entire herd by culling out the weaker animals so that only the strongest genes survive to breed, insuring the best gene pool and healthiest animals possible. THIS IS NATURE'S WAY.

But it is not the human predators' (i.e. hunters) way. When have you ever heard of a hunter who passed up a trophy buck to take a smaller, weaker animal? NEVER! When have you ever seen a hunting program on TV where the guide says, "oh, there's a weak animal, take that one"? NEVER! Even if a human hunter hunts for sustenance, he always takes the larger, healthier animal.

And we haven't even discussed the tremendous advances made in weapons, high-powered scopes, and other, modern hunting technologies that allow hunters to take strong, healthy animals from great distances. Some will say, "what about bow hunting"? Well, have you seen a modern, compound bow?! No, them critters have NO chance with today's firepower.

So, Palin will blab on about her rights as an American, how hunting is natural and American and that "guns don't kill people, people kill people". And she'll be sweet and sassy, like she always is. And the sell-out crowd will cheer and gush as they always do. And she'll pull the wool over their eyes like she always does.

So, congratulations to Sarah Palin for being named today's DOTD! It won't be the last time! :)

Social Commentary: Guns

When I was kid growing up in Fort Lee, N.J., my father decided on switching careers. He and his brother had inherited a deli/grocery when their father died many years before I was born. Both had toiled long enough at a dying business with back breaking hours. The decided to sell the store. My uncle stayed connected to the business, buying a Thuman's Meat route and making an excellent living for the rest of his life. My father, in a sense, re-invented himself. Now in his 40's, he had decided to take the Civil Service test and become a law enforcement officer. He passed with flying colors. Even though my father had been deprived of pursuing his education by circumstances beyond his control (oh, things like the Depression, his father's early death, and WWII to name a few!), he had a quick, curious mind, was an avid reader, and, most importantly, had a genuine thirst for knowledge. I'd can only hope that I've inherited those same traits. Anyway, it should have been no surprise that he did well. He joined the Bergen County Sheriff's Department as an officer where he served until his retirement. I'm thinking that I must have been 8-10 years old at the time.

He took his new position very seriously. He taught us to that anything worth doing was ALWAYS worth doing well. And he lived that. As part of his duties, he would be required to wear a hand gun and be proficient in its use. He had served for 4 years in the military during WWII and had seen his share of combat. So, he already knew how to handle a weapon AND the responsibility associated with that duty. To familiarize himself with his service revolver and become an expert in its use, he would practice with it in front of his bedroom mirror. He would take aim in the mirror, target style, not combat, cock the hammer, squeeze the trigger and "click", discharge the weapon. He would do it over and over again. I would here him from my room; "click", pause, "click" pause, "click". It would eventually drive my mother nuts and she would yell out, "Joe, that's enough". Just like a mischievous child, he would squeeze off one or two more before stopping for good.

He never hid his weapons from us. Rather, he took the mystique out of them by teaching us how they worked, how they should be handled and, most significantly, the responsibility associated with even TOUCHING one. A healthy respect, boarding on fear, was instilled in us for what a gun was FOR and what it could DO. We NEVER took even the presence of a hand gun lightly.

As part of his training, he would join other law enforcement officers at the shooting range in Lodi, N.J. on Saturday afternoons. It was located, as Bruce Springsteen might say, "somewhere in the swamps of Jersey". I remember it well because my father often brought me with him. In addition to the target practice, it was a social affair with lots of hot dogs, beers, and bullets. And I remember partaking in all three - although the beer was just a taste - for the overall experience! It made me feel like one of them and it was great.

It should be noted here that my father was no "hard ass" cop or gun "worshipper". In fact, he was one of the most fair minded and gentle people I have ever known. Still. Like his approach to most things, he felt that knowledge was the key. People had to make strong decisions based on solid thinking. And they needed to understand the consequences of their actions. Of course, he applied this to guns. But he also applied it to practical, everyday things, too. The first thing he told me when he gave me my first driving lesson was, "Frankie, a car is a weapon. It can kill. So driving must be approached with the utmost seriousness and respect." I still use that line whenever I teach someone how to drive!

Ultimately, the point that I'm trying to make is that people have to understand the VERY NATURE of what guns ARE and the PURPOSE they serve. This was always made very clear to me: guns are made to kill. That is why the slogan, "guns don't kill people, people kill people" trivializes a deadly serious situation. There is in this country a gun culture that uses that mindset to advance its agenda i.e. "people are bad, but guns aren't". Well, folks, who do you think use guns? Gerbils?! When bad people get their hands on a gun, terrible things are bound to happen. This weekend in Arizona is just the latest example of what can happen when a deranged person gets their hands on a weapon.

People immersed in gun culture usually respond by saying that if one of the victims was also armed, the tragedy might have been avoided or at least mitigated. Oh, BULLSHIT! Bullets would have been flying everywhere and more would have been killed. A better response would be that the assassin should not have had access to that gun in the first place!!

No. More people with more guns is not the answer. The culture that accepts gun violence as part of its daily existence is doomed to lose it's children to that very violence. It's a beast that will consume itself. Gun violence in Black, inner-city communities is epidemic. Guns in school have become a common occurrence. People solving their difference though the use of guns and violence is all over TV and films. Now, politicians regularly suggest using violence against their opponents. None other than that master of punditry, Glenn Beck, regularly suggests the use of violence to deal with his foes. Music videos, rap songs, commercials, video games, all trivialize and glorify the use of GUNS and VIOLENCE. It's no wonder that the Europeans, who learned from the carnage of WWII and have largely rejected gun violence, often look at our culture and shudder. No folks, guns don't kill people, but sick minded people who have access to them do!

I don't dismiss gun owners or enthusiasts. I still own my father's which I inherited after his death. And I appreciate them for their role in history and, sometimes, even for their artistic beauty. However, the issue is the culture that worships guns without restraint, without stressing the responsibility and, therefore, the consequences of owning one. Sure, good, solid citizens are responsible gun owners. But what do we do with the ones who are not? Do we arm everybody? My mom's 87. Does she get one? Come on, now. We all know that's not possible. We have to put the damn guns down. Everyone. Lock them away and get back to talking to one another before it's too late.

PS: By the way, my father's weapons are locked in metal safe, where they will remain. Even though I am still fascinated by them, and it would be a way for me to connect with my father's memory, they will stay unused. It's may way of putting guns and the violence associated with them aside.

Social Commentary: On Islam - Follow Up

In an op-ed article to this Sunday's New York Times (1/9/11), Shehrbano Tasser, the son of assassinated Pakistani Governor, Salmann Taseer had this to say:

"There are those who say my father's death was the final nail in the coffin for a tolerant Pakistan. That Pakistan's liberal voices will now be silenced. But we buried a heroic man, not the courage he inspired in others . . .

My father believed in our country's potential. He lived and died for Pakistan. To honor his memory, those who share that belief in Pakistan's future must not stay silent about injustice. We must never be afraid of our enemies. We must never let them win."

Beautiful, beautiful. Perhaps, there is hope.

photo: F LoBuono, Istanbul

Pic of the Day

Three of my favorite things: dog, bike, summer.

PS: I have more favorites too :) - for another day!!

Living in a Winter Wonderland

The Winter Wonderland that is my back yard. The only problem is that I drive in the opposite direction - towards NYC. Not so wondrous! :)

Slogan of the Day for 1/6/11

The world is extending its hand to Islam and, according to Sharia Law, it will be promptly chopped off.

Brain Droppings: Fun News of the Day.

As reported by various N.Y. media outlets, health officials are warning that hundreds of people at a Massapequa, Long Island Catholic Church may have been exposed to hepatitis A during the receiving of communion at the church's Christmas day mass. Although rarely fatal, hepatitis A can cause nausea, vomiting, black urine, and other tasteful symptoms.

Of course, this once again proves my theory that organized religion may be hazardous to your health!

It was also been reported that former V.P. Dick Chaney's recent heart procedures are in an effort to prepare him for an eventual heart transplant. If this is indeed the case, then it will be the first time that he has actually had one - a heart that is. :)

photo F LoBuono of Rex, the Wonder Dog

Social Commentary: On Islam

1/3/11

On Islam

First let me qualify: I am NOT a religious scholar. In fact, I am not a scholar at all. So, what follows is not meant to be seen as a definitive study on comparative religion. I will not use quotations from the Bible or the Koran or the Torah, or the Bahgavad Ghita. No. It is written to ask penetrating questions in an effort to gain meaningful answers.

The article appeared in Saturday’s (1/1/11) N.Y. Times. Written by Salman Masood, here’s the first paragraph:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - - A crippling strike by Islamist parties brought Pakistan to a stand-still on Friday as thousands took to the streets, and forced businesses to close, to head off any change in the country’s blasphemy law, which rights groups say has been used to persecute minorities, especially Christians.

The article goes on to explain that the law calls for the death penalty for anyone convicted of insulting Islam. It also used an example of the law’s implementation by citing the case of a 45 year-old mother of five and a Christian, who was sentenced to death after being accused of blasphemy by Muslim co-workers for touching their water bowl.

Really? Blasphemy? Death? For touching a water bowl? Ah, here then is my question: why does Islam seem so obsessed with death?! I say this with all respect (I don’t want to insult ANYONE) and with good faith in the pursuit of true understanding.

Again, I must qualify that I have not read a single line directly from the Koran. But this may not be a liability in this case. In a sense, it leaves my original question, “why does Islam seen so obsessed with death” as a truly searching and open one. I have no preconceived notion from what I may have read in it. I welcome the opportunity for others, far more scholarly, to educate me.

Even without detailed study of Islam, we see the results of so-called radical Islam displayed in the most violent way on almost a daily basis. On almost every corner of the planet we can site examples of extreme violence executed in the name of Islam. Sure, other religious extremists are guilty of equally heinous crimes, but not nearly with the frequency or ferocity of those executed by Muslims. In addition to the story mentioned above, I recently read of the stoning to death of a 13 year-old Muslim girl who had the audacity to accuse the men who raped her. Deadly riots occurred when a Danish newspaper published cartoons Muslims considered offensive. And there are many other examples. Every day we read of suicide bombers in many Muslim countries. Again, I ask why? Is there a distinct passage that says kill all who disagree with you, who insult you, who don’t believe as you? Does life come so cheaply for Muslims? Is it a philosophy culled from the over-all message of the text?

There seems to be some strange obsession with death. And I don’t see a celebration of life. I see 47 (or 87 or 105, whatever the number) blue-eyed virgins waiting in heaven for Muslim martyrs. Of course, this helps to encourage young men (and now women) to take their own lives and countless other innocent peoples’ as suicide bombers. Still more death. I see women maimed and often murdered in so-called Muslim honor killings. I see poor, ignorant young men used as murderous foils for more educated Muslims who promise their families a better life here and them a glorious afterlife as a martyr. Even a fatwa (a Muslim “hit” put on one by religious decree) might be issued against me for even writing this article! DEATH. DEATH. DEATH. WHY? WHY? WHY?

I understand the political climate in many Muslim nations. It is one that has promoted misunderstanding, fear, ignorance and poverty. One can understand the anger that has precipitated much of the violence. What I don’t understand is this seeming worship of violence. I know of no other religion or culture that exports this brand of “deadliness is next to godliness” philosophy.

Look. I tease people and call myself a heathen. I spent 9 years (including kindergarten) in a Parochial school. I am well versed in traditional religious dogma. I’m sure that my experiences there were a large part of the reason that I rejected formal religion. But that does not mean that I do not have a deep sense of spirituality and a strong conviction to lead a moral/ethical life. I also celebrate LIFE for the miracle that it is. Everyday. I feel sorry for people who don’t see GOD in each and every human being, in life itself. We are the holy ones. Therefore, taking a life is like killing god himself.

Is this blasphemous? I hope not. It is certainly not to me. I would hope that there are many of my Muslim brothers who feel the same way. Perhaps they will be the ones to explain to me why the others are so obsessed with death. It’s one of the things that I would like to come understand in my LIFE.

Amended 1/5/11

It was reported in today's NY Times that Salman Taseer, the prominent Governor of Punjab Province in Pakistan, was assassinated by one of the elite guards charged with protecting him. The Governor was a liberal secularist who was very vocal in his opposition to religious parties and the extremism they spread. He recently began a campaign to repeal Pakistan's contentious blasphemy laws. He was shot multiple times in the chest by the guard, Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, as he entered his car. Qadri surrendered immediately and was quoted as saying upon his capture, "I am a slave of the Prophet, and the punishment for one who commits blasphemy is death".

Is there really any way out of this? Must it be us or them? How can we possibly make them understand - "death be not proud, for death, thou shalt die"! Need we take up the mantle of the Templar's? Until moderate Muslims (I'm beginning to wonder if they really DO exist) step forward and re-take control of their religion, unfortunately, the future looks bleak :(

MORE . . .

Fareed Zakaria, CNN political analyst, host, author and an expert on Middle Eastern affairs had this to say on the assassination of Taseer: "trends in Pakistan are not getting better, not politically, not religiously, not economically. They're all heading in the wrong direction".

Virtually none of Taseer's supporters attended his funeral. And the public silence surrounding his murder has been deafening. Once again, through extreme violence, the forces of Islam have effectively silenced the voices of reason. Religious thugs are still firmly in control, using fear and intimidation to reach their goal; total domination of their own people. Nice faith.

As aptly said in the comment section below, Islam is holding Pakistan captive. They are stuck in a world that hasn't changed in over 1000 years. And, as it is now, it will not change in 1000 more. The world is holding its hand out to Islam and, according to sharia law, it will be promptly chopped off. It's more than sad, it's tragic.

Thank you all. I have my answer about Islam: Thanks, but NO THANKS!!!!!

photo: F LoBuono The Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Brain Droppings: On New Years Eve

It's been the same way for the last few years. With the exception for the year I was away covering the Iowa Caucus, I have drawn the New Years Eve assignment from Times Square. And every year I have the same feeling about it: ambivalence. I hate it because it's hard. You spend 10-12 hours continuously outside on what can be a brutally cold day. The crowds are so enormous and the security so tight (there has to be at least 3,000 uniformed cops on duty!) that it can make even getting to the location the most difficult chore of the day. Even with my half dozen press credentials, including one specifically issued for the event, the police delay me at the entrance - just to make sure everything is in order (I suppose that in light of recent events, this is indeed a good thing!). There is little quality food to be had. Of course, if you are into pizza and Mickey D's you can participate in fine al fresco dining (I am not). And the story itself offers little, new insight into the New Year. In fact, we tease that we should show up, do little, and show last year's story. After all, no one will notice the difference! :)

But I love it too. First, once I do get past security, I have one of the best seats in the house! I'm right in the center of the action on the main stage, right next to Anderson and Kathy. I'm only about 20 feet from where the acts perform (another good thing-bad thing; good for viewing, bad for listening. My ears are still ringing from being so close to the amplifiers). I'm also perfectly positioned to view the ball drop at the stoke of midnight. Plus, I am not restricted in my movements.

However, there is more to it than just a perfect viewing location. There is the event itself. Where else, and when, can you see over a million strangers, penned together, shoulder to shoulder, for hours on end, in the freezing cold, WITHOUT major incident? Well, ONLY in NYC on New Years Eve! Some people arrive as early as 7 in the morning. Most, though, start arriving about 4 or 5 in the evening at which time they are gently herded into the "cattle pens" where they will have to stay for THE ENTIRE NIGHT. Once you are in, you are not allowed out - for ANY reason (including the use of a bathroom). The pens, with the exception of emergency passage lanes for fire and ambulance, stretch across 7th Avenue and Broadway from about 40th St. all the way to Central Park (59th St.).

So, one might ask, "why put up with all of that"? Well, just seeing that many people in one spot at one time is, in itself, an awesome experience. And being part of the collective energy of one million people, all waiting for the same moment to arrive is nothing short of exhilarating. The excitement builds throughout the night, culminating in 10 of the most anticipated seconds of the year. When the big moment finally arrives, the crowds participate in an orgy of kissing, screaming, laughing, hugging, singing, and general good feeling. In the interviews that we conduct, asking people why they do it, the most common answer is, "for the energy and the people. It's so exciting and the people you meet along the way are just great". It is a sight to behold. And, as I said previously, all of this occurs without incident. In fact, in all of the years that I've been covering this event, I've NEVER seen anyone arrested or even detained. Spectacular.

As a New Yawker, I feel compelled to say that this could only happen here. L.A.? Too narcissistic. Chicago? Too small. Miami? Too vain. Only in NYC could you stage the largest party in the WORLD for the WORLD. Times Square on New Years Eve is truly the center of the UNIVERSE. And one has to be there, at least once in their lifetime to experience and, therefore, understand that.

In closing, I have to say, that like Mardi Gras, I'm not sure that anyone really needs to do it more than once - as much fun as it is, it is still a BIG challenge to be there. If I didn't HAVE to be there and get the great access that I do, I'm not sure that I would again. However, if you have a "bucket list", I might consider adding this to it. It's one of things that has to experienced "live" to be truly felt and understood.