When You Think About It: What is Courage?

Words and photo by F LoBuono

We have to use qualifying words like the most recent when referring to terror attacks. There have been so many already with, maddeningly, more to come. Istanbul is just the latest. See what I mean? Be that as it may, we are left to deal with the consequences.

Of course, our initial reaction is shock, followed by grief, outrage, and then anger. I'm sure some psychologist out there can give us the "clinical stages list", should there be one. What I know is that it is reasonable to feel ALL of those emotions. What is not is to focus our rage on an entire group of billions of people for a select mob of troglodytes masquerading as religious zealots!

While pondering all of this, I came to the conclusion that I am changing - evolving, if you will. As a young man, I wanted to be as macho as possible. Virtually all of my adult role models were mens-men. I admired the Vikings, the Romans and all the great warrior cults and cultures. One of my favorite movies as a boy was "The 300 Hundred Spartans"! But, over the years, from reading, researching, and experience, I am coming to a different point of view. It began with a series of questions:

Where does REAL courage TRULY lie? Is it the man with the spear? Or, is it the man at the tip of the spear who refuses to yield to it?

I think I found my answer when I say the photo of the legendary Tank Man, i.e. the Chinese man who faced down a column of tanks in Tienneman Square - with no more than a briefcase in his hands! THIS is REAL courage.

It made me think more deeply about the lives of The Buddha and The Christ. The story of Jesus, in particular, I believe, has particular relevance here. And, make let me make this perfectly clear - this is NOT and endorsement of Christianity or ANY OTHER religion. Rather, it is about THE MESSAGE associated with his acts.

If you will allow me, I would like to use a fictitious conversation between Jesus and his disciples. For convenience, I will use modern parlance.

Disciples (D): So, Jesus, you preach this "non-violence, love-they-neighbor thing". What's that all about?

Jesus (J): Guys, there is a better way than slaughtering each other on a daily basis.

D: Yeah, that's easy to say. It's much harder to do when you can get crucified for it!

J: That's true. But, I will put my money where my mouth is: I'll let the Romans crucify me!

D: Holy shit! No!

J: Yes, I will. I will die the most gruesome death to prove to you that only love can conquer hate. They may kill me but they can NEVER kill the TRUTH behind THE WORD.

And, we know the outcome - Jesus did suffer and die. But, THE WORD has not. It has lasted 2,000 years and shows no sign of abating. And, remember, THE WORD is LOVE.

On a final note, I'm not saying that we can allow ourselves to be murdered. What I am saying is, take a deep breath, see it for the evil it is, and, KNOW that it can, and will be, overcome - by LOVE.

When You Think About It: What is Courage?

Words and photo by F LoBuono

We have to use qualifying words like the most recent when referring to terror attacks. There have been so many already with, maddeningly, more to come. Istanbul is just the latest. See what I mean? Be that as it may, we are left to deal with the consequences.

Of course, our initial reaction is shock, followed by grief, outrage, and then anger. I'm sure some psychologist out there can give us the "clinical stages list", should there be one. What I know is that it is reasonable to feel ALL of those emotions. What is not is to focus our rage on an entire group of billions of people for a select mob of troglodytes mascarading as religious zealots!

While pondering all of this, I came to the conclusion that I am changing - evolving, if you will. As a young man, I wanted to be as macho as possible. Virtually all of my adult role models were mens-men. I admired the Vikings, the Romans and all the great warrior cults and cultures. One of my favorite movies as a boy was "The 300 Hundred Spartans"! But, over the years, from reading, researching, and experience, I am coming to a different point of view. It began with a series of questions:

Where does REAL courage TRULY lie? Is it the man with the spear? Or, is it the man at the tip of the spear who refuses to yield to it?

I think I found my answer when I say the photo of the legendary Tank Man, i.e. the Chinese man who faced down a column of tanks in Tienneman Square - with no more than a briefcase in his hands! THIS is REAL courage.

It made me think more deeply about the lives of The Buddha and The Christ. The story of Jesus, in particular, I believe, has particular relevance here. And, make let me make this perfectly clear - this is NOT and endorsement of Christianity or ANY OTHER religion. Rather, it is about THE MESSAGE associated with his acts.

If you will allow me, I would like to use a fictitious conversation between Jesus and his disciples. For convenience, I will use modern parlance.

Disciples (D): So, Jesus, you preach this "non-violence, love-they-neighbor thing". What's that all about?

Jesus (J): Guys, there is a better way than slaughtering each other on a daily basis.

D: Yeah, that's easy to say. It's much harder to do when you can get crucified for it!

J: That's true. But, I will put my money where my mouth is: I'll let the Romans crucify me!

D: Holy shit! No!

J: Yes, I will. I will die the most gruesome death to prove to you that only love can conquer hate. They may kill me but they can NEVER kill the TRUTH behind THE WORD.

And, we know the outcome - Jesus did suffer and die. But, THE WORD has not. It has lasted 2,000 years and shows no sign of abating. And, remember, THE WORD is LOVE.

On a final note, I'm not saying that we can allow ourselves to be murdered. What I am saying is, take a deep breath, see it for the evil it is, and, KNOW that it can, and will be, overcome - by LOVE.

Today's MOZEN: The Power of the Vote

                                             

F LoBuono

VOTE. VOTE. VOTE. VOTE. VOTE. 

Many of my friends have expressed their dissatisfaction with the electoral process. They often complain that their one, little vote means NOTHING - EVERY candidate is worthless - the system is fucked - what difference could they possibly make, etc., etc..

REALLY??????

Let me give you some statistics from the recent Brexit vote in Great Britain that will completely dispel that way of thinking. As you may recall, in a very close vote, Brits decided to sever ties with the European Union. Most prognosticators predicated a win for the pro-Union side. But, when the final votes were tallied, England was out.

The reaction was immediate and visceral. Pro-Union sympathizers were shocked and outraged! Most of them young people, they screamed that their future had been mortgaged. And, they just might be right. The ramifications most certainly will be felt for years to come.

So, how did it happen?

Simple - young people made a lot of noise about staying in the EU but did not translate their passion into action. They simply DID NOT VOTE in sufficient numbers! And, this seems to be a classic scenario: those whose futures are most affected by these actions seldom use the simple power of numbers. And, it happens all of the time.

Here are the key age demographics and the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast ballots in Great Britain:

Ages 18-24         36%
Ages 55-64         81%
Ages 65+            83%

These numbers are as shocking as they are extraordinary. The simple breakdown is this: the OLDEST voters in England, the ones with the least amount of time to live under the new rules, voted at a rate nearly TWO TIMES GREATER than those under 25 - the ones with the longest commitment.

It's SO obvious where REAL power lies - in THE VOTE! The numbers do not lie. If the young people in Britain would have put their money where their mouths were, they simply could have not been defeated.

And, it happens over and over again.

In the United States, Senator Bernie Sanders has received a ground swell of support from young people. They attend his rallies in record numbers. They are loud and proud. However, once again, this youthful enthusiasm has failed to translate into votes. Sanders trails his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, in almost every category, included delegates and the popular vote.

They scream FOUL - the system is rigged - Hillary bought the election. Personally, I DON'T know if these accusations are true. They MAY be. But, what I DO know is that if ALL the young people supported Bernie with an actual VOTE, the landslide could not be ignored or overthrown.

So, the next time a friend says that their vote is useless. Tell them they are correct - it IS - unless the wield it!!

BRAIN DROPPINGS - Incongruity

F LoBuono

Those who know me personally, I think, would tend to concur with this bit of self-analysis: I am almost completely ON until I am completely OFF. I have a hard time sitting still. One part or another is almost always on the move. I talk fast. I walk fast. And, I think fast. My pace can be maddening. Then, mostly while sitting on my sofa watching "South Park" or the Yankees, I will simply be gone - as in OFF - as in sound asleep - for a few hours anyway. One minute I'm here. The next minute I'm not. Just like that. I'm at rest - for a bit. I RARELY sleep more than four hours in a single stretch. Then things start rattling around in my head, I thrash about for a bit, nearly strangle myself with my sheets, get up, and start the cycle all over again.

Now, you know why I'm so hard to live with (among a myriad of other personality defects).

So, it should come as no surprise that a lot of my writing can come to me at odd hours, day or night. I'm a bit old fashioned so I actually keep a note pad nearby to scribble some of my brain ramblings down. Many of them become posts to this blog.

Here are the latest:

I wonder if the same people who support Donald Trump because they feel disenfranchised and ignored by their government are the same ones who ABHORRED the Occupy Wall St. movement? Here is the disconnect that I don't get; Trump is OBVIOUSLY a member of the so-called 1%, i.e. those of overwhelming wealth that control almost everything in the world - The Occupy nemisis. Virtually every word out of Trump's mouth is about lining his pockets with YOUR hard earned $$$. He flaunts his wealth in the most garish ways at every turn. So, how in the world is Donald Trump going to be ON YOUR SIDE??? It just doesn't make any sense.

Great Britain just voted to leave to leave the EU (Brexit), siting National identity, economic viability, and border control over immigration as their reasons. Sound familiar? It's the same rhetoric as Trump - Xenophobia and isolationism rules - eat the rich - except for him. So, reconcile me this: from my understanding, most of the people who voted to leave the EU are also in favor of The Monarchy. On one hand the people are rebelling against the "liberal elite" while at the same time showering a single family with riches beyond their wildest dreams - simply because it's "The English Way".

It simply makes NO SENSE.

Today's MOZEN: The Imperfect vs. The Insane

F LoBuono

While perusing Facebook this afternoon, I came across this gem. It perfectly sums up my feelings about the coming election and the two presumptive candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump:

When the choice is between the imperfect and the insane, I'm voting for imperfect.
Joan McAllister

Guess which one is which.

That is all.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: HST

F LoBuono

Woody Creek,Co.
November 1963

"I have become like a psychotic Sphinx -
I want to kill because I can't talk".

Hunter S. Thompson

Today's MOZEN: Brexit - Schmexit.

F LoBuono

The British people have spoken.

And, this is what they said:

FEAR and LOATHING is our way.

XENOPHOBIA wins the day.

IGNORANCE rules.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

The will of the people must be respected.

Even to their shame . . .

Today's MOZEN: Life and Death on a Rooftop

F LoBuono

Because we live in, arguably, the greatest megalopolis in the world, our pace tends to be frenetic at best and maddening at worst. Most of us rarely take a moment to witness the constant pageant of life - and death - that surrounds us on a daily basis.

Of course, when a situation like the illness or death of a loved one or friend directly effects us we are completely attuned to the details. But, the rest of the time we are too busy going about our hurley-burly lives to notice much else.

And, that my friends, is truly unfortunate.

However, once in a while, if we trust our senses and open our eyes, hearts, and minds, you just might notice something extraordinary.

It happened to me today.

I was feeling a little down and overwhelmed. I'm usually more "up" than "down" but, that does not mean I'm a happy idiot. Quite to the contrary, I can, just like about everyone else, get pretty dark. So, I decided to visit with a friend in town who tends to be like-minded and, therefore, understands my moods. After a few minutes at his apartment, he suggested we go to his roof to take in the sites and get out into the open. We climbed the ladder and entered a new world. The 360 degree panorama of the Village of Nyack, the Tappen Zee, and Hook Mountain were nothing short of spectacular. As usual, our conversation was deep and varied. We share so much spiritually it is easy to be completely honest.

As is my passion, while we were talking, I made a few photos. Suddenly, and for not direct reason, my attention was drawn to a rapid movement in the sky. I actually felt her presence before I even saw her. It was Peregrine falcon with a fresh kill. I knew it. I've written about it before on this blog. I have always felt that birds of prey are one of my Familiars, i.e. animals that act as my spirit guides. They seem to appear when I need them most. This power can manifest itself in strange ways. For example, even when driving my car, my friends are amazed that, seemingly without warning, I'll say, "look there - it's a hawk", or some other bird of prey. And, sure enough, one will fly over the car.

Today was no exception. She caught my eye immediately.

And, what a privilege it was for her to allow us into her world. Fierce and beautiful at the same time, she was magnificently marked with large, dark eyes that act like binoculars when spotting prey. Shaped like a missile, her very presence screamed SPEED. It is no accident that they are the fastest animals in the world with a top diving speed of over 200 MPH. In fact,they have been clocked at speeds of nearly 250 MPH! That poor bird that she took never knew what hit her. Ironically, she roosted on a TV antenna to devour her meal.

My friend and I marveled at this magnificent animal while, at the same time, lamenting that another animal had to die so that this one might live. But, this IS the lesson. We are not to interfere OR judge. It is not cruel - Both of those animals lived (and one died) within and WITH nature. Their fates where sealed by what they are: predator and prey. It is a never-ending cycle. It is life.

Today's MOZEN: Drop the GOP

F LoBuono

Despite what my many detractors may claim, I make a real effort to be balanced, non-judgmental, and not overly mean-spirited with my writing. I really do. But, of course, I often fail. However, there are also times when the kid gloves need to come off. Soft peddling something that begs to be SCREAMED with authority is small minded and reeks of Political Correctness .

This is one of those times to SCREAM!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a well known fact that I am liberal leaning in my politics and my life (that just raised a few eyebrows!). And, I try to respect those of a more conservative bent. There will always be room for respectful differences in opinion. Well, ALMOST always - because now I'm quite simply PISSED!

Every son-of-a-bitch Republican Senator just voted down the most meaningful, most significant gun control legislation this Nation has seen in years. In light of the most recent massacre in Orlando, it was hoped that at least sensible control could be exerted over who buys a weapon and what type it may be. It seems that people considered too dangerous too fly (the terrorist "watch/no fly list") can still find it easy to buy a gun - and, not just any gun - even lethal ones like the AR15, which seems to be the weapon of choice among mass murderers.

This is more than absurd. It's downright DANGEROUS!! Yet, Republicans insist that they are "protecting" the rights of ordinary Americans while we gun down our neighbors!!! They continually hide behind the controversial 2nd Amendment, using it as a bludgeon against anyone who might propose common sense regulation over the most powerful firearms the GREAT MAJORITY of people consider unnecessary, even for self protection. It is painfully obvious that EVERY STINKIN' ONE OF THEM is bought and paid for by the most powerful organization in this Country - the NRA.

And, their buffoonery is not limited to Gun Control. If you look at EVERY single piece of shitty legislation recently enacted in this Country, from the nonsensical "Bathroom Laws" to the continued use of the Confederate Flag over State institutions, it has been sponsored by a GOP controlled government. They constantly speak out of both sides of their mouths. First, they say they want less government, so they refuse to pass legislation that they say infringes on our right to bear arms. Then, the next day, they want to get into your shit by taking away a woman's right to choose. Well, which one is it??

I'm sorry, but I cannot, for the life of me, see how anyone could support the GOP, especially after this latest sorry episode. Unless, of course, you are a pasty-faced old, white man which is the majority base for this party. It's time for them to dry up and blow away. And, you can help them along the way by voting every single one of the sons-of-bitches out of office.

When You Think About: The Unreal Housewives

F LoBuono

Andy Cohen has made a fortune selling his Real Housewives franchise on Bravo. There are the Real Housewives of New York, Atlanta, Beverly Hills, New Jersey, Dallas, and blah, blah, blah. Wherever gossip can be found (and money can be made for Mr. Cohen), you can find a show with some women who look and act like anything BUT housewives. The one thing they all have in common is that they are all so full of shit in every sense of the word. In fact, nothing about them seems REAL - their hair, their clothes, their noses, their boobs, and, even their attitudes.

So, when you think about, shouldn't the shows be called the Unreal Housewives, or the Real Phonies, or the Full-o-Shit Housewives? Sure seems like a more accurate description to me.

That is all.

Today's MOZEN: Say NO to Bigotry

F LoBuono

Recently, in light of the horrific tragedy in Orlando, presumptive GOP Presidential nominee (still having trouble rapping my head around that!), Donald Trump, has been running his yap about re-instituting some type of racial profiling. He spreads his doctrine of Fear and Loathing by catering to his bases' insecurities about immigration, particularly from certain parts of the world. Of course, we know exactly what areas his is talking about - those from Muslim countries.

That's wrong on so many levels. And, I should know because I have felt the sting of being profiled.

I am very swarthy so, I was once told by a woman, "you are SO Italian looking"! I responded, I'm not Italian. I'm Sicilian. And, when some people have learned that I was of Sicilian heritage I would get statements like, "you realize that Sicily is REALLY close to Africa (it's about 96 miles)". Now, it's not that these people are truly interested in giving me a geography lesson. It's more of a tongue-in-cheek insult that I probably have some black blood coursing through my veins - like I'm supposed to be hurt by that!! And, of course I get: "Oh, you're Sicilian. Your family MUST be in the mafia"!

REALLY!!!

This is what you face when you start lumping people into categories. My family earned everything they got by working for it, often against tremendous odds. But, it's important to keep in mind that they managed to be successful because they fought for the OPPORTUNITY to be American! If we were denied even the CHANCE, we could not have made it here.

Therefore, we should not, we CANNOT, deny what makes us unique in the world. And, that is we are built on the premise that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL and have the unaliable right to LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

THIS, my friends is the American way.

Say NO to bigotry. Say NO to Donald Trump and his lackeys!! NO racial profiling!!!!

Today's Mostly True Short Story: Your Mom is Cooking

F LoBuono

Nothing was more important in the world to my father than his family. Nothing. It might have stemmed from the fact that he lost his father when he was just 12. As the oldest boy in a Sicilian immigrant family, it was up to my father to assume the leadership role. He had his mother, a younger brother and two sisters to help care for. I'm sure that this hardship created incredibly strong bonds among them. And, he stayed close to them throughout his entire life.

In addition to losing his father at such an impressionable age, the time at which it happened was also a difficult one in American history - he had to endure a great depression and then fight in a World War. It could not have been easy. Still, my father never appeared morose or bitter. He liked a silly joke, a good tune, the Yankees and the NY football Giants. And, he was one of the most gentle men I have ever met. He constantly let me, my sister, and my brother know just how much he enjoyed our presence. And, that never changed, even after I had left the house.

I was in my mid-twenties and living with a roommate a few towns from where I had grown up. Like most that age and just starting out, I was struggling to make ends meet. But, I was getting by. Besides, it was all about independence. I wanted to prove to both myself and my parents that I was able to make it on my own. So, I did as much as I could on my own - shopping, cooking, laundry, etc. Well, despite that I would get a phone call from my old man virtually every evening. The conversations usually went something like this:

Dad: What ya' doin'?

Me: Well, I just got home from work. I was going to run some errands and then make dinner. Whaz up?

Dad: Your mom is cooking.

Me: Yeah.

Dad: The Yankees are on TV, too.

Me: I was going to do some laundry.

Dad: Well, you could come eat, watch the game with me, AND do your laundry here.

That was SO my father. Nothing could bring him more pleasure than my presence. Nothing.  And, he made that clear to me every day of his life. We WERE his life.

It's so strange that I have no family of my own - no children. Sometimes, it makes me feel like I let my father down. It brought him so much joy I'm sure that he would have had loved to have me experience that feeling, too. But, it was not in the cards for me. I can't go back. I can only go forward - another trait I learned from him.

So, on this Fathers Day I honor him and all the men who have given all of themselves to secure a good life for themselves and their families. All of your sacrifices will not be forgotten.

When You Think About It: The Alien Invasion

F LoBuono

It's summer and that means beaches, barbecues, and blockbuster movies. One of the first of this years crop is the sequel to the enormously successful Independence Day film called Independence Day - Resurgence (whatever that means). I did not see the first film and have no plans to see the second. It's simply not my kind of movie and, besides, in the coming attractions for the latest version, the special effects looked kind of "cheezy" to me.

Be that as it may, the plot of the two films intrigued me - In the first, alien invaders, bent on conquering earth and making it their own, have begun their attack. It's up to brave men and women to do everything within their power to halt the invasion and save the earth. With great sacrifice, they manage to do so. But, there was always a feeling that the aliens were not finished and might return. Now, you have the plot for the sequel. THEY'RE BACK. And, we have to vanquish them all over again!

It has always been interesting to me to think that we may not be alone. The universe is SO vast, it is reasonable to assume that there is other intelligent life "out there". Most scientists agree. The chances of other civilizations existing beyond our solar system is almost a certainty. The very thought of this has fueled countless discussions, spawned thousands of novels, and created an entire genre' of films, like these two.

It is not an impossible scenario: another powerful, great race of alien beings, bent on conquest, could be lurking out there, waiting for the chance to strike. How terrifying!

Then it hit me. It HAS already happened on Earth!!!

It's called the GENOCIDE OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN.

Think about it. You had an entire race of people living in relative isolation and with a life style almost perfectly suited to their environment when, suddenly, the appearance of strange crafts on their shores altered their lives forever. To the Native Americans, Europeans, with their strange ways, language, gadgets, smells, clothing, and advanced technology might as well have been from outer space! And, these Europeans, much like the alien invaders of movie mythology, were bent on conquest. They were every bit as vicious and ruthless as the monsters so aptly depicted in films. But, unfortunately, unlike the movies, for the Native Americans there was no Will Smith or Jeff Goldblum to save the say. Their way of life was wiped out in favor of another so-called advanced culture. And, adding insult to injury, the Europeans, like the ruthless aliens, felt that they had the right to do so.

So, when someone asks you if you think that aliens might be "out there" plotting to destroy our way of life, you tell them it's already happened. . .

An Open Letter to Donald Trump.

* The following post contains strong language. Reader discretion is advised.

F LoBuono

Dear Donald:

You do not know me, but I feel like I know you. As a fellow denizen of The City That Never Sleeps, I have a few things to share with you.

Don (may I call you Don?), you pass yourself off as the ultimate New Yawka. Well, you may be a born and bred native but you have about as much in common with a real Gothamite as I have with fucking Tinkerbell! In fact, you loud mouthed douche bag, you represent the worst stereotype that people have of us - loud, arrogant, brash, narcissistic. And, you know what's funny? We ARE that way. The difference is that the average New Yawka also possesses a soul, something you sorely lack.

Where you look to exclude, ban, and vanquish those who may be different, the average New Yawka rejoices in our oddities, celebrates our diversity, and revels in our inclusiveness. While you bellow your belligerent, bellicose Bull Shit spreading Fear and Loathing, we go about the business of taking care of one another.

Did you read this classic example delineating the difference between a blowhard like you (and your legion of misguided sycophants) and the average, hard working New Yawka?

Two women wearing the traditional hijab where riding the subway in Queens when they were accosted by a white man wheeling a stroller, ranting that "Trump is right" and railing about illegal immigration. An eyewitness tweeted this account :

"Just now, on my way to work, a man got on my train yelling as he came onto an incredibly packed train for the "two terrorist foreigners to go back to where they came from." These two "terrorist foreigners" were two (understandably terrified) hijabi Muslim women. Before I could say anything, the entire train erupted in anger. A black man, a Romanian, a gay man, a bunch of Asians, and a score of others came to their defense demanding that this man leave these women alone and get off this train. The man insisted that the two women go back home and take their bombs with them.

After some back and forth, one man said, "This is New York City. The most diverse place in the world. And in New York, we protect our own and we don't give a fuck what anyone looks like or who they love, or any of those things. It's time for you to leave these women alone, Sir."

I couldn't have said it better. Sure enough, our train was stopped. This royal douche got off the train to the sound of cheering.

I say all this to say that in light of all the bad happening around us, remember that there's so much good and so much love.

I'm late to work, but it was for the best reason".

* Amaira Hanson as told to The NY Daily News

Right on brothers and sisters! You, Donald Trump, would never have the balls, despite your bluster, to do the right thing. You, sir, are a bully, and we don't do well with bullies. And, since you seem to be so in love with yourself, this should not be difficult advice for you to follow - from a REAL New Yawka - GO FUCK YOURSELF. :)

Sincerely,
Me

Epilogue: This was sent to me by a reader, a REAL New Yorker.

I have so much I want to spew about this but I am so angry and this whole mess with Trump has been building in my mind but the recent events have taken me over the top. My anger is so strong that it scares me and it is dropping over into my day to day interactions with people in my immediate life. 
I am the proud mother of a very successful gay son who has been married to his partner for 5 years. They are raising two beautiful orphans that they adopted from Vietnam. Eight months ago they became foster parents to a beautiful African American baby who was born to a 28 yr old drug addict with 4 other children in foster care. The baby was brought to them in the middle of night at 2 days old. Fortunately they have the means to handle all of this. My son's life was not easy growing up but he made it work. I am very proud of what they have accomplished and where they are going. They hope to adopt this adorable baby in the future but have to deal with beuracracy.

Like I said I am angry and it is spilling over into all the good things that are happening in my life. 


Delene Bradia

Today's MOZEN: Because It's Fun???

F LoBuono

Many of my friends own guns. I own them, too - pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Since my father was in Law Enforcement, I grew up around weapons. I know how to handle them safely and how to use them should it be necessary. I spent many a Saturday afternoon at the Fort Lee Pistol Range or the County facility with my father and other cops as they honed their skills with firearms.

I recall it with great fondness.

So, please spare me the bullshit that I am anti-gun. What I AM against is our obsession with them and our lack of action in doing something about guns getting into the hands of the wrong people.

This, of course, brings us to Orlando and the AR15, the weapon used to perpetrate the massacre. My last post simply described the awesome firepower of this rifle. The fiend who committed the atrocity could not have killed so many if not for his possession and use of that particular weapon. AND, it was obtained legally.

Simple logic would dictate, therefore, that these weapons SHOULD NOT BE SOLD. PERIOD. They are weapons of mass destruction whose sole purpose is to kill - quickly and efficiently. Law abiding citizens who already own the weapon counter this criticism by praising its attributes and saying how much they enjoy shooting it at the range. I actually heard a quote from an AR15 owner bemoaning the fact that crackpots who use the weapon for their own evil purposes are actually ruining it for the rest of them.

REALLY?!

Owners of AR15's are actually arguing to keep that weapon because it's FUN TO SHOOT AT THE RANGE. They ask "why should they be made to suffer for the acts of a few? We are law abiding Americans. We have rights.

REALLY?

Are you fucking kidding me???? I dare an owner of an AR15 to look in the face of someone who lost a love one in that blood path and tell them THE GUN NEEDS TO STAY BECAUSE ITS FUN TO SHOOT AT THE RANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I try my best to eschew vulgarity in my writing. But, sometime, there's just no other way to put things:

FUCK YOU.

Today's MOZEN: END HATE

F LoBuono

This is the Bushmaster AR15 A3 Tactical Carbine. The manufacturer and gun rights advocates often refer to it as an Assault STYLE rifle. The style part is VERY important. They claim it is NOT sold to fire in fully automatic mode. Therefore, it is not accurate to claim that it is an actual assault rifle. But, this is used to simply circumnavigate the law prohibiting the sale of automatic weapons. (note: an after-market adaptation can be easily purchased and installed giving it fully automatic firing capabilities - so, there goes THAT argument).

Really?

Please take a close look at it. What does it look like to you? I can't answer for you but, to me, it sure as hell looks like and Assault rifle. I could post all the statistics as to how powerful it is, what size bullets that it uses and how rapidly it can fire them. But, what's the point? You can easily look that up for yourself. Let it suffice to say that it will live up to the title ASSAULT rifle. It is, simply, a killing machine. They don't call them ASSAULT rifles for NO reason! Their raison d'etre is to kill as many as possible as quickly as possible.

Rational people are left to ask the question, "why, in ANY ONE'S mind, could they see the need for an assault rifle if not to kill as many people as possible"? Gun enthusiasts, led by the NRA, will counter by saying it's a matter of freedom supported by the Second Amendment.

Really?

Of course, my voice joins the litany of others calling for a TOTAL BAN and these type of weapons. Owning one can simply not be rationalized to me.

Still, I fear a ban will only have limited effectiveness. The issue is NOT just the weapon of choice - it's the mindset BEHIND the weapon! Now, let me make this perfectly clear: in NO way is this an endorsement of the lame NRA meme Guns don't kill people. People kill people. There are far too many loopholes in our gun laws that need to be addressed, banning Assault Weapons being one of the most important. But, there is something to what they are saying. There is underlying sickness, a paranoia, a culture of hate, fear and loathing that lies behind the guns. Our non-tolerant, violence obsessed culture is feeding the beast. The weapons are simply the vehicles of hate. They provide the means for those whose hearts are filled with malice.

Until we address the underlying causes of this madness, we are doomed to continue to repeat it! All the gun control in the world will not end the killing until we deal the rhetoric of hate that is preached FAR too often in this Country. We are obsessed with guns. We are obsessed with violence. We are barraged with images that tell our children that most serious issues are solved at the end of a muzzle.

Their are those who wish to Make America Great Again by supporting the policies of Fear and Loathing. Unfortunately, they number in the millions. They are our neighbors and co-workers. They are Americans. This is the reality of our democracy. Therefore, it is up to the rest of us, people of conscience, to stand up and say, NO. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. STOP THE HATING. ALL HATING.

Only Love Can Conquer Hate

F LoBuono

My Heart Bleeds
My Brain Aches
I want to Cry
I want to Explode -
How does one Explain what cannot BE explained
Condemn Violence in ALL its forms
Seek Justice over Vengeance
For Only Love can Conquer Hate . . .

Dedicated to those taken.

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-kA3UtBj4M

Today's Mostly True Short Story: A Case of Mistaken Identity

F LoBuono

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon, perfect for a sojourner. So, I grabbed my sunglasses and Panama hat and headed out for a stroll into town. As I ambled down Broadway, enjoying the slight breeze and warm sun on my face, I took in all the sights, sounds, and smells around me. Birds were signing, people were milling about, and the sent of blooming flowers permeated the air. All in all, it was delightful.

At one point, I noticed an older black gentlemen approach me from the opposite direction. As is my custom, if I notice someone is looking towards me, I always break into a nice, big smile as a greeting. This day was no exception. As he got closer, I noticed him smile back. Then, he said something:

When I first saw you, I thought that you might be Chic Corea.

Breaking into an even bigger smile, I responded: It's gotta' be the Panama Hat. But, I'll take it.

With both chuckled and continued on our way.

Question of the Day

F LoBuono

Will someone be so kind as to explain to me why so many devote Christians are the most UN-Christlike people I've ever met.

Today's MOZEN: Bob's Message

Words and photo by F LoBuono

They really are all around us - the little signs that can have big meaning. Unfortunately, with our frenetic lives, we don't often see them. But, small events of sometimes great importance do happen on a daily basis. We need, however, to open more than just our eyes to witness them. We need to open our hearts, as well.

About a week ago, while trimming some hedges at my house, much to my dismay, I knocked down a bird's nest. I examined it and found it empty. So, I went about finishing my work raking up the trimmings when I noticed a little, furry ball among the clippings. It was a fledgling and it was alive! I immediately scooped it up and brought it inside. I found a small box and placed the little one inside the old nest and then both in the box. There are many cats in the neighborhood and I felt it would be a goner if I left it unattended. I couldn't put the nest back - I had just cut the hedge it came from! So, I determined to take the bird back to my apartment and do my best to see if I could help it to survive.

I phoned a bird rehabber that I know and she suggested I find a professional near my home. I tried but to no avail. Everyone that I called was already overwhelmed with birds. I would have to try with the advice given to me by the experts I spoke with. It turned out to be a Robin. I decided to call him Bob. Bob Robin.

In the beginning, everything went according to plan. I spent hours in the yard digging up earth worms that I could feed him. He had a great appetite and I carefully fed him a chopped up worm or two with a pair of tweezers every hour throughout the day. It was so cool to see that gaping maw, seemingly bigger than its body, greedily gobble up those worms. I even fed Bob some blueberries as it was explained to me that would balance his diet. This went on like clockwork for two days. I was told that he was probably about 2 or 3 days from leaving the nest on his own. I figured if I could keep him alive for that long, he might have a chance.

On the third day, I approached the box and was a bit alarmed that Bob made no sound. On the previous days, if he heard me, he would peep to let me know that he was ready to eat. I hoped that, perhaps, he was just sleeping. However, much to my horror, when I looked in the box, Bob was obviously near death. He certainly was in great distress. I held him gently and tried to revive him but he drifted slowly away. I buried him next to my beloved cat, Big Red.

I did take some solace in the fact that he did not die alone and that I had done everything within my power to allow him to live. Still, since it was my fault in the first place, I was deeply saddened by Bob's death. I understand that accidents happen and that it was just a bird and blah, blah, blah. It was still a wasted life and ALL life needs to be respected. It brought me down.

Of course, life goes on and mine certainly did. But, whenever I would hear the birds sing in the mornings and evenings, I would grow sad thinking that Bob's voice would not be added to that chorus. Well, today, as I was going to my car to leave for work, I noticed a young bird near the car. I could tell that it was young because it still had traces of juvenile "fuzz" on its head. It allowed to me close enough to notice its Red Breast. It was a young robin. It lingered for a few seconds, looking at me before it chirped and took flight. And, I smiled.

Today's MOZEN: Extraordinary Times

F LoBuono

They say that these are not the best of times. But, theses are the only times we will ever know.
                                                                                                                                            Billy Joel

Some would not just agree with Mr. Joel's first sentence, they would take it a step further - these are the worst of times.  It seems that the gulf between Democrat and Republican, rich and poor, white and black seems to grow wider by the day. Most people say that they can't recall a time when Americans seemed so far apart in their vision for the future of this Country.

I'm not sure that I agree entirely.

Certainly, I am concerned with the acrimony that seems to permeate our every discussion today. People who disagree, argue not only with passion (which is OK) but vitriol (not OK), as well. I think all of us have, unfortunately, lost friends over some of these disagreements. That is very unfortunate and should be avoided whenever possible. However, this type of bickering, especially during the political season is NOTHING new! In fact, a certain amount of it might even be healthy (if we manage to keep it civil).

We have seen this type of vicious political infighting since the beginning of the Republic. And, it's not restricted to just the populace. Political figures have duked it out for as long as there has been such a thing as running for public office. Right now, the musical Hamilton, based on the extraordinary life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, is the toast of Broadway. Well, perhaps you may have forgotten that Hamilton, as a result of a series of perceived insults, was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr, the alleged aggrieved party. This, of course, is unacceptable if not understandable. If you care enough of about your cause, most are willing to fight for it. We may have put the pistols away but not the passion!

Besides, if you are near my age (61), you have witnessed some of the most extraordinary things in the history of this Country - both good and bad. We have seen men land on the moon and explore the very depths of the ocean. We have witnessed way too much war and far too less peace. We experienced the triumph of human engineering with the launch of the Space Shuttles and the devastation of the destruction of two of them. Diseases like polio and small pox have been virtually eradicated. And, we were appalled by the terror attacks of 9/11.

Yes, my friends, we are, in fact, living in EXTRAORDINARY TIMES.

We are just coming to the end of a most HISTORIC period in our Country's history - the conclusion of the administration of OUR FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT, Barack Obama. Think of it - a man of mixed race, a descendant of slaves, against all odds, rose to the position of the most powerful person on the planet. And, now, we are on the verge of something equally historic - the potential election of our FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT, Hillary Clinton. This may seem trifling to some but they are sorely mistaken. Remember, woman lagged behind slaves in gaining the right to vote. So, this is a VERY BIG DEAL.

These may be "the only times we'll ever know" but I, for one, will not make excuses for the time in which I have lived. In fact, I will do quite the opposite - I will tell young folks that they should be jealous to not have witnessed ALL of the miraculous things that I have.

Word for the Day: MENDACITY

F LoBuono

I was very fortunate recently to catch a broadcast of the film adaption of Tennessee Williams' brilliant play, Cat On a Hot Tin Roof. It's the story of a once powerful Southern family, led by the bruising patriarch with the most appropriate name, Big Daddy, collapsing under the weight of its own lies. One word, repeated by Big Daddy with bombastic passion, sums up their collective burden: MENDACITY, i.e. lying, falsehood, showing a tendency to lie.

Big Daddy, brilliantly played in the film by Burl Ives, is described as "an old-fashioned Mississippi redneck - a large, brash, and vulgar plantation millionaire who believes he has returned from the grave". He rules by fear, intimidation, and mendacity, a tactic he uses regularly and with impunity.

In watching Big Daddy, I was immediately reminded of another large, brash, millionaire/billionaire with a penchant for lying, i.e. mendacity. His name is Donald Trump. Trump is the "Big Daddy" of the current political scene - a man who rules by fear, intimidation, and lies. Both men have out-sized personalities which makes them both admirable and abhorrent. Admirable because they rule an "empire". Abhorrent, because of the way they go about it. In the end, it's Big Daddy's lack of compassion that proves to be his undoing. I believe the same will be true of Trump. I sincerely believe that their are still enough conscientious Americans who will reject "The Donalds" particular brand of bombast and vitriol just as, in the end, Big Daddy's family ultimately rejected him.

I can only hope the Winston Churchill's statement will prove prophetic:

"In the end, Americans will always do the right thing".

Today's MOZEN: The Game Show Host

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Let's strip away all of the bull shit and cut straight to the chase. I am sick, tired, and plain pissed off with people whose total lack of compassion can only be matched by their unbounded ignorance.

Flipping through the TV channels, I decided to stop and see what the Faux News brain trust had in store for the world's most gullible audience. The usual cast of characters (I don't know their names - I don't watch - really!) were in their 6th Ave. New York Studios interviewing Chuck Woolery. His face seemed familiar but I could not place it until he was identified by graphic: Game Show Host/Actor. Well, say no more. OF COURSE, that qualifies him as a PUNDIT, worthy of Faux News. Checking Mr. Woolery's bio further identifies him as a "gun advocate" and "musician". It couldn't be more PERFECT. He was rambling on inanely about how the Country has lost it's way because of political correctness and blah, blah, blah. Nothing new here. Then one of the hosts asked him about his position on the minimum wage - $15/hour is a BAD thing - as Mr. Woolery was proclaiming on his oh-so-appropriately named podcast, Blunt Force Truth. Really. Of course, as part of the question, the host lauded Blunt Force Truth for its ability to cut through the "PC" to the "real truth". Really.

As soon as he Mr. Game Show Host/Actor opened his mouth and said that his podcast gives all the facts and figures as to why raising the National minimum wage to $15/hour was a bad thing, my jaw dropped. He went on to blame "liberals" and their "way of making simple things complicated" as the route of all our problems!  I changed the friggin' channel! Screw that smug Son of a Bitch and his phony hair!!!

The bottom line is this: ANYONE who argues the point using whatever statistics they may have (which are ARGUABLE at best!) totally misses the key issue - NO ONE CAN SUPPORT THEMSELVES, MUCH LESS A FAMILY, ON $10/HOUR. This is the reality of living in America. Our very nature is (or was) to provide Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness for ALL. Ten bucks an hour ain't gonna' buy you much happiness. He should be questioning a system and the statistics that supports it, as to why people making an acceptable wage is a BAD thing?

This thinking lacks more than just common sense. It's missing an intangible quality. Although it may be a "concept" it makes a mere human, divine. It's called COMPASSION. Mr. Woolery completely lacked it. In fact, I don't even think that he understands it. Statements like "liberals have a way of making simple things complicated" shows an incredible lack of connection with what makes us tick. Rarely are things associated with humans, simple. We are social beings with complex relationships - to others and our society.

Perhaps, keeping things simple - like 10 instead of 15 - works well when producing a GAME SHOW - but, it rarely does in life.

GET REAL.

Today's MOZEN: Open Your Mind

Words and photo by F LoBuono

It should have been easy enough. We just had a new storm door installed. It's an adjustable with 3 panels: 2 of glass and one screen. It is designed so that the panels slide over one another without having to take any of them out. In our case, the screen was placed at the bottom of the door. Although an option, I believe leaving the screen at the bottom invites disaster, especially if you own any critters - it provides little resistance to a cat's claws or a dog's paws. So, I set about the simple task of switching panels so that the screen would now be at the top.

Simple, right?

Well, it should have been.

I've done it before - place the glass on one track at the top and place the screen behind it so that when you slide the glass down, the screen is exposed. Well, for some reason, the way the door was assembled it would simply not allow me to do that. The carpenter who installed the door set it up so that the glass would remain at the top. It would have to be restructured, No problem - I'm handy. I began the process.

I removed all three panels and began to reinstall them properly: glass at the top and bottom with the screen also at the top in a separate track allowing for the top glass to be slid down behind the screen. Of course, I didn't need the printed directions - I KNEW how to do it.

Well, after about 15 minutes, I started to get frustrated. No matter which way I turned the panels, they just wouldn't fit properly. When I did finally get them to fit, they wouldn't move. I simply could not slide them. It got to the point where I was afraid that if I continued, I just might break the whole friggin' door! So, now I'm stuck with a door frame and no windows or screen! I couldn't leave it like that. Then, I remembered the carpenter told me that he would leave the installation instructions behind, just in case, and put them in a cabinet near the rear door. I found them just where he said that he had left them.

It seems that I tried EVERY combination but the RIGHT one. I simply ASSUMED that they would be placed a certain way and kept going back to the same conclusion: they just HAD to fit this way. Well, once I looked at the directions it became clear to me - one of the glass panels had to placed upside down relative to the other. Once I did, everything fit together perfectly with the screen on top AND the glass sliding smoothly over it, up and down.

The moral of the story is don't lock in with your thinking - even when you're sure that you know ALL about it. Even when you believe you've checked every angle, if you don't keep your mind completely open, you just might be missing one - the right one.

Today's MOZEN: Words of Wisdom

F LoBuono

If I might be so bold, I would like to pass on this bit of advice for Hillary Clinton's consideration in her current war of words with Donald Trump. It was given to me by an old friend many years ago. They are words of wisdom that I do my best to live by:

Never getting into a pissing contest with a skunk. You'll lose. Always.

That is all.

Today's MOZEN: The Bully

Words and photo by F LoBuono

I get the frustration. I understand the anger. I agree that the way things are done in Washington must change. What I can't accept is Donald Trump as the leader we need to execute the revision.

Beyond his alarming lack of the acumen necessary to execute most of the policies he would implement as President and the shocking lack of accuracy in the great majority of statements that he makes, lies his appallingly poor character. He does not possess ANY of the intangibles I would look for in a leader: intuition, compassion, insight, grace, and patience. These are NOT imaginary qualities but, rather, essential ones, particularly in a person who must make decisions with global impact. He does not even speak well!

There was so much more that I intended to write. But, the more I thought of how to express my thoughts I kept coming back to the same simple theme:

Trump is a BULLY - the consummate one. He rules by bluster and intimidation. He's loud and rude. His latest rant against the press (5/31/2016) at an event that should have been celebratory was simply vitriolic. Well, I don't do well with bullies. I never have. As a kid, I got into a fight a week - not because I was that tough (I lost every fight) but, rather, I refused to be bullied. EVER! I will be damned if I will be now.

If you equate bullying with leadership, then, by all means, vote for Mr. Trump. Or, you can stand up to one and say, NO, THANK YOU.