CROSSROADS

 

Words and photo by F LoBuono

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

CHANCE THE MIGHTY SQUIRREL

 

Words and photo by F LoBuono

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

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

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

Then I looked for help.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

CBS PROUD!

 

Words and photo by F LoBuono

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LONG LIVE A FREE PRESS! LONG LIVE AMERICA!