Today's MOZEN: Will It Never End?

Photo T. Camus, AP. Words F. LoBuono

NOTHING HAPPENS IN A VACUUM.

Nothing.

The latest brutal, barbaric attack on innocent civilians in Paris is nothing short of an abomination. The calculated cruelty of the attacks produces a visceral reaction - it makes me sick to my stomach, literally. I KNOW that the souls of these men will never reach the paradise promised them by their sick and misguided leaders. Rather than cavorting with many blue-eyed virgins, their souls are doomed to never find peace. Be that as it may, it is still important to understand that THEY believed what they did was right.

Why is it important to understand rather then simply condemn them and seek mindless revenge?

Not only is revenge immoral, IT'S exactly what the terrorists WANT us to do. We would be playing right into their hands.

Why?

Because NOTHING HAPPENS IN A VACUUM.

Allow me to explain. Most of these men have become radicalized by their own brutal treatment at the hands of so-called Western Powers, including France. For decades we have unleashed shock and awe on the parts of the world where these men come from. A war of ideals has been happening for eons. But, really, at this point, no one is even sure how it all began! They attack us, we attack them and on and on. For the most part, the West's recent violence is in response to Muslim extremism. Still, for all of our justification and all of our efforts to prevent civilian casualties in this "war without borders", collateral damage is unavoidable. Collateral Damage is a nice, clean military term for the mindless deaths of thousands of innocent civilians who are unlucky enough to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Many of these "precision" strikes are carried out by mindless, faceless drone aircraft. I'm sure that the attackers in Paris all have personal experience with this type of violence, either directly or through family and friends. We have all seen the aftermath of one of our military strikes on TV. Most of these men have experienced that horror firsthand. THIS is what radicalizes them. They see death among innocents in their own communities and desire to bring the same destruction to those they believe perpetrate it. This is the message they sent in Paris - OUR people have no quality of life, so neither shall you! We KNOW terror and, now, so shall you.

The recent drone strike that killed the infamous, brutal Jihadi John, Mohammed Emwazi, is a prime example. Emwazi was a Kuwaiti born young man raised in London. He attended school and got a degree from a London university in computer science. He had even begun a promising career as an IT specialist. At one point, while on vacation in Africa, for unknown reasons, he was arrested and detained. Although never charged with any crime, Emwazi was held naked and abused in a jail cell for 24 hours. According to friends who knew him, this incident radicalized Emwazi and he never went back to his "old" life. He created a "new" one under ISIL as its chief executioner. In a press conference regarding the attack, military spokesman Col. Steve Warren said this: We have been following this target for some time. And, when the opportunity presented itself for minimal civilian casualties, we took the shot.

There are two key points to be made here; One. they did not kill a person, they attacked a "target". Two. Yes, we got the bad guy and, hopefully, we didn't kill other, innocent people in the process. Really. Think about it.

NOTHING HAPPENS IN A VACUUM.

So, now, we are stuck in this ENDLESS cycle of violence. AND, it is ultimately what the terrorists supported by ISIL want. They want to force a final confrontation between ideologies. In other words, they are fine with US vs THEM for final control of the planet. They are not afraid of the outcome. But, neither are we! Therefore, they have set the stage for the Apocalypse fulfilling many a prophesy!
There are hawks in the West who would fall right into their hands and charge willy-nilly into that black hole of endless violence - even at the peril of the whole world. So, we get an eye for an eye leaving the whole world (or, what's left of it) blind.

Look, I am not defending their actions. In fact, I condemn them with my entire being! I just feel it is important to understand that if we seek true justice and a LASTING peace we need to know WHY these things happen. We can't just call them mindless animals and seek blind revenge. Because they are not. They are human beings who in their own horrible, misguided way believe that they took lives and gave their own for THEIR cause. MANY will see them as martyrs. Besides revenge is not only morally wrong, it plays right into their hands! They seem to relish violence. We need to abhor it.

No, we cannot sit idly buy why radical extremism continues to take innocent lives. Something must be done and ISIL must be stopped. How we do it will make all the difference. Therefore, at this most difficult time, I urge caution. Let us seek justice and not carnal revenge. We should not, cannot, allow ALL Muslims to be painted with such a broad brush. It will not help. It will just create even more heartache. It must stop. ALL of it.

Today's MOZEN: A Little Ahab in All of Us.

F LoBuono

“Swerve me? The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Over unsounded gorges, through the rifled hearts of mountains, under torrents' beds, unerringly I rush! Naught's an obstacle, naught's an angle to the iron way!” ― Herman Melville, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale

Captain Ahab, the dark, mysterious, brooding main character utters these lines to Ishmael, the narrator of Melville's immortal classic. Melville created the character of Ahab to represent man's indomitable spirit, especially in the face of nature's harsh and cruel realities. These "obstacles" to overcome, as stated by Melville, are chiefly represented by the ferocious white whale, Moby-Dick. Ahab cannot not be swayed from exacting his revenge on the great beast for taking his leg during a previous encounter. Ahab's desire to locate and destroy the whale becomes more than a mere hunt. It becomes an overwhelming obsession that will only be sated with the whales total destruction - or his own.

And, I KNOW Ahab. Even though his darkness frightens me in some ways, his burning desire to overcome appeals to me in others. By my nature, I relate to him very much. I am very competitive and don't like to lose - at anything. And, I have always been this way. Even my birth sign, Taurus, would suggest a certain stubbornness. If I put my mind to something, damn it, I'm going to do it! And, overall, this attitude has served me well. But, it has also hindered me, too.

As I age and study, hopefully, the more I learn. One of the things it has taken me a lifetime to assertain is that there are many paths to enlightenment. It takes courage, tenacity, and fortitude. But, it also takes kindness, compassion and flexibility Not ALL things are as they appear. Not ALL destinations are arrived at by walking a straight road (a fixed purpose is laid with iron rails). Sometimes, the journey involves a detour or two. Yes, it is admirable to pursue a worthy goal with determination and passion. It's OK to be driven. But, it's equally important to not be consumed by the search. We need to experience the fullness of life by also keeping an open heart and an open mind. If we simply charge straight ahead with blinders on we will miss all the other things that lie around us.

Zen Buddhism has taught me a lot about the so-called Middle Path, i.e. the way to enlightenment is through BALANCE. We need to experience ALL things in life on some level in order to understand it on the most important ones. This is achieved through balance. One way to do this is by instead of resisting force through the use of even more power (a fixed purpose is laid on iron rails), we surrender, in a sense, to it. Buddhism uses the analogy of forest being battered by a big storm. All the sturdy trees in the forest stand tall against the raging win. They will not yield. After a time though, the wind proves too powerful and many of the trees are broken in half or toppled. The bamboo trees in the forest are far less stout. The fierce wind bends their thin trunks almost completely to the ground. However, once the wind passes, the bamboo trees bounce back up to the original height and form, none the worse for the wear.

So, be determined. Be fierce in your passion. Keep your eyes on the prize and do not be easily dissuaded. But, also, don't be afraid to get off the rails, too. Be like bamboo in a storm - let the winds of change howl. You'll still be standing when they pass. ;)

Today's MOZEN: Like An Old Friend

Words and photos by F LoBuono

It's one of the best kept secrets in New York: The Cloisters Museum and Garden. Opened in 1938, The Cloisters is located on four bucolic acres in upper Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park, The complex is maintained as part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The main building, although it appears as such, is not a duplication of any one particular building from ancient Europe. Rather, it's an amalgamation of a few different ones representing the Romanesque (1000-1150) and Gothic (1150-1520) periods. Some of the modern building itself incorporates parts of structures taken from the European structures it hopes to represent. All in all, it gives one the impression of being in an authentic Tuscan palazzo.

Inside it's huge rooms with vaulted ceilings contain some of the finest tapestries and medieval art in existence. It is rarely crowded and, so, its quite easy to tarry in each room. Despite its size there is still an intimacy about the place. It is so palpable that you find yourself whispering even though you have not been asked to. Sun light pours through the many windows, flooding the rooms with an almost heavenly glow. Inner courtyard gardens provide even further access to more contemplative endeavours.

I used to visit quite regularly when I was a young man. I always found a sense of peace at The Cloisters. In fact, it became quite special. My love interest at the time and I spent many afternoons there in quiet reflection, enjoying the peace and each others company. Then, for some reason, We broke up and I stopped going. I'm not sure why. I suppose that perhaps, after I started traveling to Europe to experience original Romanesque and Gothic art and structures, it lost some of its appeal.

Be that as it may, it drifted from my consciousness. That is until I reconnected with the lover I had known so many years ago. We talked frequently about going back but never made the time - until this weekend. We had a free afternoon and decided to go.

And, it was as we remembered it.

It was not crowded and we moved freely from room to room. The day was unseasonably warm so we tarried on the terraces and took in the spectacular views up and down the Hudson. Brilliant sunshine streamed through the impressive collection of stained glass, projecting brilliant colors throughout the interior. We were transported back in time - not only in world history, but in our own personal one, as well. Like visiting an old friend that we hadn't seen in some time, it was if we hadn't been away at all.

Today's Photo Gallery: The Cloisters

All photos the property of F LoBuono

Today's MOZEN: Heaven Vs Hell. Part II. HELL

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Previously, we heard of TalkFrank's version of Heaven. Now, it's time to visit Hell.

In TalkFrank's interpretation of Hell, I instinctively wander into a large auditorium. Conversely to the room in Heaven where I am alone, here the expansive space is filled with hundreds, if not thousands of people. Also, instead of the pure white cotton outfit that I wore in heaven, now I have little on - really not more more than a loincloth. I take the only remaining seat at the front, facing a large movie screen.

After a few anxious moments, the lights dim and the crowd quiets. The film begins. Suddenly, similar to my time in Heaven, the video appears to be a reality show of my life. However, this time it shows incidents of total embarrassment. It was obvious that whatever it was that I did (picking my nose, scratching my ass, hiding a fart, accidental wetting my pants), it was NEVER supposed to be seen by ANYONE. But, sure enough, there I was, in all my red-faced misery, sharing private moments with thousands of total strangers. And, worse still than sharing with strangers, I was made to watch ALL of my foibles, faux paus, and f'ups in front of my family and friends. There were those odd moments when I would sing to myself in a strange voice or speak in some unknown language. Of course, checking myself out in a mirror, naked, was a recurring theme. Whatever was MOST embarrassing was made available for everyone's viewing pleasure. Nothing was sparred.

The crowd roars with laughter as I attempt to shrink to nothingness within my chair. I can feel my face burning with shame. But, no matter how hard I squirm in my seat or attempt to avert my eyes, I cannot avoid the mocking laughter. I am powerless to leave or even look away. I am forced to witness each and every private, embarrassing moment without reprieve.

Hell leaves most people with a vision of fire and brimstone, leading to agonizing pain for all eternity. Yes, indeed, that's a pretty shitty interpretation. But, for someone like me, to have your pride stripped away - forever - is worse than any hellish inferno!

From now on, I'm going to figure that someone is watching - ALL of the time. So, I'd better behave.

Today's MOZEN. Heaven Vs Hell: Part 1, Heaven.

Words and photo by F LoBuono

In my version of Heaven, I am dressed in simple white cotton - pants, shirt, comfortable shoes. I'm led by intuition to a door that appears seamlessly within a white wall. As I approach, the door mysteriously opens. I enter. Again, the room is pure white, almost glowing, and also seamless in its appearance. I cannot see any edges. The only thing that breaks up the formless nature of the place is a a small student's desk in the "center" and a large screen, flat panel TV on the "wall" in front of it.

I sit in the desk and instinctively look up the television. A video begins. Immediately, I notice that the video is of a set of keys that I lost on an appointment in the City many years ago. I remember losing and then frantically searching to find them. Not only did the ring contain my car keys (how was I to get to Nyack, return, AND retrieve the car?), it also had other important ones, as well. They fell off a hook on my belt while I was walking from the car to my appointment. I knew that I had lost them after walking just a few blocks - I could no longer hear them jingling. So, I immediately retraced my steps. Despite my best efforts, I never did find those keys!

Well, now, on the screen, the entire incident was being recreated as if I were in a reality show. In the video, I leave my car and start walking east, up 39th St. When I reached 8th Avenue, following the pattern of the traffic lights, I made a left to head north. About half-way up 8th, the video showed me break into a jog to keep pace with the lights. When I did so, the keys flew off my belt and fell on the sidewalk while I continued, not having noticed. The video then skipped ahead and revealed a man finding the keys, checking them out and walking into the bodega located next to where he had found them. Since he came out almost immediately, it is reasonable to assume that he brought them in the store to leave them just in case their owner returned.

It drove me crazy for years (still does, as I have still not found them!). I searched so hard to find them. It just didn't make any sense. Where could they have possibly gone? Anyway, the video continued with one incident after the other - all involving lost items that should not have BEEN lost.

There was that grey suit vest that I liked to wear from time to time. The suit that it came from was long gone but I hung on to the vest to compliment my shirt and jeans. Well, one day, after I returned from work, I was undressing to get ready for bed. I removed the vest, my shirt, jeans, etc. and folded them over a chair. I would put everything away first thing in the morning, after a good nights sleep. In the morning, when I began to do just that, I found everything BUT the vest. I looked EVERYWHERE. And, I mean everywhere - under and behind the chair, in every closet, on every clothes hook. To this day, I have no idea where that vest is. Stella's theory is that one of my friends mistook for one of their own and left with it - or, someone came in the middle of the night and stole it! Whatever happened will be known  . ALL questions will be answered. All mysteries will be revealed - in Heaven.

In Heaven, all those little (and big) things that drove you crazy because you just had no idea what the heck happened to them will be revealed. And, you will have achieved peace.

Later: Part II. HELL.

Today's MOZEN: You Have The Power - Use It!

                                                                 

Words and Photo by F LoBuono

VOTE OR DIE 

This was the slogan MTV used a few years back to try to get young people to vote. Most found it a "bit" dramatic and it was only mildly successful. Voter participation among young people did not increase dramatically. Be that as it may, they were trying to make a good point: the importance of THE VOTE cannot be over emphasized! And, it is not so just for young people but for ALL.

Voter participation in this Country is abysmal. If people spent half the time on voting that they do complaining about the process and the government, we might actually accomplish something. It seems that too many are content to sit in front of their TV's and listen to pundits tell them everything that's wrong here instead of informing them of the information that they need to try and set things right. And, to do so it means one thing - VOTE.

So, get off your lazy asses. There is NO excuse. Remember, in the contract between the people and the government, WE have the power - unless you concede it by NOT SHOWING UP. Like a traditional marriage ceremony, the time to speak up is now. Or, forever hold your peace!!

PHOTO GALLERY: AUTUMN IN NYACK

All of these photos were made within walking distance of my apartment in South Nyack, NY. All rights reserved by F LoBuono

Today's MOZEN: Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Every year I say the same thing: I guess we won't be getting the usual spectacular Fall colors this year. There always seems to be one reason or another as to why - it's been too wet. It's been too dry. The summer was too cold. The summer was too hot. Whatever the cause, I always feel that this year's crop couldn't be as vibrant as the last - until it is!

Science tells us that the change in color of the leaves on deciduous tress is based on a number of factors such as the growing conditions through out the year, including the amount of rainfall. However, the major factor in their turn from green to the blazing oranges, yellows, and reds we associate with the Autumn season is the change in the amount of light the trees receive. As the days grow shorter, the trees receive less and less sunlight creating an internal chemical reaction that results in a near kaleidoscope of colors. Changes in any or all of these factors will result in a corresponding difference in the colors produced. The only constant is they it WILL change.

All we need do is wait.

The change is gradual. It usually begins sometime in early/mid- October. Little by little, we will notice the change in a few trees. There may a splash of orange here, or a dash of red there. It's not a deluge but, rather a trickle. Gradually, more and more trees join the color cascade. However, sometimes, it is so gradual we don't notice the rate at which they are actually changing. At least I don't!

This year was no exception.

Patience, by my own admission, is not one of my strongest virtues. In fact, I struggle with it. I tend to be a little hyperactive so patience is something that I need to work on regularly. And, I do. Still, it is an effort. When by mid-October the hills aren't ablaze in color, I figure the season is going to be a dud. It was a very hot and dry summer. So, it was not illogical to think that, perhaps, this fall would be a dud in comparison to some if the others. And, I wasn't the only one who felt that way. More than one person expressed to me the same concern: gee, it just doesn't seem like we are going to have a great Fall this year. As mid-October turned to late, there were hints of but no burst of color.

Until there was - almost overnight!

Just as I was about to lose hope it happened. Seemingly overnight, my world exploded with visual delights. Everywhere I looked my eyes were met with a blaze of hues. The verdant hills were now a cacophony of color! Red blended with orange, yellow and different shades of green proving nature's palette to be unmatched. The season was every bit as spectacular as it always seems to be.

And, it was delightful.

I suppose that the moral of the story is good things do indeed come to those who wait. One of these years, I'll actually get it. ;)

Today's MOZEN: A Meditation on Artistic Expression.

Words and photo by F LoBuono

When listening to great works of music or viewing a masterpiece what always impresses me most is the depth of feeling the artist puts into the work. It comes from deep within. It starts in the toes and works its way through every capillary, every artery, every fiber of their very being.

There is no holding back.

There is no past.

There is no future.

There is only NOW.

There are no distractions.

There is purity of heart and clarity of mind.

There is no beginning nor no end.

From shapeless thought the artist breathes life into his creation, giving it shape, form, and character - a soul of it's own, if you will. And, when finished, exhausted but sated, like a new mother spent but also elated by the birth of her child, the artist may rest and say "here, I have made this for you".