We Will Not Forget

Photo F LoBuono

The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner

Randall Jarrell, 1914 - 1965

From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State,
And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.
Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life,
I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.

The Silver Back

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Male gorillas are awesome physical specimens. Weighing as much as 400 lbs., they are reported to be 4 to 5 times as powerful as an adult male human being. There is a story of a "circus gorilla" reported to be strong enough to squash a truck tire with his bare hands. In captivity they can live 60 years. They are gentle giants but when provoked they are fearsome adversaries. Even the largest predators shy away from a bout with one.

When they reach sexual maturity  (about 12, the same as humans) the hair on their backs turns a brilliant silver. All males from then on are known as a Silver Backs. But, only one can be the alpha. He is The Boss. Il Padrone. El Jeffe.

People ask me if I would ever consider coloring my grey hair. LOL LOL LOL.

Today's MOZEN: Respect for Harambe

F LoBuono

A few weeks ago, I posted a Mostly True Short Story about the death of a simple squirrel. The ultimate point was to give respect to ALL life. NO life is insignificant - even a lowly squirrel's.

With this in mind, I would like to discuss the recent tragic death of a Western Lowland gorilla named Harambe at the Cincinnati Zoo. It seems that an unidentified 4 year-old boy slipped away from his mother, wiggled through a fence, and then fell approximately 10 feet into Harambe's enclosure. The two females in the enclosure with Harambe at the time responded when called by their handlers to retreat away from the boy. Harambe did not and grabbed the boy who was alert and apparently uninjured. At first, the gorilla seems to be almost cradling the boy. The, suddenly and without provocation, Harambe aggressively grabs the boy by the leg and as if handling little more that a rag doll, drags the boy through the water in the moat surrounding the enclosure. After a brief pause, the 400 lb. silver back does it again. All the while, the boy remains calm while spectators look on helplessly and scream in horror.

The Zoo's Quick Response Security Team reached the enclosure quickly and assessed the situation. They had to make an almost immediate decision on how to handle the crisis. It was determined that tranquilizing Harambe was just too risky. Too many things could go wrong. So, a most difficult decision was made to shoot and kill the gorilla. It was over in a matter of minutes and the boy was saved, miraculously virtually unharmed.

In that place and time, and under those circumstances, I believe it was the only decision that could be made. A 400 lb. silver back male gorilla is about 5 times as strong as a human. Although known to be gentle giants, they can also be fiercely aggressive. Even large predators will shy away from a tussle with an adult silver back. He could have killed that boy at anytime - even if it were unintentional - they are THAT powerful! I'm sure that everyone associated with the zoo, Harambe, and the whole affair were devastated by this event.

Now, this is not to say that an animal's life is less valuable than a humans (a debate for another post). But, again, under those circumstances, he had to be wasted (and, that's exactly what it was - a terrible waste). As much as we may relate to gorillas as one of our closet relatives in the animal kingdom, it is still impossible to know what was inside his head and how he may have reacted going forward. If that boy would have been held by a deranged man would we have reacted the same way? I believe so, and for similar reasons: as it is impossible to know what is inside a deranged persons head, so it is with a wild animal. A young life must be protected at all costs.

Make no mistake about it - THIS IS A TRAGEDY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. A rare, wonderful animal has been destroyed and a family devastated. Anyone who thinks that that boy and his family has not, and WILL not suffer greatly is sadly mistaken. First, that boy has to live with the trauma of being manhandled by a 400 lb animal. Then, going forward, he will have to deal with the fact that a popular, magnificent animals was destroyed on his behalf. He may not understand that now, but he will someday. Next, his family, particularly his mother who was watching him, has been vilified. What an awful mother! How could she have let that happen? She deserves to be charged and arrested!

Really? Have none of you looked away from a 4 year-old for a second with near disastrous consequences? Really?

Compassion and respect for life applies to ALL life and that includes human beings! I am constantly amazed by people who advocate for the rights of animals while forgetting WE are animals, too. For example, they want to Save The Whales while still supporting capital punishment! That, my friends is faulty thinking. In this case, people are looking for scapegoats instead of solutions. This was a tragedy that already happened. It's too late to bring Harambe (who had just turned 17 years-old) back. Vilifying the boy OR the family does not provide solutions. Perhaps, the answer lies in NO MORE ZOOS at all. But, that, too, my friends, is a conversation for another day. What we need to do is respect the memory of that wonderful animal by doing EVERYTHING within our power to make sure that it never happens again.

Epilogue: My family and I decided to go to the zoo yesterday after visiting my neice at Cincinnati Childrens hospital. For those of you that have already heard, there was a terrible accident there yesterday. And since every news media has covered this story, I don't feel bad telling our side. This was an accident! ! A terrible accident, but just that! My husband's voice is the voice talking to the child in one of the videos. I was taking a pic of the female gorilla, when my eldest son yells, "what is he doing? " I looked down, and to my surprise, there was a small child that had apparently, literally "flopped" over the railing, where there was then about 3 feet of ground that the child quickly crawled through! ! I assumed the woman next to me was the mother, getting ready to grab him until she says, "Whose kid is this? " None of us actually thought he'd go over the nearly 15 foot drop, but he was crawling so fast through the bushes before myself or husband could grab him, he went over! The crowed got a little frantic and the mother was calling for her son. Actually, just prior to him going over, but she couldn't see him crawling through the bushes! She said "He was right here! I took a pic and his hand was in my back pocket and then gone!" As she could find him nowhere, she lookes to my husband (already over the railing talking to the child) and asks, "Sir, is he wearing green shorts? " My husband reluctantly had to tell her yes, when she then nearly had a break down! They are both wanting to go over into the 15 foot drop, when I forbade my husband to do so, and attempted to calm the mother by calling 911 and assure her help was on the way. Neither my husband or the mother would have made that jump without breaking something! I wasn't leaving with my boys, because I didn't trust my husband not to jump in and the gorilla did just seem to be protective of the child. It wasn't until the gorilla became agitated because of the nosey, dramatic, helpless crowd; that the gorilla violently ran with the child! And it was very violent; although I think the gorilla was still trying to protect, we're taking a 400 lb gorilla throwing a 40 lb toddler around! It was horrific! The zoo responded very quickly, clearing the area and attempting to save both the child and the gorilla! The right choice was made. Thank God the child survived with non-life threatening, but serious injuries! This was an open exhibit! Which means the only thing separating you from the gorillas, is a 15 ish foot drop and a moat and some bushes! ! This mother was not negligent and the zoo did an awesome job handling the situation! Especially since that had never happened before! ! Thankful for the zoo and their attempts and my thoughts and prayers goes out to this boy, his mother and his family.

Eyewitness Deidre Lykins

Today's Mostly True Short Story: Rosary Beads

Sgt. Joseph LoBuono (c 1943)

They are quite simple, really. Legend has it that they were made from the wood of an olive tree found in the Holy Land. But, to my father, the simple rosary beads were more valuable than gold.

As a young man, I sat listening intensely as he related the story of where he got them and how, he believed, they contained real, spiritual power.

WWII, France. Late 1944.

My father's unit of combat engineers with Patton's Third Army was bivouacked in the countryside near a small French village. Somehow, my father was befriended by a French family for reasons I no longer remember (after so many years, many of the finer details have been lost to me). Be that as it may, they invited him to join them for a home-cooked meal. Perhaps, it was to thank him for fighting for their liberation. We will never know with certainty. I'm sure that my father, who had not been home in over two years, was anxious to indulge in some French provincial cooking! He received permission to attend the meal and grabbed a jeep to drive to their home.

Once there, he basked in the warmth of this French family, so grateful for his presence. As if their affection wasn't enough, during the course of the meal, they presented my father with a gift. It was a set of rosary beads made from the wood of an olive tree in the Holy Land. They wanted him to have it as a talisman to keep him safe for the remainder of the war. My father was overwhelmed with gratitude.

After the meal, they made their tearful goodbyes.  Rejuvenated by the genuine warmth of the experience, my father headed for his jeep and the return to his unit. Partly into the trip, he realized that he left the rosary beads behind! In a semi-panic, he made a quick U-turn to go back and retrieve them. They were so relieved that he took the time to return. Of course, after their magnificent gesture, my father HAD to come back.

He retrieved the rosary and resumed his journey. When he reached his unit he was horrified to discover the camp in shambles. They had just been strafed by the Luftwaffe! Casualties were extremely high. The dead and wounded lay everywhere. It was then when my father realized that if he had not taken the extra time to return to get those beads he might have very well been one of those unfortunate souls. It shook him to his core.

Of course, from that moment on, those rosary beads took on a mythical quality for my father. He carried them with him not only through the war, but for the remainder of his life.

While researching for this story, I asked my mother is she still had them. She said. "oh, you mean those wooden ones? Yes, I have them in my hands, even as we speak . . . 

Conversations with Stella.

F LoBuono

Today's lunch conversation with Stella:

Me: Man, I've been getting into some really intense verbal altercations on Facebook these days!

Stella: Frankie, what did I tell you about that? I really wish that you wouldn't.

Me: But, I like it.

Stella: I know that you like it. That's not the point.

Me: Well, what IS the point, then?

Stella: Why don't you just vote your own conscience and let everyone else vote theirs?

Me: Well, Stella, I will. But, this is too important not to do everything in our power to make sure that Trump does not become President. I intend to write everyday if I have to. If I can convince even one other person not to vote for him, I will have been successful. Besides, wasn't it you and the old man who taught us to stand up to bullies?

Stella: I suppose that's true. Just don't get carried away.

Me: Yes, Stella. Of course.

Today's MOZEN: The Hand of God?

Words and photo by F LoBuono

This is a tough question but one I feel compelled to ask. It's tough because I want to accept the believe systems of others and not judge. I don't want to appear disingenuous. But, it is also an important one if we are to understand why things may happen:

You, or one of your dear ones, have been in a terrible automobile accident. The car is totaled - LOTS of damage. But, you and your passengers miraculously walk away unscathed. Of course, most people immediately say THANK GOD that they were spared. This is certainly a normal reaction. But, what do you say to God when we are not so "lucky" and suffer greatly? What if your child was severely injured and maimed for life or even killed? Do you still thank god? Is the hand that spared you the same one that took your child?

Many people who are involved in these types of traumas spend the rest of their days looking for reasons - one way or the other - as to either their good or bad fortune. Often, if they were spared, they are filled with the Holy Spirit and thank god for their very lives. If they are injured or maimed, they look for reasons as to why this BAD thing happened to them. I also suppose that it is comforting to just give it to god. When things don't seem to make sense, it is often easier to just subscribe it to providence. It's tough to go it alone. So, we accept divine intervention. I understand that.

However, if we are to believe that the hand of god is involved in ALL things then we must ACCEPT all things - including the bad. It is all part of the same big plan. Therefore, we must be grateful for EVERYTHING that comes our way. Of course, another way to fathom this to say that there is NO HAND that manipulates like some type of grand puppet master. Things happen simply because they were supposed to. The even have a word for it: Fate.

There is a scene in the award-winning film, Little Big Man, where Chief Dan George, the late, great Native American actor, performs his Death Dance to make peace within himself and the universe. As he breaks into dance, he chants, Hey, hey, hey. Hey, hey, hey. Then sings - Oh, Grandfather, thank you for making me a warrior and a human being. THANK YOU for my victories AND my defeats!

Why can't we just accept things simply because they are? In life, we will experience victory AND defeat. They are all part of the same, big picture. There is peace in bare acceptance. But, if the concept of a Divine Being orchestrating events in our lives gives you comfort, then, by all means, believe. Whatever gets you through the day is fine by me.

Original Poetry: When I Die

                                                             

Words and photo by F LoBuono

When I die
      I want my body to be consumed
                                       By Flames

In a GREAT Conflagration
                                      Like a Viking Chieftain

With my armor and weapons
                                      .
So that my ashes
                                     Will be spread
                                   
By The River

To The Four Corners of The Earth

.                                     Forever -
                                   
Until the End of Time.

Today's MOZEN: MEN IN HATS

Words and photo by F LoBuono

I wear a hat because it's like adding the dot at the top of an exclamation point.

Today's Mostly True Short Story. Brando Being Brando

by F LoBuono

Some people reach a level of fame and success that they can be easily identify by only one name: Pele', Sinatra, Einstein, Churchill. The list is considerable and, yet, at the same time, exclusive. There is a need for just a single identifier because there can be only one.

This concept was reinforced the other day in a conversation with my good friend, Loren Korevec. Loren was the piano player at the legendary New York eatery, Elaine's, during it's glory days of the late 1980's and 90's. He related this story to me:

During his time at Elaine's he became buddies with the great character actor, Dabney Coleman. One day at the piano they were discussing how many famous people frequented the joint.  It had become so notorious, in fact, that it was even immortalized in a Billy Joel song. The list was impressive - athletes, actors, writers, politicians, and parvenus. Anyone who was anybody just HAD to be seen at Elaine's. As they clicked off the role of celebrities, they both noticed one name that was glaringly missing: Brando. In all the years, and all the famous patrons, they had never seen Marlon Brando at Elaine's.

Coleman did add, however, that he did encounter Brando once, at another famous New York establishment, Patsy's. Patsy's had become well know years before as Frank Sinatra's favorite restaurant. One evening, around 1996, while dining there with a friend, the front door opened and much to the astonishment of the crowd, in walks Brando. Heads turned and conversations stopped. You could hear a pin drop. Brando, beautiful woman on his arm, walked in without saying a word. He was greeted warmly by the maitre d' who preceded to lead him directly to his table. Suddenly, everyone in the restaurant stood and broke into spontaneous applause. Brando showed no reaction what-so-ever. He simply continued to his table and sat down.

When Coleman finished the story, Loren exclaimed: what an arrogant asshole! He didn't even acknowledge his fans.

Coleman responded: Loren, you're missing the point. He needs to do that to BE Brando.

Today's MOZEN: Hillary vs Bernie

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Being baseball season, I thought the following analogy might be helpful in understanding the rift between the Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders camps:

Think of the Bernie and his followers as a National League Team and Hillary's supporters as their American League opponent. They are meeting in the World Series. The American League has won the All Star game entitling that squad to the home field advantage. This is set by the rules of Major League Baseball (MLB) and agreed to by all teams in the Major Leagues. The series has been a hard-fought, competitive affair and has come down to the 7th and deciding game. Because the American League team (Hillary) has the home field advantage the game will be played in its ballpark. Since it is played in the American League ballpark, BOTH teams get to use the so-called Designated Hitter (DH). Again, this is by the rules of MLB. Now, it's debatable whether the DH gives one team an advantage over the other. However, it can be argued that since the American League team plays with the DH on virtually a daily basis, it would favor them.

Be that as it may, IT IS ONE OF THE RULES OF THE GAME, decided LONG before this contest.

Purist have argued that since the implementation of the Designated Hitter into the American League (1973), the integrity of the game has been weakened. By the original rules of baseball, ALL position players were to take their turn at bat. But, to aid flagging attendance, some baseball executives decided that more hitting would make for a more exciting game. Since pitchers are notoriously poor hitters (they get paid to PITCH), they figured replacing them at the plate with a "real" hitter would lead to more runs and, therefore, more fans. The American League owners voted to accept the new rule, while the National owners preferred the status quo. The compromise was to use each League's rule within their own ballparks when playing one another. This includes the playoffs and world series.

The merits of the DH have been debated ever since.

However, in the meantime, it remains a rule of the game. To complain about it after the fact is counter productive. The genie is already out of the bottle. Teams that learn to use the rules to their advantage win the Series. Period.

So it is the case with Hillary and Bernie. We are in the 7th and deciding game. Hillary, for better or worse, is well versed in the rules of the game. In a sense, she has used the designated hitter to her best advantage. And, so she leads in both the popular vote and the delegate count. She is poised to win the Series. Bernie's followers are outraged: The rules are stacked against us! Hillary is just using a corrupt system! It's just more of the same. All of these things MAY be true. But, they still miss the point. Hillary did USE the rules to win. Charges to the contrary abound but have NOT been substantiated. So, she CANNOT be blamed for using the tools available to her. She (we) cannot make excuses for doing whatever is necessary to win. That would be like asking the New York Yankees to not do everything within their power, INCLUDING the use of their considerable monetary resources, to win it all.

This is the big league folks. It's the 7th game for all the marbles. Look for solutions - not excuses!