Today's MOZEN: Like Your Life Depended On It

While watching a CNN interview this morning being conducted with a so-called Right to Life representative (it doesn't really matter which organization because they all use pretty much the same rhetoric), it occurred to me that they really don't understand the true crux of the Roe v Wade decision - neither when it was implemented nor now, at its repeal.

Paraphrasing, the woman claimed that the repeal of Roe finally restores choice to the people by returning the decision on such matters to our most directly representative legislators, i.e. the individual States.

OK, here's what dropped my jaw immediately upon hearing that statement. The key word is CHOICE. It's not really about abortion and it's NEVER been about abortion. It's about a woman's choice to control her own body! There is no group think here. It's about EACH woman's ability to make the choices that she believes are in her own best interests - for whatever reason - we are not to judge!

No legislation on ANY level can or should deny this unalienable right to every living human being - which if you haven't noticed includes women.

And people have to understand that the latest actions of this Supreme Court are just the tip of the spear of an ultra-rightwing Conservative Christian movement, headed by the GOP and the likes of Mitch McConnel, et al. They have been pointing this Country in that direction for decades. And, mostly due to ineptitude by the opposing Democrats, have seized the momentum.

Many people have laid the blame squarely on the shoulders of former President Donald J. Trump. He certainly is a prime instigator. But, do you REALLY believe that an inept personality like Mr. Trump could have hatched this scheme on his own? Really?

Oh no, my friends. DJT did not come up with Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett all by himself?

Mr. Trump knew as much about them as I know of the President of Latvia, i.e. never heard of him!

He was fed those names by a cabal of ultra-Christian Conservatives who will do everything within their rather considerable power to MAKE (AND KEEP) AMERICA WHITE and CHRISITAN AGAIN. And, like the good puppet he REALLY was, Trump gave them what they (he) wanted.

And, shame on us for letting it happen. Registered Democrats far outnumber Republicans. Women outnumber men and vote in greater numbers. Yet, the GOP continues to win seats of power all over the Country.

So, we got what we paid for!

Ultimately, the fate of America, and this IS a battle for its soul, rests with the people who remain dedicated to their cause. Talk is cheap. Action counts. If you want to see changed then you must make change.

Vote like you life depends on it - 'cause it does.

Today's MOSTLY TRUE SHORT STORY: Never Be Afraid To Do The Right Thing

It was such a long time ago that you'll have to forgive me if some the details have become a bit fuzzy. However, the message is as clear to me as if it happened today.

It was a blistering hot summer day. I must have been about 13. I had just pitched a 5 inning Little League game at the old School #4 field on Anderson Avenue in the town in which I was raised; Fort Lee, NJ. I can't remember if we won the game or not. What I do recall was being totally spent from the effort I had put forth on such a hot day.

As was his custom, my father was in attendance. He did his utmost to support me in all my endeavors, particularly the athletic ones. So there he was, clapping and yelling, "let's go Frankie!"

After the game we walked to the car for the short ride to our home. At the first intersection we came to a traffic light that guided the flow of vehicles between Anderson Avenue and State Route 5, both busy roads. As we approached the light, there was a startling BOOM that jarred me out of my state of exhaustion.

I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but a car driven by an older gentleman had basically T-boned another car driven by a younger man. There must have been a child in the back seat as the man I assumed was his father, came storming out of the driver's seat to remove the boy from the wreckage.

My father, who had witnessed the accident too, immediately sprang into action, using our car to shield the others. He told me stay in the car and then approached the wreckage. He made sure that the young boy was placed in a secure spot off to the side of the road while we waited for the police and EMT's to arrive. Now remember, this was in the 1960's and cell phones had not even been thought of yet. So someone had to use a house phone to call the authorities. And, then you simply waited.

While we waited and I watched from my father's car, the younger man became enraged with what had transpired. He started after the older man who was still behind the wheel of his car and appeared to be in some kind of daze.

As the angry man approached, I noticed how large he seemed to be - he must have been about 6'4", muscular, with dirty-blonde hair. He reminded me of a Viking - and he was RAGING! He grabbed the old man and attempted to rip him out of his car. The old man looked up with terror in his eyes.

While I watched, I remember an overwhelming feeling of nausea. It was probably a combination of exhaustion from the game, the heat, and stress caused by what I had just witnessed. And, quite frankly, I was also afraid that a raving lunatic would not only attack the other driver but me and my father too.

Then without a moment's hesitation, my father was in the younger man's face! Now, my father was not a big man - about the same size that I am today - 5'9" and 180lbs. - and that other guy was HUGE. Still displaying no fear at all, my father pulled the big man off the other and told him in no uncertain terms, "YOU get over there by your son and wait for the police!"

And, you know what? That's exactly what the man did. My father's determination to do the right thing was so powerful even the larger man knew he was no match for a man who had right on his side.

After the police and EMT's arrived, my father turned the scene over to the them and we got back in the car for the short ride home. I remember looking at my old man with an entirely new found
admiration! He must have seen me beaming at him and said, "Frankie, never hesitate to do the right thing. Never."

With that in mind, I can't even begin to express my outrage with the response of the local Uvalde, Texas police in their feeble efforts to save the children of the Robb Elementary School. Beyond what tactics they may have felt necessary to end the situation, they hesitated for NEARLY AN HOUR while innocent lives were taken. What they needed to do was the right thing - even at the cost of their own lives!

Some might say it's easy to judge from a far. I was not there and blah, blah, blah. All I DO know is that my father would not have hesitated - and neither would have I.

Today's MOZEN: Fight for Your Rights!

With great sadness I can claim that I am not surprised by the leaked draft from the Supreme Court. Written by associate justice Samuel Alito, if actually ruled on, the Court will remove the Constitutional protection of a woman's reproductive rights, i.e. the right to choose to abort a pregnancy.

This is the moment that the Conservative Religious movement has been striving to achieve for years! It has been a relentless, well coordinated attack to impose their MINORITY views on the REST of us!

A full 70% of Americans polled have consistently supported a woman's right to choose. And the language is key here - no one makes a woman have an abortion so it's not about that. It's about a woman's RIGHT to control her own body. It MUST be HER choice. 

Yet, here we are.

The ultra-religious, regardless of sect, have been effectively imposing their will, particularly on Republican law makers, for years. And, what is most galling is that THEY are in the minority - both the ultra-religious AND the GOP. Democrats and moderately religious folk far outnumber them.

This fact is particularly glaring within the Supreme Court itself. The so-called Conservative justices that have swung the vote were ALL appointed by Republican Presidents who LOST THE POPULAR VOTE.

So much for the will of the people as well as DEMOCRACY and MAJORITY RULE. We can thank the Electoral College for this wonderful legacy.

So, what do we do?

We fight back and overwhelm this flawed system with our voices and our VOTES. We vote for candidates in such numbers that we are heard loud and clear - we will not stand for our rights to be taken by ANYONE! And this goes for women AND men. This is not just an issue of women's rights - it's one of HUMAN RIGHTS! Women must take the lead and we men must support them in every way that we can. 

We HAVE to get what we pay for - with our voices and our votes!

Be active. Be relentless. Never compromise your rights. It's what THEY do - and why they win. We can do it better!

Send the Donald Trumps, the Ted Cruzs, the Marco Rubios, and their entire ilk where they belong - to the Junk Heap of History.

And take the Electoral College with ya'!!

 

Today's MOSTLY TRUE SHORT STORY: More Than A Slap

It was over 50 years ago and I still remember it like it happened yesterday.

I must have been about 12 or 13 at the time and was hanging with another boy around the same age. His name was Bobby (no last names here). We were not real friends, at least not at that point. But I sure wanted to be. In my mind, he was just the toughest kid around. And toughness was something that I admired. Unlike frail me, he was never going to be bullied. He wasn't too big but very muscular and had dark skin befitting his Southern Italian heritage. In a way, he was everything that I thought I wanted to be.

I struck up a conversation with him. To my recollection, it wasn't anything particularly important - just small talk really. I was doing most of the talking and he was being aloof, befitting, I thought, his tough guy image. Then I said something (to this day I don't know what it was) that ticked him off. Suddenly, without warning, he slapped me as hard as he could across the side of my head. He then said something to the effect that I was getting too familiar - whatever the fuck that meant.

What I do remember was going partially deaf from the blow and that my ear was burning hot. It hurt like hell. Worse still was the shock and embarrassment of having it happen to me!

I put my hand to my face and cried out, why the hell did you do that? I received no response.

I basically just faded away that day - and from him forever. I don't believe that I ever even saw him again. Ever. He was dead in my mind anyway. In fact, and forgive me, but when I did find out that he had passed, I laughed (the LAST laugh) - I had outlived him - by a lot!

To this day, I have never forgotten the shame and degradation inflicted upon me by another man. Slapping is the ultimate insult. It would have actually been better if had knocked me out with a sucker punch.

So, when people try to justify The Slap Heard 'Round The World, remember my story. The message was clear - it wasn't just the violence but also the dominance of one human being over another - caused by a perceived insult. The resulting chaos was inevitable.

I understand that Mr. Smith has apologized to his victim, Chris Rock. And, that's certainly a step in the right direction. We all make mistakes. Some bigger than others. However, how we resolve them makes all the difference. I never received an apology from my attacker. So the wound it caused festered and left an ugly scar. And the world is been wounded enough. Let's learn from this, heal, and move on.

Today's MOZEN: Just One Little Man

Words and Photo by F LoBuono

There are days like today when an overwhelming sadness overtakes me. It may be caused by cold, grey and chilly weather, a bad night's sleep or, perhaps, a minor disagreement with a loved one.

However, even though they may be contributing factors, the reasons run deeper and are much more profound.

At least they are to me.

Some may equate this feeling with depression, but I don't feel that's entirely accurate either. Rather, it can best be described as a type of mourning, a despondency for the state of the world itself. It's born out of a sense of frustration and impotence with my inability to change the world in any truly significant way.

Afterall, I mean I'm just one, little man. What CAN I do?

Well, most of my resentment is with the fact that yet another LITTLE MAN (one man, really) is creating such wanton, willful death and destruction around the world - and there seems to be virtually nothing that I can do about it.

How can this be? How could one, little man's ego get that huge that he doth stride the narrow world. Like a Colossus, and we petty men. Walk under his huge legs and peep about. To find dishonorable graves.

If I had a gun, would I (could I) execute him? If I had an army, would I (could I) destroy him?

Well, I don't have either.

But I can still fight back in the only way that one, little man can - with integrity and unwavering desire to always attempt to do the right thing; to treat others, ALL others, with dignity and respect. To never yield, even in the face of impossible odds, to greed, avarice, cruelty and depravity.

And, remember, when just one, little man/woman is joined by another, and then another, and so on until the day comes when we won't be so little any more. THEN we will change the world and send ALL of the Putins to the hell in which they belong.

Today's MOZEN: Ukraine - Greed Wins

It breaks my heart to say this (although it shouldn't) but, unfortunately, no matter how hard we work at it, love doesn't make the world go 'round - greed does.

Well, both do.

And, it's a constant struggle to see which one will prevail. Perhaps, it's simply the way of not only the world, but the cosmos itself.

The latest assault on a sovereign nation, i.e. Ukraine, by another nation led by an egomaniacal despot, i.e. Russia, is another example of Greed triumphing over Love.

And, it's NOT just Russia.

The West, including the United States, have indeed instituted harsh economic and political sanctions on Russia. And, they will hurt the Russian PEOPLE. 

However, they (Europe AND the US) failed to impose the STRICTEST measures against Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin himself. They refused to freeze any of Mr. Putin's private assets, reported to be in the many $ billions, or the so-called S.W.I.F.T Bank in Europe which will allow many European nations like Italy, Germany, and others to continue to trade with Russia.

And, of course, oil and wheat imports from Russia will not be affected.

Why?

Why???

Because they want to hurt Russia - but not TOO much - because in doing so that would hurt the ECONOMIES, i.e. THE BOTTOM LINE, of the Countries mentioned.

After all, it's OK for Ukraine to suffer - just as long as we don't - at least not to much.

Yes, my friends, GREED often wins. Too often.

Today's MOZEN: A February Metaphor

The month of February reminds me of many of my old girlfriends: full of surprises, sometimes pleasant and beautiful, but often brutal and savage.

It mercilessly teases, too.

Usually cold and grey, with an occasional hint of Spring and all the potential light and warmth it brings, the promise falls apart in a avalanche of unmerciful ice, biting wind, and ruthless cold.

Reality sets in. It is what it is. And, I can hardly wait for it to be over . . . 

Today's MOZEN: An Epiphany

By definition, an epiphany most often occurs at the most unexpected moments and under the simplest of circumstances.

So it came to pass for me just the other day.

It's no secret that when it comes to Winter, I don't really dislike it - I detest it. For me, it has few redeeming values. And, it's not a matter of mere inconvenience. It's dangerous to drive or, sometimes, even walk. Pipes freeze. Cars crash. People and animals die from exposure. And, I find it downright painful. It hurts to be cold!!

People will extoll the virtues of clearer skies, less humidity, no bugs, and fresher air. OK. Perhaps. I've tried to be ZEN about it - you know, accepting for what it is. But, I've always endured winter much more than enjoyed in it.

Well, I decided to BE Zen and go for a walk on an absolutely frigid day - because in February MOST days are frigid and I needed to GET OUT! As I was adding my fourth or fifth layer of just undergarments and bemoaning that fact that if it were Summer, I would have already been in a pair of shorts and out on the streets, I had my epiphany: no matter how hard I tried to convince others that Winter sucked, I would NEVER change their minds. Those who DO enjoy Winter and frown on Summer weather can defend their choice with equal passion (they're wrong, of course LOL).

And, that's OK!!

There are cases where no compromise can be accepted, e.g. racism, bigotry, wanton hate. However, it's a BIG world with plenty of room for MANY opinions, especially when it comes to matters of taste and preference. Somehow, we seem to have lost the ability to share our differences in a way that brings understanding instead of hate. With rare exception, it's OK to have differences in opinion.

You know, I say TomAHto and you say TomAto kinda' stuff.

I can live with that. Even when I'm cold.

Today's MOZEN: Integrity Is Never Out of Style

As a longtime journalist, but not a Constitutional scholar, I would like to share with you my working interpretation of the 1st Amendment, a.k.a. The Right to Free Speech, particularly as it relates to the current Spotify imbroglio involving Joe Rogan, Neil Young, and now Joni Mitchell.

As you may know, Neil Young, a legendary performer who's prime was in the 1970's, challenged the music streaming source Spotify to either remove his music catalogue or Joe Rogan's program, Spotify's #1 internationally rated show with millions of listeners.

It seems that Mr. Young took exception to Mr. Rogan's continued anti-vax, anti-science rhetoric that forms the foundation for his program, especially lately.

Spotify agreed to Young's request and removed his music instead of Rogan's program, again citing their so-called protection of the 1st Amendment. (I'm sure that it had nothing to due with the multi-million $ contract Rogan recently signed with them). Joni Mitchell, recently honored by the Kennedy Center for her music soon followed Young in support and had her music removed as well.

First, and foremost, I am a HUGE supporter of the 1st Amendment. I have been personally attacked for my use of it. But I will not back down.

However, even with that said, there ARE LIMITS to it!

You cannot make public statements that are knowingly, willfully false that may cause harm to others. IN OTHER WORDS, you can't yell FIRE in a crowded theater, causing a stampede, when you KNOW there is no fire!

Now, as this relates to Rogan, Young, Spotify, et al: Rogan may be able to defend himself by saying he believes in that anti-vax/anti-science nonsense. However, Spotify CANNOT! They have an editorial board that is responsible for weeding out those who claim fire when there is none. And, this, obviously is just such a case.

So, no, they cannot claim Freedom of Speech!

But, then again, this seems to be a trend - a dearth of ethics, morals, and scruples through virtually every aspect of our society. There are those who totally miss the point by mocking what they see as a lack of relevance to Mr. Young and Ms. Mitchell - like that should make a difference.

Well, shame on those who do - because INTEGRITY never goes out of style. 

Today's MOZEN: Caring

 

Words and photo by F LoBuono