Month: November 2015

It is becoming manifestly evident that military operations, specifically, aerial bombing of Isis strongholds, is not the most effective response to this murderous, atavistic horde.  These zealots would, consistent with their purpose and goal, prefer to portray a fictional context of a war between civilizations.  Traditional warfare (“boots on the ground”) would seem to play into their barbaric aspirations (not to mention the issue of collateral damage).

It seems to p that wholesale and warm welcoming of Syrian refugees would be a public and historic demonstration that Isis’ avowed attempts to portray its goals as the creation of a paradise, is far from credible. Vetting may be necessary in many cases, but the admission of these desperate refugee families and individuals, who have risked death to flee the nascent caliphate, would be a clear, public refutation of Isis’ opium-dream like portrayal of its principles and aspirational goals.

It would also be in keeping with our tradition as a haven for humanity in trouble.

p.

 

The metallic clang of the sunshine-

Resonates in trees and dry bushes

Fearful critters peer out of sandy burrows-

At the menacing light

River banks, stoically, endure relentless abrading

As surges of super-heated streams-

Flood the planet, sunami-style

By instinct, predatory insects set out

For their daily kill

In a perfumed theater of lethal carnage

While mankind, diverted by its ducks and music-

Ignores tectonic fury and gorges on.

pliny (attrib. Leonard N. Shapiro (2015)

Reluctance to make necessary change is a non-productive, but forgivable cowardice.

From the time we are forcibly evicted from the dark safety and warmth of the womb, into the bright-lighted unknown, newness poses potential threat. The subliminal recollection of this unwanted dispossession, soon evolves to a diffidence, a neurotic trend, toward automatically eschewing change; without conscious knowledge of its motivation. Don’t we all rationalize our acts (or reluctance to act) retrospectively, and sometimes even creatively?  Our individualized psyche and personal chemistry are formidable opponents to our spontaneity, and even, our free will.

However, such seemingly innate, and understandable, antipathy to change, it appears, often leads to disappointment in life. The baseless impression of “security,” all too often, results in the avoidance of mature growth, emotionally and intellectually. We fearfully and, ignorantly choose to arrest our aspirations in exchange for the prenatal “known”

Change of long-held opinions and beliefs, of routine thinking, professional choice and even, marriage, when the objective facts clearly indicate, however strenuous and painful, may lead to a satisfying life, a sense of self-realization, and, even joy.

Usually, when change is thrust upon us by circumstance, the forced readjustment and the imperative acceptance of altered circumstances results in a mandated new “normalcy.”

We must negotiate in earnest and bravely with our personal unconscious and innate   perceptions of safety and security and venture on.

The realization and discovery that change feels dangerous and wrong, in various degrees, is universally shared   but where overcome may lead to joy.

p

A hypotenuse of pale yellow light

Illumines a small cracked collar button

Fresh- evicted from its domicile of utility

Bereft of the tactual industry-

Of intimately engaged fingertips

Lying in the roadbed, clinging to thread-

Supine, solitary, estranged and unmarked

But, suddenly, reveling in the joyous discovery

An unobstructed view of blue sky!

pliny (attrib. to Leonard N. Shapiro, 2012)

 

 

 

 

A BUD STIRS

A brightly colored bud-

If you look closely

Has already spoken change

A subtle parting, a movement of tight-wrapped, nascent petals

May be observed

Pristine droplets of clear rainwater-

Invest the developing bloom

A ladybug performs its mandatory reconnaissance-

Climbing up to peer at the future

A colorful butterfly alights so briefly

Knowing instinctively-

Beauty and Fragrance is on the way

pliny  (attrib. to Leonard N. Shapiro, 2012)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final act invariably punctuating the restaurant dining event is the gratuity, or “tip”. While technically, and legally, understood to be voluntary, the gesture is required by our notions of acceptable behavior and etiquette. Reviled are those who “stiff” a server.

It is commonly (and, I am sure, incorrect) to identify the word, “tips” as an acronym for the phrase “to insure prompt service”. Were that so, the concept cannot compete with rational sense; the gesture is at best, an expo- facto judgment,  since it is calculated, given or refused after the  meal.

Indeed, why shouldn’t every service be reasonably timely? Why should anyone be rewarded for simply doing his job?  Shouldn’t the service of a meal be prompt without an expectation of a later bribe?

Don’t gratuities also express the degree of our satisfaction with the cuisine?  This is clearly not relevant to prompt  service. Should tips be given to the chef and kitchen staff? Others?

Good food and prompt service should entirely be the responsibility of the management; should be expected and taken for granted. Bad service should be unusual.

I have a friend who described his incompetent and inattentive waiter  as  “someone who had performed the geometric miracle of having his back turned to everyone”. This should be a rarity.

Restaurant owners should pay their staff fairly and not oblige their patrons to subsidize inadequate wages . Good restaurants are revisited by diners  when the food and service are good.

p

 

 

 

It may be significant that in the mythical (biblical) Garden of Eden the name of man’s progenitor is “Adam”, which means “: earth” in ancient Hebrew. The expression “Mother Earth” may be a subliminal acknowledgment of our origin. .Ancient rituals and religious worship often centered on agriculture and fertility The worship of Nature, for millennia, led fearful folks to fear that in winter the earth died (except for  the miraculous evergreen trees and plants) only to celebrate its rebirth the following Spring.

There has always been an invisible and uncut umbilical cord between humankind and the soil and planet (note the coincidental similarity between the words “planet” and “plant”.

Most people seek relaxation and escape in natural surroundings (“regain normalcy”). The great poet, William Wordsworth found a religious worship in Nature (pantheism).

P. would earnestly recommend gardening and plant culture (even in a window box or planter) The pleasure of creating and nurturing new plant life often is an assurance of ” continuance ”  and  ” renewal.”  Growing flowers and plants is a perennial source of aesthetic pleasure, and an outlet for spontaneous creativity. It may by extension, even be a wholesome lesson in reproduction, especially for children.

Above all, it is a great joy!

Gardening activities produces happiness; .it is hard to find many people who would be reluctant to increase their joy in life.

p

It has been seen, by disappointing experience, that aphorisms (albeit confidant) are useless and, at times harmful, guides for human behavior and decisional choices. These adages are construed without knowledge of the specific context and motivation of   the individual and the situational facts, objective and subjective, nor the motivation of the unknown person for whom this recipe has been traditionally baked.

Worse still is the fact that for every  such example of such arrogant foolishness,  there appears to be an opposite  admonition, viz.,” look before you leap” compared to, ” he who hesitates is lost” ,among the many contradicted examples handed down over time , too numerous and known  to require present recitation .

One admonition more currently concocted, by those who should know better, appears to be, “Live in the moment”, this obscure aphorism appears to be widespread. Many professional advisors instruct that it is a recipe for the good life and an antidote to anxiety. This prescription targeted to all who will fill it. By the way, what is the “moment” referred to in this bromide? The moments seem to change rapidly and may be impossible of discernment

The rationalization for these useless formulas may be seen by some as needed since, “one cannot know the future”, “Now” is yesterday’s future.  How long is it still now (the moment)? When does future begin? The only ones who seem to know are the sellers of financial plans and squirrels, the latter who bury nuts for later (“live in the future” or in the moment? Ask your local rodent.)

Those who feel that they simply must know the future waste a lot of “now” consulting horoscopes and often, wasting money to charlatans, palmists other phonies .On the subject of horoscopes, for example, the “theory” is that the arrangement of the planets and stars at the time of one’s birth, is indicative of one’s  personality and destiny. It is ancient history which tells us that the signs of the zodiac were construed at a time when man knew little, if anything, about the planets, their location and orbits. Even if there were some cosmic influence of such heavenly bodies at the moment of birth (which is sheer lunacy to suppose) the signs of the zodiac are purely arbitrary. Life proceeds by accident, by unforeseeable and unpredictable events. Making the best choices should not be hampered by the irrational

It might be said that “now” is yesterdays “future.

p

“Time marches on” “tempus fugit” and the like, are expressions of the (necessarily) repressed panic and general disquiet in the understanding that, at its best, our lives are short stories. The all too common expression, “killing time” is the obverse of reality–time is killing us.

While great scientists perform basic research to extend and prolong life we live with belief the constant mantra of our mortality. Some look to the morphine of religious belief, others, and others to rational philosophical thought   and acceptance

Pliny prescribes the reading  of good literature as an effective balm for this common discomfort  Such practice connects our various lives and events, good and bad, to man’s common, universal experience; we can recognize ourselves and our life’s events as an actor in the universal drama of life as portrayed. Didn’t Shakespeare famously say, “All the world is a stage….”

While there is certainly an almost infinite variation in plot character and action we are enabled to see universality in their representation. “Been there, done that” is expressed felt as an all-important and reassuring revelation.

The metaphor describing vanishing “footsteps in the sand” may be avoided; the footsteps portrayed   by the various literary geniuses over the ages are the same eternal footsteps we leave. . .

p

Several years ago, and on a day when the weather was rather unseasonable,  p. was confronted by a well-known TV weatherman and crew, and asked for his opinion on the unusual weather. P. extremely surprised,  but pleased, stated to the surprise of the interviewer  that, in his experience the daily weather report  was internal, and not outdoors ;Even on a sunny, temperate day,  if one is troubled, it is a rotten day; conversely, it is a fine day, albeit nasty weather, if one is feeling  peaceful and untroubled.

It is not only our judgment of weather that is internal but, it seems, all of our perceptions are internal.

Our industrial society seems to ( solely) value the production of material  goods and services and achievements in  their increased production, while human activities such as reading, thinking at leisure, enjoyment of the arts are relegated to categories of less importance, The means, efforts to acquire material things  is unfortunately, approved and  encouraged by society. Life teaches the intelligent observer that such insatiable formula for material things is futile ,and, ultimately not productive of human happiness. There are untold examples in life in general, in business, and show business, that it never satisfies and leads to disappointment, misery and even, suicide. Individual and thoughtful re-evaluation of “means” and “ends” may be called for realistic self-evaluation may put us on the path to ultimate satisfaction.

Individual, personal and private perception of one’s virtue is very essential, hypocrisy is ultimately self-destructive. Should I steal your watch, even if I return it and all is completely forgiven, I still have the private and agonizing doubts as to my earlier wrongful act as a reflection of my character.

p