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This modern era of sophisticated forensics, especially, the development of DNA science, has successfully seen the exoneration and release from imprisonment of numerous innocent individuals, erroneously convicted of crimes. Sadly, society has not found an adequate way to atone for the disastrous consequences to the wrongfully convicted person or his family. There would seem to be no satisfactory solution to the problem, except a sincere resolution to apply the legal system and the law of evidence fairly, correctly and without bigotry.

The coldest (and inarguably, the oldest) case and example of injustice, one in which the consequences have been the most horrendously dire, is the well- known biblical myth of Adam (meaning “earth” or “man”) and Eve, the primal human couple. This “Creation Myth,” still incredibly perpetuated by the Abrahamic religions, relates that Adam, eats an apple, from the forbidden “Tree of Knowledge” offered to him by Eve, with the connivance of a tree snake. For this horrendous offense, the pair “discover their nakedness and are banned from the Garden of Eden, forever. As if the punishment were not severe enough, religion invests each newborn child, from the “begats” on, for eternity, with that “original sin” by reason of which life becomes, necessarily, a mono- focused mission of expiation; rather than one dedicated to growth in knowledge and capability and the pursuit of life enhancement.

Let us (forgive the expression) dig down and apply a modicum of rationality to the conventional myth and see where it takes us (without the need or relevancy of DNA testing).

In ancient lore and existing traditional liturgy, the image of “the tree” has always been a positive, if not a revered, symbol, evincing terms like “tree of life” and other culturally affirming similes.

Adam and Eve, the biblical representation of the newly emerged and highest level sentient animal, were exalted by the Deity above “all the beasts of the field” specifically, by reason of man’s nascent intelligence.

The subject varietal in the story is a most singular apple tree, the “Tree of Knowledge” from which, the storyline goes, Adam commits the astoundingly evil act of eating of one of its apples, offered to him by Eve (with the connivance of the snake) despite the clear admonition of the Deity not to do so. As a direct and proximate result of this, no less than shameless, act the primal couple “discovered their nakedness,” (read, became aware of themselves) and were permanently banned from the Garden of Eden (read, state of ignorance). {Actually, this sounds like a good thing}. However, instead of the joyious discovery of being, the miracle and the affirmation of identity, the Good Book speaks harshly of the eternal disgrace of “original sin.”

It should properly be to the unmitigated, delight of all feminists and their supporters, that the fruit of the tree of knowledge was delivered to man(kind) by his female consort; far from the disgrace of eternal sin, mankind, mythically, was thereby gifted with the ability to discover the world and pursue his natural potential, self- realization.

Equally puzzling and disturbing is the Greek myth of Prometheus who was sentenced by Zeus to an eternity of excruciating torture for the “offense” of bringing fire and civilization to mankind. Why does ancient myth, and more modern religion, construe the gift to humanity of enlightenment and reason as a horrendous sin when it is the natural and predictable goal of the newly evolved or created, sentient being? Do reason and enlightenment possibly pose an existential threat for religion?

To us, there clearly seems to be an enormous debt of gratitude due to Prometheus and, of course, to Eve.

 

-p.

Another tribute to the uselessness and arrogance of aphorisms (Blog# 11) is “People judge you by your friends.” This instance of great judicial wisdom would predict that the perceived quality, positive or negative, of the people with whom you choose to associate, will be determinative of your evaluated worth. Unfortunately, this reductive phrase is as popular as it is ignorant.

Our theme here, however, centers on the word, “friend”, its defining characteristics and function.  In truth, the dynamics and role of this positive phenomenon may be the most salutary and life-affirming of all interactive relationships.

We would, perhaps too formally, define “friendship” as the recognized status of loyal relationship with common purpose. It may be distinguished from the word, “acquaintance” which we understand to be as well a relationship of familiarity, but with less depth and commitment. In “friendship” we not only recognize each other as a familiar, but are in such close interaction that we support each other’s personality and patterns of intimacy.

Friends can be observed in a myriad of categories, childhood friends (most, later become acquaintances), neighbor friends (example, young mothers with babies), family friends (rare), political and business friends, where common ties have morphed into friendship.

Friends with whom we frequently interact serve as consistent assurances and confirmation of our personal identity and self-image. Sometimes there are beliefs and behaviors that, in fact, are at variance with ours, but they too meet our expectations and so confirm our identity. Family friends may be less numerous and more complicated since they seem at times to depend upon loyal consensus of judgment concerning some historical fact or certain individuals.

Life without friends would be insular and lonely. It may be observed that our interaction with friends not only provides the office of confirming our self-image but also helps determine our tastes, opinions and to a certain extent, even our personal appearance. It is also the experience that it is somewhat comforting and calming to grow older with other contemporary familiars.

However, in fairness, friends are not the exclusive baseline for our take on reality. There are many significant relationships which fall short of the criteria for friendship but which do confirm us in our roles and identity. Neighbors, shopkeepers, barbers and hair dressers, bank clerks, newspaper salespeople, and the like, are all part of our regular dramatis personae, and by reason of their predictable presence and consistent function do confirm us in our familiar place in the scene.

As an illustrative example, we have observed a small group of commuter train riders who for many years occupy proximate seats so as to enable their participation in a regular game of cards on the way to Pennsylvania Station.  Despite the fact that this coterie has so participated for a great many years, little is in truth known, each about the other, with the exception of first names and little else concerning their personal lives; yet the early morning card game has become a matter of significant institutional importance to their life’s routine.

While interaction with friends is of inestimable value in the quality of our lives so, in the same way many of our casual, but regular, interactions with identifiable others, add zest and identifiable structure to our lives and should not be undervalued.

An interesting category of friendly relationship is the short-lived, temporary bond between fellow vacationers. In this situation, we have the opportunity to take particular notice of our own familiar social skills and personality in the ephemeral situation. It may be observed that irrespective of any and all sincere and energetic expressions of undertakings to perpetuate the relationship beyond the period of the holiday, such good intentions rarely materialize.

The exalted role of friends, and the more mundane existence of acquaintances, together play essential parts in life’s acceptable and positive scenario.

-p.

 

This note is dedicated exclusively to the vastly underrated word, “like.” Our use of the word has no   relationship or connection with that word as used in face book patois to signify approval of, or agreement with, a particular post; nor is it related, in any way, to the too frequent use of that word, particularly by the younger set, as a constant preface to any statement to indicate emotional distance from the declaration and to preserve the fashionable suggestion of “cool.”

To our point, the word “like” seems, unjustly, to have been given a back seat to the more ethereal and much romanticized word, “love.” We would energetically and earnestly hold that, in the normal course of life, the word like proves to be more enduringly reliable and decisive.

We were sitting on a bus the other day in close proximity to two lovely late teen girls, engaged, apparently, in a most intense conversation. The quality of “intense” was deduced from the observation that, during the interaction, their noses were in dangerous proximity to each other. The salient utterance appeared to be a question posed by one to the other, as follows: “But do you like him, or do you like him like him?” We confess, it did take a few moments for a senior citizen, well outside the au courrant lingo, to comprehend the profundity of this question. As understood, if the response were, “I like him,” the immediate diagnosis of the extent of the relationship would conclusively be that of (mere) friendship; on the other hand, if the response were, “I like him, like him” love would be the communicated admission.

Many people, most especially the cohort of young adults, presumably aspiring to mates and family, would characterize the presence of intense attraction, sexual or otherwise, as love. Most plays, operas, songs, soaps, and literary works extol and transmogrify the concept. Although there seems to be no evidence of a workable translation of the word, it is universally understood to be the essential ingredient requisite to the establishment of an enduring relationship. Accordingly, the search for love, or its idealized conception is intense, concentrated and additionally, controversial.

In the context and setting of the family, the presence of “love” is implicitly assumed, virtually definitional and therefore not questioned, although it may not be the reality. In the setting of the long term relationship, one is seen to love his spouse or partner, as perceived as the societally accepted concomitant of the publicly recognized relationship.

Long established relationships, experiencing stresses, rendering mutual nursing services in instances of unpleasant or noxious illnesses, strains of child rearing and raising, financial stress, possible in-law problems, financial stresses and other such events, often result in a change in the nature of feelings, a more prosaic taking of each other for granted in respective roles and obligations; romanticized love is no longer an observable or felt phenomenon. Exotic and idealized notions of romantic love have morphed into a more practical and mundane dependence and long established familiarity.

We would maintain that the long enduring phenomenon, namely, liking each other, is the dependable adhesive holding relationships together and making for pleasant and desirable interaction. “Liking” is the most vital feature, it is reasonable, comprehensible and also noticeable.

In the case of sibling, or other assumed, familial love, do you really like your brother Freddy? In your relationship, do you honestly like your spouse or partner; do you enjoy his company, would you, in other circumstances, have chosen him for a friend?

We can offer no studies or statistical back up but would nevertheless, confidently hazard the proposition that most couples will stay together in their long term relationship, if they like each other and may well separate if they do not, irrespective of the element of “love.” Siblings and other familial relatives will happily and enthusiastically socialize, for other than mandatory major life events if they like each other.

“Like” outlasts outweighs and outperforms “love” by any rational or experiential measure.

 

-p.

No eyebrows will be raised in response to the observation that the quantum of media advertisement on behalf of companies offering services in the nature of financial retirement planning is approaching infinite. To be sure, strategies for the accumulation of sufficient resources at retirement to enable the retiree and family to maintain a desired standard of living is extremely necessary and important.

There appears however, to be no media invitations offering services in the nature of counseling to the new retiree regarding the difficult adjustment necessarily implicit to the sea change in his life brought about by this epochal event. This may be attributed to the fact that this difficult and confusing task seems to be the sole responsibility of the retiree, himself (as opposed to financial planning, a business for profit entities); there would seem to be no relevance or occasion for media blitz.

To the point, a thoughtful plan enabling the continuation of a rewarding life after retirement is arguably of equal, or perhaps greater, import than financial planning but requiring a different stratagem.

It is the common experience to define oneself to more or less degree in terms of his life-long profession or occupation. After the consequential event of retirement, therefore, there is necessarily experienced a seismic change in self-identification as well as the routine and structure of daily life; this after 55+ years of consistent patterns of life and can be devastating. Those who confusedly and diffidently surrender to the profession of “couch potato,” whose sole diversion and activities consist in reading newspapers and watching television, relegate themselves to a meaningless, amorphous and unhealthy life; medical statistics show a significant occurrence of depression and general decline in health in such circumstances.

The retiree desperately needs a continued sense of purpose, self -worth and self- esteem in this new uncharted chapter of life.

We unreservedly state that life post-retirement can be no less than joyful, rewarding and, at the risk of hyperbole, the best phase of life (assuming, of course, the existence of reasonably acceptable health).

We have previously stated (Blog # 6) that, contrary to the opinion of some, growing old is not a disease and indeed, can actually be pleasantly anticipated. Gone are the stresses of earlier life, stresses of maturing, school and university stresses, early financial problems, later on, family and child stresses, employment and performance concerns and a myriad of others; these are now history, some barely recollected. At long last we are now gifted with peace and quietude. In addition, we have learned lessons in life which have provided philosophical perspective, have wisely learned to define ourselves by our capabilities and accomplishments (as opposed to our failures and matters of which we have little aptitude). We have perhaps learned the appropriate degree of response relative to the objective materiality of the respective stimulus and have acquired a reasonable measure of patience and endurance. Importantly, we have learned, empirically, that we are capable people and have been productive. We have also been pleased to observe that we are possessed of a personality which has been acceptable to the other people with whom we have interacted.

We are, at this point, fully capable of further significant self-realization without necessary distraction; we have suddenly attained an epiphany (Blog # 14) that we are, at long last, capable of reaping the well-deserved harvest of the fruits of our labors.

Once liberated from the proverbial treadmill and the daily grind, we are able to enjoy without limitation the “outside activities” and pursuits previously cultivated but not sufficiently pursued; the unrestrained pursuit of personally meaningful activities has the potential for continued growth, life enhancement and the preservation of self- esteem.

Planning for a fulfilling and satisfying life after retirement consists simply of the selection and continuous nurturance of desired, stimulating pursuits or interests, unrelated to the subject of our work and preserved until the opportunity for more active engagement.

Those individuals who have been fortunate (or far-sighted) enough to have acquired an “extra-curricular” activity, whether reading great literature, music, collecting, mechanics and the like, will now have the fortunate opportunity and luxury of their unrestrained pursuit. For others, there is volunteering, courses at colleges and universities open to auditing seniors and other avenues for useful dedication.

The retiree busily and energetically engaged in his chosen pursuit will derive joy from the opportunity for creative expression and a renewed life-enhancing enthusiasm; he will very soon realize that he has not become superannuated and ejected from his former work role, but has finally been liberated so that he can realize his personal dreams and attain a desired self-image. “Free at last!”

-p.

To the sage and thought-provoking observation, authored by William Shakespeare, in his play, “As You Like It,” “All the world’s a stage and the men and women in it merely actors” we would most respectfully and humbly, offer an addendum. In addition to the profession of actors, we would presume to add producers, casting directors and script writers. Moreover, the role(s) we opt for on the world stage may differ from the parts attributed to us by others, in the same ratio of difference as perception bears to reality.

The vital necessity to maintain a felt consistency of self- identification requires an acceptance and recognition by others with whom we endeavor to establish a uniformly accepted script (consensus of reality) and a common state of affairs. It is virtually contractual.

We tactically assign the leading and supporting roles, in the wake of events, in order to personally apprehend the actions of others in accordance with our own fixed expectations; the latter founded upon, and in accordance with, our individually perceived needs. Of course, too great a variance in personal interpretation from the public consensus of reality, would be, by medical or practical necessity, evaluated as requiring therapy. We may not all see the same color red at the traffic light, but it is a vital necessity to see that it is a “red” light.

We all appear to have our own nuanced recording equipment, visual as well as auditory, which transcribes our perceived scenario of events and which may be at variance from that of others based on (understood) past experiences, religious beliefs, personal assumptions and expectations; notwithstanding which it seems, experienced reality is solely accessible to us by means of our personal perception. To some extent, at least, each of us experiences a somewhat differing cinematic presentation. By reason of identical human dynamics, even settled “History” is subjective. (See: Blog #93).

Although circumstances and especially atypical behavior may cause the cancellation or amendment of an assigned role, there is an important need for us to see others in a certain defined role and context so that we may maintain an understanding of our own part in life’s play and retain our personal self-image.

It may be instructive to note that whenever we comment on others we are at the same time, describing ourselves. The choice of subject matter, selection of criteria, observations and judgments are no less than revelatory of who we are, our perceptions and personal take on reality.

It might therefore be concluded that observation and evaluation of events, are personal and individual; the recognition and general understanding of this phenomenon might prevent insularity and strife and ultimately facilitate societal consensus, peace and tolerance.

 

-p.

It seems to be that poems are born
In rainbow current electric stuff
Stored in the brain for quick release.
Coleridge’s “images” and “economy speech”
In truth, the merely shorthand pulse of
thoughts, gay flowers, emotional sting,
The nascent scene to be reshown.
Our prose, slow grinder of our thoughts is,
No match, at all, for brain-wired speed.
The poem, the easy victor of the race,
Its speed apace with brain impulse.

With switch eternally set at “on”
For those forgoing day and deed.

A subtle smile is forgivable in reaction to the oft-repeated concern that “History is being re-written.”  The underlying assumption in that naïve concern is that there is a single, universal and objectively accurate recounting of the past which is authoritatively unassailable.

In the distant past, it seems, events were orally recounted by a tribal elder or a shaman and in similar fashion transmitted over the succeeding generations. This morphed into the reliance upon recognized and celebrated historians such as, Josephus, Tacitus, Herodotus and much later, Gibbons and Toynbee. It may well be that, all in all, the need for a uniformly accepted narrative has always trumped precisely accurate history.

There would, inarguably, seem to be a need for mankind to have an identifiable and personally relatable past in order to acquire provenance and context for his unique existence and as an assurance of his continuity. As a practical and educative matter, past behavioral lessons and skills are successively learned and carried forward in the improvement and development of civilization.

It is somewhat disappointing, then, to be instructed that history is written (altered?) by the “victors” (winners of war or dominant society). Wouldn’t it be much more satisfying to know, by contrast, that “true” history is a non-biased, objective account of the past; but it seems, disappointingly, that history too, Is subjective.  As an example, an account of the Vietnam War, written by a Vietnamese historian would differ, significantly, from that authored by a French or American writer.

In addition to national, ethnic and religious bias, a true, academic recounting of history generally speaking, is diminished by inaccurate accounts of past events (intentional or not), memory, language translational disparities, all of which is capable of resulting in disparate understandings.

In newspapers, editorial boards necessarily select from the plethora of events, those that in its judgment are of major interest to its subscribers in an effort to increase circulation, and in consequence, advertising revenue. Other media create history in the same way and for identical reasons. In an ideal world, events would be selected and presented in the perceived order of their national and historic significance. Thus the media has its impact on the recounting of history. It may also be supposed that the celebrated academic “historians” were, and are, somewhat affected, as well, by various non-objective considerations.

In our individual lives, we are affected in varying degrees by prevalent popular judgment as to the hierarchical importance of events, if not their actual factual content. In the interest of preserving our personal integrity; we need to inform ourselves and develop our own insight and understanding.

It is suggested that in our personal lives, the recollection of past events and histories are, as a practical necessity, also determined by consensus.

-p.

In his earlier blogs, Pliny held that virtue, as is the case with all significant human phenomena, self-esteem, self- worth, growth and understanding, perception of success or failure, are internal, and all-important in our life-long private conversation with ourselves; especially in the perception of our personal identity. Good and virtuous actions and exercises of judgment, as noted, add to our ever accumulating account balance of self- esteem, while negative or wrongful ones would seem to diminish that all-important balance.,

Our earlier writings extolled the priceless value of all life and chastised people who hunt and kill animals for sport and pleasure. There is no rational or cognizable justification for the killing of animals for sport under any and all circumstances.

A brief review of the evolutionary process or general anthropology would reveal that mankind has eaten meat since his debut on the planetary surface. His physiology, including his dental inventory and his digestive and metabolic systems reveal that his slow progress and development towards a sentient being, capable of reason and understanding, has not yet resulted in the declaration that those features have become vestigial, (like the appendix). It is clear that from his most primitive days, man has always considered the eating of meat and fish to be the major source of his sustenance and survival; fruits and vegetables, apparently less so. Our digestive and dental phenomena, however, do indicate the innate capacity to digest and assimilate vegetation.

Recently, Pliny was the guest at a July 4^th celebration on a farm in Connecticut. He was engaged in an interesting and enjoyable conversation and was eating an excellent hamburger. In the course of the conversation, Pliny interrupted and said, “This is a great hamburger, maybe the best I have ever had.” In response, one of his hosts replied, “It should be, it is” Tiny.” (explaining that “Tiny” was a young, challenged cow, incapable of ever producing milk). Once made aware of the identity (by name too!) of the source of his lunch, Pliny suddenly stopped chewing, felt guilty and disappointed in himself. At that point (if not many times before) Pliny realized that he has always been hypocritical, in this respect, at least, in that he often eats meat, while, simultaneously shutting his mind to the source and the practical logistics of its being brought to table.

Such hypocrisy has been so finessed that the perception of a quarter of a cooked chicken and some rice, appearing on a plate, is “dinner” and not the end product of a butchered bird. Accordingly, Pliny shame-facedly apologizes for this inconsistency between his moral averments and his actions in such instances. Under no circumstances, however, could he, himself, ever kill an animal (nor will he refrain from the chastisement of those who hunt and kill animals for pleasure).

In all other aspects of life, Pliny continues to derive pleasure and self-esteem in his dedication to living his life virtuously and encouraging others to do so.

 

-p.

Our nation has, of late, become unpredictably mono-focused on, and somehow mired in, the subject of immigrant policy, to the exclusion of far more vital and material issues such as, economic inequality and injustice, national security, health, environmental, criminal justice, voting rights and infinitely more.  In the present presidential contest it is no less than astounding to observe that these immensely important issues seem to have been relegated to the background and contention regarding immigrant policy, a far less significant subject, installed at the public forefront of our national concerns.

In spite of certain setbacks, including past immigration policy towards the Chinese, the refusal of entry of a ship carrying Jewish escapees from Nazi Germany, and very few others, Americans have always understood that our nation became great by virtue of liberal immigration, and the benefits ensuing from the admixture of diverse peoples, races, religions, languages and ancestry. The Great Seal (and many other applications) includes the proud, historic phrase “E Pluribus Unum” (From Many, One).

What we see as causative of this vexing dilemma, is the tactical (and historically, un-American) call to nativism by one of the current candidates for presidential office, which call, it appears, has historically had great appeal to those disappointed with their life, and those disgruntled folks of low information and insufficient education, seeking to identify an external cause for their dissatisfaction.

The great success of our relatively young nation which provides the motivation for so many people of foreign lands to desire to come here, is something to celebrate and share, not selfishly hoard .Strangely, many former immigrants to our country, after settling in, and a few generations of success, oppose the admission of others who identically are seeking a better life. How soon they forget! Gratitude aside, good fortune apparently, is not to be shared.

It might be useful to find other descriptions for the unregistered immigrant than “illegal alien”; these are people, not extra-terrestrials, whose” illegality” is confined to the absence of required paperwork and documentation, and not to criminal behavior.

It can be said no better than Emma Lazarus, whose words appear appropriately on a bronze plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty:

 

 

“… Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air bridged harbor that twin cities frame
“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp” cries she
With silent lips. Give me your tired, your poor
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore
Send these, the homeless, the tempest ‘tost to me
I lift my lamp beside the golden gate.”

p.

 

The soil curates small slips of man
His life, his work, his resume
Some petit detritus of his life
A library of tales again retold.

No need to search with system code
Items are best secured by chance
With lucky use of spade and rake
Close searched where man did live and die.

A rusty nail, a piece of tool
Both witnesses to man’s resolve,
To raise a shelter for repose.
A fragment of a printed page,
Reveals a ken that there’s yet more.
Old cans and jars and rusty spoons,
Betoken victory over want
And man’s resolve to live out life.

The grassy fields are seen as doors,
Enclosing bits of lives past lived-
Far better than the research “App,”
With cold results in digit code!

-p. (attributed to Leonard N. Shapiro, August, 2016)