Opinion Pieces
The following articles
first appeared in the
Arizona Daily Star's opinion page
ORANGES
On
one occasion when buying oranges at the grocery store I happened to glance at
the UPC sticker and saw that the orange resting in my hand had traveled all the
way from Chile, approximately 5,225 miles away. That caught my attention and after a few
seconds I found myself becoming curious about all the people who had handled
that orange as it made its journey to my hand. Counting them up I figured it
was at least eight people, from the one who picked the orange to the packer and
shipper on up to the person who placed it on the produce shelf. That’s eight
different people from diverse backgrounds with different interests, relationships,
problems and separate plans for their future, all who had their hands on that orange.
These were eight people who didn’t know each other but who became uniquely linked
together and whose individual efforts would bring that orange to my breakfast table.
Those were eight people that I didn’t know or knew anything about. And yet those
eight people were going to collectively feed me.
But isn’t it like that in all aspects of life? Aren’t we an amalgamation of humans with all types of labels and personality traits and hang-ups, as diverse as every snowflake that falls each winter and yet we know nothing of each other? Basically we remain strangers to a vast majority of those surrounding us. And by not knowing who they are we don’t feel their joy or pain or share in their hopes or cry with them when they lose a loved one. Still they give us life, provide for our life, save our life and enhance our life. Without these people we can’t function to our greatest capacity. Basically we live in a vacuum and without other people our life faces the danger of shrinking and becoming stagnant and imperfect.
It may have been just an orange that I held in my hand, but it quickly became an object of great insight and wisdom to me. I was holding many hands in a clasp of togetherness, bringing sustenance and love and life to my table. It spoke volumes about how life is not an individual domain but a mesh of human lives and souls and spirits all functioning together in the same sphere for the good of all. It told us that everyone is a precious asset – one that needs to be carefully protected and embraced with much respect, appreciation and love. And at that moment I knew the joy and pleasure I would receive from this orange would be enhanced far beyond my original expectation because I was now sharing it with eight other people who matter.
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ALL ON A BEAUTIFUL MORNING
In
1951, songwriter Irving Gordon penned a haunting folk ballad about the American
Civil War titled, “Two Brothers.” It is
featured at both
In listening to the song, I found it quite intriguing that while depicting the somber consequence of that war, Gordon abruptly reverses the mood and ends every other stanza with the phrase, “All on a beautiful morning.” On the surface I found that to be totally incongruous with the whole tenor of the ballad, out of place and contradictory. It didn’t make sense to me.
But then in giving it more thought I began to see what Gordon was possibly attempting to do. Symbolically mornings have always represented a new beginning, a new day bringing light out of darkness. By injecting the fact that the tragedies of the war were taking place on a beautiful morning, Gordon metaphorically created the idea that out of the darkness of that war a new and more vibrant beginning would be taking place; a new day would begin.
Today we are in a similar pattern with the darkness of the world’s ills dominating the news: from wars to humanitarian atrocities, with gun violence and climate change, crime and corruption and political erosion. Indeed there is enough of the depressing news to wring the spirit out of any soul. However, like Gordon’s song, there is constantly a beautiful morning that is hovering over us, dictating and moving our lives forward and away from the negativity that seems, at times, to be overwhelming.
This bright new morning comes in the form of the human kindness and the show of love that emanates from the work of people caring about other people. Volunteers stand as an excellent example, freely and selflessly giving of their time and talents in many fields, from hospitals to schools to charities and social service agencies plus many more, all done to better lift up the lives of everyone.
In addition, this show of love for our fellow human includes those many devoted professionals, often underpaid, who spend many hours dedicating themselves to the advancement and welfare of others. Teachers, nurses, first responders, social workers and people in similar positions are among our citizens often giving up their time and time with their families to work towards improving all lives. Then, there are those who sacrifice their lives -- police and fire personnel and those in the military – to make us more secure. People are active in the political arena and have joined clubs and organizations that raise funds for charitable purposes all for the sake of bettering society.
These are but a few examples of ordinary citizens of all ages and walks of life giving of themselves to make life more productive and rewarding for others. They are the many good-hearted people who don’t make the headlines. And this is all taking place because there is this overriding awareness in the human spirit that makes us realize that we, in many ways, are akin to one another, in the simple sense that we are all in this together. And this is that innate impetus that prompts us to get involved, to be a vital part of it all and to make it work because it has to work to foster survival. It all culminates in defeating those negative ills that rise up periodically in an attempt to destroy our trust and faith in one another.
There is hope, and it’s blossoming all on a beautiful morning.
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THOSE WERE THE DAYS
The entrance hallway into our home is lined with multiple framed photographs. We called it our hall of frames. There are historic photos dating back as far as 1910 and the most recent in 2021. In between is a collection of family adventures and gatherings.
The
other day I was standing in the hallway viewing the photographs and in doing so
I began to recall the moments the photographs were taken. As I reminisced I caught myself softly
singing, “Those were the days my friend, I thought they’d never end...” The
song, I found, was quite fitting, for the photographs provided me with fond
memories of what used to be, confirming that those indeed were the days, they
were very special days. Interestingly though, while reminiscing through the
photographs I slowly began to recall the state of affairs occurring at the time
those photographs were taken.
For example, one family photograph was taken in a studio - one of those posed family settings. Our kids were quite young and I found myself thinking that that was way before there was such a thing as a cell phone. It was way before people would be walking with their heads bent down all the time bumping into objects or people. Our kids would converse with us at the dinner table and not be glued to a cell phone. My wife and I would communicate together and not spend hours on a cell phone communicating with someone else.
Glancing around I spotted a family gathering at Apple Annie’s Orchard down in Willcox and estimated that when that photograph was taken, the Internet was just about seven years old and the heavy proliferation of social media platforms had yet to be developed. The infant Internet at that time didn’t spew out false rumors or vastly inaccurate conspiracy theories or hateful venom. It was actually quite purposeful and useful.
Further down the wall there were various small photographs of the family when our kids were of school age engaged in all kinds of activities. It was during a time when there were no active shooter drills at schools or mass killings to worry about. Laptops didn’t exist and our kids used encyclopedias for their references.
Also
that was a time when members of Congress were quite amiable. Of course there
were differences of opinions, but debate and dialogue were civil, respectful
and productive. There were compromises not revenge or retaliation. Congress got
things done and the country moved forward.
I stood there remembering how
One family grouping was taken New Years Day 2000, the turn of the century and millennium. I can remember the great joy and celebration that event brought along with the many hopes and dreams for a brighter and better future. Our bright eyes in the photo echoed that hope, as did the whole world that harbored a swelling feeling of optimism.
I found the combination of family memories and the way life was at the time the photos were taken to be quite intriguing. We were living in a period that held certain fundamentals to be true, fundamentals that were to be captured and retained just like the photographs had captured the family’s life. In some regard life was simpler and less complicated. And even though there were those elements that held a negative aspect to them, it was still a time when people tended to savor the moments of quietude and serenity. It was a time when old ways were respected and new ways were challenged. Phrases like “thank you” and “I love you” and “I’m sorry” were commonplace.
Ah, yes, those were the days, my friend, and I thought they’d never end…
But
they did.
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PEACE ON EARTH
I have an album of holiday music and one selection is a recording by the group Voiceboxing. The song they sing is “Let There Be Peace On earth,” a sentiment quite prevalent this time year. And while the song’s first line echoes the title of the song, it’s the second line in the lyrics that carries with it a more profound message. That line states, ”…and let it begin with me.”
Hearing that line is more than lyrics to a song for me. I believe it is actually a very persuasive challenge to every person living on this earth. However, and It is a little too obvious, unfortunately there will never be peace on earth until each individual instills within themselves a strong desire to have that peace. And until that is achieved, then this annual holiday wish for peace on earth remains a futile greeting with no substance or backbone.
And
yet, there are ways to circumvent that failure. I believe that working toward attaining peace
on earth through letting it “begin with me” efforts is very possible and it can
be a starting point that can expand into higher levels. The kind of peace I’m
talking about comes in many forms and is manifested through the ways we present
ourselves to others. It is basically an exchange between each other. And that exchange can be either friendly or
hostile. Being friendly creates peace. But hostility creates a barrier that can’t and
won’t allow the rudiments of peace to penetrate an individual’s psyche.
This road to universal peace then begins in a very simple way. It is the ever-available smile. A gentle and warm smile carries with it a powerful message and exudes the message of peace a hundred-fold. No words need to be said. The smile says it all and many doors are open.
The message of peace is also shown and carried out when we give of ourselves through kindness. So many times when matters seem to overwhelm someone, an act of kindness is a sign of peace. Be it being a good listener or giving support through a pep talk of encouragement we bring peace to that person’s soul, and life doesn’t seem all that impossible. Kindness is also extended through physical help: loading a moving van or driving someone to a doctor’s appointment or volunteering at a charity that gives aid and comfort to those disenfranchised and downtrodden. Kindness is one of the basic elements promoting peace.
The act of understanding is an automatic vehicle for peace. To keep an open mind, to realize the feelings of others, to respect someone’s opposite opinion, to give empathy and sympathy, to show genuine interest in someone’s plight and offer positive advice, all lend themselves to promoting peace. By our actions they will know and feel that peace.
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6,393
MILES
I couldn’t resist. Yesterday the early morning beckoned me and I walked out into my backyard and was immediately embraced by the bright sunshine and warmth. Absorbed in what nature was displaying, I watched birds frolic in the bushes and trees and smiled as a chubby lizard ran across my path. Several ravens flew overhead with their playful caw, caw, caw. For a brief moment I was transcended into a setting of pure serenity.
In a village 6,393 miles away, as I enjoyed my backyard, a man stood in the middle of a demolished street amid destroyed buildings. There was no longer a backyard. There was no longer sunshine or warmth. The lingering odor of smoke and burning flesh permeated the air as he watched men carry black body bags to a waiting truck to be taken to a mass grave for a quick burial. There was no serenity. There was only death and destruction, pain and agony.
Today I went to a restaurant and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Others there were conversing, laughing and having pleasure in both a good meal and companionship. It was a moment for me to relax and savor the tempting meal set before me.
Pathetically, there was no food to eat 6,393 miles away, no restaurants serving meals. People were starving. Food and supplies could not get through to help because of blockades. Children cried because they were hungry. Parents watched in panic.
Tomorrow
I will travel up to
But there is no retreat 6,393 miles away. The only retreat the people there have is a bomb shelter where others like them are crowded together, frightened, sleeping on whatever they can find and waiting for the next bomb to come and explode. There is no peace and quiet, no happy picnic gatherings, only mayhem and dread.
Tonight I will sleep well and dream of exciting adventures with happy activities and fending off villains, doing fantastic things that only a dream-hero can do.
However, in that bomb shelter 6,393 miles from here there isn’t any sleep. There are no pleasant dreams. There are no dream-heroes. Those who do find sleep do so in a restless fashion, waking periodically, shaking and listening to the sound of more bombs exploding nearby. Babies cry and an old lady groans as she struggles to get comfortable.
Now I sit at my computer able to transcribe this opinion piece without any fear of bombs or soldiers or tanks or airplanes, just the liberty to say what I want and do what I want.
But those sheltering 6,393 miles away are unable to transcribe their thoughts. They can do nothing, think nothing, feel nothing, and cannot find adequate words to even express their fears. They can only stare out into an emptiness that appears before them searching for answers to impossible questions.
It
may seem 6,393 miles to be distant. But in all reality it is not. It is as
close as my backyard and the restaurant where I can have a delicious meal. It
is as close as the mountains where I can enjoy the cool pines and the serene
surroundings. It’s there in my bedroom where I sleep peacefully. It is here in
this room as I sit and type out this piece.
At this moment, 6,393 miles is a very short distance away.
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A NEW DAY
It was about this
time two years ago that the Cronavirus had invaded every state. The eventuality
had caught up with everyone. Remedial steps were being rushed to combat this
new enemy. Hospitals began receiving patients. People began to die. The nation
went into a preventative mode and life changed for everyone. The reality was
just beginning to take hold of people’s minds and a new fear surfaced.
But life continued on in its convoluted and constraining style. The nation adjusted. There was a new kind of hope embedded in the fear. There was no panic. But life took on a new profile. Businesses closed. Theater performances ceased. Parties were canceled and weddings postponed until that new future appeared. The virus commanded everyone’s attention and that’s all we read and heard about in the news.
But life went on. People continued to shop for groceries. Both men and women got their hair cut and styled and children, while restricted, continued to play on the swings at the city parks. Many workers worked from home. Children attended school through their laptops or tablets. Teachers had to learn how to teach by remote means. Delivery services grew. And we found new ways to continue life’s routines.
Now two years later, the tally reflects the damage from the virus. Close to one million people have died. Over three hundred thousand have been hospitalized. There have been over eighty million cases. Yet we are not clear of the virus. It’s still around if not mostly contained. But it’s still lurking. And two years later life looks different than during those past two years. Businesses are back. Schools now have open classrooms. We’re told we don’t have to continue wearing our mask any more. Less people are dying. Less people are being hospitalized. Less people are resisting getting the vaccine.
As with all aspects
in life, life continues on no matter what the distraction might be. Humans seem to be resilient if not absolutely
ignorant at times. Yet somehow, in some way we move time and space forward into
the next chapter, into the next surprise and all the while looking back and
wondering how we made it through and what do we do to not do that again.
Two years have past. Reflection on this past stirs a mixture of emotions and thoughts. It’s a complex part of life in that we never see the future but we can remember the past and continue our lives in the present stupefied by all that forces us to do what we do to make sure life goes on.
And the night comes
to closes out the day.
And a new day begins.
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THE STATUE
Upon finishing my cup of coffee this morning my eyes suddenly became transfixed on the mug’s design. I’m not sure why. I’ve used that mug many times before yet have never given the design all that much notice. But this time, for some odd reason, I became intrigued with it. It is a souvenir cup from the Statue of Liberty.
Besides having embossed images of the statue on opposite sides, the design includes the inscription written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 from the sonnet, “The New Colossus.” Lazarus wrote the piece as part of an Art and Literary auction, a fund raising activity seeking donations for the Statue’s pedestal. In 1903, after the sonnet drifted somewhat into obscurity, it was resurrected and the concluding words from that sonnet were inscribed on a plaque on the inner wall of the pedestal of the Statue. Today it is on display in a special exhibit in the Statue’s pedestal. Lazarus wrote:
“Give me your tired,
your poor
your huddled masses
yearning to breath free,
the wretched refuse of
your teeming shore.
Send these, the
homeless, tempest-toss to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”
As I gave reflection to meaning of those words, I couldn’t help but focus on the words “breathe free,” the general essence encased in the privilege of liberty. To breathe free -- to be unrestricted from the chains of oppression and injustices and bondage; to set about goals and be able to pursue them without hindrances and discrimination; to enjoy the many opportunities afforded a society that not only breathes free but moves about free and thinks free – requires much from the citizens who seek its benefits.
But
that’s not happening. I’m afraid today too
many Americans are taking the blessing of liberty for granted. Too many people are shunning their responsibilities
that are so critical in ensuring that liberty will always be the bulwark of our
basic rights and way of life. And if
that continues then this disengagement in protecting liberty will only produce
an erosion that will eventually wear away all that we in
My souvenir coffee mug looks different to me now. When I read that less than half of registered voters cast ballots this past election and I observe the blasé attitudes our citizens have for our schools and the poor and the helpless and read where big money interests highly influence our elected leaders, I can see the disappointing expression on Lady Liberty’s face. Lifting her lamp high, so it seems, has become an exercise in futility and I’m afraid that someday, because of apathy and indifferences on the part of our citizens she will lower it, as if who cares, and we the land of the free will be free no longer.
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WHO WAS THAT LADY??
On a wall in our home hangs a painting I did back in 1981 of a young Native
American woman. The composition is that of just her face. The other day, as I
passed by that painting, I inadvertently caught the expression on the woman’s
face. Her haunting eyes seemed to be staring at me, following me, and I caught
myself staring back as if there was some sort of revelation being
imparted. It was a peculiar moment and
it was then that I began to realize that this was a fellow human being of whom
I knew nothing, but nonetheless I felt some kind of kinship with her. My
curiosity as to whom she might have been -- details about her life, the
ideology she might have had or her preferences for food or color or
recreational activities -- all brought about a realization that she was among
the millions of human beings who have inhabited and continue to inhabit this
earth; each one absolutely different in many diverse ways. Their lives go in
many directions and cover a vast array of traits, behaviors, philosophies and
needs. She was a fellow human being and because of that she and I indeed had
much in common despite our being in two different cultural worlds.
Isn’t that the way it is today? Are we all not of the same human race despite
the fact we live in unique cultural and diverse worlds? Isn’t it a recognizable fact that everyone
living today is tightly bound together by simply being human? It is just life’s placement that is the only
aspect that puts us into different categories and mindsets? Or are those
assumptions too simplistic? Is our relationship with others much more
complicated than that?
The answer is, no. Simple or not the fact remains that we are all in this
together and we do have much in common. But we don’t know that because we see
the “others” as so different we automatically consider ourselves to be “not
like them.” This applies to us all. Our knowledge of our neighbors and fellow
workers is quite limited. We don’t really know the life of the clerk we see
every time we go grocery shopping. Who is that person, really? And who is that man standing there waiting
for the bus or the woman taking her child into the school building for
kindergarten? Who is that homeless
person on the street corner begging for money? Who is that police officer?
These “others” have feelings and needs and problems just as we do. They
seek a more productive and uncomplicated life like we all do. Each person
reading this article sees everyone else as the “other” and views them in the
light of our own cultural background, bias and prejudice. We associated with
most people as strangers, never once giving any thought to what they may be
thinking or feeling or needing at that particular moment when they cross our
path. Never once do we say to ourselves,
“Who is that person?”
Shouldn’t we be concerned about those “others?” Shouldn’t we be wondering what they might be
going through or what they feel or what suffering they may be
experiencing? Shouldn’t we realize that
they are right here on this earth right next to us sharing the same space, the
same air we breathe, the same water we drink and the same requirements for
life? Shouldn’t we be totally cognizant of the fact that these are fellow human
beings and shouldn’t we be asking ourselves do I really care?
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WEEDS
A couple of day ago our son, Matt, was telling me about a thought he had while pulling weeds. He was observing of how common weeds are a fact here on earth and that an entire industry is dedicated to killing them, but if just one weed were to be discovered on the moon or another planet it would be the greatest scientific discovery in human history.
Matt’s concept, while novel, did present a unique suggestion and it did cause me to do some curious thinking. Here we have millions of weeds growing on earth that are viewed as bad, unwanted and a source of both frustration and anger. But then we have that very same weed discovered on a barren wasteland on another planet or our own moon and it becomes a major scientific find, a celebrity in its own right; admired, exalted and praised. With that discovery that weed is seen in a different light and is suddenly more important than its earthly companions. And yet it is still the same old scraggly, stubborn and irritating weed that is so prolific here on earth.
The conclusion we can draw from that concept is that the difference between the two weeds lies in perception: how we see things, how we assign a value to things, situations, people and even words. While one may see a rainy day as beautiful another may see it as doom and gloom, but it’s the same rainy day. A bat may be scary to some but that very same bat is nature’s wonder to others. How we perceive our world around us is a big contributor to our way of thinking and subsequently our actions or non-actions.
In carrying this concept further, pretend for a moment that that single unique weed is a human being and that that unique human is given much attention and admiration. And because of this high elevation in status, that human then develops a perception that they are more important than those other common people below them and this newly ordained “great one” quickly slips into a state of pomposity. Now this self-elevated person begins to act as though he/she deserves to be treated differently and in some cases laws, protocol and common decency don’t apply to them. This condition is more common than imagined and in many cases more troubling.
This false perception that someone is better than someone else is perhaps one of the greatest fallacies we humans have. Like the weeds, we are all basically the same, the common weed, all formed in the same mold. The only thing that truly elevates one person above all others is their achievements that have greatly benefited society. Mahatma Gandhi, Elizabeth Blackwell, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington Carver, Susan B. Anthony are just some clear examples of those deserving of a higher status and profound recognition. And yet there was one thing that made them even greater. They had humility and a source of wisdom that kept them embedded in their basic principles while loosening them to excel beyond their primary roots. Great people don’t have to tell anyone they are great and they don’t harbor a false perception that they are.
The older I get the more I realize just how insignificant I am. In the past I found myself, as I’m sure others have too, thinking that I was that lone weed on the moon, whereas in all reality I was only one of the many regular weeds back here on earth. It took some hard turns of events and hard tugs at my roots to make me realize that. It’s interesting, though, in time those with lofty ideas and perceptions of their greatness end up as all common weeds do. Eventually we all get plucked up and thrown away. And at that point destiny triumphs and new weed come along.
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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIENCE
Sometime back when I was in grade school we would recite the Pledge of Allegiance before our classes began. Then when I joined the Boy Scouts we’d say the Pledge before any of our activities could get underway. As an adult I would give talks before clubs and organizations and joined in giving the Pledge as the first order of business. Historically Congress recites it each morning before their sessions begin. It has become an automatic must-do for many gatherings and functions.
Most everyone knows the Pledge by heart -- I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. -- It’s not that hard to remember, just 31 words. However, I can’t help but wonder just how many people, young and old, are really paying any attention to what they are saying when reciting it. Most of us, I have discovered, recite the Pledge by rote while our minds are off wandering somewhere else. And in recognizing that, the question is raised just how many of us really realize the strong commitment we are making when reciting the Pledge.
The Pledge of Allegiance is truly more than just reciting a patriotic verse. When examining it closely we find in the very first words that we are making a pledge -- a solemn promise and commitment similar to taking a vow. Then following that is the word “allegiance,” which is basically being loyal, obedient and aligned with a purpose. Therefore a person reciting the Pledge of Allegiance is actually making a solemn promise to be loyal to, in the first instance, our country’s flag, which is our identification and a major symbol representing to the world just exactly who we are and for what we believe and honor.
However, we are not just making a solemn promise to be loyal to the flag but also, in the second reference, to the republic for which it stands. And with that commitment we deepen the solemn promise even more because we are now accepting and are willing to support this country in which we live and we promise to abide by and live alongside all that this republic represents. That means we are supportive of and in union with the structures of democracy and what it requires.
The remaining words in the Pledge remind us that the United States is, in fact, one nation, and that it is being overseen by God, and that it is indivisible. When reciting the Pledge of Allegiance we are pledging to preserve the unity of our country, not letting any divisiveness separate and destroy the cohesiveness of our union.
Finally, the Pledge ends with us acknowledging that the United States is providing liberty and justice for all. The key words in that last section are “for all”. We are literally pledging to make our country totally inclusive for all people regardless of who they are or what they represent. In reciting the Pledge of Allegiance we are in essence agreeing to the fact that everyone who is a citizen of this country will be entitled to all the freedoms assured in our Constitution and to be treated with fair and equal justice.
One would think that because the Pledge of Allegiance is viewed as being recited by rote that it is being relegated to an unimportant role. But to the contrary the Pledge is a very powerful contract. When we recite the Pledge of Allegiance we are actually committing ourselves to critical obligations as citizens of this country in keeping this nation strong, safe and prosperous. And when viewed in that context, it is necessary to realize that those obligations we are promising to keep should not be taken lightly or for granted. And similarly, then, neither should the Pledge of Allegiance.
