Following Democracy Down the Rabbit Hole

"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”

Alice in Wonderland

The arguments regarding the cultural center being planned near ground zero, can seemingly become as convoluted as Alice’s trip down the rabbit hole.  The initial response is emotional and perhaps a well-deserved guttural expression of grief, fear and disbelief that still remains regarding the tragic attacks of September 11^th, 2001.  The simple approach is that we were the victims of an unjust attack by Muslim extremists.  The more complex discussion remains that we were the victims of an attack by a misguided subset of Muslims who followed the violent teachings that are as alien to the Muslim religion as pedophilia is to the Catholic religion or racism is to southern members of various religions during segregation.  So why are we misguided when we attempt to force an “all or nothing” generalization on what can only be considered an extremely complicated matter?

At the center of this controversy is Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf.  Rauf is a Kuwaiti born Arab-American who is listed as Founder and Visionary of The Cordoba Initiative, an organization, who’s expressed mission statement, is to, “actively promote engagement through a myriad of programs, by reinforcing similarities and addressing differences.”

Rauf has been the Imam of the New York City Mosque Masjid al-Farah since 1983 and has been involved as an “ambassador of sorts” according to the State Department.  My.nowpublic.com published this statement of Rauf’s mission to spread religious tolerance. “The department is sponsoring Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's visit to Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, where he will discuss Muslim life in America and promote religious tolerance, spokesman P.J. Crowley said. He said that the imam had been on two similar trips and that plans for the upcoming tour predated the mosque controversy.

"We have a long-term relationship with him," Crowley told reporters, noting that Rauf had visited Bahrain, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in 2007 and went to Egypt this January as part of an exchange program run by the State Department's Bureau of International Information Programs.

"His work on tolerance and religious diversity is well known, and he brings a moderate perspective to foreign audiences on what it's like to be a practicing Muslim in the United States," Crowley said.”

Again, we hear the use of the word Mosque, despite Rauf’s insistency that the planned project is a cultural center that will be utilized by the community and welcomes any and all religions.  The $100 million dollar center is to be built on 45 Park Place Street, located two blocks from the Northwest corner of the ground zero site.  Also located within blocks of the site are six churches, varying from a Jewish Synagogue in Battery Park, to a Greek Orthodox church.  There are numerous retail outlets and restaurants, including three strip clubs.  The argument falls back to the fact that we were not attacked by any of these facilities, which leads to the interjection that the Muslim religion is the easier target, which leads further down the rabbit hole of logical misunderstanding to focus this argument on the sensitivity of building anything apparently related to Islam near this site.

Imam Rauf is then the face of this debate, since it clearly is an impossibility to cast this decision to the voters.  Rauf doesn’t always help his own pleadings of tolerance.  After the 9/11 attacks, Rauf condemned the attacks as, “un-Islamic” and went on to call upon the United States government to, “reduce terrorism by altering its Middle East foreign policy.”  In a 2004 quote, Rauf said, The U.S. and the West must acknowledge the harm they have done to Muslims before terrorism can end.”  In a much more damaging statement Rauf said, The Islamic method of waging war is not to kill innocent civilians, but it was Christians in World War II who bombed civilians in Dresden and Hiroshima, neither of which were military targets.”  It would seem that there are several inconsistencies with these statements.  We often hear of the conflict in Afghanistan regarding civilian deaths at the hands of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.  It can be given the benefit of the doubt that these examples are not true Muslims, but fanatical Muslims.  How then can we have a collective understanding of whom to fear?  Afghanistan and Iraq have absolute examples of Islamic rulers waging war on innocent civilians, so again, how do we factor in the statements of Imam Rauf's Islamic beliefs, without convolution?  Perhaps no absolutes exist however, decision-making does hold an element of filtering evidence through the strainer of consistency.  In terms of Imam Rauf’s implication that Christians were responsible for Dresden and Hiroshima, that would appear to be a comment one would hope he would regret.  The argument falls apart when compare to the facts that During World War II, United States came to the aid of our European allies against an aggressor dedicated to world domination and atrocities.  Our involvement was also forced by the attack of American vessels off the Eastern seaboard.  Hiroshima was agreeably a tragic response to an ongoing act of aggression and failure to cease aggression by the Japanese leaders.  These conflicts though devastating when viewed through the eyes of current retrospection, were not Holy wars.  In comparison to today’s standards of “rules of engagement,” the tactics of prior wars was indeed barbaric.  The same could be said for all wars of the past, including Muslim wars through the ages.  The goal of comments such as the ones made by Rauf, would appear to be placation of perceived American involvement, opposed to simply condemning the terrorist actions.  There is no message of tolerance when Rauf agrees that the 9/11 attacks were wrong however, America is not innocent either.

Columnist Jonathan Rauch wrote of Rauf’s appearance on 60 Minutes, “Rauf gave a mixed, muddled, muttering message.”  19 Days after the 9/11 attacks, Rauf commented to a 60 minutes interviewer, “Fanaticism and terrorism have no place in Islam.”  When asked if the U.S. deserved the attacks he said, “I wouldn’t say that the United States deserved what happened, but the United States policies were an accessory to the crime that happened.”  Rauch noted the use of the verb, crime that happened.  When asked by 60 Minutes how he considered the U.S. an accessory, Rauf responded, “Because we have been an accessory to a lot of innocent lives dying in the world, in fact, in the most direct sense Osama Bin Laden is made in U.S.”  Rauf is clearly referring to the United States assistance in the Afghan-Soviet war, when the U.S. via the CIA, aided the Mujahideen fighters, leading to the evolution of a discontented Bin Laden, who welcomed U.S. aid and training, but rejected the U.S. departure from Afghanistan before reconstruction of the war-torn region.   Clearly to make this comment regarding Bin Laden being made in the U.S. is an over simplification. 

If we can allow tolerance for possible poor word choice, then we are left with the evidence of actions.  There is no doubt that Imam Rauf is striving for religious tolerance.  Rauf’s decision to build a cultural center in the ground-zero area is supported by many Jewish leaders, Christian leaders and even a large number of family members of the 9/11 victims.  Is our fear then for the perception that others may have of our ignorance to an obvious sensitivity slight?  Muslim Sufi Mysticist Suleiman Schwartz comments that building the Islamic cultural center two blocks from ground zero is, “inconsistent with Sufi philosophy of simplicity of faith and sensitivity toward others.” 

In a 2009 TED talk in New York City, Imam Rauf said,  “The Qur’an urges us to remember to remind each other because the knowledge of truth is within every human being.”  Certainly these words are positive and unifying, teaching tolerance to all.  Rauf continues, “I believe personally we are on the verge and with the presence and help of people like you here, we can bring about the prophecy of Isaiah when he foretold of a period when people shall transform their swords into plowshares and will not learn war anymore.  We have reached a stage in human history that we have no option, we must lower our egos, control our egos, whether it is individual ego, personal ego, family ego or National ego, and let all be for the glorification of one.”

Certainly this is a positive message with no real area for misrepresentation or ambiguity.  Perhaps the message of Imam Rauf is intrinsically unifying.  Why then do we have such convolution?  Rauf began his lecture to the TED conference with a statement that Islam’s basis is one of compassion.  “The Qur’an is a source of compassion from God, and that we, as people should, adorn yourself with the attributes of God.”  The argument to those that object to this Islamic cultural center, could site that compassion would be to recognize the collective voice of the people.  The argument could also be offered that if two blocks is too close, then how far away from ground zero is appropriate?  If nine-years after 9/11 is too soon, then how long is appropriate.  Is the objection really as quantified by the emotions that we view them with or is there evidence that the Muslim faith, the Muslim leader or the potential for the Muslim message is the reason for the powerful reactions that have occurred?

If we indict Imam Rauf as anti-American for his comments then the issue isn’t should he be allowed to build an Islamic cultural center.  The American ideal fashioned by the Constitution allows him the same freedom of religious views and speech that it allows us all. If we are indicting all Muslim believers, then we are certainly shortsighted.  If we are fearful that the message delivered will be one that incites anti-American actions, the message is also covered in the constitutional rights to deliver such a message.  The American ideal that stands as the “gold-standard” of most nations is in constant evolution and constant challenge.  We benefit far more from our diversity than we are harmed by it.  Or are the many Europeans correct that diversity is simply another soft-term for Islamization?  Some European “thinkers” compare Islamic beliefs with the Nazi agenda, to simply build the pure and eliminate the impure.  Some have even gone to the extreme of saying both equally share in an agenda to “wipe out the Jews.”  It would seem that Americans are capable of evaluating the two beliefs, just as we have countless other beliefs throughout history.   Perhaps the Imam’s message of tolerance is in essence “preaching to the converted.”  After all, if America was as intolerant as some believe, what then can we attribute the great progresses that we have recognized in our short existence?  We are more alike than not.  It is the very debate of this issues correctness that separates us from the ideals of those who actually orchestrated and carried out the attacks of September 11^th. 

In the words of John F. Kennedy, “The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”

The issues remain complicated and the motives convoluted.  Hopefully our complex dialogue will avoid labeling any dissenting believers as bigots or terrorists, naïve or foolish.  The future will be our destiny and history our judge.  Regardless of the outcome of this decision, our society will continue to grow and change.  We will face future challenges by those who find reason to hate, despite the lessons of compassion and tolerance in their own religion.

After examining my own thoughts and feelings, I considered that Imam Rauf is the face of Islam in this issue.  It becomes easy to say that he shares a commonality with all Muslims and therefore his belief system is the same as all Muslim people.  It would be easy to say that Rauf’s words are suspect and inconsistent, even though his words also hold hope and unity.  It would be easy to judge his motives based on our own fears.  It is however, difficult to deny him and his followers of a place of worship or of education, for that fact alone is why we felt such unity on September 11^th, 2001.  We are all proud to be members of a free society that values all and trusts in the goodness of the heart of mankind. 

Imam Rauf is however, not the face of all Muslims.  Just as, I am not the face of all Americans or of all Christians.  It is true that Osama Bin Laden is a face most would easily negatively attach to the Muslim faith.  We should strive however to avoid attaching Bin Laden’s deeds to the Muslim faith, despite his proclamation that Jihad is the true directive of all Muslims.  There are many other faces we should attach to the Muslim faith, such as Khalid M. Shahid, a 25 year-old systems administrator who died in tower 1 of the World Trade Center, as did other Muslim believers.

A letter from the memorial of Khalid M. Shahid:

September 05, 2002

Dearest Shahid Family,

There are only two words that describes Khalid and that is "Great Man", I'm so glad I had the opportunity to work and have Khalid as a "FRIEND". It didn't matter the type of person you were, Khalid always saw the good in people. I have never in life met anyone so wonderful like him. What I miss the most of Khalid was his ability to make me laugh when I was sad. If there's anything that I learned from him it was to live life fully, and do what your heart desires. What was most important to Khalid was his Family, never stopped talking about his dreams and his future with Jaime. Khalid never had a bad day at work; in fact he had a strong positive energy that would light up our IT department every single day. No matter how bad things were in the office, Khalid always found the good in all. I will never forget all the times he gave me a ride to our office in New Jersey, he always offered and never hesitated.

Khalid has touched my heart in a very special way and he will always have a special place in my heart. He will always be remembered in our hearts.

Rest In Peace my friend.

~ Michelle Chea,

College Point, New York

Is Wikileaks the New Abolitionist?

 

Wikileaks, a web based international watchdog group is preparing to release more than 15,000 classified military documents related to the war in Afghanistan.  This following more than 70,000 reports released last month.  Wikileaks has claimed that it delayed the release of the latest reports, as part of a “harm-minimization process,” in an effort to redact any information that they felt was objectionable.  The Pentagon has requested the reports be returned and further stated that, “We’re not getting involved in harm-minimization conversations, we’re asking them to return stolen property.”  Wikileaks responded to the Pentagon’s statement with a statement of their own:  “Obnoxious Pentagon spokesperson issues formal threat against wikileaks:  Destroy everything or else.”

“There is a Higher law than any government’s law.  The People are required to obey their government’s law only when it’s in agreement with Higher law.  If the government violates Higher law, we are bound to throw off our allegiance and to resist.”

Reverend Jonathan Mayhew

30 January, 1750

John Adams, the second President of the United States, referred to the above statement by Reverend Mayhew as, “crucially important in leading to revolution.”  Adams also said, “But what do we mean by the American Revolution?  Do we mean the American War?  The Revolution was effected before the war was commenced.  The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people, a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations.”

The “Higher law” that Mayhew referred to was simply a Common Law, which most colonists understood and faithfully obeyed.   The two basic principals of Common Law:  1) do all that you have agreed to do  2) do not encroach on other persons or their property.  All major religions and philosophies agree on these two points, although perhaps expressing them uniquely, and the American colonists were absolutely dedicated to the principal of Common Law.  The revolution began after colonists felt that unfair taxation was an encroachment by the British government, and therefore a breach of Common Law, leading to the eventual overthrow of the government by the colonists.  The colonists were also guilty of treason and this treason was felt to be, “moral, ethical and right in every way.” 

Thomas Jefferson wrote, “This eternal and immutable law said the politicians and bureaucrats were as human as anyone else and they had no special rights or privileges; they could not encroach on others.  “All men are created equal.”

Today we find the social and political machine is a much more complicated and diverse challenge.  Our, “Common Law” is not as easily defined or agreed upon.  Those who we entrust with making law and those entrusted with defining laws made by others, often bends and distorts the two simple principals of Common Law, until we as a society can no longer recognize the original premise.

On December 4^th, 1859, Abraham Lincoln commented on the resistance and ultimate death of American abolitionist John Brown.  Lincoln described Brown as having, "great courage and rare unselfishness."  Lincoln also said of the anti-slavery activist, “Old John Brown has just been executed for treason against a state. We cannot object, even though he agreed with us in thinking slavery wrong. That cannot excuse violence, bloodshed, and treason. It could avail him nothing that he might think himself right. So, if constitutionally we elect a President, and therefore you undertake to destroy the Union, it will be our duty to deal with you as old John Brown has been dealt with. We shall try to do our duty. We hope and believe that in no section will a majority so act as to render such extreme measures necessary.'' 

John Brown is known for advocating and practicing armed insurrection to abolish slavery.  Brown’s actions at the Pottawatomie Massacre in 1856 and the 1859 failed raid on Harper’s Ferry, an action that began the Civil War.  For his acts of, “patriotic treason,” Brown would be labeled, “one of the most controversial of all 19^th century Americans.”

American isolationism begins to fade and this social and economic change heralds in a time of increased complexity on the issues of right and wrong, patriotism and treason.  No longer do Americans solely fight their own fights, but now must become involved in the fairness and protection of encroachment on a world stage.  Now the issue of when treason is justified becomes as complex as the quantum mechanics example of Schrödinger’s Cat, where the very attempt to observe democracy somehow alters the path traveled by democracy.

We now fight battles against enemies who do not revere Common Law and cannot seem to find tolerance for others who may believe differently.  We seem to have arrived at an intersection where those whom have the opportunity to oppress or force self-interest agendas, will. 

The Issue of Censorship:

Currently there are ten countries that have complete control of information diffusion.  North Korean certainly leads the world in having total control of what their citizens not only receive, but more harmful to progress, what they believe.

Other authoritarian ruled countries are Libya, Burma, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Cuba Uzbekistan, Syria and Belarus.  The citizens of these countries are typically not only living in social and emotional poverty, but also economic poverty.  It is true that no patriots will spring from these countries, even if there are patriotic acts performed.  Certainly the oppression imposed by these dictators will limit the growth and future of the very citizens that the regime selfishly espouses to serve.           

President John F. Kennedy said, “We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and

competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people."

Does this concept apply to classified Military actions in foreign countries, even under the guise of exposing an “unjust war?”  The Wikileaks  public presentation of classified military documents describing the successes and failures of an ongoing conflict does not appear to follow the causality of treason dictum applied by our forefathers.  Perhaps the views of Wikileaks spokesman, Julian Assage, are simply relative to where his views were viewed?   America could be seen as encroaching in Afghanistan.  The reasons we are in Afghanistan are certainly complicated and would be self-evident to most Americans, but on a world-view, perhaps others would consider us breaching another’s Common Law.  The question then is can Wikileaks actions be considered patriotic simply because they risk retribution for an act of protest in response to an event that they view as flawed.  There does not exist a collective majority view that the war in Afghanistan is flawed or unjust, so who then can decide autonomously to take such drastic actions and release classified material?  Wikileaks actions have undoubtedly endangered the lives of civilians.  John Brown’s actions sparked the Civil War, a costly war for soldiers and citizens alike. 

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell called wikileaks actions, “the height of irresponsibility.”   Wikileaks responds saying they are, “trying to expose serious violation of human rights and civil liberties, which the Bush administration committed in its war against terror.” 

Jean-Francois Julliard, Secretary General of Reporters Without Borders, a Paris-based media watchdog group, called Wikileaks action “reckless” and “incredibly irresponsible.”   Julliard went on to say of the Wikileaks release, “but revealing the identity of hundreds of people who collaborated with the coalition in Afghanistan is highly dangerous.”

Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff said, “Assage can say whatever he like about the greater good that he thinks he and his source are doing, but the truth is they might already have on their hands the blood of some young soldier or that of an Afghan family.”  They question remains that if there have been unjustified civilian deaths in the act of military actions, who’s hands were bloodied first.  It would seem that the word unjustified is depended on the viewer’s opinion of military correctness.  Civil War photographer Mathew Brady captured the first pictures of the wartime carnage seen by the American public.  Does simply seeing the resultant death of warfare give us a plateau on which to individually judge the worth of that action?

Oddly enough, the Taliban who is historically defined by their disregard for Afghan civilian’s safety or life in general recently changed their code of conduct, following the Wikileaks information.  AP reported, “An updated Taliban code of conduct urges fighters to avoid killing civilians and forbids them from seizing weapons and money, a directive aimed at winning hearts and minds of Afghans also being courted by international forces. But the document declares that people working for international forces or the Afghan government are "supporters of the infidels" and can be killed. Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar took a similar hard line in orders to insurgents that NATO forces said they intercepted in early June.”  

Just weeks ago a Taliban suicide bomber attempting to kill an Afghan official, detonated his explosives and unfortunately killed six Afghan children instead.  So much for the “new code of conduct.”

“I am not so much concerned with the right of everyone to say anything he leases as I am about our need as self-governing people to hear everything relevant.”

- John F. Kennedy

Thank You Sonora Smart Dodd

Sonora Smart Dodd is more important than we realize.  Sonora was born in 1882 in Sebastian County Arkansas, to parents William Jackson Smart and Ellen Victoria Cheek Smart.  Sonora's father fought in the Civil War at the Battle of Pea Ridge.  After the Civil War ended, William Smart moved his growing family West to Spokane Washington.  Sonora's life was altered at 16 years old, when her mother died giving birth to her 6th child.  William Smart raised all six children by himself and Sonora held him in the highest regard due to his examples of strength and family.  In 1909, Sonora was so moved during a church sermon dedicated to the newly nominated celebration of Mother's Day and felt that there should be a celebration of fathers.  Sonora then pushed for a recognition of fathers on her father's birthday June 5th.  The day was then changed to the third Sunday in June and was officially celebrated as Father's Day on June 19th, 1910 in Spokane Washington.  Father's Day wasn't Nationally celebrated until 1916 and was recognized by President Lyndon Johnson with a presidential proclamation in 1966.  President Richard Nixon made Father's Day an officially recognized holiday in 1972, signing it into law

Father's Day is now observed on the third Sunday in June in 55 Countries and many more on other days.

Our modern observance of Father's Day consists of a "special day," for fathers where we get to do whatever we want right?  Our favorite dinner, total dominance of the remote control, maybe some golf, fishing...
I started to see Father's Day differently this year.  I think that I, as a father, owe the thanks to my wife and children.  On this Father's Day I want to recognize not only the people who define me as a father, but who more importantly make me feel so special that I am their father.  If I consider even for a moment what my life would be like without my wife and children, I am profoundly less of a person than I am with them.  I have every Father's Day card that I ever received and reviewing them yesterday I was moved to tears.  From the early cards written in my wife's handwriting, to the scribbled letters saying, "I love you daddy," they not only serve to mark my children's growth, but they also mark my own growth.
Now young adults, my children's Father's Day cards are more detailed and the messages show more retrospection of their father's life.

I remember my feelings on Father's Day cards to my father and remember my own emotions and perspective of him as a father.  The cycle repeats as all history seems to do and time demands comparison of my father and my children's perspective of their father.  Time and love helps us all to reflect more on the good and deny the bad, at least in our mind's eye and thank God for that.

I have already been asked what I would like for my "special dinner." What would I like to do on my, "special day."  I contemplate deeply for my answer and I realized that it is not my day at all.  It is a day that I will celebrate those special people who make it my, "special day."

Just as Sonora Smart Dodd passed from this earth in 1978, our father's also pass away however, on the third Sunday in June, we celebrate fathers, both of today and yesterday.  We remember father's that have died and yet the lessons of fatherhood remain with us forever.  We take the lessons, both good and bad, and we strive to become the best fathers possible.  This journey is not without challenge, not without setbacks and certainly not without disappointment.  It wasn't during times of success that my father taught me how to be successful, but through his fight for redemption.   It wasn't during times of bravery that I learned to be brave, but through his example of facing his fears.  It wasn't during times of great joy that I learned to be joyful, but through my father's times of despair.

We all have a concept of what makes a good father.  Maybe by example or maybe by observation, but we can all list the qualities that make a great father.  So, on Father's Day, should we strive to celebrate our own fatherhood?  Should we celebrate those who were our fathers?  I think, just as Sonora Smart Dodd originally thought one-hundred years ago, let's celebrate the honor of the man who sacrificed to be a father and celebrate those who make us fathers.  Let's live every day in remembrance of our father's successes and in awe that we are blessed to be added to that esteemed list of men called fathers.

On the third Sunday in June, 2010, I am so thankful that I am a father.  I am so thankful that on this day I can remember the incredible gift that I have been given every Father's Day...the name, "Father."  Special day?  I have never had anything but special days, ever since that first card, the first "I love you daddy," the first time I was called a father.

It is somewhat odd that Father's Day was originated by a woman, but then again, who greater to understand the magic of fatherhood?  Today I thank you Mrs. Smart-Dodd, for all of the fathers that you considered worthy of a special day called, Father's Day.

Enjoy this poem written about fathers
       by Sonora Smart Dodd

Musings of a Madonna 

I did not know the earth’s warm breast 

 Gave life to every tree, 

Or that the mountains wooed the sun 

 Until you came to me. 

I did not know that rains must fall 

 To set young seedlings free, 

Or that the snowflakes mantle them 

 Until you came to me. 

I did not know that rivers rush 

 To feed the hungry sea, 

Or that the heavens guard the tides 

 Until you came to me. 

I did not know that lullabies 

 Of God’s own symphony, 

Or that I am as one with Him 

 Until you came to me.

Whatever Happened to Victoria Lucas?

How many times do we wonder whatever happened to...?  Do we really care or just curious to see if we are ahead or behind the imaginary curve that defines us?  How many true friends do we accumulate in a life?  Is the number more or less than the number of books, shoes or stamps we collect.  How is a true friend defined.  A really tough question and like always when we need clarity, we turn to basics.


Merriam-Webster defines: 


True- "conformable to an essential reality."
Friend-  "a favored companion"


Huh? A conformable favored companion?  Maybe that's not too far from the...truth.  How about a favored companion that is accepts you for you?
Maybe through in a dash of unconditional love, if that concept is even possible outside of Biblical dimensions.  So, how is it that we really find very few true friends along this journey?  Maybe it's just too much work!  "Oh!  I can't be around her too much because she always brings up what's his name..."  "I know and he is so clueless to her games!"  "Well, she is my best friend after all"  WHAT!?!  This is a dialogue of a "best friend?"  Face it, we are all guilty of the same conversation.  It just feels better when we couch our conversations with, "I'm not one for gossip, but did you hear that...."


So why do we do it?  Or in the case of making deep friendships, why don't we do it?  Or maybe I'm the only one who doesn't and anyone reading this is just confused.  Because, in my opinion, like most things in life, it makes us feel better on some level.


Victoria Lucas was a young female writer and poet who in 1963 published an account of a young woman named Esther Greenwood, who moved from her Boston suburban home to the bright lights of New York City.  Esther unfortunately suffers from severe depression and becomes disillusioned by the life of a writer in NYC and has ongoing struggles with the question of, "is death better than life as I know it."  Esther ultimately has several suicide attempts, one, by swimming far out to sea, and another by taking 50 sleeping pills and lying under her house to die.  The authorities believe that Esther was kidnapped and after an exhaustive search, they find her unconscious under the house.  Finally, Esther plunges her head deep into her gas oven, seals all the doors and windows and successfully ends her life.


Why is Esther's life different from anyone else's?  And whatever happened to Victoria Lucas, the author of this novel?  Well, Esther's life is different because albeit parallel to many other's, it is ultimately fictional.  As to what became of Victoria Lucas, well, she also turned out to be fictional and her book was entitled, "The Bell Jar."  So, for those keeping score at home, Esther killed herself with gas, at the hands of Victoria Lucas, who was in reality a woman named Sylvia Plath.


Sylvia Plath was born October 27th, 1932 in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.  Sylvia was a gifted poet and writer, who like many very creative and talented people, she had problems dealing with problems.  Sylvia first tried to kill herself, after winning a prestigious opportunity to be a guest editor for Mademoiselle Magazine.  Her trip to NYC wasn't everything she thought it would be and despite this seemingly small dilemma, she ingested 50 sleeping pills and laid down under house...sound familiar?


Plath wasn't a small time writer who happened to be hung up on death.  Plath was a significant talent who's poetry was deeply depressing and often described death, blackness and loss.  The Bell Jar wasn't a small work of literature, it was a well received book from a well known author.  Plath was married to another well-known English poet named Ted Hughes and had two children.  Did no one read these poems or her books and maybe pull her aside at a picnic and say, "Ya know Sylvia...the old man and I  were just wondering the other night at dinner...are you feeling oh, I don't know...suicidal?"


Holy cow!  Really?  No one saw her poems like, Death & Co, Contusion, Edge, Lady Lazarus.  I guess they were just too busy.  The Bell Jar is how she described how her depression felt, like a bell jar being placed over her.  I know this was 1963 and the wheel had only been invented a few years earlier, but damn!


Maybe she hid it well, who knows, but just reading her poems makes me look for a house to lie under!  OK, so what's the point?


Sylvia Plath loved her kids, and her husband, who strangely enough had an affair with a woman named Assia Wevill.  Assia was a German born woman who escaped the Nazis and was also married...to her third husband, English poet David Wevill.  Forget soap opera's, this was a rocking time.  Speaking of poets, Assia was also a poet and is credited with translating Israeli poets work into English, under the name Assia Gutmann.  If you're not confused yet, you're just not trying hard enough.


OK, with all this confusion it's no wonder why no one knew how depressed Sylvia was...remember Sylvia, the one I was talking about?  Anyway, Sylvia published, The Bell Jar, in 1963.  The Bell Jar documented the depression of a young woman who was almost like Sylvia Plath, No, I take that back...JUST like the woman Sylvia Plath, and her unfortunate and untimely suicide.  That would consider that there is a fortunate or timely suicide, but I will let it stand.  Sylvia Plath sealed her doors and windows with towels, to prevent the gas from effecting her children, Frieda and Nicholas and thrust her head into a gas oven.  The last poem that young Plath wrote was called Edge.

Edge

The woman is perfected.
Her dead body wears the smile of accomplishment,
The illusion of a Greek necessity
Flows in the scrolls of her toga,
Her bare feet seem to be saying:
We have come so far, it is over.
Each dead child coiled, a white serpent,
One at each little
Pitcher of milk, now empty.
She has folded
Them back into her body as petals
Of a rose close when the garden
Stiffens and odors bleed
From the sweet, deep throats of the night flower.
The moon has nothing to be sad about,
Staring from her hood of bone.
She is used to this sort of thing.
Her blacks crackle and drag.


OK, that was nice...  The final chapter:  Sylvia's husband Ted the poet, slept with Assia the poet translating home wrecker, who strangely enough was pregnant with Ted's child when Sylvia killed herself, but terminated the pregnancy and had a 4 year-old daughter who Ted always thought was his, and Assia, who raised Sylvia's two children found out that Ted was also having an affair with two, yes two other woman, one 20 years younger than he, Assia also killed herself and her four year old child, by first giving them both a large dose of sleeping pills and yep, you guessed it, put her head in a gas oven.  Thank God we have less gas ovens around!  Sylvia's son Nicholas also suffered with severe depression and on March 23, 2009 he promptly hung himself.


I can almost understand in 1963, if everyone was so obsessed with themselves and seriously, who had time to write poetry with all the sex happening?  But do we really think we would notice now if someone went to extremes to say, "Hello...I'm trying to die here!"  I surely hope so.  Lindsey Lohan comes to mind.  Maybe no matter what we do, if people are self-destructive, I guess there is nothing short of kidnapping them that would intervene.  Certainly shows like, Celebrity Rehab have given National attention to some who are slowly doing what Sylvia Plath and other did quickly.


Humans have a powerful force called free will, but I would hope that if you or I knew Sylvia Plath, we would have tried to help her heal.  Maybe that concept is just plain short-sighted, but it would seem that people cared about her, her son, her husbands lover, enough to stop them, but maybe they didn't.  Either way we know for sure that suicide can be an act of the coward or the angry act of the scorned, but in the end it is an act of desperation.


The following poem is one that Plath wrote describing her thoughts about past suicide attempts, heartfelt and painful as they were.  If you are a true friend or have a true friend, congratulations...hold them dear.
PM

Lady Lazarus

I have done it again.
One year in every ten
I manage it-----
A sort of walking miracle, my skin
Bright as a Nazi lampshade,
My right foot

A paperweight,
My featureless, fine
Jew linen.

Peel off the napkin
O my enemy.
Do I terrify?-------

The nose, the eye pits, the full set of teeth?
The sour breath
Will vanish in a day.

Soon, soon the flesh
The grave cave ate will be
At home on me

And I a smiling woman.
I am only thirty.
And like the cat I have nine times to die.

This is Number Three.
What a trash
To annihilate each decade.

What a million filaments.
The Peanut-crunching crowd
Shoves in to see

Them unwrap me hand in foot ------
The big strip tease.
Gentleman , ladies

These are my hands
My knees.
I may be skin and bone,

Nevertheless, I am the same, identical woman.
The first time it happened I was ten.
It was an accident.

The second time I meant
To last it out and not come back at all.
I rocked shut

As a seashell.
They had to call and call
And pick the worms off me like sticky pearls.

Dying
Is an art, like everything else.
I do it exceptionally well.

I do it so it feels like hell.
I do it so it feels real.
I guess you could say I've a call.

It's easy enough to do it in a cell.
It's easy enough to do it and stay put.
It's the theatrical

Comeback in broad day
To the same place, the same face, the same brute
Amused shout:

'A miracle!'
That knocks me out.
There is a charge

For the eyeing my scars, there is a charge
For the hearing of my heart---
It really goes.

And there is a charge, a very large charge
For a word or a touch
Or a bit of blood

Or a piece of my hair on my clothes.
So, so, Herr Doktor.
So, Herr Enemy.

I am your opus,
I am your valuable,
The pure gold baby

That melts to a shriek.
I turn and burn.
Do not think I underestimate your great concern.

Ash, ash---
You poke and stir.
Flesh, bone, there is nothing there----

A cake of soap,
A wedding ring,
A gold filling.

Herr God, Herr Lucifer
Beware
Beware.

Out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
And I eat men like air.

To Err is Human, to Keep Erring is Insanity

As I sit down to write this, I reflect on the internal dialogue that plagues me after I write something like this...namely that it would have been more amusing to write about why Wilma Flintstone was secretly in love with Betty Rubble, but was afraid of the consternation of the prehistoric victorian values.  That being said, I start writing as usual, with an apology. I do however, think this subject is not only topical, but downright predictive.


In 1979, Afghanistan was on the brink of yet another civil war.  The cause, a faction of pro-communist Afghans and a faction of democratic Afghans.  The result...a killing here, a killing there and viola you have the Soviet Union getting involved as support.  Why did the Soviets get involved?  Well, since you asked, the United States brokered a "peace accord," between Israel and Egypt and began selling arms to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern Countries, causing the Soviet Union to react in military strategic fear.  Long story semi-short, the Soviet-Afghan war begins, thousands die and the World continues to turn as many Countries condemn the action.  Fearing that the great satan Communism would gain a foothold in the oil rich Middle East, America via the CIA, sent shoulder mounted Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems as well as "para-military" trainers.  


President Jimmy Carter stated, "Soviet aggression could not be viewed as an isolated event of limited geographical importance but had to be contested as a potential threat to US influence in the Persian Gulf region."   The US was also worried about the USSR gaining access to the Indian Ocean by coming to an arrangement with Pakistan.  So fellow reader, we saw many more die, Soviet helicopters shot from the sky and U.S. trained Mujahideen rebels very appreciative for our help in fighting the "Superpower" Soviet Union and winning.  


The outcome of this was important.  The Soviet Union was viewed as weak and the Islamic insurgency was emboldened.  The U.S. Government then adopted National Security Decision Directive (NSDD) that continued to train Mujahideen forces in "unconventional warfare."  Translation, making car bombs, assassinations and cross-border attacks.  The end result (for those of us with ADD and those who are still reading, but waiting for the Wilma Flintstone analogy,) the rise of Osama Bin Laden.  America did a great job of accomplishing the goal of defeating Communist spread, but failed to rebuild Afghanistan to the level that the Afghan people would have appreciated and in the wake of that, we were viewed as an imperial user who cuts and runs when our needs were met.  When the Soviet Union retreated in embarrassing defeat, there was indeed a large scale civil war in Afghanistan and you guessed it...thousands were tortured, killed etc.  The Heroin however, was still in production and Afghanistan is still at war and the World is still spinning.  No more Democratic and no less feudal...time marches on.  Hmmm simplistic view I agree, but have we seen this movie before?


During his inaugural speech, President Kennedy pledged, "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and success of liberty."    Though against U.S. troop deployment to South East Asia, Kennedy was also fresh off the fact that the Soviet's were ahead in the "Space Race", the Berlin wall was constructed, and the Bay of Pigs invasion was a disaster.  These events propelled Kennedy to, "draw a line in the sand."  Kennedy then said, "Now we have a problem making our power credible and Vietnam looks like the place,"  By 1963 there were 16,000 American military personnel in South Vietnam, up from 900 advisors sent by President Eisenhower.
The CIA assassinates a Vietnamese leader who was not towing the, "party line," Kennedy is furious that he didn't approve this action and Vietnam had a succession of corrupt leaders take and lose power with no real net effect on the battle.  Kennedy is assassinated, President Johnson takes over and is uninterested in the "actions in South East Asia."  President Nixon gets the nod and begins Vietnamization or as we know it today in Iraq, "let's train the Iraqis to defend themselves and plant the seeds of a fairly elected Democratic Government."  Again, does any of this sound familiar?


OK, next...the fall of Siagon, enter the Khmer Rouge on April 17th 1975 and then the resulting genocide that claimed over a million lives.


The most wise quote from General Maxwell Taylor, one of the principle architects of the war, "first, we didn't know ourselves. We thought that we were going into another Korean War, but this was a different country. Secondly, we didn't know our South Vietnamese allies... And we knew less about North Vietnam. Who was Ho Chi Minh? Nobody really knew. So, until we know the enemy and know our allies and know ourselves, we'd better keep out of this kind of dirty business. It's very dangerous."


Did we know our enemy in Iraq?  Did we know our allies?  Do we know ourselves?
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara concluded that "the achievement of a military victory by U.S. forces in Vietnam was indeed a dangerous illusion."


Marine Corps General Victor H. Krulak was critical of General William Westmoreland's atrittion strategy, calling it "wasteful of American lives... with small likelihood of a successful outcome." As well, doubts surfaced about the ability of the military to train foreign forces.  The defeat also raised questions about the quality of the advice that was given to successive presidents by the Pentagon.


Starting to sound really familiar?  Harvard philosopher George Santayana said, "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Are we condemned to repeat the past?  Did we learn nothing from the words of leaders who in retrospect were critical of their own policies and despite their collective egos have warned us by their mistakes and analysis.  


March 2003, U.S. and allies invade Iraq.  The lessons of the past ring out.  President Kennedy's words, "Now we have a problem making our power credible and Vietnam looks like the place,"  Substitute Iraq for Vietnam and Bush for Kennedy.  The battle...costly, the outcome...unknown.  Our enemy...still unknown.
We are there now, it's true.  August 31st is coming up quickly as the "line in the sand," that President Obama has drawn as the date we remove the majority of U.S. military troops.  We will leave behind advisors to continue the training of the Iraqi defense forces.  The outcome...maybe a huge victory in public opinion and a free Iraq.  But what if...What if civil war erupts, we are pulled into a battle that must be fought, lest we seem weak and the militant Islamic rule becomes emblazoned once again by yet another Super Power failure.  What if we face the decision to support the troops we have there and in doing so we ultimately deepen the military involvement and start from scratch?  


The final words after the defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan were said by a new Islamic warrior of the day, Osama Bin Laden, "credit for the collapse of the Soviet Union ... goes to God and the mujahideen in Afghanistan ... the US had no mentionable role," but "collapse made the US more haughty and arrogant."


The words of President Johnson induce both feelings of fear and regret that we have not learned and we seem intent and potentially condemned to repeat history.

"I wish it were possible to convince others with words of what we now find it necessary to say with guns and planes: armed hostility is futile -- our resources are equal to any challenge -- because we fight for values and we fight for principle rather than territory or colonies, our patience and our determination are unending.  Once this is clear, then it should also be clear that the only path for reasonable men is the path of peaceful settlement."

PM

Touched by Greatness

On March 30th 1968 a bright red colt was born to parents chosen by the toss of a coin.  The colt was born to "Somethingroyal," and stallion, "Bold Ruler." 
Bold Ruler was considered one of the most significant stallions of his time.  He was known to have both the speed to be a frontrunner and the stamina to run 1 1/4 mile tracks.


The colt, a red chestnut horse with three white socks and a star with a narrow blaze, was named Secretariat, a name that sets the standard for horse racing to this day.  Secretariat showed exceptional greatness within the first two years of life, winning the 1972 American Horse of the Year honors.  This record for a two year old was only repeated once since, in 1977.

July 4th, 1936, another great champion first fell in love with horses after he sat atop a horse in Powell, Ohio.  The man's name was James Gaffney.  That Summer day would begin a life-long  love affair with horses and horse racing.  A smile from a young child's face would hint of a future passion and an easy smile that is crystalized in all who knew Jim.


April 1972, Jimmy Gaffney's life intersected with the famed racehorse Secretariat.  Jim had worked with racehorses for most of his life and when he first met Secretariat, his life was forever changed.  Jim was quoted as saying:

"I had been on race horses almost all of my adult life and when I stepped up on Secretariat the first time in April, 1972. I had this big red machine under me and from that very first day I knew he had had a power of strength that I have never felt from a two year old horse before. The very first time Lucien Laurin told me to work him a quarter mile the April morning at Belmont Park, I told him that he would be RUNNING REALLY FAST and he said so let him. I went a quarter in 21 seconds and I believe that Lucien realized at that time we had a racehorse on our hands."


Jim was one of two men entrusted with exercising the champion Secretariat and did his job with the same passion that defined his life.  A coin toss decided the birth of this champion and fate introduced the champion to a man who would contribute equal greatness to Secretariat and to those who loved him.  


1973 Secretariat wins the famed Kentucky Derby by 2 1/2 lengths, setting a track record of 1 minute 59 seconds, a record that stood for the next 28 years.  Each 1/4 mile segment of the race was successively faster than the last, demonstrating that Secretariat was accelerating even through the last 1/4 mile.  The win was epic.


1973 Secretariat runs the Preakness Stakes and again, comes from behind and is never challenged, winning by 2 1/2 lengths.  The champion racer was now on the cover of Time magazine and center stage in the public consciousness that was being challenged at the time, by events such as U.S. troops being withdrawn from Vietnam, oil prices increasing by 200%, 100,000 unemployed workers laid off from U.S. car makers, Roe v. Wade trial and deepening  recession...but for that moment in time America had hope.  The hope was that this young horse could win the Triple Crown after an upcoming race at the Belmont Stakes.


1973 Belmont Stakes, Secretariat runs in front of 67, 605 eager spectators and opens not from behind the pack, but setting a fast pace, challenged only by a horse named Sham.  
Secretariat and Sham run 10 lengths ahead of any other horse.  After 6 furlongs, Sham begins to tire and fades into the pack, finishing last.  Secretariat however, runs even faster, finishing 31 lengths ahead of the other horses and not only wins the race, but sets a record for the fastest time of any horse in a 1 1/2 mile track, 2 minutes and 24 seconds.  The record time continues to stand today.


Many winning ticket holders never turn in their tickets, choosing instead to hold on to them as souvenirs and a memory of that magical day at Belmont Racetrack, when Secretariat, won the coveted Triple Crown, reassuring us that even in challenging times events can occur that show us greatness.


On October 4th, 1989, Secretariat lost his earthly race that all living things run, but he left us with a legacy that is just as important today.  His name will be forever linked to a championship year when he drew our attention away from World events, even for a few minutes.  Secretariat's championship year inspired us, gave us reason to look at our own lives with promise and hope, and made us smile.


On the morning of June 3rd, 2010, Jim Gaffney also left us with a legacy that will stand for all time.  Jim Gaffney had many accomplishments, loving Husband, dedicated Father and Grandfather, friend to everyone he's ever met.  I am proud to say that I  had the good fortune of getting to know Jim over the last seven years.  His passion and happiness was always evident in his quick smile and warm easy laugh. 


On the weekend of May 29th 2010 Jim Gaffney attended an event at the Belmont racetrack with his son Jim.  Even through his weakened state, he visited, took pictures and signed autographs for other horse racing fans...with his signature warm smile.  Jim was able to meet one of Secretariat's offspring and for a moment he was joined with the history that made him so passionate during his life.  Jim worked with Secretariat for a little over a year, but it was the year that the name and courage of Secretariat captured our hearts.  Jim's life was one of the rare occasions when someone touches their passion and are forever changed, and through their experience, forever change us.  He lived a rich and full life and this full life inspires us to hope for a brush with greatness, that even by chance can change us forever.


Secretariat is remembered as a horse that loved to run, a horse that not only came from behind, but that ran faster and harder than any other horse, a horse that was clearly motivated by the joy of running the race.


June 5th, 2010:  The 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes will start just a few hours after funeral services for Mr. Jim Gaffney have concluded.  The race he loved, the track at which he celebrated the win of Secretariat, the history that he added to equally as much as it added to him.  Today Jim will not be physically at his beloved track, but I can't imagine that his spirit will be far away.  History offers us awards to mark the passage of time, records to signify our achievements, but Jim was beyond that.  Jim will be remembered as much as history itself.  Jim's life will stand to remind us that one year in a life lived for something great can define every year that follows.  Our time is finite, but our legacy can live forever.  Jim's love of life is an example to us all, touching greatness, however brief or protracted, will spawn hope, happiness and contentment...what more is there?  


So today as the announcer at Belmont says those famous words, "and there off,"  we know you are there Jim, yesterday, today and forever.


The following short quote from Jim, says more about the man than volumes of words could ever say and pays tribute to the man who ran with greatness, Jim Gaffney.

"I was just one of the spokes of the wheel that had helped Secretariat on his path to greatness and immortality. Any good trainer, exercise rider, groom, or jockey could have done what we did. It was SECRETARIAT that did it, we just pointed his head and he would do it from there... It was a beautiful ride....

I feel honored and proud to have been a small part of his life and miss him dearly. I guess animals have a way of growing on you and he certainly did with me and will always have a place in my heart.


Sincerely, Jim Gaffney"


A wonderful ride indeed Jim, and all of those who adored you in life will miss you dearly, but your legacy...Will be forever nurtured and celebrated.




PM

Fiddling While Rome Burns

06/01/2010

Headlines:

Palestinian aid ship crossing the blockade line in the Gaza is boarded by Israeli Defense Forces.


BP oil spill continues in the 43rd day with no end in sight, BP President says, "Believe me, no one wants this (oil spill) over more than me...I want my life back."


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancels visit to White House...has called White House Chief of Staff a, "self-hating jew."


The White House may have offered Joe Sestak a job if he didn't run for Senate.

Is there an image today that galvanizes public sentiment and offers hope?  I'm not sure if times have changed and we as a society have, "information burnout," or what.  Maybe there are so many images blown across our retinas that we just don't look...maybe we don't even care?  Consider the past first.  President Reagan having a beer in a pub with several unemployed workers during the deep recession of the early 80's.  Reagan's public support grew from this image.  In retrospect, the Reagan plan to end the recession cut enormous social programs, left many poor elderly citizens homeless and our budget deficit was only $80 million.  The picture told people more that political rhetoric, or was it simply all we needed?  The images of President Clinton appearing confident despite many critical events both foreign and domestic.  War in the Balkans, genocide, Mogadishu uprisings, sexual misconduct and eventual impeachment...Clinton left office with an approval rating of 66%!  The highest rating since World War II!!!  President George Bush standing at "ground zero," after September 11th, surrounded by the heroes that worked to save others...gave us hope despite the reality of retrospective viewing.

Today, it would seem that we have no images of commitment, or at least I don't see them.  Perhaps we want a small dose of panic in our leaders to demonstrate to us that they are sharing our fears and truly engaged.  Maybe panic is a poor choice of words, maybe we just need a glimpse of, "It effects me too."  or "I hear you and the people who dropped these buildings will soon hear us all."

The recent oil spill has made some say, "The White House is not engaging..."  "No one seems to understand the crisis that we are experiencing down here."  "This is Obama's Katrina..."

What if being analytical, as President Obama has been defined as, just isn't giving people what they, "need."  It seems that we are absent of hope as a society in the areas of fiscal relief, war progression, nuclear proliferation in Iran, perceived "under the table deals" in our Government.  Maybe we need more today from our leaders than the "us" of the past drew comfort from.  Consider that President Obama gained enormous support during his candidacy by doing just that..."Yes we can."  The Presidential Candidate Obama seemed very animated during his presidential run and we ate it up.  The disconnect is that if promises have no follow through then it returns to hurt your image profoundly, but if the promises are continually followed by updates on why they did or did not occur, "yet" then we seem to say a collective, "OK!" and we gladly switch the channel to Real Housewives of Akron.

In my opinion, I would be happier if there was simply a positive message that, "we are on it."  Israel...we got this, we are BFF's and we have your back of course.  Iran, hell yes!  We are watching it and if they do develop nuclear weapons...we'll have their asses!  Oil spill...it is a real mess and I understand that the folks are out of work because of corporate lack of insight, but guess what...BP will start paying to help those people today and every day that this continues they will pay MORE!  BP will be held responsible for all costs and we will hold their feet to the FIRE starting today...without LIMITS.
Recession...Look, it sucks and if I were you I'd be depressed and PISSED!  We are going to raise taxes on those that have not been effected, we will support small businesses and we will STOP foreclosures AND not allow those who simply don't want to pay on their house and can afford to, to walk away...and it starts TODAY!

I may be naive and completely ignorant of the "workings of politics," but I know I am not alone.  Most of us simply bah on our way to work, or in 10 million cases, on our way to the unemployment office.  Our "leaders" are not viewed as leaders.  It's kind of like when the clerk at Blockbuster gives a cursory look at the returned movies behind her and says, "nope, sorry we're out of that movie," despite the stack of the movie you want behind them.  Doesn't it feel like people care more when they just...oh, I don't know...seem to try?   That's all we want, simply try or even act like you do!

President Clinton flew over Central Florida in the 90's after an F4 Tornado leveled a swath from horizon to horizon.  The image  published of the President was him staring longingly out of Marine one helicopter.  He had such empathy in his eyes.  Andy Card, the White House Chief of Staff later wrote that the President was playing cards and smoking a cigar, as if on cue he stopped the card game, put the cigar down and bit his lower lip as only Clinton could and looked down at the carnage with a million dollar frown...then the cards came back, the cigar came back and we were none the wiser.  Isn't that a false sense of concern?  You betcha!  But, how else can a human being care about everything that matters?  I can't even care about missing garbage day when we are missing the mortgage payment!  So it's fake...we need it.  We want it and we miss it.

Don't roll up your sleeves to feign, "I'm ready to work."  Just ask your image advisors and I know you got'em...and act your ass off.  How superficial...indeed it is, but we'll buy it all day long!

So today leaders...all leaders...don't take meetings, don't take polls...TAKE ACTING LESSONS!  I hate that I am saying that, but how great does it feel when our friends and family tell us, "Everything is gonna be fine!"

And if that doesn't work for you, then you can always pay attention to this late breaking news:

"Heidi Montag is ready to split from Spencer Pratt"...hmmm it truly is the end of the World!

PM