Christmas Kindness

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no
logical end. Scott Adams

I was taken off the street by a friend, invited to her 'family' party. What a family!

All the people, 60 or so are from the old neighborhood in the Bronx. The group is on it's second generation and many young adults were in attendance.

They came from Newburgh and near Philly, Saratoga and still the Bronx all to be with a wonderful woman and her mother for Christmas eve. A verity of ethnics, all from the strong roots of a good neighborhood relationship from 20 or more years ago.

Knowing only the hostess, we have worked together, I stood in the kitchen, which is part of the action, while the flow of people came and filled plates. There I could help a bit and talk to those who stayed to eat there and others who liked the kitchen better than the beautiful dining/living room. They told old stories and new ventures, all with the same punch line, 'we were neighbors in the Bronx.'

The gracious home is tile and beige, but the eclectic decorations, Japanese, Hispanic, contemporary and even a shard from Israel that I gifted years ago.

The food, oh, the food, meat of several types, rice and corn, rice, beans of several types, home make slaws and salads. Chicken arrived and the deserts were awesome, chocolate cake, pies and a tree full of cup cakes.

All so LOVEly.

Dating

December 24, 2008
Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats. - Howard Aiken
It is almost Christmas. A wet miserable and clammy day.
The search for a new friend to replace my ex-wife continues. I am not having fun. I never thought I would end up like this, it wasn’t in my life script, to be divorced.
Now, trying to find some one new I display all of my talents as a social moron. There is no experience here. Being married was a full time job and there was no philandering, no quick hook ups, no practicing lines on women to get them into bed.
Having spent 10 years in state government I know all about PC and have no problem with it. But that is a problem. One date the woman took out her wallet when the bill arrived. In PC world that means she wants to be responsible for herself, not bought and paid for. The next day she complains that “I really expected you to pay for the dinner.” Then, why did she take out her wallet?
Another complained that the signature on my e-mail was ‘aggressive.’ I use a hand written signature.
One delightful lady wrote a 323 word profile of herself (copied it to Word and had the program count). It included that she wanted ‘some one open minded.’ But also, ‘no republicans.’ I can’t imagine anyone as closed minded as that. Ah, then there was the damsel who said: “Please, I just saw a friend die of diabetes, so if you have this awful disease don’t contact me.” I don’t but of course I didn’t.And, it is amazing how many women say ‘not religious’ when they mean Jewish. What are they afraid of?

December 15, 2008

"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

Bigotry. In a town north of here the town council has allowed Muslims to put up a 'star and creasant' in the same park with a the traditional Christmas tree and Hannuka Menorah. The newspaper article is followed with 6 pages of posts most very biggoted against Islam. Sad stupid bigots.

Amazing. I have been in a dialogue with the Arabs and Muslims in this county for 13 years. We focus on Westchester, not the world (think globally, act locally) Before 9-11 we held public programs. These people all live here, some very long term. This is their home, it is our home. Our children attend schools together, we live next door to one another. We can't move our houses of worship.

Many of these community members have had to flee religious prosecution as they were in the minority of their countries. And here, in our county and our country there is bigotty so fresh that it might as well be Iran. This is very painful and absolutely not American.

They are deathly afraid of the 'war' coming here. They watch their neighborhoods for danger. They don't want Westchester to become Gaza, they want to be Americans and yet maintain their religion. These people are not terrorists.

One of their leaders got his medical degree abroad, he lived there in a neighborhood with Israelis, attended their Israel Independence day parties. He is an honored physician, but these bigots can't see past his bowing in prayer.

The Jewish and Christian holidays have nothing to do with one another, they sort of coincide on the calender. The Jews celebrate their Independence and winning back the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, important but not as major as Yom Kippur. The Christians celebrate the birth of the Son of G-d, with Easter it is the most important holiday of the year. Some attackers of Islam complain that there is no holiday at this time. Well, their is a holiday, not as important as the holy month of Ramadan, but celebrating the end of the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca season. Important enough.

They offered me condolences after the brutal murder of Jews in Mumbai.

And yet, their neighbors call them names. I am disgusted that Americans would act like the same fanatical bigots in Holland, England and France.

This is wrong.

"Advertising may be described as the

science of arresting the human

intelligence long enough to get money

from it. "
Stephen Leacock

Oh

My,

today is

Raheli and Jim's 2 month annivsary!

Thank Harold for the picture.

December 11, 2008

"Show me a good and gracious loser and I'll show you a failure." - Knute Rockne

Another beginning.

For 10 years I was photographer to Governor George E. Pataki.
For 35 years I was married.

Now I am single, by my choice.
I was fired by Eliot Spitzer's choice.

So, another new beginning.

A life long photographer and photojournalist, I have been in 3 wars, 50 or so terrorist attacks, covered 7 US Presidents, so far and I am looking to the future.

Another beginning, this blog!