Sal's Reflections

A large percentage of our lives is spent in some form of work. At times the daily routine of what we do can seem rather mundane and for some actually boring. One of the ways to enhance that time that we spend in our occupations is to give conscious meaning to the work. Some may have the opportunity to contribute significantly to the welfare of others and what they do has obvious community value. In other occupations there may be relevance in the development of beauty,art or some outcome that raises the consciousness of those they serve. I would contend that every work effort has value and meaning because it is attached to some other reality. Some work to raise children or provide the basics that are essential to life.What you do is not isolated from how you touch the world, and somehow must be integrated into the purpose of your life.There is overt and hidden value in the tasks that daily require your efforts ,and ascribing value to that work raises it to the praise it deserves.In essence work is a form of prayer that enables us to realize that our efforts are not insignificant.

Once upon a time there were real political differences in my lifetime ,but there was a high degree of respect and concern for the common good.It seems to me we have lost our way, and have let political certainty keep us from listening to each other. There is great benefit in diverse opinions and strong convictions but they are of little value if we shut our minds and hearts to alternatives.There is flux and sparks over social issues and it often comes to the point where all we do is shout at each other. I hope there is some common ground that needs to be discussed without holding on to our sacred cows. Americans work, pray and live with all sorts of people ,and by and large they do it in harmony. We need to tell our elected officials to stop exercising their blind adherence to stone positions ,and realize that on many of the critical issues they are NOT representing their constituencies. There are areas of common ground for the majority. We want better schools,safe bridges, jobs and an energy policy that is not owned by the fossil fuel barons.In the movie we saw years ago a crazed man opens a window and shouts”I will not take this anymore.”It is time to open our minds to each other and shout with our votes and our money”We are tired of this and will not stand for it anymore.”

Yesterday a friend who recently lost her mother after a long illness told me that it has been extremely difficult to adjust to the loss. She finds herself distracted, and there are moments when this loss overwhelms her. I listened without comment for quite a long period of time before I responded because there are no simple words that can heal this situation. However, I do know that in time the love and joy that her Mother brought to her life will revisit her heart on many occasions. My parents are gone but never forgotten. They appear at so many moments, and their memories fill me with the wisdom and love that they brought when they were physically here.Her mother is no longer present to her by phone or able to visit and play with her grandchildren, but she is resident in the memories and all the layers of love and learning that are part of her and the family.My father once told me they are never fully dead when we remember them. My friend will never stop remembering the one who gave her life on so many levels.

In a time when there is a battle over class warfare I saw the answer at my brother’s birthday party in Boston. Mark has been enormously successful in so many businesses and real estate ventures. He for a period of years left his business to radically reform the city of Boston in its search to grow and utilize a vision that will benefit the citizens of the city for decades. Tireless in a thankless job, he never lost sight of the common good. This remarkable man has given his money,time,counsel and love to legions that have been marginalized by society.His comfort level does not end with the privileged, and he is a living example of the dialogue that should exist in the hallowed halls of Congress. It is not the rich against the poor, or the one percent against the ninety nine, but rather all of us building a community of caring and fairness. If you need an example of how it has and is being achieved call me and I will give you Mark’s phone number .

In the play ” A Man for all Seasons” Richard Rich seeks a position of power and influence. He is a teacher and is dissatisfied with the pay and the lack of prestige.Thomas More counsels him to stay as a teacher because there is great merit in teaching others. Rich is unhappy with the counsel and states” if I am a good teacher who will know?”More replied”You will know,God will know, and your students will know and that is a wonderful audience.” In a time when it is fashionable to ridicule teachers,cut their pay and make them part of the ongoing search for fiscal responsibility ,it is well to remind ourselves what we have gained from teachers. I do not suggest that all teachers are wonderful, but my life has been enhanced by many dedicated,talented teachers. They poked my curiosity,opened vistas and enabled me to have a life long commitment to learning. In them I found knowledge,commitment to others and the keys to the wondrous world of books, art ,music and models that have taught me how to lead a meaningful life.To all who today wear the mantle of teacher and positively change the lives of thousands I wish you the knowledge that much of the silent audience is ever grateful.

I have two friends who live in seperate philosophical and political worlds that have built a bridge to each other.One is a Jew and the other an Arab. Both are mothers .wives and respected members of their communities.They have loving husbands and wonderful children ,but what makes them different is that they have both been unwilling to acceppt the current lack of peace in the mid east.Their husbands, both good men, are locked into partisan positions and do not accept this posture of acceptance, but they reluctantly ignore their wive’s positions. They see the other side as evil and to accept them is to be naive and somewhat gullible. My friends believe that the real naivete is to continue the bellicose history that fosters hatred and seperation. They believe that in modeling friendship they keep a flicker of hope alive that someday the yearning for peace will outweigh the settling for hostility

I was blessed to have a mother who was the least biased human being I have ever met. She accepted everyone  and had a wide birth for all who crossed her path. Her convictions and morals were rock solid, and only outweighed by her ability to be non judgmental.The reservoir of learning she left goes on to this day. I also learned a great deal from my second mother Dorothy. I witnessed endless grace and courage through her struggle with paralysis and pain. From my wife I learned the ability of juggling a fabulous career with the total dedication to her children regardless of the circumstances and multiple responsibilities.In my travels there have been many women who never bore the title mother, but their love and care for children made the world a better place. We may not celebrate them on Mother’s Day but they have brought enormous joy and learning to our children. This Sunday I raise my glass and my heart to all of them.

I think that the president’s announcement about gay marriage is a step forward to fulfilling the mission of America. This nation theoretically is built on the foundation that all people are created equal under the law. This is who we aspire to be, and every time we prevent any American citizen from fully partaking in the total citizenship under the equal protection law we diminish the beauty of this great human experiment,democracy. I am thrilled that today we are one step closer to that beacon  on the hill that is resident in our souls. This is not a war on marriage,, but another path to fulfilling the wondrous goal that has been the envy of all of those who look to this great land for leadership.We are not in the prevention business but rather the inclusion business. I celebrate the gay members of my social circle that I have been pleased to know. As a straight man I embrace my gay brothers and sisters in this step toward their total freedom to live the American dream.

I spoke to a friend who is a C.E.O. and he informs me that there are millions of jobs open but few American candidates to fill them because of skill deficiencies. A staunch Republican, he is of the opinion that funding Community Colleges across the country could within a year fill the gap. I believe that this issue should not be politicized, and filling these jobs has no down side. Families would benefit,communities would flourish and the economic benefits are legion. We need to de-politicize the issue and support this. There are things that only government can do and it is amazing how much is achieved when it makes no difference who gets the credit.I am sure that a friend,neighbor or relative could be assisted in finding their economic footing if we support Community colleges. If we can find money for Exxon we certainly can find some for our citizens.

It is time for we the people to carve the way out of this malaise and recession. The path to create the healthy growth we need is in the dedication of addressing our crumbling infrastructure. There are thousands of bridges,highways and schools that are begging to be addressed. I know we have a financial crisis, but austerity by itself will not move us forward. We need to address real jobs for millions of our brothers and sisters while committing to an educational revolution that allows us to move to the workforce of the future.We cannot wait for those who would rather fight than lead. We were once told that the government is by the people,of the people and for the people. It is imperative that we demand that those we elected on both sides stop the games and become leaders. Accepting the malaise is no longer an option for us. The common good demands that the infantile territorial games must stop. We deserve better than this and to accept the current situation is not only shame on them,it is also shame on us.