Sal's Reflections

It is fashionable to demean government and to cast aspersions on those who choose to work in public service.The stereotype of persons who merely sit in stationary positions dreaming about retirement are bandied about in all sorts of places. However ,I have witnessed the dedication of people who give totally of themselves to make the lives of others better. Thursday I had the privilege of personally witnessing the brilliant closing in Superior court by my daughter Marisa in the pursuit of justice for a child and her family.Thirty five minutes of powerful, dynamic words which flowed from days of preparation held me and the jury spellbound. Coupled with this recent experience are the memories of Rob  Hess who gave years of dedication to solving the challenges of  the Homeless in Philadelphia and New York. The work of Marisa and Rob and the thousands of others who every day make the world better somehow should not be demeaned by many who have never made the commitment and sacrifices inherent in public service.

In many cases in our history injustice has been met by silence on the part of many in the society. However, the fiasco of trying to limit the rights of others in Arizona was met with the outcry of ordinary citizens all across the country. It was heartwarming to witness not only those who would be directly penalized by this blatant attempt to formalize bias, but also people who would not be directly excluded. Our rights under the law are only really protected when we stand up for all of our brothers and sisters regardless of color, creed or sexual orientation. Freedom is not merely a right for some ,but rather the heritage of all ,and it is so precious that it demands vigilance and constant witness.

Fortunately the Arizona governor vetoed the ridiculous attempt to exclude the gay community from its’ constitutional rights. I am glad that she decided for whatever reasons legal and political that she could not support such a flawed bill. However, it saddens me that in the year 2014 there are still attempts to punish people for who they are. I don’t particularly care whether segments of the population dislike and fear what is happening regarding the rights of all of our citizens. I cannot legislate others thoughts or feelings, but I can stand against any attempt to restrict the rights of any member of our society.The Constitution which some glibly love to use as the base for their belief in freedom does not give permission to put personal beliefs into the path of restricting the freedom of others.

In light of all that one wishes for it is easy to forget all that one has.I am ever grateful for the blessings that I have experienced along the way. Good health, loving families, marvelous friends  and countless moments of joy and pleasure. I realize that at any moment life can change and something once barely noticed can change or even vanish. It is a worthwhile exercise to more than occasionally list all of the reasons why I should be grateful

When we visit a museum and gaze at a superb painting created by a master we utter the words” one of a kind”. The painting is so unique that it is truly priceless. There is another one of a kind that we rarely attribute those words to,and are often very critical despite the fact that there is uniqueness in that work.The one of a kind I refer to is any human being.Through my life I have muttered and compared myself to a host of others.At times I was too short ,or not bright enough or a host of other qualities that I desired but judged not to possess. The reality is that I and every other person are one of a kind and in that sense priceless. No one before,now or ever will be exactly the same, and so with that in mind the endless comparisons are without merit. Being the best that I can be is the only worthwhile goal. I suggest that if you are plagued with these endless comparisons you remind yourself that as one of a kind you are priceless, and will be never be replicated again.

One of the roadblocks to taking a risk toward some meaningful goal is the ever abiding sense that something awful will happen. This cloud of doom creates discomfort, and at times immobilizes even the first step toward something that we desire. I have found it helpful to specify in concrete behavioral terms ‘What is the worst thing that may happen if I start down this path?” Dealing with the concrete possibilities rather than the vague cloud of doom often allows me to move forward. You are not forced to take any step toward your dreams, but the vague and the terrifying are often not so bad when you identify the price tag of any new venture.

I had an extended conversation with someone in a coffee shop this morning which believe it or not centered on the meaning of one’s life. I was reading the extended version of Viktor Frankl’s book “Man’ Search for Ultimate Meaning when the person inquired “is that the same as his first book? I replied that it was some additional thoughts that he developed later.My new acquaintance dismissed Viktor and his work as mere poetry that had no relevance for him. Intrigued by this response I asked how did he arrive at such a conclusion?. His response over the next ten minutes was that what we do makes little difference and all this “meaning” stuff is merely a delusion. Politely, without preaching, I offered we then must agree to disagree because it is at the core of what I believe, and what I struggle to achieve each day.

Caring about the environment is not a conservative or liberal issue. It is alarming how the most basic parts of a healthy existence are constantly in jeopardy. Careless implementation of laws that should protect toxic chemicals from flowing into rivers are manipulated by corporate greed.Foods are tainted and there are serious questions about the Canadian pipeline and fracking. We have an obligation to leave this planet as safe and healthy for those who follow us. This is not about just saving the spotted owl by a bunch of so called “tree huggers”. It is an obligation to preserve and protect the future.

The rigid positions on guns must be open to more dialogue due to the recent incidents surrounding”stand your ground cases”.It is difficult for me to believe that persons are shot and killed because of texting in a movie theater, or playing loud music.Have we come to the point in our society where even the slightest conflict leads to someone’s death? I have never been one that looks over my shoulder wistfully at the past but growing up these kind of conflicts would lead to harsh words, and perhaps a shoving showdown,but not gun violence.It is way beyond time to more openly dialogue about the sanity of laws that permit and encourage a wild west approach to conflict resolution.

Writing a book may appear to be a solo flight but in fact it is a collegial venture. So many hands and minds must touch the work before,during and after publication.Currently I am trying to assemble a national and to a lesser degree international book tour in 2014. In this goal it would be really helpful if so many of my friends,family and associates assist in the process.I need direct contacts in the media, Synagogues the Jewish Community,Churches,Colleges,Universities ,Bookstores and any other venue in which I can speak about the Holocaust. I will provide any information and supplemental information that is required. No assistance is too small, and currently I am excited about the new web page that is being developed. It will contain all sorts of information about the research involved in the process, and a host of interesting topics on the Holocaust and related areas. I welcome all of your help and ideas.(setaglia@aol.com)