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Strange happenings on the road to Utopia - We became a nation of critics.....

Image courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, Curator 

 

 

When you are a nation of doers, critics have a place.  They can offer an intelligent perspective that can be useful to the doers.  However, when you become a nation of critics with the doers in the minority, you are on your way to oblivion. 

 

We have reached the crisis point.  Unless we encourage the creative energy that made this nation the dynamic world engine it was, we can look forward to a long dismal period of slow, national disintegration.

 

How could this have happened in the first place?  It was easy.  We created an elite. This elite set the standards for education, politics, justice, technology and the social mores that favored their continued rule.

 

They decided which schools our talented young people would attend. They set the standards of qualifications to merit entry into their hallowed halls.  Those standards, of course, saddle broke all creative minds so they could serve as obedient managers for the system they were bred to serve.

 

So as a result, our financial and educational institutions, our courts and government are managed by people with the same “mind think” regardless of how bright or creative they were in the beginning.

 

We did have our bright shining moment.  After World War Two, thousands of returning veterans came home and began their education.  We created an army of intelligent educated workers and managers that carried us to a national greatness that surprised everyone.

 

We also created a nation of thinkers who were able to question things like they have never been questioned before.  Out of the fifties we bred the sixties and we began to scrutinize all institutions and authority.

 

We created the mechanisms to eliminate poverty, bring quality education to everyone and to create a justice system that would have equal access as its priority.

 

And then a funny thing happened on the way to Utopia - we became satisfied with what we had become. The result: The national elections of 2016 - need I say more?

 

Brother Giovanni

We also recommend: "The Pizzaonian"

 

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Conjectures of a recovering dilettante - "Why the Golden Rule no longer works.”

  

 In Pizzaonia intersecting triangles and light with open space symbolizes the presence of the Creator.

August 2016

Today in a one on one interview, former Supreme Pizzaonian, Brother Giovanni, explained why the “Golden Rule” no longer works and how Pizzaonians evolved to a more advanced culture by realizing this simple observation.

Brother Giovanni elaborated, "Do unto others as you would have then do unto you" is a concept that requires similarities in culture to be effective. As we know, it was rendered in a time when most world views were tribal and provincial. The Golden Rule requires a universal sense of a world community that probably never existed..

As the world expanded and grew bigger with each new discovery, and contrary to popular opinion, it became virtually impossible for people to keep up and to see beyond their tribal perspectives. Everyone’s moral compass went awry. How else do you explain how historically a group of people could be so loving with each other, and than go down the road and slaughter every man, woman and child in a competing village? And, I am not sure on a grander scale, this same question does not apply today.

When I portalized to the beta-world it became clear that Pizzaonians had evolved to an effective and more advanced interpretation of the Golden Rule. Since they are an ecumenical culture and accept all beliefs, and yes, including non belief, it became clear to avoid escalating conflicts they had to develop a way of respecting each other with a universal concept of charity and mutual respect.

Since they are a mercantile culture revolving around the making and selling of pizza, their elders came up with the inspired concept of "customer" as a sacred trust. Since then the Golden Rule for all of Pizzaonia is ‘do unto your customer as you would have your customer do unto you.’

The concept was accepted immediately by all. The concept of customer service transcended religious, ethnic and regional differences. As the concept evolved, they went further and extended the definition of “customer’ to include everyone, not just people you dealt with in business. So your customer became your friend, your family members, literally everyone. As a result, today we find ourselves with a society that has all the problems you have - but, unlike you, the moral mechanism to deal with and resolve all conflicts.”

Brother Giovanni

GiovanniandFranco.com is a division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network, Diverti Mento, editor

We also recommend: "The Pizzaonian"

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When doing everyday things may not be so ordinary after all

 

Today was about performing a routine service for someone else. 

It occurred to me near the end of the afternoon that an erroneous presumption we often make is that when performing a mundane service for others, it can seem like we are wasting our gift by not doing the specific work we believe we were meant to do for this day.

When in fact the service we performed, no matter how seemingly insignificant to us, may in the long run be the most important thing we can do this day when seen from the eyes of the recipient.

I guess that’s what they mean when the say “leave it up to God to decide.”  Think about it the next time you grow impatient while doing a routine service for someone else.

Brother Giovanni

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We also recommend "The Pizzaonian"

 

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Today was about performing a routine service for someone else. 

It occurred to me near the end of the afternoon that an erroneous presumption we often make is that when performing a mundane service for others, it can seem like we are wasting our gift by not doing the specific work we believe we were meant to do for this day.

When in fact the service we performed, no matter how seemingly insignificant to us, may in the long run be the most important thing we can do this day when seen from the eyes of the recipient.

I guess that’s what they mean when the say “leave it up to God to decide.”  Think about it the next time you grow impatient while doing a routine service for someone else.

Brother Giovanni

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We also recommend "The Pizzaonian"

 

Life - The comedic and the tragic - two sides of the same coin

 

In every play or life the last act is always the hardest to write.

In every story or play the last act is always the hardest to write.  At least, that’s the way it seems to me.  Why, because nothing happens the way you plan it, not even make believe.

It is amazing how virtually everything has a life of its own.  You have heard the saying:  “You want to make God laugh,tell him your plans.” As we enter the last years of a long life, how true this is.

Trying to write a “last act’ to life is a fun exercise, especially when you realize how serendipitous life really is.  How many times have very important events occurred in your life, simply because you turned left instead of right?

In my life, so many of the most important events were accidents of being in the right place at the right time

However, since nothing is written, let’s see if we can give some shape to the last act.  How do you wrap up a long life?  How do you have the last chapter make any sense?  Maybe you don’t, but it is our nature  to try.

Even though we know that we control nothing (This is the most humbling realization about life that becomes your reality in your last years.) it is our arrogant nature to try – to do any less would not be human.

For one, you have to believe you have a destiny. I have said this many times before.  I know this appears to be presumptuous, but I am convinced this is one of the most important personal beliefs each of us must have.  Please note: I said must have – that is how vital to our well-being this is.

I am often surprised when I see so many of our fellow human beings that don’t consider this at all. Perhaps they are not conceited enough to believe they have a “destiny.” 

So maybe trying to write a “last act to your life” is an act of pure ego, Even so, I am sure going to have some fun trying.  And when it is all said and done: What do I have to lose? After all it is the “last act.”

Till next time,

Brother Giovanni

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"Spirituality" - We hear this word used a lot these days

Image by Mikali - Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, Curator - Reality - Where the ocean kisses the land

 

Today trying to figure out what people mean by the term “spirituality” is difficult

We can no longer assume what a person is when they are described as spiritual. It can mean anything from a belief in their inner self to a self-described sense of personal transcendence – none of these descriptions necessarily mean they believe in a Divinity.

As for me, since I no longer know what the term means, what do I do about it? And, do I really care?

Perhaps I should care since this description carries several implied meanings not the least of which is “integrity.” Does this mean that when I meet a spiritual person that I would be more inclined to trust them automatically? I suspect for me it does.

For me when I hear the word spirituality being used to describe someone, I assume they believe in some sort of transcendence beyond themselves. I also assume that to some degree they are less worldly and inclined to put spiritual matters first. I am aware that I am making assumptions

And that is the point of this short musing.  How many times do I base decisions on pure assumption and little else? Obviously, I do - many times.

Does this mean I should be less trusting and not be inclined to make snap judgements?  Perhaps it should.  But it does come at a cost.  For one I will be more cautious in our relationships.  Is that good?  I will leave the answer to you.

As for me I would rather be trusting.  I don’t want to be considered naïve, but I will take my chances on most people being trustworthy.  Will I get hurt from time to time? Obviously the answer is yes.  Even so, having thought it out, I will take my chances.

Till next time,

Brother  Franco

We also recommend: "The Pizzaonian."

 

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"Being or Becoming" - the inevitable conflict on the road to Utopia

We often do not enjoy where we are since we are simply passing through on the road to where we are going. The act of becoming often conflicts with the simple act of being.

Does it strike you as strange that we are constantly becoming something? It seems to be part of all living things; we are always in the state of “moving to the next place,” mentally or physically. Nothing interferes with the present like the act of becoming. Since we are invariably in this state, how do we enjoy the present, since our focus if not directly, at least subconsciously, is to the future? 

Maybe this difference distinguishes goal-oriented societies. To the average American, a life without goals, is a life without meaning. How often have we heard someone say, “He has no drive; he always seems to be content “doing nothing.”

Keep in mind that doing nothing usually means he is not engaged in an activity that will improve his situation in the future. This same person could also be completely immersed in the present and enjoying every moment – even though there seems to be no future gain from his activity.   

Responsible people understand that you have to plan ahead. Life demands this from us. But at what point does this perspective begin to erode the pleasure of everyday living? Here is where the word “balance” and “moderation” show up.

We hear these words all the time; however, when we read the success stories of today’s entrepreneurial world, when do you hear the word moderation used. The stories of these very goal-oriented people are based more on their obsessions than anything else. This hardly implies temperance.  

So how about the rest of us who fall somewhere in between these two places? This answer will be different for each of us.  We have our individual needs and lifestyles that will often choose for us. If your obsession is your goal in life at the expense of everything else – go for it. The rest of us will have to hope that the goal is still obtainable while we enjoy stopping along the way to enjoy the journey.

Brother Giovanni

We also recommend: "The Pizzaonian"

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