“Pizzaonia Emerging” Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator
February 2015
Why does a place like Pizzaonia exist? Because we all need a place where life can be what it should be – at least by your definition of whatever you want that to be. Don’t get me wrong. I am not escaping. I am fully aware of the real world. One has only to spend five minutes in it to be overwhelmed with reality.
This is why you need to create your own Pizzaonia. I am aware that life can be beautiful and often is. I know firsthand; I have experienced it. However, unless you experience the good directly you don’t get to see or hear about it.
On the other hand, bad news - is news. Why else do we constantly hear about one calamity after another 24 hours a day? A single tragedy - one is enough - will be repeated in a 24 hour news cycle endlessly and as a result you begin to believe that it is dangerous just to walk out your front door.
Obviously, the news media is not trying to get us to turn off our radio, television or whatever current digital device you are using that links you to the world. They do it because we tune in – this is no secret, but we need to hear it once a while. We can’t turn away from bad news.
I can remember a few years ago when a local news station decided to have a “good news” hour. I am sure someone in the advertising department came up with the idea. They almost went broke. After that you never heard about good news again.
Diverti Mento, our editor emeritus of “The Pizzaonian” used to tell his reporters every shift, “Find me a real-life crisis, and if you can’t find one, make one up.” I used to think he was kidding, later I knew better.
I decided some time ago not to fight it. I portalized to Pizzaonia. I don’t stay here all the time, since I move in and out of both worlds frequently, but having my alternate universe to retreat to has made a difference.
Let me tell you why. Alternate universes probably exist anyway so I not sure this is any different. Since I tire of the world’s problems and their causes, Pizzaonia is very appealing because they did away with governments and wars long ago. It doesn’t take a political scientist to know government ultimately is the cause of most problems.
I should make it clear we are not against government the same way your “Tea Party” is against government. They need the government to exist. Without it to rail against - what would they do? Very little, since you are hard-pressed to name anything they stand for other than being anti-government.
The problem is what our governments have become. Unfortunately, Pizzaonius, our founder concluded some time ago that humans have not evolved to the level of sophistication that allows them to manage good or “enlightened governments.” "So in the meantime, they have to try and make what they have, as imperfect as it is - work."
Unfortunately, it is hard to disagree with him. If you are inclined, come join us in Pizzaonia – a place that made Pizza its national symbol has a lot going for it.
Until next time,
Brother Franco, commenting for the "The Pizzaonian" - a division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network, Diverti Mento, editor
Comments