Conjectures of a recovering dilettante --- Welcome to Pizzaonia! Reflections from a different perspective --- Diverti Mento, John Frank Giovanni, Frank John Franco, Vera V. Veronica and all of the Pizza digogo DiVinci family invite you to join us - We discuss and share ideas that are relevant to our new emerging world. A division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network
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This and that….. It is the privilege of “The Pizzaonian” from time to time to pass on the observations of our commentators who spend much of their time in the United States.
It is important to remember that while they are citizens of Pizzaonia, they are also citizens of the United States and still embrace the “Yankee Spirit.” The comments that follow are some of their observations.
Reasonable people make terrible politicians. They spend most of their time in negotiations. That is what rational people do; they spend their time looking for a plausible compromise that each side can find acceptable. Unfortunately, that is not the way the political arena works - politics, though often disguised as reasonable, is more often than not about unconditional surrender.
I know many people will not agree with this, but we need to take a long look at the record. Let’s start with wars as our prime example. Could war be possible if rational, reasonable people came together?
Even Hitler’s Nazi Germany could have been stopped in its tracks if reasonable people had summoned up the courage to stop him when he was still “stoppable.” But that is not what reasonable people do – they negotiate while the unreasonable people are stealing the silverware. And the beat goes on…….
And that's how it happened moving west................
Environmentalist seems eager to return various natural habitats to their original form. We always hear about a new restoration project that requires the regrettable destruction of “invasive species” in order to bring about this supposed good.
Thank God, we humans are the dominant species. If we were not we would be on the top of everyone’s list for “regrettable destruction” so the land could be restored for its original inhabitants. It has always amazed us here in Pizzaonia that you folks don’t see the connection.
When the human ego was constructed the relationship of “self” to all other living things was left conveniently left out of the equation.
And that's how it happened moving west................
I am often asked if we have no official government in Pizzaonia how can we be sure we have a democracy. A good question if you are not familiar with our ways.
We have two legislative branches like you – a 492 seat Congress and a 50 seat Senate. There is one major difference, all of our Representatives and Senators are volunteers.
Many critics are quick to point out that this can lead to control by the powerful who are always too ready to protect their interest. We did think of that, so we created term limits. Our volunteers can only serve two weeks every five years. And, yes, we always have more volunteers than positions to fill.
I am often asked why two weeks and not longer? Good question and the answer is we had the same problem here as you do in the United States. Our wealthy citizens and powerful corporate interest always attempt to buy our officials.
It was clear we could not stop this and still remain a democracy – free speech and stuff like that. If you have any question about this just ask your Supreme Court.
So we did the obvious. By changing our volunteer officials every two weeks and limiting their service to every five years, it just became too expensive for even our rich to buy them all.
One valid criticism of our system is the question how much can your government get done with so many turnovers? The answer is obvious – very little.
However, here is the good news – big government is always more efficient when it cannot get much done. From our vantage point in Pizzaonia it seems that you Americans are in the process of finding out the same thing.
An excerpt from the comments of Brother Giovanni addressing the Pizzaonian Monks Conference in Pizzaonia’s capital
(C)2012
Pizzaonian National Flag, Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Staction, Curator
To be read by those with a sense of humor – to read this without one misses the irony of it all.
Here in Pizzaonia we have a saying. We call it “the mark of the enduring cross.” The *enduring cross is something you continue to suffer personally for most of your life and marks how you see your life.
This question must always be asked. Is the cross of your choosing or one you have been handed? Humans are very good at creating unnecessary suffering for themselves.
The difference is profound. If it is a cross of your choosing, think carefully. Enduring crosses are the breeding ground of self-pity. If you have the courage to be introspective and honestly face yourself, the correct answer will usually emerge. However, you must still go slowly here, since self-deception is the most common of human traits.
If your “enduring cross” is a matter of honor and one you must embrace in order to maintain your integrity, you are on firmer ground. This cross is the grain of sand that makes the pearl.
If your cross was handed to you, you have little choice other than understand the good that can come from bearing it well. Few can do it with grace – or for that matter, muster the courage to begin the change that bearing it well will bring.
How well you bear your cross, helps define it, and you as well. If you bear it with cheerfulness and good will, it serves you and your neighbors well. If you cannot do this well - you will probably become a politician or radio talk show host.
“Pizzaonia Emerging” Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, Curator
The following thoughts are from the journal of Sister Veronica, Supreme Pizzaonian
Sister Veronica doesn’t fool around - only the serious need tread here. Her basic question is: Are your goals interfering with your life?
"The ultimate indignity is to be given a bed pan by a stranger who calls you by your first name." Maggie Kuhn
Supposedly, within each of us is the need to do certain things, travel to specific places, to accomplish particular creative goals.
Let' find out. If so, we can presume these can be separate events or be related, but if they are there within each of us - what do you do about it?
If you live alone, and have no responsibilities to another person, your road is easy. I doubt if such a person exists. Virtually, all of us relate to another person in some way and what we do and accomplish positively or negatively will affect them.
The next question is – what is your selfish quotient? Every action has an effect. We have heard this so many times its legitimacy may no longer be taken seriously. However, how earnestly we believe our actions affect those we love defines the score of our selfish quotient.
Let’s take a score from one to ten, one being negative and ten being beneficial. How do you consider your actions in relation to the most important people in your life? I have limited this to the most important people in your life since to expand this concept beyond them would essentially paralyze you.
The amount of time you spend with this concept will relate to how much you love those around you and define your willingness to sacrifice for them. Think about it. Your choices may surprise you and even open up areas you have never thought about.
While this may seem unnecessary to many, think about the good that you can bring to your relationships if you consider the effect of your actions beyond yourself. We all say we do this, but let's deal with reality here.
This is an eye opener if you have the courage to be honest with yourself; it can give us a new sense of the community we live with and relate to on a daily basis.
There is a caveat. How do you balance what you must do with your relationship responsibilities? This can be a conflict for many. One thing that we do not want to do is postpone or cancel what is our calling because it may create a negative effect on us and those with whom we share our life.
One thing that helps is to consider the long-range possibilities. Sometimes there can be a minus effect because of our actions at the beginning - but in the long run everyone will be better for it.
You can see while some people who have definitive and necessary goals they are compelled to reach often avoid relationships. Avoiding relationships may seem required at first, but there are few among us who do not need to share our successes with someone.
In the course of a life, well lived, one circumstance that always enriches our experience after our success is achieved is a loving community that has shared our journey. Life can taste like straw without the experience of sharing what we become with those we love.
Too much talk and introspection, maybe - some could argue that even considering what we are discussing here will keep you from any significant achievement. And that is a possibility. However, one thing that motivated me to write this is that we are beginning to witness more people separating themselves in isolated splendor.
It is easy at first, but think carefully before you find yourself hopelessly alone. All success is negated by the loneliness that is created by having left those we love out of the outcome. Consider yourself warned.
Pizzaonian National Flag - Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Museum, Abe Straction, curator
WHY PIZZAONIA?A continued exploration:
Since we always hear Brother Giovanni’s story on “Why Pizzaonia” I thought I would share my story. I came to Pizzaonia not because I dislike being an ‘American, or for that matter living in the United States. I love both. I came to Pizzaonia because I felt I could no longer understand clearly the complexities that swirled around me and as a result, I had lost my perspective.
Losing your perspective is like losing your balance partially, while not completely, it is just enough to make you realize something is wrong. I ignored this for many years. I knew I needed to deal with it, but like so many wrong things in our lives, there was not enough wrong to make me consider changing.
However, the day comes when you clearly understand that a change is necessary especially if you are ever going to come to grips with being whom you really are. I know this will seem strange to many. I am amazed how many folks never think about this at all. This is especially true if your life is reasonably successful to date.
It is very easy to find yourself growing complacent and very accepting of partial success. However, there is another type of success. I am talking about emotional satisfaction and fulfillment. This is very hard to define since it can be so different for each of us. This type of success, while not definable in words, is clearly understood in the deepest of our feelings. You know when it is there and when it is not.
However, there is some good news here. You only have time for this type of activity if you are meeting your material needs. There is little time for lifestyle speculations if you are still “digging for roots” in order to survive physically. So at least take some comfort in meeting, at least by the world’s standards, your responsibilities.
I would in no way minimize this accomplishment. The first basic rule of all personal integrity is to meet your basic responsibilities, both to yourself and to those who depend on you. For many, just accomplishing this requires heroic effort. However, as I said before, after this is achieved, and there is more time in your life to hear your “inner voice” - the realization that all is not right begins to creep slowly into your feelings.
If I were going to make things right I knew I had to change everything in order to gain new perspective. The change had to be complete, including moving to a new location. I knew this was physically impossible so I needed to find a different solution.
Finally, about the time I thought there was no answer, one possibility came to me. As we become more aware of the ideas of quantum field and string theory and how they could explain the possibility of the existence of multiverses or alternate universes, the idea of creating our own alternate universe became very inviting.
Like Brother Giovanni, I too have always lived with my vivid imagination and many times created my own “small worlds” of the mind. Why not create my personal alternate universe – a place that would be uniquely mine?
Thus, for me, was born Pizzaonia – a wonderful world filled with all the contradictions of human existence. However, it had one major difference; it was a world without war – a world where the concept of war was a complete contradiction to human existence. I immediately knew this was the place for me.
And so I moved to Pizzaonia. To make the transition easier, I allowed myself the privilege of traveling back and forth from Pizzaonia at will. This was easy after we created the “Portatron.” The Portatron was simple to make since it is also a conception of the same imagination that created Pizzaonia. It is an incredible machine that allows the mind to travel anywhere it chooses, be it local or if need be, to an alternate universe - and as they say in Pizzaonia – “Where the mind goes so goes the body.”
I am sure many of you will find this a foolish fantasy and not believe that Pizzaonia is real. You probably consider this idea rather irrational. You could not be more wrong. Pizzaonia is real and vital in every human way. It is a place where the richness of the ultimate gift we are given - the capacity of the mind’s imagination to soar like an eagle and go where it needs to go, and as a result experience the wonder of life and exalt in the fullness of freedom.
Brother Franco, commenting for the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network, Diverti Mento, editor.
“Pizzaonia Emerging” Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, curator
A PIZZAONIAN PERSPECTIVE
Who is this man called Jesus? There is the Jesus of the Bible. There is the Jesus of the Church. And somewhere in all of this there is Jesus, the man.
Today it seems whatever is written about Jesus gets attention, particularly if it is critical or controversial. He is one of the most well-known, famous individuals in all of human history.
The Jesus that has always attracted us here in Pizzaonia is the man. It is said the he was “true God, and true man.” If so, the human being, this “true man,” who walked the earth more than 2000 years ago remains the most human among us, then and now.
There have been countless books written on the historical Jesus. Each one leaves us unsatisfied. For one, they are all speculations as to how the writer chooses to interpret the historical references to his physical life. Clearly, the more we attempt to describe and label him the more elusive he becomes.
Sometimes we miss the obvious. I would like to leave all the vague, interpretive, explanations of Jesus out of the equation for now and focus on the words “true man.” This suggests that he was not only completely human, but uniquely so.
Even those who cannot accept Jesus as Savior, have found in the events of his earthly life true respect for him. I would like to think that for Jesus, each moment of his life was an awakening. From his boyhood on as he began to sense that he was special, feelings of both joy and confusion may well have been part of his experience. Just consider how you would feel if the same revelations came to you.
What was the boy Jesus like? We know nothing of his childhood until he shows up for the first time in Luke’s account of his visit to the temple. For the first time, we get a glimpse of what he was beginning to realize about who he might be. He becomes so absorbed with what was happening, he forgets to tell his parents where he was.
So many accounts of Jesus suggest he knew from the beginning who he was and what his life was meant to fulfill. However, what if the opposite were true - what if he was often confused, especially in the beginning about the strange calling he felt compelled to follow. For me this would be the fully human Jesus – a Jesus like us, having to work out what his Father was calling him to be.
This becomes the real Jesus, and the longer you see him from this perspective the more you can appreciate what he accomplished. To add to our human Jesus, consider that he also had an actual choice. What if after fully realizing what he was being asked to do he had said, “are you kidding, you want me to do what.”
When we start emotionally feeling what he felt as the strange odyssey of his life began unfolding before him, we start appreciating fully the impact of his humanity – and we begin to know the man, Jesus