January 25, 2012

High School Basketball*


Basketball's a curious sport.
Seen with its stands and roomy arena,
It's no wonder we witness many hyena.
There should be drama, action in this court,
But what we see is civil tort!

Fans

Basketball's a curious game.
'Cause when we see one,
We're not the same.
While players are gentle men,
Or ladies on the floor,
We allow the fans to leave
Their angelic frocks at the door.
The nicest kid on the other side,
We want to tan his lousy hide.
Or some hot shot kid we don't know
Becomes the enemy:
His skill--he's not supposed to show!
And if he does
And gives our team a bath
All he gets is thankless wrath.

Refs

And I think the refs are curious folk.
They run, sweat, soak and get excited.
You'd think that they' been invited.
Why do they come every Saturday eve?
Our praises for them never get old.
You'd think them some tickets we'd readily sold!
In service they call all the calls the same.
And we repeat so religiously
What they've always been told:
"Hey, ref, yer missin' a good game."

Basketball's a sport that's tough,
Not for sissies afraid of ruff.
But how hard you fight
With all your gristle
Will ne'er change the open mind
Of the man with the whistle.

Coaches

Basketball is finesse and grace,
Executed as battle,
Not a pretty face.
A shot or position so well taken,
'Times you'd think he'd stole the bacon.
But some coach pops--
He always does--with stern grimace,
"Hey, pick up your socks.
Get in his face!"

Players

And you on defense,
In earnest you get set.
Innocent you look
Without a growl.
The offense runs you over with insistence:
And all you hear up in the distance:
"How many steps does he get
Before you call a foul?"

And amid a growing sob,
Not for you but the call,
Another standside coach yells,
"Hey ref, get a job!"

And amid the win and loss
And all that holler,
It's up to you to care
And to bother
About how much you score
And whether it counts
and more.

Remember, the game's for you,
Those who play it.
But like life and the world,
It ain't perfect.
Do your best each and together,
Feel the spirit, fun and flair,
And hope the ref--he hasn't lied.
Hope his call's on your side.
Hope for you sake he's more than fair.

The Game

Basketball--win or losses--
It's the same frustration.
Like life all 'round you,
There are jackasses.
And smart ones, too,
In consternation:
"Hey, ref, wanna borrow my eye glasses?"

And when all is said and done,
The game decides,
The final gun,
Remember, players, of both sides:
You or they are not to blame.
It takes at least two to play the game.

___
*Composed in the mid '80s.

January 18, 2012

January 1984

It may be early yet,
But the winter's light is changing;
And thoughts generous of the immediate
And the past past
Well up and bring me to:

Whether near or far,
Let not geography
Nor time mar
The memories we share.

May the closeness now we feel
N'er diminish from what we felt
When last we were together.

(There are no endings.)

Health and happiness the new year bring
To those at peace and those who sing,
From winter's dark to next it falls,
As well and fresh through summer's promise,

Spring.

January 10, 2012

Babu's folder


Gabriella.

Hello. My name is Gabriella Kapplan. Call me Gabe--long a--not Gabby. I am here today . . . excuse me. I'm new at this. Let me start again.

Welcome. We are here today as guests and by invitation. It appears not all who received an invitation chose to come.

My role is a kind of advocate, standing in for a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous.

First, just to go over things we probably already know. This is the invitation delivered by personal courier. You have each have received a copy and signed for it.

You are hereby invited to spend the weekend of June 10 and 11 at J.K. Place, a boutique hotel on the island of Capri, Italy, all expenses paid except travel to and from.

There is no obligation whatsoever. No one will try to sell you anything, nor will you be presented with anything to buy. Think of it as a random act of kindness for which you are the beneficiary. Perhaps you need just a short break from your usual routine.

On Saturday morning at ten, there will be a short meeting (this one) in the Globe Conference Room (here) to present an offer. The offer involves a monetary gift and the minimum requirements for its receipt.

You may attend this meeting or not. You may accept the offer or not. Perhaps you will think of it as a second act of kindness, or just plain good fortune. Perhaps you will think it is lunacy, and that I am not serious. You would be wrong in this.

A reservation has been made in your name. No other guests will be staying at J.K. Place this weekend. You and other invited guests will have the place to yourselves. Relax and enjoy.

Well, that is it, and here we are. I think everyone is present who registered with the hotel. So we are all on square one, as they say.


She paused for a moment and then said,

The second item on my agenda is to present the above mentioned offer in detail. This is it, all of it. You all received a copy as you entered the room.

A year from now you will be given one million euros as a gift if you adhere to the following conditions.
1. No sleuthing around.
Do not try to discover who I am or why I am doing this.
2. Ssh!
Keep this offer a secret--from everyone.
3. Renounce your culture for one year.
Think of it as a coat you are wearing and just take it off.
Short and sweet? As promised.

You have this offer in writing in the form of a "promissory note," which if you agree, you must sign and date. Like begets like. You keep your promise; you get what has been promised to you.

Oh, quoting exactly from my presentation notes, and on behalf of our benefactor, "Please sign the attached note and give it to my advocate. Then return here next year to receive your deserved gift."

One final information item. Here is an affidavit and account statement for a certificate of deposit showing 100 million euros, the interest it's accruing, and the date all moneys can be withdrawn without penalty. That date is one year from the twentieth of last month, allowing sufficient time next year to distribute the promised amounts. Naturally, certain information has been blocked out.

You may examine this affidavit and statement yourself, if you like. Come to the table here and have a look in this folder I have made to hold the relevant documents. This statement, I assume, is provided to show that this offer is backed sufficiently for, shall we call them, random acts of kindness?

That is all I have.

After you have had time to consider this offer and perhaps meet other beneficiaries, I mean prospective beneficiaries, we can meet and try to answer questions. You can retract any promise you make today, if you like. Not a long but a sufficient waiting period for such an extraordinary offer, I think. Shall we say tomorrow, same time, same place? before your departure? Checkout time is noon. Nine in the morning sharp, then.

As she said these last words, Gabe looked as if she was getting ready to leave. She picked up her pen and dropped it into her briefcase. She shuffled her notes and tapped the stack to even the papers. As she did this, the conference room erupted in a low buzz and it was growing louder when one voice rose above the rest. The loud voice asked, What do you mean by culture? Another asked, how will you know if we meet these conditions?


Gabe looked up and appeared surprised there was any question.

Babu.

Hello. My name is Babu. I am sorry. Miss Kapplan cannot join you today. You met her last year. She sent her best wishes. I am here to keep your benefactor's promise. I am here to confirm you have received your money.

You promised not to question the person who is your benefactor. Promises of a personal and business nature worth so much material gain deserve respect and discretion.

I believe I put that incorrectly. We make promises because of mutual care and honor. I trust you agree, and that you were able to honor your part.

Finally, you set your culture aside for almost a year. I assure you no malice was intended by this, only goodness and joy. Your experience should establish the truth of this.

During this past year you wrote Miss Kapplan the details of your bank account to receive your gift should you fulfill your obligations. As of this moment, the money has been transferred to you.

Thank you for coming today. It is a day of celebration. Don't you agree? I have asked that the hotel place a banquet before you on the terrace overlooking the sea. It is a beautiful day. Let's enjoy it together. You may relax. You may be yourself. There are no more rules or conditions.


Babu left the room, and on the dias there were two folders. He returned a few minutes later to retrieve them. He found just one.

Apropos of right

CANDIDATE: I know some want to ask questions about religion, abortion and so on. I am happy to answer all questions insofar as they relate to the office I seek.

My general position is this: Matters of religion and state should remain separate, as our constitution states. In addition, I support freedom of choice, expression and practice. No one belief system should enjoy privilege or preference over others.

My personal beliefs may in the eyes of some have a bearing on the policies I advocate or enact, or the decisions I make. Where personal beliefs come into conflict with the will and beliefs of others is inevitable. We live in and I embrace a society with multiple perspectives, and this is the standard I set for myself and forms the basis of my candidacy.

For those who wish to inquire into what I believe and practice, for whatever reason, I am happy to answer. But I must limit this to just a few questions, because we need to get to other issues as well, and in my statement here I believe I have answered the substance of any relevant relation between my beliefs and the office I seek.

In short, at the end of the day you vote and I vote. We have our own reasons for the choices we make. Plus as __________, I will champion the will of the people as constitutionally developed, articulated and approved.

So, questions?

QUESTIONER: What is your position on abortion and evolution?

CANDIDATE: This sounds like two questions, or one that would take a non-politician to answer. Let me approach these this way.

Abortion is legal in this country. I support the rule of law and the rights and privileges granted to the people under the law. I also support those who would seek to have this or other laws reconsidered or clarified. If a significant number of voters wanted me to use my office to help bring about a change, I will. In this sense I can be both a representative and servant.

My personal view on the specific question of whether abortion should be legal is irrelevant at this stage. If I took a position, this would place me and the office I seek in the position of advocating a private and therefore particular view. Some relish this idea, to have at the helm a person of like mind and will. But I do not agree that this is the leader's best and most important role.

The most reasonable and helpful view of the __________ is to make sure the wheels of democracy turn without unnecessary or irrelevant friction. When the debate has settled on a course of action, I will, given your vote in the next election, have my part to play, which I will then, as is only reasonable and proper, explain and defend pubically. Government of, by and for the people will not be realized if the government itself pushes and pulls according to the changing and developing positions on the issues of the day. Government, including elected politicians, should move in concert with the people.

Same goes for all the words being spent on evolution and, let's admit it, creationism and science. This government has no business acting as judge or jury in matters of science or religion. Let each of these pursue their highest and greatest goods. Let the people make their recommendations on merit and which public policies are appropriate. Let government stand aside in matters it has no expertise or business in addressing.

What expertise do I or any in the administration have to declare evolution is "just a theory, and not a a very good one"? None. Same goes for intelligent design, or whatever wrapping you want to package that idea in.

But how does evolution and the insights it contributes to the understanding of our world relate to government's role in what is taught in schools? One example: government does support science by establishing national priorities and granting money for science, education and research, because science has a clear relationship to social and economic progress, which is the business of government. And there are concrete measures of knowledge and competence in the work of science and scientists.

Creationism to my knowledge has not yet demonstrated its contributions to society.

QUESTIONER: You are a __________. __________s--they have been responsible for great crimes and tragedies in recent history. Do you have a comment?

CANDIDATE: First, yes I practice __________. But I am not an apologist for this religion or its extremists. "They", by the way, is too vague. Let it be said that whatever the religion, "they" have been responsible for ills past and present. Not just the "they" of __________, but the theys of all the major religions.

If you judge me based on religious preference, I would respectfully point out that discrimination based on religion . . . well, you know the rest. No one is accusing you in particular of anything. But you can see how this concern about my religion or a particular religion could grow into a conflict with the basic principle--should I say freedom--we have agreed to live by in this country.

I fail to see how this concern you have expressed, and I acknowledge that the concern may not be yours but you are just sensing it and voicing it for others . . . I fail to see how it relates to me and my candidacy, unless people wish to focus on irrelevant and vague fears and unfairly judge the substance of me and my candidacy for the office, I should say job, that I seek.

Suffice to say, I am a God-loving American who wants to serve his fellow citizens bringing whatever human and political skills I can to the office.

QUESTIONER: You have taken the wind out of specific questions about religion and policy by focusing on the democratic process rather than what personal beliefs you have that would guide your decisions, actions, initiatives. Can you say what initiatives you would champion that are tied to your religious beliefs?

CANDIDATE: I think I have answered this in general and specifically--abortion review, science and evolution versus creationism, separation of church and state, my personal vote and what I would champion in the public not private arena, socioeconomic progress, education and achievement, social justice in my references to discrimination, the freedoms we enjoy . . . a belief in the constitution and being consistent with what we embrace and how we behave. Fairly comprehensive list of issues I am concerned about for a start, I would say.

If there is one belief that all the major religions agree on it is there is one god. I believe in that God. And if he or she wants anything from us, it is to work together to realize what is true, good and beautiful. I gladly dedicate my private and public life to this God and these aspirations.

QUESTIONER: Faith-based organizations now enjoy public funding for their work in health care, social welfare, education and so on. Will you support the continued use of public funding for private and sectarian organizations?

CANDIDATE: Yes, whether they be faith-based or not. Public funding for public work deserves public support. With these cautions. I do not support using public funds to support private, proprietary or proselytizing work. I do not support public funding for any and all public work carried out best by the government itself. This means I am against distancing ourselves from our missions and mistakes by contracting with, for example, business or industry.

QUESTIONER: Presidents since __________ have punctuated their remarks and addresses to the people by saying something like "God bless", or "God bless America". Presidents in recent times have disturbed the majority of Americans by sometimes omitting this acknowledgement to a higher power. How will you handle this in your public remarks?

CANDIDATE: Let me ask you. Do you think that someone should say something just to please just some in the audience? Do you think someone should say something he or she did not believe in or think appropriate at the time? Was there ever a time in our history--looking back with some wisdom that time and reflection allow us--when was it ever appropriate to boast that God was on our side? Or that our adversaries should dare oppose us.

Arrogance and elitism are the Achilles' heel of would-be imperialists and failed civilizations. They have no place in today's interdependent world.

The formulae you have given as examples have been heard as the concluding words to important addresses. What if the addresses themselves and the person of the public official were to utter such faith and hope in the context of specific challenges and adversities?

Let's grow up. Waiting for your leaders to say exactly what and when others have before him is to rest in the conventional and familiar. I'm not satisfied with that nor do I think that our citizens should be.

Let's wake up. It is time to take bold new steps in the confidence that we are strong and capable and understanding and trusting enough to dare to be the kind of nation and society we say we are. If you like, God bless that, and God bless us.

You want a democratic leader that dares to tell you the truth from time to time about our lack of maturity or wrong-headedness? Good. Let's roll up our sleeves. Get out and vote. I am Ms __________, and I am running for __________.

I shouldn't talk

[In response to http://www.usnews.com/opinion/mzuckerman/articles/2012/01/06/mort-zuckerman-we-must-reignite-americas-can-do-spirit]

Mort is a wordy guy for just this: we need a president who "will try anything consistent with our values that restores our national belief in ourselves". I shouldn't talk about wordiness, but this is an example of an extreme. From the point of view of good writing, he could have supported this conclusion in about half as much, if that. Oh, I recognize that we are not here to talk about writing and style, but for such a lame conclusion about the kind of president(?) we need, he could have wasted less of our time, AND focused more on all those obstructionists and unthinking hubrists in government and society who have taken us off an original, pretty good course. (Contrary to popular practice, we do not need to be supersized in everything from meals to wheels.)

Oh, for the good old days. Fact is back then we had other just as weighty issues to contend with and we somehow muddled through as much because we had to as for some can-do hocus. Invocation of Churchill was the right note, however, to strike, if I may be allowed to mix my metaphors.

Isn't the conclusion really that we need leadership at least at the national level with balls? as well as a citizenry that won't stand for anything less? Yes, embedded in Mort's "evidence" are concrete steps towards building that self confidence or whatever it is we seem to have lost. But I don't think that pessimism or some deficiency in some immeasurable public attitude really is the issue. At issue is America's survival and thrival as a credible and worthy world citizen. For that we have to go back to work--you are right--spend some money, collect some money, tighten our belts, consume less and conserve/preserve more and . . . walk the walk. What are the concrete things to be done to achieve that? Feeling good will follow as will some milktoast can-do trait Mort seems unable to find right now.

Mort, this is a first draft. Go back and give us a more concise thesis and some meaty bullet points to communicate to our candidates. Then let's see what they say and have an election. If they behave like the GOP field has done all these many months so far, we will get Obama again, and we should then sing like Janis Joplin and Nike, nothing left to lose so let's just do it. Can-do by popular default, if Obama doesn't choose otherwise, or have the you know whats. Better than spinning ourselves for another couple of decades until the eventual bump on the head or skinned knees brings us to our new reality.