Sicily! What does the word conjure up in your mind? Outstanding Mediterranean food, Fierce independence despite being Italy? Straits Of Messina (where Odysseus struggles with the alternating currents in the Odyssey?), Marlon Brando etc. in the Godfather (Mafia). Italian Markets of Philly and New York?
Some of you will scratch your head and others will agree with the potential images. What is however true is that they are all part of the imagery, all evoke some form of response. The same can be said about just anything.
For me sitting in a trattoria on the coast, I reflected that over 2000 years ago there were people here looking over the horizon with no concept of what was beyond their vision also the people in Palermo were as alien to them and the people in China. What was constant was the fish pulled out of the ocean, the olives that accompanied the fish, the fellowship (or not) they shared over the meal, and the dreams and thoughts which doubtlessly circled around, hope, amore, worry, desire, acceptance and all the foibles that accompany us on our daily journey. What we can be sure of the specifics of their moments are long buried, the local politics, who knows, family conflicts, long lost……The constant, the sun set which I show you with this episode.
So what am I trying to say with this? Well, these are not musings for nothing!
Our country seems to be sailing into a very unchartered water! We have already seen casualties. There is a big divide between people who think it is ok to terminate employees without warning, and consideration for their families and community, from their jobs! People who accept that offensive behavior is warranted, and others who are appalled!
So like Sicily, which is still full of fine elements and doubtlessly dubious ones, we must find the basis of how we can bring America back from the brink of an emotional, if not yet physical, civil war?
How can we debate that starving and bombing civilians in Gaza is still warranted – the debate is no longer tit for tat, which will never find an end.
How can we debate that invading another country and wanting to inflict genocide if not total annihilation is a humane framework for us to live under.
What are our values? Not opinions of those of them we hear from. I recall being told, if it does not serve a positive end, keep your mouth shut! This does not imply to not voice an opinion, but it certainly implies not to debase or denigrate someone in conversation.
That seems a silly thing to do, is way different than, You are a f…ing idiot! Why would you think that a positive action, is different from voicing: you are a moron saying that! We have enough vocabulary to be able to choose our words – or as the sign my mother put up in our bathroom said: Swearing is merely the sign of a lack of vocabulary.
There are doubtlessly people who lack empathy, consciousness or desire to be considerate. My hope is that through reading this, one person may be influenced to be a little more reserved or kinder in their actions!
The instability in the marketplace has dramatically affected our sales, and we are working in double quick time to make sure the challenges of tariffs will be minimized. Although we source USA based, except the Manuka Honey (From New Zealand) it turns out our suppliers are heavily dependent on Asian sourcing. One hopes that the administration can lead this upheaval to a positive conclusion, however, in the meantime I hope you will find our wound cream too valuable for the well being against torn skin and your desire for soft lips brings you to our web site so we can survive the current Tempest besetting us.
Thanks for listening