See Anastasia's Commentary: Frederick News Post

Frederick News Post Sunday, December 19, 2010

"Now Be Thankful"

by Anastasia

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_lte.htm?StoryID=113926

The Man With The Map To Awe

I grew up having had many opportunities to meet celebrities. No one, however, ever evoked a sense of awe in me. That is -- other than the very humble man celebrating his ninety-fifth birthday today in British Columbia. My/our Beloved Murat.

I admit to having felt a surge of joy that lifted my heart on my sixteenth birthday. I had gone backstage to meet Liberace with my father on the special nightclubbing “date” he and I were having for the occasion. And, Jim Bacchus tickled me, no end, when I heard Mr. Magoo’s voice surprisingly slide forth from a seemingly “ordinary” man I met one day, visiting Desilu Productions, when I was a kid. Years after the fact – when I learned that the Lone Ranger was never, ever seen without his mask, I was delighted to recall that I had seen him on a backstage lot sans mask. Still no awe!

My father owned and operated Custom Corner (specializing in custom auto parts and design) on Vine Street and Willoughby during the 1950s and into the early 1960s. Desilu Productions sat diagonally across the street from Custom Corner. My father originally launched the business with renowned custom car designer, George Barris who went on to create the Batmobile, the car for “My Mother The Car” and the Knight Rider as well as many other unique, one-of-a-kind cars. Custom Corner was the primary source through which these childhood celebrity encounters arose.

So here it is Murat’s 95th birthday!

Now that is AWESOME. And, I am wishing so much to be a part of the celebrating though I am thousands of miles away. I think to contribute something to the occasion by telling visitors to this blog about the "awe”

Murat knows how to guide people to intentionally attain. Murat has a map for climbing to the peak of the Mountain of Awe. He got it from his tribal elders as a boy. Trained by his elders and then beyond them, Murat developed the discipline they taught him that is a definite path to AWE. He has painstakingly written about that discipline and path in his numerous books.

Check out: "Ahmsta Kebzeh: The Science of Universal Awe" by Murat Yagan. And, Murat’s autobiography, "I Come From Behind Kaf Mountain." Is telling you this enough for me to do on such a wonderful occasion? What to do? What to do? Maybe, just say --

Happy 95th Birthday to Beloved Murat!

With love and deepest gratitude from Anastasia

who so much wishes she could be with you today.

In Your Face

I’ve been a devoted student of human nature for close to four decades now, yet only lately do I seem to be truly getting it; the majority of the people – all over the world – are either too lazy, stubborn, self-centered, not fully committed or disinterested to do the simplest, most direct things to make peace a reality.

(Maybe feeling hopeless, discouraged or not truly believing that he/she can be the peace for which they are yearning.)

The essential ingredients that can generate and sustain peace and well-being in communities already exist in almost everybody, everywhere! We human beings are created in such a fashion as to, not only have a dark and potentially evil side, we also have within us the capacity for kindness, generosity, compassion, gratitude and cooperation. These beautiful, life-affirming human characteristics – as well as many others – are a natural part of us.

They are the seeds of living in small ”zones of peace” (i.e. small communities).

If these seeds of human goodness are nurtured, they can grow into larger community structures that can generate human, living conditions wherein someday violence can become obsolete. Because it would no longer necessary. Why is this so hard to figure out? And act on today and everyday?

From Anne Frank --"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."

I learned the "awe" that can be attained in community life from Murat. He learned it from the ancient cultural traditions within which he was raised.

Living In Win-Win

Visit today's posting and read how New Horizons Small "Zones of Peace" Project "Talks Turkey" 

YES! We are getting it together on the ground level.

Now Be Thankful

If I were that turkey looking at us on this blog I’d be thankful to still be alive the weekend after Thanksgiving. However, if I were the “turkey” the politicians are making out of our democratic system, I’d be ashamed. (The Random House College Dictionary defines “turkey” as a poor, unsuccessful theatrical presentation (i.e. a flop). In other words a “turkey” can be defined as an intense dramatic production that bombs. Just like our recent elections.) Polarization that seeks itself again and again simply for its own gratification; the high that ceaseless conflict generates -- has little sustainable benefit as far as I can “See.” Polarization can offer an opportunity for creative tension. In the hands of exceptional leaders polarization can create an opening for exploring options; getting to, not only the facts that savvy politicians and the business community know how to adroitly manipulate -- but to clarity, even to reach to the edges of “truth.” At least the best truth we can humanly reach. Polarization at the base-est level sought by the majority of our so-called leaders these days -- does not and cannot even come close to the elegant solutions that are genuinely creative and serve humanity. Maybe I am somewhat politically naïve (though that is unlikely having spent my entire adult life in and around the nation’s capitol) -- but I still believe that our Founding Fathers had something other in mind than devising a long-lasting government scheme of institutionalizing personal and political bashing. I grew up believing that our two party democratic structure meant a system of checks and balances; a means by which to attain peace – in as orderly fashion as possible. (Actually I really grew up when Watergate gave me my “last straw” about Washington politics. And, whoever in my generation has ever really gotten completely past the grief of those three assassinations of the 1960s?) On the other hand, maybe our Founding Fathers were truly that shortsighted given the absence of "Founding Mothers" signing the Declaration of Independence. Or is this thinking on my part just women-ese, merely an outgrowth of my undergraduate Women’s Studies education? Still in my mind, it just makes sense, if you think about it, that if you want to attain global peace, imagine even surviving, you do need to learn to do it on your own home turf. Even if all you really want is to get some practice while your main objective is to take over the world. Anyway, it’s Thanksgiving weekend. Peace on earth, goodwill to man, woman and child time. And, I am thankful for the mentors I've had, men and women, who showed me that win-lose is not an option in true HUMAN relations. Only win-win outcomes and elegant solutions build a way to lasting peace, even if the process is long and arduous. That’s what I want my legacy to be.

Alienation, Anti-Semitism and Assimilation

Identity: Culture and Conflict

I had no idea that returning to my tribe would be so complex.

Now a bit more than four years later I sometimes want to run and hide from how involved the experience is becoming.

Other times I feel as if the whole of it; my journey from anti-Semite to assimilated -- (or is that “assimilating?”

Probably the latter as in "evolving" rather than evolved) -- is so totally beshrt I couldn’t have missed it if I tried.

As Sue often says, scanning her mystical mind, for wisdom and possibly a story,

“What hits you couldn’t have missed you" (original author unknown).

There I was overwhelmed by the enormous task of finding a way to navigate the mainstream, seeing world after an eight year sabbatical due to having lost my eyesight.

Sighted, once again,. I knew I was called to do some serious housecleaning of both my external, physical space as well as every nook and cranny of my mind-spirit, making amends to my Jewish heritage appeared on my to-do list.

Okay, I said to myself, time to reach out to the local synagogue and acknowledge that I, too, am one of “them.”

Having thus pushed myself to tremulously pick up and search the local phone book for “synagogues” (people who can not see do not read phone books), I located what appeared to be the main, perhaps only, synagogue in my nearest town (remember I live in the mountains).  

I dialed the number, filled with fear and trepidation.

“Hello” a friendly voice said on the other end.

Uh oh, my next words did not come easily.

Even got stuck in my throat for an instant.

However, having gotten this far an immediate plan arose in my mind.

Quick thinking and an innate ability to be articulate saved me from stumbling. I would tell the voice that I was a new Jew in town and I would like to meet with the rabbi.

My plan hadn’t really quite evolved that far. Only picking up the phone and calling were my immediate agendas. But what came out served to carry me forth.

Then my conscience did prick me a bit.

Was I really new in town? (Stories for another time.)

And, was I really Jewish or not?

I had publicly pronounced that I had "quit being Jewish" many times (probably only to non-Jews and to my poor Mom).

So was I telling the truth here or not?

After more than thirty years of pulling farther and farther away from my tribe, what was the deal for me on this point.

(The main impetus for me to quit being Jewish, I have only recently remembered; a situation brought about, first and foremost, by the sexually inappropriate conduct of a rabbi I had sought out during a time of grave family distress.)

 Funny how little things can slip your mind.

(Actually it was not at all a small thing. Nor is it – or was it -- funny.)

Clumsily, bumbling forth – “Of course,” said I, “a meeting with the rabbi would be just the thing.”

Alienation, anti-Semitism, assimilation; the "return of a former anti-Semitic Jewess, recovering Jewish American Princess" -- Free now of joining any clubs.

Or so I thought, An adventure in progress -- to be continued.

“Which tribe was that again, dear?”

Identity: Culture and Conflict

I phoned my friend Gloria the other day.

I talk to her often.

I am, apparently, an entertaining interlude during her more humdrum workday world as a county social worker.

We’ve been friends for almost a quarter of a century. She’s one of the best.

Gloria must truly love me.

Not infrequently, though said with a chuckle, she lets me know she is patiently tolerating my various eccentricities.

Often, she calls me“Portia,” star of a forties-era radio soap opera, “Portia Faces Life.”

Typically she begins a conversation, asking if I’ve been facing life.

A recent conversation went something like this:

Gloria: “So how’s Portia, today?

What’s new? Are you facing life?

Me: “Today’s episode is that I’ve returned to my tribe.

Gloria: “Your tribe dear?

Did you move?

Aren’t you still up in the mountains?

Do you have some kind of tribe up there?

Me: Of course, I’m still in the mountains.

I just talked to you two days ago.

And, no! There’s no tribe up here yet.

(Me: referring to our retreat center development vision and our (in progress) remodeling project.)

What I’m talking about is that I decided, after immersing myself in prayers over the Jewish High Holidays, to officially return myself to my birth tribe; the one that came out of Egypt with the exodus.

Remember that one?

Gloria: Yes, dear. I know that one. I told you I once worked for a Jewish foundation in the Bay area way back when.

(Gloria, just celebrated her eighty-fifth birthday. She has lots of stories about “way back when.”)

Gloria (continuing): So which division of your tribe are you returning to?

The Orthodox? The Conservative? Or, the Reform?

Me: I don’t mean returning like that!

As far as religion goes, I am not joining a club. Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, those are religious clubs.

I consider myself a member of everything and nothing.

Like Ram Dass, if you remember him, I’m something you might call a pagan, Hind Jew or whatever?

Now that I’ve gotten my identity confusion cleared up, my interest is in honoring, celebrating and sharing my Jewish cultural heritage. And, doing my part for peace.

Gloria: “How’s it going so far for you?”

Me: “Well, it’s a bit mixed. I told a few of my friends (a few of the very few who are Jewish) about my newfound joy in being Jewish again.

They wanted me to hurry up and join their synagogue.

Then I told a Christian friend. She wanted to be sure that, even if I am born Jewish, that I believe in Jesus and get baptized.

By the time these conversations were over, I felt like I was back in sorority rush in college.

Like my vote was being solicited for a political election, with heavy penalties for not taking the “right” side.

I can see this returning I am intent upon is going to be a bit tricky.

I think it’s time I had some fun being Jewish.

But it might be a lot of work, just taking off my mask, the one that denies that I am Jewish.

To be continued…