Do you ignore the road signs too? And other social media DOHs.

Sign of Confirmation or Coincidence?
by Marcus Baker 

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Foreword by Stan Faryna

Today is a good day. For me. And for you. Because below is Marcus Baker’s essay about signs. It is not about simple road signs (stop signs, yield signs, etc), but signs that beckon us to our true self, our destiny, and opportunity. Signs beckon us closer like a gesture that asks us lean our head closer to listen to a friend or lover who offers a secret or confidence whispered with great concern or deepest affection.

Signs are not annunciations. An annunciation as Leonardo da Vinci , Tiziano Vecelli (Titian), or El Greco portray in their paintings by the same name… is unmistakable in it’s divine authority. It is authoritative, explicit, and glorious. An annunciation, like a revelation, is the indisputable, unchangeable, and irrevocable truth.

And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28

The angel Gabriel greets Mary and informs her that she will soon be with child, that her child was the son of God, and to name her son, Jesus.

An annunciation is wonderful. Like Love at the door, joyfully and enthusiastically calling out – “Hi, honey! I’m home!

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I have often wondered if signs are for those of us who cannot bear to see and hear the truth.

Lean in and listen to what is spoken to you through Marcus’ words. Pay attention. You need to clear the next 30 minutes on your schedule. It shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes to read it, but it will take you another 15 minutes to listen. Or more. Do that now: clear your schedule for this conference of hearts.  Do this – before you dive into this king’s ransom of iridescent pearls.

Why? I explain here.

I asked Marcus permission to re-publish his blog post here (see below) because I believe it important and useful. One reading is neither sufficient for me. Nor for you.

Marcus graciously agreed to my request and, also, to reply to your comments here.

Thank you, Marcus.

Stan Faryna
Bucharest, Romania
7 October 2011

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Enigma, Return to Innocence

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The First Duty of Love is to Listen! 5 Minute Therapy. Faryna Podcast EP4. #nicheamnesty

The First Duty of Love is to Listen!
by Stan Faryna

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Play the soundcloud player to hear the podcast. Or download it here. The podcast sounds awesome with earphones or played on hi-fi speakers. Try it and tell me what you think.

Mobile users: you should be able to hear the podcast here.

Duh! Success is about encouraging others.

“He [The Blessed Pope John Paul II] restored to Christianity its true face as a religion of hope”

- Pope Benedict XVI, 1 May 2011

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Blessed Pope John Paul II

In an interview, a reporter asked him how he felt about the enthusiasm and cheering of crowds for him. He replied that the enthusiasm is not about him, that the enthusiasm was for the Successor of Peter and Christ living in the church. His reply is splendid in the man’s humility, conscience, and convictions.

I am not a man qualified to demonstrate or explain the heroic virtue of that man to you. I am not qualified to describe the miracles nor the inquisitional examination of those miracles that qualify that man for beatification. Nor am I qualified to explain how he was one of the most influential leaders of the twentieth century or that he may have been the most important thinker and philosopher of the twentieth century. His titles and service recommend themselves as much as they recommend that gentle man.

If I am to be honest with you (and I do want to be honest with you) I can only share with you, inadequately, how that man encouraged me to pray, to think about the dignity and drama of the human person, and to remember the splendor of truth that shines from Christ, from the cross, and from the resurrection.

Once upon a time. Europe was where the best of culture was at.

Europe

I used to think that Europe was where the best of human culture is. It’s normal for an American kid with middle class dreams and aspirations. America has deep roots in Europe.

I worked after school to save up money for my high school trips to Europe. I mopped the floor. I took out the garbage. I stocked refrigerators and shelves. I washed the dishes. I delivered subs and pizzas. I even mowed lawns. The boss had rental homes too.

And when I graduated from high school, I went on a grand tour of Europe. I couldn’t afford to do it in style like my once favorite author, Marcel Proust, did holidays. But I did go places, see things, make friends, etc. I slept in trains, train stations, on Greek beaches, and even some famous places you might know about – The Spanish Steps of Rome among them.

I continued to make my cultural pilgrimages to Europe into my adult-life. And, finally, I moved here. That was an accomplishment!

I’ve been here about 10 years and I can tell you that there’s some big problems here – problems that reflect only glimpses of that cynical and cruel capacity of the much admired European sophistication.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love Europe. But I love the USA more. More and more, in fact, as I come to a better understanding of the world.

Christian v. Christian

This Palm Sunday, VMRO (BMPO) thugs attacked peaceful church-goers as seen in this Youtube video. http://bit.ly/eGqsyZ

Palm Sunday is a Christian celebration of Christ’s return to Jerusalem in preparation for his sacrifice. It is also a reminder of the Christian anticipation of Christ’s triumphant second coming. Palm Sunday illuminates the Christian story of crowds welcoming Christ into the city with palm branches – symbols of joy and triumph.

VMRO is a Nationalist Orthodox Christian movement that is growing in popularity in Bulgaria, a European nation. Bulgaria, however, is not the only European state to see fascist currents rising in the public square. The French,  Germans and Italians are unembarrassed to declare that Multiculturalism is something that Europeans don’t view as worthwhile.

To paraphrase one popular German politician speaking about the so-called Muslim problem, “They can live and work here, but they are not entitled to the rights and dignity that are shared by our native people and citizens.”

In the hate crimes depicted in the video, these are actually Bulgarians assaulting Bulgarians. Worse, these are Christians (Bulgarian Orthodox) attacking Christians (Jehovah’s Witnesses). In the opinion of the Bulgarian Orthodox extremists, there is no place for dissident opinion (private, public, religious or otherwise) in Bulgaria.

Bummer

Myself, I love Bulgaria as a tourist. I have a long list of Bulgarian products that I fan including jam, brandy and soap made with Bulgarian Rose petals. There’s a culture of art, music, food, and wine there that I love.

Did I mention that one of my favorite drinking wines is Thracian’s Mystery from Todoroff?

I’ve even considered relocating to Bulgaria.

In Romania, the mainstream media are reporting that the Jehovah Witnesses provoked the attack. As you can see for yourself in the video, the Jehovah witnesses were at their place of worship, turning the other cheek, and getting their asses kicked.

Prayers

My prayers go out to the Jehovah’s Witnesses injured and terrorized in this video. My prayers also go out to all peoples who are not free and at ease to peacefully pursue good conscience, prudence and wisdom.

My prayers go to you in the world – you who can make this a better world by sharing insight and wisdom according to your conscience. And, yeah, my prayer to you are CCed to God.

DON’T be surprised if He mentions them on judgment day. <grin>

Stan Faryna
19 April 2011
Bucharest, Romania

If you’d like to connect with me, follow @Faryna and tweet me up on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/faryna

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About Stan Faryna

Mr. Faryna is the founder and co-founder of several technology, design and communication companies in the United States and Europe including Faryna & Associates, Inc., Halo Interactive, and others.

Stan Faryna served as a Global Voices author and translator. Global Voices is a non-profit global citizens’ media project founded at Harvard Law School’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society, a research think-tank focused on the Internet’s impact on society.

His political, scholarly, social and technical opinions have appeared in The Chicago Defender, Jurnalul National, The Washington Times, Sagar, Saptamana Financiara, Social Justice Review, and other publications.

Mr. Faryna also served as editor-in-chief of Black and Right (Praeger Press, 1996), a landmark collection of socio-political essays by important American thinkers including U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Copyright

Copyright 1996 to 2012 by Stan Faryna.

Here’s my fair use policy for my content: If you want to share my content with your own audience, you may quote a brief excerpt, if and only if, you provide proper attribution (Source: The unofficial blog of Stan Faryna) with a direct link to the source. Generally speaking, as long as you are not acting as an agent or on behalf of a corporation or institution, I am not interested in any payment for the quotation or use of a complete article. Nevertheless, you may not republish or translate the entire article without my written permission. Send your request for permission via Facebook. Or tweet me up me on Twitter.

Geert Wilders’ two cent video, Fitna, is just a little smoke and mirrors

Is The Multiculturalism Project Dead?

Today, I had a chance to see Geert Wilders’ so-called movie, Fitna. Apparently, it came out during my Easter pilgrimage to Bucovina.

If you haven’t seen Fitna, play it below.

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Almost a month ago, I said this about Geert Wilders. That was before Fitna was released. Below is my reflection after the release of Fitna.

Although the short video clip (let’s not call this a movie, shall we!) does not seem as contentious as Wilders’ politically incorrect manner of speaking and writing, Fitna exaggerates problems, misunderstandings and concerns with an oily, underhanded, used-car salesman’s approach – and a very sophisticated mastery of subtle, misleading suggestions.

Background music for your reading pleasure: Radiohead, Creep. Play it below.

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What this video clip (Fitna) provides is a compelling opportunity for plain clothes Europeans (not academics of the ivory towers) to evaluate the tenets of political correctness, multiculturalism, and cultural relativity. Europeans must answer some big questions for themselves. For example, do these ideological constructions (political correctness and multiculturalism) adequately reflect the things needed to further pursue the course of human freedom within the context of European cultural identity and aspirations?

Unlike Americans, Europeans have never been ones to allow their freedom of speech to be regulated by the self-proclaimed, American-imported demagogues of political correctness.

Americans, however, remain bound by a Christian humility and humanism AND a Victorian sense of correctness and virtue. These things derive from our European protestant roots and the English-Victorian influences that came to define the aspirations of the American middle class. In other words, certain forms of social thinking and action are built-in in America and make it difficult for us to succeed in any kind of critical re-examination.

MLK, Jr., for example, would never have moved the European heart. Europeans, in general, would have never have accepted his accusations of complicity to the degree that they would feel personally compelled to overcome their own sense of bigotry and racism. This, however, does not mean that European civilization is somehow inferior to American civilization. What I hope to illustrate by this example is that MLK, Jr. represents a dogma which leads Americans to certain conclusions to which Europeans are not bound.

moby and me: Easter Pilgrimage To Bucovina (part four)

If you missed part one of my Easter Pilgrimage To Bucovina, go here. Part four follows herein.

Last Night

Last night, I tried to get through this recollection, but it didn’t happen. That reminds me…

Last week, you [moby] mentioned that you were going to a seminar where Petr Janata, a cognitive neuroscience professor from UC Davis, was going to be speaking.

moby wrote:

“i’m having a seminar/conversation with neuroscientist petr jenata at the rubin museum in nyc… come down and talk about the brain with us.”

You never mentioned how it went.

I found Petr Jenata’s website. It states there that he uses “music as a model system for studying the neural basis of auditory attention, imagery and memory.”

Some background music: moby, We’re all made of stars.

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Also, I checked out the sxsw spin interview video. Quick impression: another uninspired, interviewer along for the joy ride of kicking it with an unassuming, soft-spoken A list celebrity.

Will you ever find a hardcore interview where the interviewer can actually engage you at your intellectual level?

Again, congrats on the website update. The new homepage is cool.

moby and me: Easter Pilgrimage To Bucovina (part three)

If you missed part one of my Easter Pilgrimage To Bucovina, go here. Part three follows herein.

Last year, about this time, you [moby] did some gigs in Europe. You gonna make the same rounds again anytime soon?

Let me know when you’ll be in Madrid. Hopefully, sooner than later. I’d like a good reason to hang out there. I have some friends there that I’d like to see too.

Below, a little background music: yello, ooooh yeah:

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Easter Sunday

Sunday was a long day. I wasn’t feeling well. Taking pictures of the moon in the freezing night did something to me. Nonetheless, we visited the Romanian orthodox monasteries of Putna and Humorului as well as St. Mary’s in Cacica. We looked forward to a sumptuous feast for dinner. In the morning, Aurelian of Casa Antonio had gone to the shepherds to slaughter and quarter a lamb.

View of the rear of St. Mary’s church in Cacica

The feast at Casa Antonio would begin with a traditional lamb-based meatloaf. Next came a sour lamb soup thick with lamb fat and garden vegetables. Then, Aurelian brought out the big guns: a massive lamb shank that had been boiled in liters of wine. We ate greedily and made lots of whimpering sounds after we had over-filled our bellies.

We went out to do some night photography, again. And there was a light rain. Unfortunately, there was no moon in the early evening. The temperature was near freezing (5 degrees celsius) and I think I pushed my luck. Perhaps, there was too much cloud cover for a moon when we went out. Finally, I did see a moon from the window in my room about 4am.

Around 2am, I decided to go for another bowl of sour lamb soup. Aurelian wasn’t sleeping and he was glad to warm up the ciorba for us. That was a bad idea. I loaded it with sour cream and fresh, crushed garlic paste. And I ate it with bread smothered with sour cream and garlic paste. The garlic put an unstoppable fire in my belly. And not just mine.

moby and me: Easter Pilgrimage To Bucovina (part two)

If you missed part one of my Easter Pilgrimage To Bucovina, go here. Part two follows herein.

moby writes:

“oh, we’ve also put up the new album [Last Night] in its entirety on my myspace page (and it might be elsewhere on myspace, i’m not sure).”

Hear Last Night here (warning: product may contain peanuts, based on Schrödinger’s paradoxical thought experiments using quantum superposition).

Thanks, moby. Have a great weekend in Miami!

BTW, I think removing the forums was a great idea. Don’t cave to the mob of angry trolls. Comments to your journal should be sufficient to keep your website personalized and almost Web 2.0ish.

Below, a little background music: moby, Whispering Wind:

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St. Mary’s Church in Cacica

In a small Romanian village, I stood in an old church in the freezing cold. I stood shoulder to shoulder with the villagers. They were strangers to me. These people spoke another language, they worried about things which I did not worry about, and given the opportunity on any other occasion – most of them would be trying to sell me a square meter in their village for a preposterous amount – like nothing less than a million dollars.

Maybe, I exaggerate. But not by much. Been there. Done that.

And, yet, here we were in the same place and time, contemporaries, doing the same thing and not trying to get the better of each other. We were expressing by our very presence in that church, a desire (more or less) to be involved in something bigger than ourselves, bigger than our worries and everyday concerns, and bigger than our differences and our personal self-interest.

Standing there, I felt a strange community with these strangers as I reflected on the resurrection of Christ and anticipated a hot bowl of sour soup.

moby and me: Easter Pilgrimage To Bucovina (part one)

Below, a little background music: moby, One of These Mornings:

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Easter Vigil in Bucovina

After an eight hour drive, I arrived at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Cacica (Kaczyka in Polish) just as the Easter Vigil service was getting started. Having fasted, I was looking forward to the late night supper waiting for me at Casa Antonio’s hostel-pension in Solca: ciorba radeautian- a traditional Northern Romanian soup. And since it was so cold (3 degrees Celsius), I hoped to find a warm bed too.

Yes, there is a website for the church in Romanian, Italian and Polish. Go here- if you can read any of these languages.

Preparation of Holy Communion during the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Mary’s in Cacica

Geert Wilders, Bigotry and Human Conflict

Notes from a Patsak (before the release of Wilder’s film):

Geert Wilders is just a noisy bigot whose pastey face barely escapes his neck. Why would anyone take him seriously? Regardless of the controversy, we must remember that bigotry and conflict only serve those who oppose the transparency and self-examination that is generally demanded of government and politics in times of peace and progress.

Relevant to this discussion is an interesting video from moby that you may have not have understood.

Now, here’s the hints: the old dude is Uncle Sam, the chicken factory is the Middle East, the factory workers represent Masad and CIA operatives, the store is Europe and the store employee is an Asian immigrant. The chicken (protagonist) represents Hamas, the slaughtered chickens are Palestinians, and Uncle Sam’s body guard, obviously, Homeland and FBI. Democracy and freedom are represented by the female vocalist. The knife used to kill Uncle Sam is a metaphor for Israeli lobbyists and the Media. And the barbeque sauce is sweet crude.

The babes and cash are what they are, babes and cash. This is what it’s all about. The bottomline, baby!

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Note: The views reflected in the above interpretation of moby’s video, Disco Lies, are represented here for the purpose of humorous relief from a European perspective; such interpretations are not meant to be taken as truth or suggestions.