Issue 2 - Spring 2007

(first published March 2007)

MYTHS OF OUR TIME

Intro

In this issue of The Bridge, we wanted to focus on various myths of our time. Myths have been used for thousands of years to explain things. The Greeks and Romans, for instance, used myths to explain just about everything in the universe. Myths, however, can also come about from fear and misinformation. Over time, myths can have a negative effect on a community by halting growth and progress. Throughout this issue you will find various myths that we’d like bust. We hope that by doing so we can help to improve the quality of life for everyone in our community. If you have any other myths you’d like to bust, we’d love to hear about them. Please drop us an email at ContactTheBridge@gmail.com.


the republican

myth
any invented story, idea, or concept: his account of the event is pure myth.
an imaginary or fictitious thing or person.
an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution
a fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology

-the reintegration project-

breathe deeply, think about it, and pause

pause, while the reintegration project takes a minor breath too, realizing that the word is not written in vain – for you are reading it now – and the two have come together… by a leap you say, to the age still of the black and white page, the times of thought and mind and the unbegotten word, and where language – the communication which entails bridges and spaces and understanding and unity and the medium which makes them possible – still thrives, and still, you would think, have value.

are we getting closer to the one word, the one sound of the universe, the mighty OM…? ….i beg to answer NO… at least not in spirit.

so then are we getting farther?

pause, breathe deeply, and think about it

re-integration, coming back, a unity – as in a book, a dictionary per se, two covers of one magical fantastic book

or a coin, two sides, each bestowing worth and contribution, to the one unanimous circle

not (if i may digress)… like today’s America… not like here, not like us, not like now. not like the supposed proud contributors to this fine nation. and not, especially, like the republicans and democrats. no! not at all.

for what should be the supporting bounded covers or the symbolic guilded sides, is instead two duplicated covers and two lonely books, two fascist sides and two strange coins. and the math no longer works. it’s a zero sum game, each taking all and giving nothing. the equation has been ruined. and each making different meaning from the same single word. the words mean nothing. why speak then, or write, when it means only one separate thing? why only detract, eliminate, and divide? as it’s the people, so divided. those utilizing their vicious words, so wrong. even the fundamental principles, or first sacred allegiances, have failed to mean anything: the republic

tell me dear reader, from ye deepest political soul, what is the bother? why not bring the words together? pray tell what is a republican and how that may differ from a democrat…

well, a democrat with an elected representative is indeed what? you guessed… a republican. for a republican is a person who values the idea of republic, a government system of elected representatives, where the people in equal measure, vote for this role. and a democrat, in the modern age of nondirect, parliamentary democracy, is entirely, exactly the same.

and if you’re bored, look at the thesaurus under republic and what might you see? the word democracy… and vice versa. in the modern these terms are but the same, interchangeable.

logic 101: if a democrat is one who supports democracy and a republican is one who supports a republic, and if democracy equals republic, then a democrat equals a republican – by definition.

maybe that’s ok.

so tell me then, what’s indeed the fuss? if so similar, why then the need for riotous loudmouth propagandists?

for these names are as equal as a singular orb, in reality. in the common day, where town meetings (as in direct democracy) aren’t so practical, both republican and democrat stand for the same thing. they consist of systems of government where representatives carry on the will of the people, where each person has equal turn to vote, for in each of us lies the whole of everything.

accepted.

now what? what then of today’s conservatives and liberals? in the great book these are two words, again, under one cover. certainly not one word. but in america today, they are two words of two books, each denying the other, between it’s covers. ‘you don’t belong in my book” said the conservative… “nor you mine” said the liberal.

so you see - this is only a farce, and certainly something’s wrong. how can two words hate each other you may say? they are just in one book. then take these words from the ring, dear reader. eliminate these words from the political process to help us see the true words, the true meaning, and how they are not diametrically opposed opposites. don’t shift all life into one of these categories as if these are life and death. instead look squarely as things come along. instead of calling a spade a liberal, call a spade a spade. and while you’re at it, call an oil hungry war mongerer a oil hungry war mongerer. call the decline of the world environment, our fault, cause at least to some degree it is. call social inequity and weakening of the middle class just that. forget a label that has no real bearing on the idea it’s attached to. leave these words in the book. don’t call ice cream a republican pig. rather, call halliburton the company that took all your hard-earned tax money and ran.

but first, while the book is still open, (keep it open!) call a liberal someone who is open minded, someone with a ‘live and let live’ attitude. and call a conservative someone who is just fine the way things are, one who holds value to tradition and seeks solace in unchanging times..

and for the future of humanity, if you feel estranged, call forth the yin of your yang, and:

debate
- consider something; deliberate
- engage in argument by discussing opposing points

discuss
- to not be a blabbering self righteous idiot

compromise
- something that combines qualities or elements of different things

think about how you align yourselves, ye political souls. think about your soul and your home. think about the reintegration project. two words or three: one entailing a beginning, one entailing bringing things together, and one implying an end. make this project of yours to understand, again, just like your grandparents and even those before. come back to the value and the meaning! come back to two sides of one debate! come back to two sides of one fine land!

the reintegration project thus asks again: bring it all together, not apart! let words and meaning be uniting, not divisive, right, not wrong.

pause, breathe deeply, think about it

your lungs, dear reader, there are two of them… aren’t there



“In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” –Guiding principle of the Iroquois Confederacy

MYTH: One Person Can’t Make a Difference

If you’ve been paying attention to the news in last couple months, you’ve no doubt heard how the major scientists and leaders of the world have finally decided to accept that global warming is indeed happening and that the planetary clock is ticking. DUH! I mean, thanks for the newsflash, guys, but people like Al Gore (the former next President of the U.S.) have been trying to tell us this for over 30 years. If we would’ve listened back then, maybe we wouldn’t be in the mess we are today. And we are in quite a mess.

But all blame aside, it’s time to stop pointing fingers and time to start doing something about this problem that is threatening our very existence. But what can one person do? I hear this all the time. What difference does it make if I recycle? What difference does it make if I drive less? Honestly, it makes all the difference in the world.

The myth is that the actions of one of two people can’t prevent the harmful effects of global warming. But this couldn’t be more untrue. The little things you do can make a huge impact on the health of the planet and, more importantly, your actions will inspire others to do the same. Once people see how easy it is to make a difference, they’ll be more inclined to make the necessary changes to their lifestyle.

So what can you do? Plenty. For starters, pick up a copy of Living Green by Greg Horn and read it from cover to cover. (WARNING: This may require you to turn off the television for a while!) You can get a copy at www.Wellbeing.com, an invaluable site on the “green” lifestyle.

In the meantime, here’s a few facts to show you how the little things you do can really make a difference:

• Properly insulating your home can save tons of energy and it can save you money too.
• If every American replaced just three regular lightbulbs with energy-saving fluorescent ones, it would be the same as taking three million cars off of the road.
• Using recycled papers (facial tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, etc.) can save millions of trees each year (Remember: trees remove carbon dioxide from the environment.)
• Buy reusable products! Eighty percent (80%) of all products we buy are thrown away after one use.
• Bring your own reusable grocery bags to the supermarket. Collectively we use over 1 trillion (1,000,000,000,000) plastic bags each year!
• Offset your entire yearly carbon footprint by donating just $99 to www.carbonfund.org.
• Plant a tree. One tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

(Source: Living Green, by Greg Horn (Freedom Press, 2006))


An Open Letter to Fred

Fred,
Why are you so against environmentalism? Why are you so defensive when someone brings up global warming? Al Gore has been studying global warming for over 30 years; how long have you been studying it? You call him a "loon" and a “green weinie”, I assume because you don't agree with him politically. But this is not a political issue, Fred; it's a global issue that affects us all.

Let's just say there is no proof that humans are negatively affecting the environment by raising the carbon levels (even though there is boatloads of it). Even if there's just a tiny chance that we are, don't you think it's irresponsible to flatly deny the validity of the global warming claims? Yes the earth's temperatures have gone up and down over the life of the planet, but never to this extreme.

I just don't understand why anyone would not want to do whatever he or she could to lessen the human impact on the environment. There are only two reasons why anyone can be against the environmental movement: 1) They are being paid off by Big Business, which doesn't want to decrease emissions or pay the money to switch to more environment-friendly fuel sources; or 2) they are lazy and selfish and they don't want to recycle, or use a rake instead of a leaf-blower, or drive a high-efficiency vehicle instead of their beloved SUV.

I would just like to know why you’re so set on denying the global warming theory? Because from out here, it sounds like you just refuse to accept that a Democrat (gasp!) like Al Gore could possibly be right on anything.


MYTH: Non-Smoking Will Hurt My Business

This is one of those myths that really makes me nuts. I hear it all the time: Non-smoking laws may work in big cities like New York or L.A., but here in Beaver County, non-smoking legislation will put our small bars and restaurants out of business.

Baloney.

In fact, the effect will be the exact opposite. Take me, for example. I rarely go out to bars or nightclubs or anywhere else where smoking is permitted. Although I’d like to, I just can’t stand breathing in second-hand smoke all night long. And I hate coming home reeking of smoke. It gets in your clothes and your hair and makes everything stink.

Now, if they made it illegal to smoke in public places, I would go out much more often. And I’m not alone. There are many more of us non-smokers than there are smokers. And many of these, just like me, refuse to patronize any bar or restaurant that permits smoking.

Of course you have the people that argue that many of these “mom and pop” establishments are traditionally “shot and a beer” locations where 99 percent of the clientele are smokers. Although this may be true, it doesn’t mean that these establishments won’t be able to transform their image and welcome an entirely new base of customers.

And to all the smokers out there, please don’t tell me that a smoking ban would infringe upon your rights. Let’s be honest here. We all know that second-hand smoke is hazardous to your health. Smokers do not have a right to put the health of others in jeopardy just because they don’t care about theirs. I’ve heard the argument too many times: “If you don’t like the smoke, go somewhere else.” We all know this is backwards logic. There are many more non-smokers than smokers out there. The majority of people do not smoke. Therefore, the majority should be able to work or dine in a smoke-free environment.

I walked into my local borough building the other day and was stunned to find the entire building filled with smoke. It was almost unbearable. I shouldn’t have to walk into a public office and put my health at risk simply because someone else is addicted to cigarettes.

Look…the purpose of this article isn’t to bash the smokers out there. It’s to debunk the myth that Beaver County is too set in it’s ways to transition to a non-smoking attitude. It’s not. It’s working in cities all over the world, big and small. Restaurants and bars aren’t going out of business; they’re thriving. Sure, sometimes it takes time for people to adjust. But isn’t that true with any type of change?

One last thing: It was once believed that a good “bleeding” could cure just about any illness out there. For thousands of years, people thought the world was flat. Not too long ago, Vanilla Ice was cool. Don’t fear new ideas. Embrace them. You just may find the world a better place.


MYTH: Living Green is Hard

The biggest complaint I hear about “green” living or environmentally friendly living is that it’s difficult. It’s too much work, they say. Who has time to separate recyclables and then haul them off somewhere? My neighbor waters his lawn everyday; why shouldn’t I be able to do the same? I don’t even know where to buy environment-friendly cleaning products for my house.

Have you ever heard of a whinier bunch of excuses? Sure, living in-tune with the planet isn’t always easy. But when you think of the alternative—global warming, worldwide flooding, polluted water reservoirs, species extinction, an inhabitable planet—living green doesn’t sound that hard after all.

When I talk about “living green” I mean living in harmony with the planet and making responsible choices to help preserve the earth for future generations. Too many of us are living in the “now,” and this is causing great harm to the planet. If we continue this lifestyle of waste and carelessness, our future generations—our children and theirs—won’t have much of a planet left to live on.

In order to get you started on the path to a more environment-friendly lifestyle, I’ve put together a list of a few simple things you can do right away with little or no effort.

1. Americans produce over 1,600 lbs. of garbage per person, per year. If you don’t already, START RECYCLING—even if it’s not mandated in your area. It’s really not that difficult. First, pick up three garbage cans at your local store and label them for “Glass”, “Plastic” and “Aluminum.” Put them in the garage or outside somewhere where they’ll be easy to access. Once they’re filled, take them to your local recycling center for processing. You can find your recycling locations online at www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/wm/RECYCLE/Recycle.htm.

2. Use fluorescent bulbs. Yes they’re a little more expensive than normal lightbulbs, but fluorescent bulbs use much less energy and can last up to 10,000 hours longer! In time, you’ll make all your money back and then some.

3. Take a walk. Need to go to the bank or to the corner store? Leave the car in the garage and take a walk. It’s not only good for the environment; it’s good for you too!

4. Buy a water filter. Americans drink billions of gallons of bottled water every year. Worldwide, we create 1.5 billions of plastic garbage annually, all of which either ends up in landfills or on the side of the road. Forget the bottled water and buy yourself a water filter and a nice, glass-lined travel mug. You’ll not only cut down on plastic waste, but you’ll also protect yourself from the dangerous chemicals that can leach out of plastic water bottles.

5. It’s just grass—get over it! Why in the world do we water our lawns and spray them with hazardous chemicals to make them grow, only to then go and cut it once or sometimes twice a week? It’s insane. Furthermore, it’s terrible for the environment. Did you know that running a standard lawnmower for just one half hour produces more exhaust than driving a care 187 miles? Let’s stop the insanity. Having a greener lawn than your neighbor doesn’t make you special; it just makes you tired. Instead, let nature handle the watering and forget all those nasty chemicals. Use various landscaping options to replace grass like mulch, stone or even a wildflower garden.

6. Did you know that we wash over 32 million pounds of toxic chemicals down our drains each year, most of which are from household cleaning products. Instead of spending a ton of money on these toxic cleaning supplies, why not use safe ingredients like baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, borax, vegetable-based liquid soap, and washing soda to do your cleaning? They work just as well as those fancy brand names and they won’t harm the environment.

Of course, these are just a few simple ways you can start living a better, more earth-friendly lifestyle. For more great tips, visit www.wellbuilding.com or any number of great “green” sites out on the Web.

(Source: Living Green, by Greg Horn (Freedom Press, 2006))


Recycling Location

Beaver County Department of Waste Management Recycling Center
Route 51
BEAVER, PA 15009
Phone: (724) 843-2868
Days/Hours: This site is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9am to 4pm and on the first and third Saturday of each month 9am to 1pm.
Web Link: http://www.co.beaver.pa.us/

For other recycling options, check your local fire department or municipal authority.


Travelogue (Mine)
By Valentine Brkich

Trepidation and uncertainty
But good intentions
The same path
But always new
Crumbling concrete of past lives
And a prayer
Thoughts race
Thoughts erase
As heart pounds
And legs ache
A remnant
Of a past journey
The climb
And the bricks
The bricks
Wishes and wondering
A certain goal
Uncertain
Alabaster spires
And faded stones
Lives lived
And lost
Too soon
Sudden hope
An old memory
Best forgotten
Is that all she wants?
Almost home
Hope and strength
Falling free
Down the slope
Past love and memory
And history
Marked for obliteration
Something new
Brings to mind
The winter cold
Soon to come
Sudden rebirth
Only to die again
But still live on
Until the end
And back
To the beginning
Again.


One Man’s First Crack at Motherhood
by Valentine J. Brkich

Recently I became a mother for the first time. Let me preface this by saying that I am a 31-year-old man.

It all started when I returned home to find three baby birds on my driveway. One was deceased; the other two were alive but obviously shaken. There’s a nest in the awning above my front porch and I assume they attempted to fly before their time. Kids.

After a brief funeral service for the deceased bird involving a shovel and a garbage can, I turned my attention to the two newest additions to my family. My in-laws are always hinting that they’d like some grandchildren. I guess beggars can’t be choosy.

First I carefully placed the birds on an old sweatshirt, which I then placed inside an empty planter. Then, with the birds resting comfortably, I grabbed my spade and set out to find them some proper nourishment, i.e., worms and other slimy things.

A few minutes later I returned to the nest for my first official bird feeding. This was sure to be a daunting task considering I still have some trouble feeding myself (just ask my wife). Lacking a beak, I was forced to think of another way to feed the birds. In a moment of inspiration, I went to the garage and retrieved a pair of needle-nose pliers, which sort of resembled a beak. Most importantly, they enabled me to feed the birds without actually touching the slimy worms. Ugh.

When I returned to the “nest,” I found that the birds had buried themselves within the folds of my sweatshirt. I was stumped. I remind you: I am not a bird. How could I get these baby birds to come out and eat? Of course I did the first thing that came to mind: I chirped.

To my surprise the two birds emerged from underneath the shirt and opened their mouths in anticipation. One by one, I lowered each slimy, squirming worm into the mouths of the hungry birds, one of which nearly swallowed the pliers whole. Next I fed each bird one or two of these beetle-type things that I found under a rock. The sparrows inhaled them like chocolate cheesecake.

It was an amazing moment. Here I was, a 31-year-old collector of Star Wars memorabilia, successfully feeding and caring for a pair of orphaned sparrows. It was a proud moment.

I haven’t figured out what to name the two birds just yet. I read somewhere that “Jacob” and “Emily” are the two most popular names for babies nowadays. Then again, why bother naming them when they’re just going to fly away someday and leave me forever. How’s that for gratitude!


A Website a Day

ClimateCrisis.net
CarbonFund.org
18seconds.org
SeventhGeneration.com
NaturalHomeandGarden.com
AHappyPlanet.com
NextGenerationEarth.org
GlobalResourceOptions.com
Nontoxic.com
EERE.gov
Organic.org
Healthyhome.com
Greenfeet.com
Natureworks.com
SolarEnergy.com
3Phases.com
RenewableChoice.com
WorldwideViewofGlobalWarming.com
SafeClimate.net/calculator
Dep.state.pa.us


I’m Gone Now
by Jessica K. Freed (May 25, 1987 – November 2, 2004)

So my angel has come for me, to bring me to heaven.
Cry for me not, my loved ones. I’ll be watching over you
Until we meet again in Heaven, where there is peace, love and not hate.
Don’t be angry with Him, for He has called for me
To join Him in Heaven with the rest of the angels.
Rejoice in life, remember the good times when I was with you,
The laughter and all of the fun we had together.
The way I was, dream of me.
Remember me, not sick, but in good health.
Remember my face, voice, and tell people about me,
What I was like, the things I loved and things I hated.
How much I loved you without any questions.
Maybe one day I’ll be the angel reaching out my hand to you
To come with me to Heaven.
I will always be with you in your hearts,
So love me when I’m gone.


In Town

Lent is one of my favorite times of year. This is a 40-day period, excluding Sundays, between Ash Wednesday (Feb. 21) to Easter Sunday (April 8). For Catholics, it’s a time of reflection, repentance and sacrifice. You’re supposed to deprive yourself of something in order to better understand Jesus’ 40 days in the desert when he was presented various temptations by Satan.

This year for Lent I gave up French fries. This not might seem like much, considering Jesus fasted for the full 40 days. But then again, I really like French fries. And I mean really. When I go out to dinner, I’ll order just about anything as long as it comes with fries. When the food comes, I always eat the fries first. If I have any room left over, I may have a little of the main course. But I always make sure to eat the fries.

Actually, I gave up all fried food, but the fries are what really hurt. The only fried food I allow myself is fish. Catholics are supposed to abstain from meat and eat only fish on Fridays. And of course, since this is Beaver County, just about all the fish is battered and deep-fried. Therefore, I really look forward to Friday and my weekly trip to Micky D’s!

Some people would say a great meal is “surf and turf.” Others relish the upscale taste of escargot or caviar. For me few meals are as satisfying as two McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwiches and a large Shamrock Shake. The Shamrock Shake is a special treat because it’s available for a limited time only—during Lent. Therefore every Friday at lunch you can find me heading for the “Golden Arches” for my favorite Lenten delicacy.

Now, I don’t know the exact nutritional value of this meal, but I think I can safely assume that it’s about as healthy as a bowl of Crisco. Therefore, in order to defeat the guilt (a common struggle with Catholics) I decided to walk to McDonald’s with my wife in order to cancel out the high caloric value of my favorite meal. I live in Bridgewater and the closest McDonald’s is approximately 2.5 miles away. I figured a nice five-mile jaunt would cancel out the negative effects of my indulgence.

By the time we made it to Micky D’s, I had built up quite an appetite. I devoured those two sandwiches in mere seconds. Then I sucked down that minty green milkshake so fast that I got a brainfreeze. It was definitely worth the pain, though. The only problem was that I was now pretty tired and had another 2.5 miles to walk back home. On the way to the restaurant I had the proper motivation. But now the carrot was no longer dangling in front of me.

Of course my wife and I finally made it back to Bridgewater. It took us a little while longer with our stomachs full of fish (supposedly) and mine also filled with liquid shamrock.

And in case you’re wondering, yes, it was extremely difficult to go to McDonald’s and not get any French fries. But I’m a good Catholic boy and I had to stick to my pledge. Now I’m just looking forward to Easter Sunday when I plan to eat French fries for breakfast lunch and dinner. After that I’ll head up to the Medical Center for an angioplasty.


A complex relation was established between three men:

GeeBuboo, a firecracker… red and feisty
…He would snap right in your face

SahDemko Iljanirou Muestashia, a full-bodied dictator
…He would hold you down with his careful eyes, while his people did the rest

And Ooomi Benigma, one might call him the raccoon of the East
…He was the first in the trash, and the first to put it on the ground

In addition to these three men, there was also a fourth man:

Unanimous Nahtanio, a Spanish Warlord with a utilitarian bent
…He was the first to say Yah, and the last to say Pah

They became acquainted with one another…
During the fiscal year Aught One
High upon the Solar System Atom, named after the smallest particle, a long time ago
And far beyond the reach of the Ordinary Man, another creature,
And outside the Quadrispecs, one of Time Motion Space and Typical Living

These four men came together by forming each other into a full complex being
And then, they thought about one another complexly,
Each one’s internal characteristics grew alongside the blossoming outer
Each could see the other in full color: RED, BROWN, BLUE, GREEN, YELLOW
Those were the colors; WHITE was saved for the contrast within the eye
BLACK, for the scourge upon the soul and hinterland which WHITE would not converge

Everybody ran around these men, Rumpfinder McDonyaldi was the foremost
…He would kill anybody in his path, that’s what he told the rest;
Once he said, “Stand Back, lest you be Killed!”

What would you do? But, nonetheless, the little gray figures ran around upon the set
Fires were set, monumental crowds formed, dust and sands flew and muddled the scene
The crowd of Ordinary Men stood and watched these little figurines,
In fact they were the crowd, or this was just a mirror;
Even the Quadrispecs were on the inside,
Only they weren’t aware of the attention and they continued in their blindish fashion
Like goldfish in a bowl dreaming of the ocean but knowing only the comforts of bowl;
They took the color ORANGE all to themselves

One day, all four of these men died… They were killed as Rumpfinder had foretold
Rumpfinder was dead too… he too had been killed.

And the gray figurines turned on the set and waited for forms to arise from the rubble




-Mepanbahoo-

I feel there is a figure
By the name Mepanbahoo
He is famous and has powers
And he is from a different country asides from our own
From here
This man resides, or looks out
To America
Like an Indian, but not
Like an African, but not
Nebulous
Enigmatic
But not really, because we know him
Not me, though someone does
For I feel as if his name were mentioned
On the news, television
Or National Public Radio, stating
“Our prominent leader today met with Mepanbahoo”
As I heard this once, and many times
Also, other countries know of him too
They also meet with him
For diplomacy, for consultation, for empathy
For at times,
Maybe this is what you do
When you get older, or have a country
Then, you meet with Mepanbahoo
Though no one really listens
Or heeds his humble thoughts and wisdom
I really don’t know why
Or really, if this is so

by Nathan Peluso