Freedom Now, Freedom Forever: Cui Jian "Nothing to My Name"

Using the metaphor of a young guy talking to his girlfriend, who rejects him because he has nothing, Cui Jian, preeminent Chinese musician, in the 1980s, sang about a generation yearning for freedom.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968

Photos from the Ebenezer Baptist Church and Dr. King Historical National Memorial Site in Atlanta by Tony Napoli

 

While it seems the journey may never be complete, and like the great figures from the Bible he himself did not see the Promised Land, Dr. King moved mountains, and whether it was with his profound vision and humanism, or Divine Grace, he brought America forward, leading Presidents, and the American people, on our continuing journey toward equality and freedom.

--Anthony Napoli

Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn

Thomas Merton: Writer, Mystic, Spiritual Seeker

What's the opposite of an encomium? Poet Thomas Merton explored this in "Hymn of Not Much Praise for New York City"; Merton, a Trappist monk who became an ordained priest, was a writer, mystic, and social activist and philosopher, who died in 1968. January 31 reflects the Centenary of his birth to expat New Zealander and American artists in France.

Thomas Merton

Other work by Merton at the Poetry Foundation website here

His The Seven Storey Mountain, first published in 1948, by Harcourt Brace, remains a classic spiritual autobiography of a modern seeker.

More writings about Merton here

--Anthony Napoli
Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn

Coda: Four Jewish Murdered Hostages in Paris Identified

P4:45 P.M. The Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions has released the names of the four hostages killed at the kosher supermarket in eastern Paris on Friday: Yoav Hattab, 21, Philippe Braham, in his 40s, Yohan Cohen, 22, and François-Michel Saada, reportedly in his 60s. According to reports, Hattab is the son Betto Hattab, the rabbi of La Grand Synagogue in Tunis. (Haaretz). 

Further reportage from Haaretz here Paris shooting updates

After Paris, Time to Drop the "T" Word

Tired of seeing the portraits of the three murderers of Paris -- let's see portraits of those killed. The innocent folks killed in the kosher supermarket just because they were Jewish - now the world can see the true identity of Al Qaeda-allied terror. It's not just about "Zionists"-- their targets are all Jews and opponents to their self-styled regimes. But as Haffner described about Hitler -- it's hate and murderous anti-Semitism at the dark heart of their actions, not defense of some imaginary realm or leader.

 Tired of hearing the words "terror" and "terrorists"-- Jean Baudrillard long ago, after 9/11 discussed the new forms of this word that gain strength by playing on the use of violent gestures magnified by the global media spectacle as political tools. "Terror" implies that we in democracies are afraid or terrorized. We are disturbed and outraged, angered and hurt, as humans and humanists, as democratically free peoples who choose to live under the rule of law and justice, not under the whip and the beheading and medieval codes of violence. So let's dial down on use of the words terror and terrorists that have already become almost meaningless labels and descriptors that reflect more on the presumed impact of these actions on us, democratically free peoples in whose societies these criminals are sadly able to operate with greater freedom. Let's just recognize all of these villains as the criminals, law breakers,  kidnappers and murderers that they are.

Though it will take time, they will no doubt eventually be destroyed as was Hitler and in turn will destroy themselves. But democratic nations must be resolute and never surrender to the evil of theocratic extremists. 

 

Sure, #JeSuisCharlie, #JeSuisAhmed. But also let's never forget "#JeSuisJuif". And while we are at it, JeSuisDemocracy, indeed.

--Anthony Napoli

Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn

Brother Francis - traces, words, images

On a windy and snowy Friday, up the marble steps and in the distinguished chambers of Brooklyn Borough Hall, a remarkable event is underway. For the first time in 700 years, a collection of hand-written, 13th century manuscripts concerning St. Francis of Assisi have left Italy and, following a stop at the United Nations, they are on public display at 290 Joralemon Street, the seat of local government in Kings County. 

The exhibit constitutes a variety of manuscripts and documents that directly and indirectly provide information and evidence about the life of Francis, including Francis' personal note to another friar ("Brother Leo..Health and peace!...), a papal instrument on the  founding of the Franciscan order, and the text of the saint's Canticle for the Creatures, for which he is well known, among other treasures.

As Borough President Eric Adams, who agreed to host this unique and special event, noted: "St. Francis, one of the most venerated religious figures in history who abandoned a life of luxury for a life devoted to charity, love and serving the poor. We have an opportunity to reflect upon the messages in these texts, including love for all creatures, and compassion for the less fortunate in our society." 

Frate Francis: traces, words, images is indeed an inspiring and timely exhibit.

Accompanied by an occasional speaker series on the manuscripts and the life of St. Francis, the exhibit closes next Wednesday, January 14. For further information, visit the Brooklyn Borough Hall website here

--Anthony Napoli

Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn

"We Can Talk"

The Band performance at Woodstock, 1969.

Chris Ofili at The New Museum

British artist Chris Ofili is probably best known for his Painting The Holy Virgin which included clumps of elephant dung and which led then NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani in 1999 to threaten to defund the Brooklyn Museum which included the painting as part of its memorable "Sensations" exhibit. 

Well the Museum's director Arnold Lehman who will be retiring in the new year stood up to the Mayor and the contretemps passed.

A major retrospective of Mr Ofili's work is on display in a show at the New Museum on the Bowery that will be closing later this month. From his more well known earlier works combining layers of paint and multi media - including elephant dung-- and later works such as Afronirvana (above), and the infamous Holy Virgin Mary (below) and other engaging works created in the early 2000s while he was living inTrinidad, Mr Ofili's Night and Day at the New Museum is a not-to-be missed show of an exciting contemporary artist whose work remains spiritual, provocative, and inhabiting a world palette that is at the same time distinctly British.

-Anthony Napoli

Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn