Painting With Light

“Little Swimmer” © R.L. Herron

As young as they are, my grandchildren are very capable swimmers.

There is no need for intense observation and concern regarding their actions. They are very much at ease in the water. Watching them is actually relaxing and relatively stress-free.

If only life in general could be more like that.

Unfortunately, humanity is a very fickle, ill-mannered species. It often seems the whole earth is in need of a disciplinary “time-out” — but there is no cosmic planet-sitter.

Even if there were a planetary pre-school, it would likely not be capable of preventing much of the mischief homo sapiens can create.

The cries of “Mine!” — “No, mine!” echo around the planet. Sadly, we are a species well known for letting our childish behavior, tribal differences, political disagreements or ethnic arguments erupt into violence.

Yet war is such a savage way for human beings to behave. No one who has ever been involved in war — even remotely — would disagree. There are no winners in war.

Such conflict is so universally repugnant a prohibition against it is built into one of our most accepted agreements on global behavior — the United Nations charter. The only exception to war’s illegality is for self-defense.

That exception is also a damning indication of our sorry, brutal nature.

Despite our best intentions we anticipate the need to retaliate at some point, so we make a provision for it. War is such a widespread, common occurrence the idea of a period without it seems almost quaint.

I worry now for my grandchildren as I did for my sons.

I hope there is a period of “quaintness” in their future. A long one. A period without strife. Without hatred. Without violence. Without war.

A period that — like watching my grandchildren swim — does not require constant, intense vigilance to ensure their safety.

That probably makes me an old-fashioned idealist, but I don’t care. For the sake of my grandchildren I can at least hope.

I have seen war and know you need hope to foster all those quaint ideas like friendship, trust, harmony and peace. For the sake of all the grandchildren in the world I can do my part to make this a better place, and I can hope.

If enough of us do that we just might have a chance.

“The Red Bench” © R.L. Herron

It’s been interesting to observe all the activity in the world these past weeks. There are many emotions involved, but that’s the best way I can describe it. Interesting.

It has been alternately exciting, terrifying, demoralizing, fabulous and frustrating.

The happenings in the Middle East have conjured images both wondrous and awful. Wondrous that so many people, in so many countries, are now clamoring for democratic reforms; awful in the violence and bloodshed that ensues.

But you don’t have to travel thousands of miles to find frustration.

Right here at home the political posturing causes me to react the same way, because it is at once demoralizing and frustrating.

Where has the idea of compromise gone?

Where are the champions of the common good? Why are we trying so hard to destroy all the hard-earned advances won by collective bargaining? Does anyone seem to care that our middle class has become a citizenry that is rapidly becoming second class?

We seem to have forgotten how to have civilized debate in this country.

Our political system is full of self-serving rhetoric designed only to “tear down the other guy” while making our own side seem grand. In the process we are losing the ability to work together.

That attitude and ethic is what made our country great, and we seem hell-bent on destroying it.

Maybe we need a place, like the red bench above, just to meet, sit and discuss our issues. Or maybe it should be a place just to calmly rest and reflect.

We could all benefit with a little more thought behind our actions.

“My Large Chess Table” © R.L. Herron

One of My Prized Possesions
I was looking for a way to use this picture of a prized possession — the one-of-a-kind ceramic chess set my wife made for me, and the chess table my father-in-law built for it — when I ran across a very strange article.

In my chess magazine, of all places.

I’ve been a member of the U.S. Chess Federation for thirty-nine years and have never seen one like it before.

It seems seven chess players in New York City’s Inwood Park were ticketed recently by the NYPD. Many reports incorrectly stated the men were charged for playing chess, which would have been ludicrous in itself.

But truth, in this case, is indeed “stranger than fiction.” In actuality, the seven men were charged with being adults unaccompanied by children in a playground area.

You didn’t mis-read that.

Seven men had to hire attorneys and appear in court for violating a city ordinance. Simply by being adults, playing chess in the park on city-provided cement chess tables, unaccompanied by children.

Arrested. For playing chess.

If I thought, for one moment, the arrest of those chessplayers was justified, I would not write this article. But there was not a single child in the park — at all — when the men were arrested.

Theater of the Absurd
It would almost be funny, if it were not so absurd. Fortunately, the local community was outraged by the incident and fully supportive of the seven men.

It makes me wonder what the world has come to, when something like this can be considered a crime?

Has the constant bombardment of vile things in the news media in pursuit of ratings and readers made us so paranoid we would disallow an activity that adults and children have shared for decades?

As the article pointed out, chess is a rare discipline. Like music and math, it creates prodigies. The idea that adults and children and chess can’t mix is ridiculous.

I can hear the obsessed in the community arguing that such separation “protects the children.” I have one comment for that.

Hogwash.

I raised three sons who are marvleous young men, and I now have the pleasure of wonderful grandchildren in my life. I would do whatever it took to protect them.

And if there is anything I know is true, it’s this:

Watching your children protects them.

Encouraging them in intellectual or athletic pursuits protects them.

Allowing them to experience other generations protects them, and puts a richness in their lives they won’t get from all the XBox consoles in the world.

Put that in your ordinances, New York.

Quit being a country of overly worried people, and simply get involved. Everyone’s life will be better for it. Including people who like to meet and play chess in the park.