Greetings Dearest Friends - Hope everyone is well and happy! I had a good day yesderday on "Pelham 123," working with my dog, Peri. The day was rainy but fun anyhow. There's alot of time to network and observe things on a rainy day with filmmaking.
What I want to talk to you tonite is about Pigeons. How many of us can claim a close relationship with a pigeon?
Yet there they are, strutting around the city stoically, reminding us moment to moment, the state of life as it exists sometimes. That we're all creatures of the earth, strutting blithely about, all in good faith the sky will not fall down on us, and that people will be kind and merciful - a smile, a nod, some acknowledgement of our efforts to get ourselves out there and doing. Without scorn, contempt or cruelty. We are worthy beings.
And yes, pigeons, too!
Let's look at them, take another look. Just as each one of us has placed himself here in good stead, to be and share the world with each other, so have the pigeons. Yet too often the pigeon population is judged unjustly.
Just as we people are. How often is there a sensitive writer, sitting in a back office somewhere plowing thru pedantic paperwork day after plodding day,with no bright sparks to look forward to? How often is a brilliant opera singer shining shoes and surprising you with a beautiful song? Do you know a violinist who had to sell his violin to feed his family?
These and many of we souls are very capable of rising and soaring with a moment's notice, if one were in site, to connect to that Source which can free us for real.
So it is with the pigeons. In wartime, brave pigeons flew thru the battlefield carrying vital messages to the troops. Medicines, too.
Reminding us there are lofty and lowly things within each one of us, and circumstances often carry us into exalted moments or can cause us to descend - and who we are really in each of these circumstances tells the story of who we really are inside.
It isn't always the accolades or glory that makes us strong - altho we need this to carry on, the thing that makes us strongest is learning who we are when we have to descend.
Can you still strut around when the chips are down? Hope so!
National Pigeon Day is June 13th, Central Park from 4-6 pm. These people will be speaking out for Pigeons:
Council Member Tony Avella, a vocal proponent for the rights of animals will also speak. In December, 2007 the Council Member introduced legislation to ban carriage horses from the streets of New York where they must compete for space with taxis and buses, with smoke and fumes blowing in their face while pulling thousands of pounds. What kind of civilization do we live in that permits animals to be treated in this way. We need to support a government official who advocates for the rights of animals and their humane treatment. Why do we hate and punish child abusers, yet tolerate abusers of animals who continue to exploit and hurt them.

Valerie Sicignano, East Coast Director, In Defense of Animals
will open up the afternoon with opening remarks and news concerning the illegal kidnapping of pigeons from the streets of New York -- while we speculate that the majority of starving, dehydrated and near-dead pigeons end up being "sport" for hunting enthusiasts, the fact is we do not know with certainty the fate of the netted and distressed pigeons who are baited with food, then cruelly captured with a fishing net and dumped into waiting vans to await their torturous fates.

Pigeons are highly intelligent, exemplary parents who mate for life; a million pigeons served during World Wars 1 and 11 carrying messages in the heat of battle. Military medals were awarded to Cher Ami, G.I. Joe and Winkie who flew 130 miles to Scotland with the stranded crew's coordinates tied to his ankle. Although coated in oil, he continued with his plight and successfully accomplished his mission.

This is no way to treat war heroes!

Hope many people will be able to come to this event. I may be bringing my piano - I'll keep you posted, anyhow.

Good night for now, sleep tight and let the angels peek in on you ...