By Mike Piliero
Life is like a song!
It seems that some people worry that we’re living in unprecedented times — but I’m not so sure. We must remember that Planet Earth’s been spinning for 4.5 billion years. Records indicate that human habitation began 7 million years ago. In all these years, can it be realistically thought that we are truly witnessing events never seen before?
Wouldn’t it be more plausible to think, in the words of the song, “it’s still the same old story,” maybe in a different context? Civilization has witnessed it all — “been there, done that” — with love ever triumphant. Allowing for wear and tear, I think our planet’s in pretty good shape.
Consider the prescient but often omitted verse from the 1931 song “As Time Goes By,” by Herman Hupfeld:
This day and age we’re living in, gives cause for apprehension,
With speed and new invention, and things like 4th dimension.
Yet we get a trifle weary, with Einstein’s theory,
So we must get down to earth at times,
Really relieve the tension, and no matter what the progress,
Or what may yet be proved,
The simple facts of life are such, they cannot be removed.
CHORUS: You must remember this … the fundamental things apply,
As time goes by.
Guess I’ll never forget a seminar I attended in Florida back in 1973. Futurist architect Richard Buckminster Fuller spoke about “The Future of Mankind.” His thunderous opening statement/question still rings and echoes loudly: “The question is: Is there intelligence on earth?”
Wow! The surprised audience burst into prolonged laughter and applause.
He was referencing the capacity of citizens to successfully deal with survival. He spoke of our ability to absorb scientific facts, and decipher fact from fiction. He went on to passionately describe great possibilities that await the fully concerned and informed public — promising possibilities that still apply.
The world’s human population in 1973 was little more than 3.5 billion. Today, Earth is home to an amazing 7.5 billion life-pursuing humans, all, to varying degrees of comfort, living on Buckminster’s “Spaceship Earth.” A growing population and other human concerns have, over time, been ameliorated through the blessing and genius of creative civil engineering.
Though the question of “intelligence on earth” remains, clearly it is highly imperative that we, the American people, remain — to Buckminster Fuller’s dream — individually capable of gathering, comprehending and acting on factual information.
It’s challenging these days to obtain information free of political and contextual spin, and near impossible to escape the detrimental effects of excessive negative “news.” The axiom “Bad news sells!” is unfortunately true. How blissfully ironic that in our aggregate world there is, has been, and will always be an abounding source of good news — good news habitually overlooked by media that are fixated on the disproportionately small negative points they unearth.
Moreover, the media’s exploitation of the human psyche, that steers us toward sensational, negative stories, is shameful. Confused consumers often lose touch with reality, making decisions that invariably endanger themselves, the country and the world.
What to do?
Let’s start by using the intelligence here on Earth to evaluate, judge and enact informed programs that advance humanity. We can also encourage the media to properly balance the “news” by “tuning out” their excess. And, if we elect good leaders who possess the needed ability to convince its citizens of the merits of plans that benefit our nation, then we’ll become more inclined to appreciate and enjoy the abundant goodness that already surrounds us.
Together with the media, we can herald and incentivize great human achievements, maybe with just a hint of scandal? We can, as Cole Porter would say, “Begin the Beguine” by doing what Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen composed in 1945, and “Accentuate The Positive.” Yes, focus on the good stuff!
What’s that you say!? There’s too much bad “news” for such a bright picture?
This brings me back to a time when Louis Armstrong recorded “What A Wonderful World.” The song came out in 1967 — in the middle of the Vietnam War, a historic time complete with wall-to-wall news converge of war, crime, and racial and political upheaval. How could this be construed to be a “wonderful world”? What reality is that? I thought the song was all wrong:
The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky,
Are also on the faces of people going by,
I see friends shaking hands, sayin’, “How do you do?”
They’re really sayin’, “I LOVE YOU.”
Because I was addicted to TV news, I tried to reason how a seemingly tragic and hateful world, so upside down, could be “wonderful.” What would possess anyone to espouse such a hopeful prospect?
And for too many years I held that view, sustained in the hypnotic spell of 24/7 news coverage. The media had, unintended, turned me into quite a negative person. Actually, I allowed it to happen by failing to see the all-important whole picture.
I gradually came to understand and appreciate the nuances and beautiful truths of plain everyday life. I strove to cut back, in 12 step fashion, the toxic amount of time spent watching the news, while realizing that the strength of love will always triumph over hate, wars, disease and all life’s setbacks.
Indeed, good citizenship comes with responsibilities, such as being factually informed and proactive to the needs of society, which will forever be a noble quest. It doesn’t, however, preclude seeing and appreciating the good things.
The song “As Time Goes By” confirms some of these conclusions. A lingering epiphany reveals that I, in fact, have lived life’s “same old story, a fight for love and glory … moonlight and love songs, never out of date,” etc., but till now hadn’t fully realized it.
With passing years, I’ve uncovered the wonderful truths and treasures that life holds for each and every one of us. I envision the much bigger, more accurately positive, beautiful side of life. My eyes capture all the many forms of love, which, in turn, reflect, like sunshine, everywhere, despite wars, racism, injustice, hate, and politics.
I’m not blind to negative issues that need and deserve action, but I see and appreciate a much greater overall good that inspires and instigates for needed change.
Love shines on every race and creed. It’s on sidewalks, in supermarket aisles. It can even be found in everyday traffic. It’s there when someone holds the door for you; it’s in a warm, welcoming smile. It’s in breathtaking scenery of mountains, colorful hills and sparkling valley streams. It glows on the faces of friends and lovers, in the eyes of proud parents, beaming grandparents, all relatives, and children — happy, mischievous children. It’s also felt in acts of kindness and genuine concern that extends far beyond self.
Have I finally “seen the light,” or have I just gotten older and developed better vision through my septuagenarian cataracts?
Think of it: Along with the Fifth Dimension’s “Age of Aquarius,” we must “Let the Sunshine In”! The Beatles are right: “All You Need Is Love,” or maybe the ability to give, feel or sense it. Pharrell Williams sings “Happy”! James Brown shouts, “I Feel Good”! … and so should we.
The Association sings “Everything That Touches You” … is love. Sonny and Cher note that “The Beat Goes On” … love’s soothing drumbeat, life itself. Israel Kamakawiwoʻole waxes poetic, mixing the songs “What a Wonderful World” and “Over The Rainbow,” allowing hearts and spirits of the multitudes to soar on Planet Earth.
Love songs are forever.
In “Casablanca,” Bogie tells Dooley Wilson: “Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By.’” Play the truth.
So, go ahead, put down that paper, turn off the TV, open your heart, smile and sing: “The world will always welcome lovers, as time goes by.”
It’s truly a wonderful world!
Mike Piliero, a resident of Hampton Bays, is a retired real estate broker and Southampton school bus driver.
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