StillSecure, After All These Years

Building a better world, one soccer ball at a time

As I have mentioned before, I am an assistant athletic director for a local sports league here in Boca Raton called I9 Sports. Two weeks ago Rob and Mindy Cannova, who run the league asked me if I would help them with a project they were getting involved in.  It seems the league was asked to participate in a match with the teams from the Islamic Center of Boca Raton.  First of all I did not even know there was an Islamic Center of Boca Raton. Secondly, my first reaction was could this be a potential issue.  Either because of the reaction of other people to being involved in this tournament or from the players and families themselves.  I was asked if I would coach one of our league teams against the ICBR teams and if both of my young sons would particpate.

After digging into it a little bit, I decided that yes I would let my sons play and I would coach and fully support the effort.  We had our game tonight.  It was a smashing success.  We had the local press there covering the event.  There were lots of parents from the ICBR dressed in traditional Muslim garb, as well as lots of secular people from both teams. 

In speaking to the head of the athletic department from ICBR, I could not believe how grateful he was for our participation.  It seems that they have 7 teams from the ICBR in different age groups. However, they have no one to play with other than with themselves.  No one else would play them. In fact some of the other local leagues flat out refused, telling the ICBR that they did not think it appropriate with a war going on and "you people killing our boys" to play them in soccer.

I explained to my team that we were here to have a good time and I expected them to play with the highest level of sportsmanship and have a great time.  Once the whistle blew and the games began, it was obvious that whether they be Muslim or Jew, Hindu or Christian, they were just 7, 8 or 9 year old little children running around and kicking the ball.  Everyone had a great time and afterwards we all shook hands and had some Gatorade and drinks and snacks.  We agreed to do it again really soon.

If we are going to make this world a better place for our children and their children, this kind of interaction and playing together on ball fields has to replace the interaction that takes place all to often between people of different faiths on different kinds of fields today.  Maybe making the world better one soccer ball at a time is a pipe dream, but it sure looked good to me tonight.

5767 years and still learning

OK, forgive me as I am going to blog about religion here, with nothing to do about security. So if you are not interested please don't read any further. One of the complaints we hear about organized religion in general today is that it just doesn't adapt to the changing times. We hear young people have faith, but are not turned on by going to church and synagogue. My friend Mitchell Ashley has made tremendous progress against this at his church, where Mitchell leads the church band playing contemporary Christian music at very progressive services.  This "Christian Rock" seems to have made Mitchell's church very successful in attracting young people and getting them involved in the church. 

Growing up Jewish, I don't remember our local Synagogue being a place that really seemed to be "with it".  My perceptions of all this changed today when I attended my 5 year old son Bradley's pre-school Seder at Temple B'nai Israel in Boca Raton. For those who don't know, a Seder is the traditional Passover meal and with Passover starting Monday night, they had a mock Seder at the school today.  I was amazed at how they used technology and media to make it relevant and fun for the kids.  First of all everything was put on powerpoint slides and projected up on the wall so everyone could read and sing along.  The graphics accompanying the words and lyrics were great and gave the kids something to look at.  Next the words to many of the songs and prayers were put into new melodies.  There was even some hip-hop/rap type tempos with prayers for words.  While I thought my grandmother, god rest her soul, would be turning over in her grave had she heard this, the kids were really into it.  They were up and dancing and reciting the prayers.  All of the pre-recorded songs were actually on an iPod that was plugged into the rooms stereo system.  Other songs were sung and played on guitars live in the room.

Instead of being told just sit there and behave yourself as I was as a child, here the children were encouraged to indulge themselves and enjoy the festivities.  The adults and children put on hats and costumes, used finger puppets and other props to act out the story. What was the real pay off for me, was that the kids liked it so much, they actually learned and knew the whole Passover story of Moses and the Ten Commandments.  It was very heartening to see that after 5,767 years the Jewish religion is still growing and adapting to stay relevant in our turbulent times.

In this holiday season, whether you celebrate Passover or Easter or some other holiday, peace and good wishes to you all.

Irony or just coincidence?

So tomorrow at sundown marks the beginning of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.  It is the Day of Atonement, where we ask for forgiveness from both God and our fellow man and to atone for our sins. It is said that God inscribes our fate for the coming year in one of 3 books, one of them the Book of Life.  In a case of either extreme irony or just uncanny coincidence, tomorrow also marks the one year anniversary of the StillSecure, After all these years blog.  Here is a link to my first post, welcoming people to the blog. I look back at that post now and it seems both like it was just yesterday that I wrote it and that I have been doing this forever.  Blogging has become a major hobby/pastime/passion for me.  I did not even contemplate podcasting back then, but I tend to think of it as an extension of my blog.  I have enjoyed this past year immensely and am also really looking forward to the next year of the blog/podcast. 

SSATY started as my own personal project.  It is still my own baby, but has now become intimately intertwined with StillSecure itself.  It is a major force in our identity and presence in the media and the market.  I have been humbled and flattered that so many of you have thought what I have written or said is worthy of your time to read or listen to and to comment on.  When I am at a trade show or meeting new people in the industry, I am blown away that people actually have heard of, let alone read this.  It drives me to try and do better.  That is my pledge and mission this year.  I am going to try and make this blog and podcast worthy of your time and attention.  Doing it day in and day out can be a grind, but how can I ask you to read this regularly if I don't make it worthwhile. 

So in respect of Yom Kippur, to anyone I may have offended in the past year (I know I can be a bit sharp tongued, my wife tells me so all the time) please accept my apologies and I ask your forgiveness.  To  those  who read this blog, I will do my best to make the next year even better than the last.  Thanks again and as we say in the Jewish religion, may you be inscribed in the book for a very good year.

Holiday time

Since my blog has become more officially part of StillSecure, I have tried to cut down on the personal side of postings.  But with the holidays upon us, I wanted to take the time to acknowledge them.  We celebrated Passover these past two days with lots of good food, great family and friends and good times.  Passover in many ways is my favorite holiday.  It signifies Spring and brings back many memories of my childhood.  I really enjoy seeing my children partake in the traditions as well. 
Anyway, whether you celebrate Passover, Easter or something else, I wish you a happy holiday season.

My first Powwow

We have company in for the weekend, my brother Kevin and my best friend from college Tyler Schaeffer.  Last night we all treked up to Ft. Pierce, for the 40th annual Florida Indian Hobbyist Association (FIHA) Powwow. It was the first time I have ever been to a Powwow and did not really know what to expect. My two sons, Landon and Bradley, had a great time. They had a chance to learn some real Native American history, listen to the music and even dance around the circle.  We saw a real tee-pee as well as taste some buffalo burgers. Uncle Kevin bought them some interesting Indian wooden frogs that can make noise as well.  Of course getting their own feather head dress and Indian flutes were a big thrill as well.  Seeing all of the costumes from the various tribes represented and hearing some of the tribal history was very enlightening to me.  I also learned that there seems to be a disproportionate amount of US Service veterans among the Native tribes.  I was not aware of this, as well as how deeply patriotic they are.  It was a great evening.  Bonnie, even got some earrings made out of real wampum.

Also, for Landon's spring break we are participating in the flat Stanley project, an international literacy project.  We have to take flat Stanley with us on vacation and keep a record of what we do.  One of the tribal elders actually knew about flat Stanley and was only too happy to pose with him for us. All in all, it was a great night and adventure my family and I will not forget.

Reflection at holiday time

Tonight at sundown for those who do not know, starts the Jewish new year holiday, Rosh Hashanah.  It is one of the high holy days of the year for those who observe.  I have been up and down throughout my life in my observance to my religion and overall was not very religious. It was not until I started traveling outside of NY that I realized how much I took for granted my heritage and the unique perspective it has given me. As I have grown older and became a parent myself I have become more spiritual and observant.  For at least 2 or 3 times a year I try to keep alive the traditions my family has observed for generations around these holidays.  I think it important that children have a strong grounding in morals and know who they are.  Since moving here to Boca Raton, we have joined as members, Congregation B'nai Israel. The boys went to pre-school and Bonnie teaches part-time there.  It has given us a real sense of being grounded and of being part of a vibrant community. It has also caused me to re-examine my beliefs and feel very comfortable with my own sense of religious self-being, which is I think necessary in order to respect others religions and beliefs. 

Anyway, the real reason for this post was not to discuss my own religious odyssey, but to say to you all that from Bonnie, the kids and I we wish our family, friends and associates a happy, healthy  new year!