THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

 

WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. March 30, 2018. Republished  10: 30 A.M. E.D.T. from WPCNR of the Distant Past.:

It is late afternoon now in  the  Jerusalem of 33 A.D. Jesus of Nazereth has died on the cross in between two thieves. The three crosses can be seen on the distant hill.

He died 1,985 years ago on that cross today. There was no CNN, No Fox News, showing live coverage, no internet, no newspapers,radio or television. No Twitter or Facebook. No Instagram,Skype, or Google.

Nevertheless the message of the man who died on Calvary (The Place of the Skull) spread around the world without mass communication.

His followers, twelve of them were so devoted to His message of love and code of behavior they became the first pacifist activists who spread a message the man they called their Lord had preached to them.

He was Jesus of Nazareth.  He had no last name.

Today He is now known all over the world for the message he delivered.

Whether you believe He is the Son of God, or not, He ranks as one of the foremost influences on mankind. More than Plato, more than Socrates, more than any leader or politician, or entertainer whoever lived.

His selfless acts of embracing lepers, the poor, those who sinned were unique.

Such compassion for the downtrodden was unheard of during the time He lived.

It was a time of slavery. No human rights. No care for the sick. When cities were razed and populations slaughtered or enslaved much like the genocides of today.

Jesus of Nazareth introduced a new philosophy that spread throughout the world after His death by crucifixation on this day (maybe, we do not know the exact date), because the community leaders of his own people thought him a threat to their power. And that fear that this simple man was a threat should be a lesson to us all.

If you live by His philosophy of forgiveness you are a person at peace with yourself. If you accept those who are different from you without  fear or prejudice, you are a force for spreading His message of peace towards others and good will.

If you help the poor and the sick because you sympathize with them, you are following His way.

If you stand up for truth, point out what is wrong as He did with the Pharisees. You are doing his will.

If you go about doing good for the sake of doing good, you are following His virtue of selflessness.

Jesus of Nazareth’s message whether divine or a code of how we conduct our lives resonated with millions and it spread.

There is no denying He is one of the great philosophers of the human experience, kin to Socrates, the other giant of antiquity thought.

The above print of “The Return from Calvary” painted by Herbert Schmalz shows the last hours of Jesus of Nazareth’s crucifixation around 33 A.D. on Calvary Hill, “the place of the Skull” outside of Jerusalem late in the day He was crucified.

The description on the print describes the somber scene:

The darkness which was on the earth (during His suffering) is clearing away.

One long, dark cloud is hanging over the city like a pall.

The Virgin Mother, weighted down by fatigue and grief, knowing not wither she goes, is being led up some steps, toward “his own” home, by St. John and Mary Magdalene.

In the distance on the top of Cavalry, you can make out the three crosses.

The grief so eloquently captured by this print depicts the very personal loss all of us endure when someone we love passes away, realizing our loss because of all they did for us.

Jesus of Nazareth was a human being who affects us to this day.

One of the great gifts of this man, Jesus of Nazareth, is the celebration of humanity and capacity to care and feel for others that aids persons whether they believe He was the Son of God or not. Or that you will have eternal life if you believe in him.

His philosophies of care, courage, compassion and benevolent action serve their practioners well because they leave a great personal satisfaction in the heart, the mind, and the spirit.

You do not have to second guess yourself, when you do what is right, humane, merciful, and serves the less fortunate without superiority with nothing to gain for yourself. And if you do not do what is right, if you weaken, you always regret it and remember when you failed to do right.

The peace of mind of action is the least of the  great gift of Jesus of Nazareth whose death on the cross is marked this day.

If you act as Jesus did, you will be remembered by all you meet fondly and lovingly, and be comforted that you will live in memories of those you have  touched with your love and kindness and caring  for eternity to the end of the age.

His simple teachings have great power. Use them. Implement them.

They give meaning to our mystery of life.

They give meaning and purpose to anyone’s life.

For 2,000 years they have made a violent world a better place.

He died today.

Westchester County Executive George Latimer, (second from right) outside the Bronx County Courthouse on The Grand Concourse after meeting with Bronx Bureau President Ruben Diaz, Jr. (below)

WPCNR County Clarion-Ledger By John F. Bailey. March 27, 2018:

The first meeting between Westchester and Bronx leaders that anyone can remember took place this morning when Westchester County Executive George Latimer traveled to the Bronx County Courthouse for a working meeting with Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

You can view the WPCNR Video of the News Conference at this link;MVI_6993

The two, both former New York State Assemblymen, now leaders of their respective “counties” met to define common grounds where their county interests and needs matched and where mutual strategies and lobbying government agencies for support would grow the thriving Bronx and Westchester economies.

In a news conference after the  approximately two hour meeting, the two leaders told assembled reporters  the two looked forward to promote and attract businesses and projects to the Bronx Westchester area.

Mr. Latimer said as soon as his economic growth team was in place, partnering to promote the Bronx-Westchester economic advantages to possible businesses and developers would be his economic team’s first priority.

Mr. Diaz said he looked forward to working with Mr. Latimer to promote entertainment, shopping and attractions (such as Van Cortlandt Park) to Westchester residents. He noted the Kingsbridge Armory Skating was a destination that would be attractive to Westchester hockey, figure skating enthusiasts, and recreational skaters.
Mr. Latimer said he would explore more ways such as transit improvement and promotions to bring Bronx residents to Playland Park this summer.  Mr. Diaz was very enthusiastic about this possibility, saying that was where his parents took him when he was a child growing up.

One reporter asked if Mr. Latimer would consider aiding residents of Van Cortlandt in surveying the quality of water flowing into Van Cortlandt Park from Westchest. Mr. Latimer said he would.

The news conference already has helped Westchester in a traffic heads-up:

Asked if the Major Deegan Expressway northbound construction just before the 161^st street Yankee Stadium ramp, where there are just two northbound lanes open  would be completed before Opening Day, Mr. Diaz said he did not expect them to be.

This is very bad news for Yankee fans for opening day.

The smartest route to Yankee Stadium used to be Brucker Expressway to the Deegan Northbound, and exiting at 149^th Street, and grabbing the easy park lots leading to the Stadium, averting the “parking lot stretching from the Deegan Southbound Stadium exit to  almost Westchester County.

Today, due to the one lane closure just before 161^st Street Northbound, it was bumper to bumper northbound, south of 161^st to about 149^th Street. This with no ballgame going on. Monday is going to be worst Bronx traffic jam ever, unless the DOT opens that lane.

Mr. Latimer urged people to take the Metro North trains to the game.