Turning The Other Cheek

(Written in 2012)

I want to thank each and every one of you that have reached out to me with your love and sympathy from the attack I am receiving from one of our brothers. We have all walked down many battlefields together and I invite each of you to draw your own conclusions from the time we have spent together.

Some of you have traveled with me to impoverished countries to deliver relief. Some of you have helped me load containers or duffle bags to deliver relief. I have gone to film festivals and funerals and have worked to help those less fortunate. I have been honored to walk amongst you all as we do our part to leave humanity better off.

I see no reason to address each accusation line item by line item but wish to categorically deny any and all allegations. When we should all be celebrating we find ourselves embroiled in controversy and infighting. When we should all be uniting to help those less fortunate we find ourselves distracted from what is really important.

In a month and a half I will be celebrating my tenth year publishing my local newspaper. Those of you that know me well know that I have lived a Spartan existence and that is the only reason I am still in business today. I ride my motorcycle to save money. I live in my studio apartment and I spend my time and resources enriching my local community through the newspaper as well as participating in various charitable activities at home and abroad.

My brother throws daggers at me. For what reason I do not know. The brain is an amazing thing. When it is damaged the rewiring that occurs is not easy to explain. It is the only conclusion I can draw.

These past ten years have been a struggle. I have been in the newspaper business during one of the low points of journalism and publishing. In July I plan to have a quiet celebration to recognize the achievement of publishing for ten years without missing a deadline. I plan to reminisce over the decade I have spent serving a local community with news and an advertising platform.

None of us is perfect and I certainly have my flaws but the struggle has made me a better person. The struggle has shaped my life. When the wolves were at the door I did my best work. The wolves are at the door again growling and threatening. I vow to you all that I will keep working and attempt to do my very best.

My brother strikes me. I forgive him. I know that he has shaped so much about who I am now and has done so much for humanity that if his anger toward me is what gives him the will to survive and get healthy. If his anger toward me is his struggle to reconnect those synapses then I gladly accept my lot in life because the world is better with him in it. Humanity is better off when he works to deliver relief to the needy and helps heal the sick.

I recently completed a documentary feature film called “American Federale.” I spent time in border Mexico during the height of the danger. Prior to my brother having his stroke he was concerned for my safety as I entered both Juarez and Ojinaga. He had me text him upon entering and leaving so that he would know I was safe. I owe so much of what I have accomplished to his love and giving hands. I see no need to meet anger with anger. I also completed a book that is really a companion piece to the documentary called “Rise a Knight.” The book looks forward to a better world that we can all help bring to fruition. My brother also was the guiding hand behind this work too. I invite you all to read the book as it is available on iTunes for free. You can then judge for yourselves if the vision I have understood is the correct vision for the future of humanity.

I ride a motorcycle on the streets of Los Angeles. I know the danger that is lurking around every corner. I get on the bike every day and ask myself if today is the day I will meet my Maker. I know that even if I get another forty years on the planet that it will go by in a blink. I hope we all are in touch with our mortality and agree to work hard to leave this planet better than we found it.

I salute you all for all of the good that you do and hope we can all function together soon as brothers and sisters in the cause of elevating humanity.