DELIVERED FROM EVIL
By Peter Vuono

     It was reported by the FBI in 2013 that law enforcement reported over 6,800 cases of hate crimes. These all dealt with race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and disability. Also, according to the Department of Health and Human services 1 in 3 school children are bullied each year in a variety of ways. It is unfortunate  that we have not gotten away from this type of behavior which made a huge mark on American history from June 10- Sept 22, 1692 in Salem, Ma. Here 19 people were hanged as witches and one man pressed to death because of a non-threatening  eccentricity of their personalities. Since I've been involved with strength training for most of my life, the case of George Burroughs was of great interest to me.
    Burroughs was born in Suffolk , England before moving to the Colonies. He was raised in Roxbury, Ma and became a congregational pastor. He graduated from Harvard and became minister of Salem shortly after.
   For a very long period of time, Pastor Burroughs was not paid a salary by his congregation and fell into debt with the inclusion of his first wife's burial expenses. He borrowed money from the well to do Putnam family and although the money  was paid back years later it created a great deal of antipathy from the Putnams.
  Burroughs moved to Falmouth, Maine and took up practice there but the French and Indian Wars and the Wabanaki Tribe pushed him to setting up practice in Wells Beach. However, the animosity created by his debt sent constables to Wells Beach to bring him back to Salem and be charged as a "Wizard" which was the male counterpart to "Witch'. However, an eccentricity was needed to show that George Burroughs was not like any other "normal" man. In his case, he was in possession of great physical strength in his hands and grip.
  Burroughs was accused of"Lifting weights beyond what could be humanly possessed". In the days of Salem, the weapon of choice was the William III Flintlock Rifle which was approximately 61" long. It was made of brass, iron and wood and was quite heavy. Burroughs could place the index finger of his hand in the muzzle and hold the flintlock strait out completely to the side supporting all the weight with his index finger.
  Burroughs was tried as a "Wizard" and was condemned to die on August 19,1692. As Burroughs mounted the ladder to the scaffolding, journalist Robert Calef was present. According to Calef, Burroughs gave a "Speech of innocence  and recited the Lord's Prayer so well worded and uttered with such composure and such fervent of spirit as was affecting and drew tears from many". It was also said in many Puritan courts that it was impossible for a "Witch" to utter the Lord's Prayer aloud. Nevertheless, the intrepid Pastor was put to death and buried in a shallow grave so poorly dug that his chin could still be shown.
  I sometimes think about the way things are today and I really don't believe that we've come a long way in these 322 years. We all have gifts and personality traits that set us apart from everyone else. Now, thanks to the bravery displayed by Pastor Burroughs, when I see these eccentricities, I try to look at them differently rather than allow my prejudices to become inflamed and aroused as they did with my New England predecessors. Maybe someday, all persons who possess the same antipathy as did the architects of the Salem Witch Trials will have their thoughts delivered from evil.

FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS-

Story by Peter Vuono, Title by John Donne

     One of my favorite movies as well as my son's is director Chris Bell's "Bigger, Stronger, Faster".
Every time we see it( and we watch it about 3 times per year), we go out to our broken down garage gym and train all the harder. The gist of the movie which is about the use of anabolic steroids is that steroids themselves are not the real villain; rather the true problem revolving around them is the "Win at all costs", attitude which has gripped America. Perhaps the most passionate and interesting character in the film is Chris Bell's older brother Mike.
    Mike was born in Poughkeepsie on March 18, 1971. He was the oldest of three brothers who relished sports and weightlifting. Mike excelled in football, powerlifting and professional wrestling. During the movie Mike was quoted as saying that he "Would rather be dead than average". Clearly, this feeling of inferiority plagued Mike as he had survived a suicide attempt. However, I think that the mistake that Mike had initially made is one that we all make. None of us is average. We are all made in the likeness and image of God.
     In addition to this, Mike had achieved a cache of  successes that only few can boast of achieving. He played division I football for the University of Cincinnati. He powerlifted  and built his body to Hurculean proportions and succeeded in working for the biggest wrestling organization of all time- the WWF.
    More importantly than this, he successfully found the right woman to become  his wife and life partner; something equally notable as all of the above. Mike's  fighting spirit to succeed never failed. He moved to a different environment, took on a new job,and became a teacher of pro wrestling . He revivified his life and succeeded in being the devoted husband, son and brother that he had always been. So you see; he had never really been average at all.
   When Mike tragically passed away on Dec 14, 2008 at the age of 37, his passing was greatly mourned by family, friends and all those who he inspired through the movie. However, we must remember that although his body ceased to function, his fighting spirit continued and never really gave up.
   Another great athlete who passed away in his 30's(Bruce Lee), once said"The key to immortality is by living a life worth remembering". I believe that Mike Bell did exactly that.

"Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know
for whom the bell tolls,
it tolls for thee."  - John Donne