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In our language, the meaning of 'hag' has been distorted. Among the Kells (my mother was Irish), it is the final stage in the life of a woman. There are three: The Maiden/Virgin, untaken, untamed, wild and free. She's full of fire, dreams, visions and kinetic energy. She is the Waxing Moon. The Matron, in the full maturity of her child-bearing years. She is the great earth mother, the lover, the comforter, the healer. She is the Full Moon. The Hag. Seasoned and wise in the ways of the world, she holds her blood and sometimes her tongue. She enjoys honor and respect among those who hold her favor, and fear/caution among those who have earned her ire. She is the Waning Moon. I take The Hag for Hag Struan, a character in James Clavell's novel Tai-Pan, my favorite of his works. The Hag was born a Brock, which made her marriage into the Struan clan a Hatfield-McCoy heresy. The Brocks and Struans were rival shipping magnates in Scotland during the early days of China trade. The Hag was widowed young and stepped to the helm of Struan shipping, to keep them on top of her birth family. She was a tough, clear-minded, straight from the shoulder kind of lady. I admired her strength, her dignity and her dedication to her family against all odds. I'd have a very long way to go, indeed, before I could be in her league, but the name inspires me and I aim to do her proud. *************** For God sent NOT his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [JOHN 3:17] Peace to All. The Hag ......................................  .......................................... |
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Road Weary, Soul Weary But Safely Home
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Sep 24, 2006 10:32 pm
Mood: loved,
334 Views
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[One Week Ago]
Some time after midnight Sunday night/Monday morning, the waiting, wondering and wishing had so numbed body and brain that even the old syndicated TV series failed to provide distraction, so I got up from the recliner, put away the Southern fried chicken dinner and the tureen of leek, cabbage and potato soup (Not knowing whether they'd arrive ravenous or sated, I'd allowed for either contingency.), closed the house and went to bed. In the predawn murk, Buddy's high-pitched whines and frantic efforts to 'help' Paul open the front door told me they'd arrived. Keys jangled, dropped to the floor as Anna called from curbside, "Can't we please just leave everything where it is and unload when we wake up?" Her voice was heavy with exhaustion and Paul hadn't turned on a light. Lying there, listening, I realized that being able to fall into bed unhindered would do them a lot more good than would an anxious, frenetic 'welcome home' debriefing - so I stayed where I was, and as the house grew still once more, drifted back sleep.
Hours later, I woke to the powerful incense of Greg's favorite: Gevalia's Chocolate somethingorother coffee wafting through the house, accompanied by rhythmic taps of the keyboard - he was back at work (freelance writer). In the shower, a cheap rendition of botanical freesia shampoo did a pretty good job of washing the cobwebs out of my mind, so that by the time I'd donned sweats and padded barefoot into the kitchen a half- hour later, I was nearly all the way human. Greg stopped for a refill, we exchanged greetings and I learned that Anna and Paul were still sleeping. The trip had been difficult, he said, but not grueling. They'd stopped to sleep one night both going and coming, to stay rested and alert.
Once they'd arrived, Anna had contacted old friends and arranged for the use of a guest house while they were in town. Since neither Greg nor Paul had met any of Anna's paternal relatives, they kept low profiles, concentrating on giving her support in dealing with her concerns. Ed had gone into cardiac arrest shortly before their arrival and somehow, contrary to a do not resuscitate order, the crash cart had been called and he'd been placed on the respirator - all of this I'd been told on the phone. Anna's main focus was comforting her older brother, who's visited his father faithfully, in the nursing home, every day for fifteen years, and who is one of those sweet, emotional souls who can't accept the wisdom of just letting go. Anna, Paul and Greg stayed two and a half weeks, doing what they could to run errands, tend to various family members' pets, mail, laundry, ad infinitum.
When time came to leave, Anna managed to get them all to the guest house for a fast-food potluck that Paul had arranged, where she explained to them that, as much as she loves them and as much concern as she has for them in this situation, she'll not be able to return for the funeral when the word is given to stop the machines. They all were able to share their thoughts, feelings and hopes, make sure the addresses, email information and phone numbers all were correct and parted with the usual avowals to 'keep in touch'.
Since their homecoming, Anna and I have had a couple of deep conversations. There will be more in the weeks to come. Knowing everyone involved as I do, I'm deeply saddened that it's evolving this way. Ed's sister, Jean, has the medical power of attorney. She will be the one to 'pull the plug' as soon as they think C. S. has adjusted a little better. The family and hospice counselors are working with him, which I believe is good.
Anna hasn't cried. When she does, Paul, Greg and I - by turns or en masse - will definitely be her 'soft place to fall'.
"Lamp and fire and meat and bread, and then to bed, and then to bed." - J.R.R. Tolkein
Peace, love and joy, my Friends!
The Hag
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IT'S OLA'S FAULT !
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Sep 22, 2006 2:54 pm
Mood: happy,
443 Views
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FROM OLA'S BLOG: Do any of you ever wish you could publish something, and if so what? We have so many talented people who blog here. It amazes me how well they express themselves, and how well they tell their stories.
***************
To my mind, there's a difference between being a writer and being published. Best known for this distinction, of course, is Emily dickinson. She wrote something like 600 poems - none published in her lifetime.
A little-known gentleman named Henry Darger became ill and had to leave his apartment for a nursing home. In his rooms the landlady's son discovered a treasure-trove of bound manuscripts, written and illustrated by hand. Like J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis, he had created an entire fantasy world on paper. He wouldn't allow any of it to be published until after he died and I'm not sure any ever has been.
I've been 'writing' since I could hold a crayon, and generating reports/articles for in-house 'publications' was part of several jobs. My manuscripts, outlines and notes belong to Anna (who can do what she likes with them when I'm gone), but my poetry - what I believe to be the best of my work - is most often given to the person for whom it's written as soon as it's complete.
I couldn't handle being 'famous'. I'd be impossible (likely dangerous! ??) at a book signing and would be miserable doing all the self-promotion. I write because I can't NOT write, and because writing gives me a release and satisfaction unmatched by any other work - though reading runs a close second! I am a writer. I remain a writer whether or not one word of mine ever sees the light of a publisher's day. I write because that's who I am. It's essential to my happiness and is the very best part of ME.
"... of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." - Ecclesiastes 12:12
Thanks for your interest, my friends!
The Hag
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Distant Echoes
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Sep 15, 2006 3:43 am
Mood: sad,
358 Views
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I sit alone in this quiet house, warmed by candles' glow, Pachelbel's The Four Seasons drifts through the room like a ribbon of expensive brandy in gourmet coffee. Many people walk through my mind tonight who no longer walk this earth. My Goddaughter, Anna's father is dying. He's in his 90's and has suffered for decades with a chronic, debilitating illness. She, Paul and their friend, Greg, have been at home with the family for the past three weeks. Ed's on life support now and they're down to the minute-by-minute vigil, always the hardest part. The 'kids' will have to come home this weekend, and won't be able to return for the funeral when it's finally over. So, she's saying good-bye and consoling the family as best she may. Nancy Wilson sings an amazing version of If I Could that sums up all my emotions right now, where Anna and Paul are concerned.
When Mother died on November 17, 1982, we all commented that it would make for very sad holidays for us that year. Then, I got to thinking, with so many holidays, family birthdays and anniversaries, etc., everywhere, it always comes too close to
something. The fact is, we're just never really ready for it. When Daddy's mother, our Big Mama, died also after a years-long debilitating illness, culminated by cancer, he said "No matter how long you've waited, no matter how long you've expected it,
you're always just one minute away from being ready for it."
I know all these people (Anna's family) quite well and my heart aches to be there! However, the animals had to be cared for, etc., and we didn't want to inconvenience any of our friends unnecessarily. Ergo, I must content myself with the nightly phone call, the constant protestations of support, and prayers for their solace and safety. In their absence, I have managed to do some deep-cleaning and put good effort into weeding the yard and flower beds. My goal is to accomplish a fair bit more in those areas and have a WELCOME FEAST prepared for them when they arrive on Sunday.
Tonight, however, I'm signing off here, dear friends, in favor of taking a good book to a bubble bath, thereby temporarily drowning my sorrows.
Peace, love and joy to all! Thank you for visiting.
The Hag
***************
IF I COULD
by Nancy Wilson
If I could
I'd protect you from the sadness in your eyes
give you courage in a world of compromise
yes I would
If I could
I would teach you all the things I've never learned
and I'd help you cross the bridges that I've burned
if I could
I would try to shield your innocence from time
but the part of life I gave you isn't mine
But I've watched you grow
so I could let you go
if I could
I would help you make it through the hungry years
but I know that I can never cry your tears
but I would
if I could
if I live in a time and place where you don't want to be
you don't have to walk along this road with me
my yesterday won't have to be your way
if I knew
how I'd try to change the world I brought you to
and there isn't very much that I can do
but I would
if I could
if I could
I would try to shield your innocence from time
but that part of life I gave you isn't mine
I watched you grow so I could let you go
if, if I could
yes I would
yes I would
if I could
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FREE PROZAK!
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Sep 7, 2006 8:57 am
Mood: frustrated,
408 Views
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Hi, Y'All!
All appearances to the contrary, I've not fallen through the hole in the ozone and into another universe - would that I could!
To begin, the last week of August, I worked straight first shift and my internal clock is out of alignment. "It's hard for a night person to work days - it's hard for a night person to work, period. This week, I'm back to my normal second shift schedule, Sun-Thu, so it should level out. There's a bunch of busyness going on in my personal life, and 'my' computer is out of whack. Have to wait until one of the household geeks can look at it and make it well before I can post in depth and catch up with everybody's blogs. That 'catching up' may take me through the rest of this month, but I hope not.
For the moment, know that I love you, am thinking of you, and you're always in my prayers. Help yourself to the Rx and enjoy the rest of your week. Thanks for dropping by.
Love and Joy in Jesus!
The Hag
***************
God's Prescription for Coping: PROZAK*
A brief study compiled by THE HAG
100% Safe to use with ANY MEDICAL REGIMEN!
P = Pray without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17
R = Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Philippians 4:4
O = Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord. Jeremiah 38:20
Z = Zeal for the Lord... Romans 10:1
A = Ask and ye shall receive... John 16:24
K = Keep the faith ...2 Timothy 4 : 7
* The medication is spelled "Prozac".
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12
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Dear Dr. Maslow! ... for Classic
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Aug 27, 2006 9:31 am
Mood: grateful,
443 Views
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From the SFF Magazine: Are You Living Up To Your Super Potential?????
The late Dr. Abraham Maslow pointed out that our inner nature, though it may be abused or misunderstood, "persists underground and (is) forever pressing for actualization." In other words, in the process of attaining our goals, we strive to fulfill our potential. To what degree are you a self-actualizer? *** I'm a self-actualizer to a great degree. I've never been afraid of being 'different from the crowd', having my own opinion and acting on my own value system. I come from a family of independent individuals and quickly learned that I'm the one responsible for getting my needs met.
Do you enjoy trying to see shapes in the clouds?***I love making cloud pictures, but identify 'picture shapes' in many things - wood grain, envisioning topiary images in natural tree shapes, fabric patterns, etc. This is a game I love to play with the children.
Do you believe you have had experiences that were both strange and wonderful? ***My entire life has been 'strange and wonderful' - from the appendicitis that was supposed to have killed me when I was four, to now living within a two-hour drive of the beautiful Pacific Ocean, in the midst of a community of people half-my-age and less (!), all of whom seem to think I possess the secrets of the universe itself (which I understand NOT AT ALL!).
Do you like dressing up for Halloween or costume parties? *** I and my Godchild just plain enjoy "dressing up" and are quite likely to don formal gowns for a midnight run to the grocery store, just to watch the expressions on folks' faces as they wonder where'n' tarnation we've been or are goin' to!
Have you had the feeling of being completely serene and at peace with the world? ***Yes! I am at peace with God, myself and my world - MY world, not THE world- there's a huge difference!
Can you comprehend the depth of devotion a person could have that would make them willing to sacrifice their own life for someone they love? ***Yes, there are a few people in my life for whom I believe and pray that I would die without hesitation or question.
Have you ever been so involved with the characters in an absorbing book that you forgot your surroundings and lived the story with them? *** I become "so involved with the characters in a book that I live the story with them" two or three times per year. My cherished authors can do that for me.
Have you ever experienced profound fulfillment and satisfaction in creating a solution for something as in crossword puzzles, craft projects, intellectual investigations or a mystery
story?***Each story, article or poem that I complete; each finished painting; every article I've crocheted; every method and system I've devised to increase production and/or improve the quality of our work has brought me deep satisfaction - as have all the 'literary' breakfasts, night-long poetry reads, and abstract contemplations I've shared with my friends over the years.
Have you ever had a "religious" or "spiritual" experience that proved to you that a supernatural being exists? *** Many profound experiences have proved to me the immediate presence of God in my life, but they don't take the form of 'burning bushes' and I don't expect other people to see the hand of the Divine at work (neither do I worry about that). The most recent of these took place in 2005. On June 30 of that year, I buried a dear friend who'd been a part of my life since she was a teenager. Gail was diagnosed with lung cancer on Dec 23, '04. I kept the death watch with her on the preceding night. Shortly before 11pm, one of her doctors came in, whom I'd not met. I introduced myself and we immediately fell into a deep, intimate conversation about Gail's life. He was upset and grieving that he was losing her and that the cancer hadn't responded to any of their myriad aggressive treatments. Clearly, Gail had impressed him powerfully. This was NOT UNUSUAL, she did that to everyone who knew her. I told him the story of our long friendship and how we'd shared the apartment together just off the campus party district in the early 70's, and of the night when the bar closed and Gail had turned to everyone present saying, "Hey, if y'all 're not through partying, come with me to my house!" - and I'd been waked from a sound sleep, having to work the next day, to a house full of college students in various stages of dress/undress and inebriation, with the music so loud that the dishes in the cabinets were vibrating. That was Gail! At the end of our conversation, his eyes welled, he shook my hand and THANKED ME for having been her friend. When Gail died the next morning, I knew I'd been sent there, not for her (she'd been totally sedated the entire time) but for him. It was God's doing and His alone.
Have you ever been so in love with someone that your were unconcerned about yourself and extremely preoccupied with your beloved. *** My first love set my soul on fire and filled my every waking moment with thoughts only of and for him, to be apart from him even during our workday, was a physical pain. To be in his presence hurt even worse.
Have you ever had the experience of seeming to watch yourself from a distance as if in a dream? *** No, I've always been present within myself in body, mind and spirit and have never watched myself "as if from a distance or in a dream", nor would I want to. Being fully in touch and connected to the reality of my people and the world around me is, perhaps, the most important thing in my life.
This is quite an involved response, Classic, but you indicated that you were looking for specifics and detail. That's what I hoped to provide.
Nameste, My Sister.
Elsie
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I HAVE A NEW ADDICTION ....
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Aug 25, 2006 3:31 pm
Mood: ecstatic,
412 Views
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...his name is Brian Vaszily: Today I found his column on SixWise, for anyone interested. He's young, bright, fresh, daringly honest and straight to the point. This one won't waste your time folks and it's definitely NEWS YOU CAN USE, info that can make a difference in your decision making and give your ego a refreshing boost, as you think, "YEAH! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO SAY THAT."
ALL READERS WHO DESPISE CUT AND PASTE, PLEASE FRIENDS, STOP HERE. The following is excerpted from the column
that inspired this blog! Nothing that's going on in MY LIFE RIGHT NOW is any more important to me or gives me any more joy than this discovery and I wanna share with any who'd care! (Joy to All, as always! Thanks for visiting! The Hag) [***is a space holder to save room in the blog-I hope.]
***************
Why Marketing Has Become So Evil (and Some Tips on How You Can Overcome the Spell) a "How We Get You" Column by Brian Vaszily [Emphasis HIS throughout.]
The number one reason that marketing has degenerated into a range of sinister tricks played on consumers is because most merchandise, services, brands, people, ideas and beliefs being marketed these days are crap, and there is more of this crap than ever. ... The people offering you these pointless or worse products do so for the usual reasons of trying to make gobs of money and increasing their power while they're at it.*** The number two reason that the marketing of products has degenerated into a range of sinister tricks - a close cousin to reason number one above - is because our trust in one another is almost extinct. ... As you can see, this presents a sad puzzle for the handful of honorable marketers out there who are trying to promote products that are worthwhile.
The Good Marketers Sad Choice: Sell Only to Your Mom or Sell Out: "Welcome to ********, Mecca of Crappy Products You Mostly Don't Need"
Because you the consumer have been jaded in two ways - by the worthlessness of soooo many products you try, and by the evil tactics that were used to sell them to you - the honorable marketers know (or quickly learn) that you will laugh in their face if they simply say,"This product is truly exceptional, please try it."*** So they believe they either must resort to using the same tricks that are working for the sinister marketers, or they must settle for selling their products to the small handful of people that know and trust them, like their Mom. ... This makes YOU the consumer the biggest loser of all.
To summarize, this is because:... Most marketing is now trickery - of the few good products and the many bad ones - and so everything you see, hear, read and otherwise experience must be approached with great caution. Plus once the mass of the public is onto a given marketing trick, a new and more sophisticated trick is just devised to take its place. *** It is NOT mere coincidence that the rising rates of debt, obesity, depression and total money spent on marketing all look so similar when charted out. *** Ask yourself to answer this honestly, for example: out of everything you've bought in the past year or so, how much of it was truly a good investment? How much of it turned out to be a waste or, even worse, a detriment (such as to your waistline, your health, your brain, or your time?)
Some Key Tips to Escape the Evil Marketing Spell
So what is the solution? ... here are a few of the top practical tips on how you can best find your way to the relative small handful of truly worthwhile products out there.
Trust Those You Trust. Oh, I know duh. It sounds utterly obvious but it still bears repeating since "word-of-mouth" is and forever will be THE best form of marketing out there: So whatever it is you're in the market for, ask those you already trust what they might recommend.
Let the Strangers Prove Themselves to You Then Trust Them. No matter what type of product you're in the market for - an air purifier, a church to attend, a brokerage service, dental goods, an island to travel to - you can now easily find websites, bloggers, newsletters, magazines, talk shows and more dedicated to revealing the best and worst in that area. Review them, and when you find one that truly does seem loyal to its audience's interests give it a chance by acting on one of its recommendations.
Similarly, when you find a company whose products are worthwhile, chances are good you can trust their other products. Loyalty, though an old-fashioned concept, still does pay. *** Marketers invest enormous amounts of brainpower into manipulating your emotions, but relatively little in appealing to your brain.
Trust Google. I don't mean the company - I don't know Larry or Sergei or anyone there personally, though I hear they are nice - but I do mean the service it and other search engines provide. Google provides you what no one else at any other period in history has ever had: the collective opinions of mass numbers of other people in an instant....Instead of being tricked into buying anything, with Google at your fingertips you really have no excuse but to find out what countless others have said about it. Type in "best toothpaste" on Google (go ahead, try it, the results are actually interesting) and in an instant (or two instants if you still dial-up for Internet access) you've got all the research you need from a wide variety of sources to make an informed decision you will likely be pleased with.
Trust Your Brain While Guarding Your Emotions. Here, buried at the near-end of one of my columns, is one of the most important secrets you'll ever hear about marketers: they collectively invest enormous amounts of brainpower into manipulating your emotions, but relatively little in appealing to your brain. Their tricks almost all take place on an emotional level. *** Therefore, as I have stressed in multiple ways, your best defense is to train yourself to mistrust your emotions in the midst of any marketing - especially during movies, TV shows and music where they subtly attack you because your mental defenses are typically down - while investing enormous amounts of your brainpower into analyzing anything before buying it. This includes other people's ideas, beliefs and opinions in addition to the things most people think of as products.
Trust me. Okay, I am not asking you to trust my advice on the best toaster ovens (Cuisinart) or interior house paints (Benjamin Moore), but what I am suggesting is that you should ... read my weekly column that exposes all the sinister marketing tricks my peers in marketing use to con you.*** Some of my peers in marketing detest me for revealing all these secrets, by the way, but it is my mission to provide you these insights so you are truly an educated consumer and have way more than just a fighting chance in a world of increasing marketing trickery. Plus maybe at some point we'll make the evil marketers' job of deceiving you so difficult that they'll go work at Denny's instead.
***************
IF YOU'VE READ THIS, GOD BLESS YOU! YOU'RE NOW BETTER EQUIPPED TO KNOW WHY YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND MAY BE ABLE TO PASS IT ON TO OTHERS WHO'RE AS TIRED AS I AM OF THE "CONSUMER CULTURE" RIP OFFS.
"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding." - Proverbs 4 : 7
The Hag
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For StillwaterToo
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Aug 17, 2006 7:07 pm
Mood: sad,
408 Views
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Out of the hours of loneliness
Amid the sorrow and pain,
My heart yet reaches out to you
And continues to call your name.
The love and joy of childhood,
Its beauty, innocence and mirth,
Reflect in the velvet evening
The light now sleeping in earth.
Dreams, visions and memories priceless,
Treasured above all of God's gifts,
Glow in the light of this new beginning -
Thus, my soul lifts.
-- The Hag
[Title: The Black Sheep, written for my uncle when he died in 1971, here dedicated to Gary and his precious sister, with heartfelt prayers for comfort and healing for him and her entire family. ]
"Faith isn't faith until it's the only thing you're holding on to."
-- Unknown
The Hag
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THE NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED...
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Aug 17, 2006 2:58 am
Mood: happy,
557 Views
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...to protect my sanity.
A cautionary tale from the not-too-distant past: My then 15-year-old nephew was getting ready for a date and complaining to my sister-in-law about his problem complexion. His mom consoled him, saying, "I know you're sensitive about it, son,
but it'll clear up - it's just that you're still going through puberty."
His younger sister, who'd been standing in the kitchen, overheard this exchange. Immediately, she flew down the stairs, out the door and up the street, screaming at the highest pitch of her five-year-old lungs, "Ewwwww! Ewwwww! Ricky's got
pUUUUUberty! Ricky's got pUUUUUberty! Ricky's got pUUUUUberty!"
Like a bolt, Ricky slides down the banister, out the door after her, shouting in his newly-changed voice, "Josie! You shut your mouth! I'm gonna KILL YOU, you bean-head child! Josie! JOSIE! I SAID SHUT YOUR MOUTH NOW!"
Moving considerably slower than either of the children, their mother descends the stairs in urgent pursuit. Through the open windows I, and all the neighborhood, can hear, "UUUUberty...ILL YOU, JOSI...ACK HERE RIGHT THIS MINUTE, BOTH OF YOU, DO YOU HEAR ME ???"
Happily, I can report both children were corralled and calmed down fairly quickly, with no bodily injuries suffered. Poor Ricky's face was beet-red from exertion and embarrassment; Josie, between gasps to get her breath was asking, "Mama, what is
pUUUUberty, anyway?"
"SHUT UP! JOSIE! YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW."
"OH, YES, I DO. I MIGHT GET IT."
"OH, DON'T WORRY, YOU'LL GET IT ALRIGHT, AND THERE'S NOTHING ANYBODY CAN DO ABOUT IT."
Hysterical wails as Gina walks back into the kitchen. "Now, what's wrong? Ricky, did you hit your sister?"
"NO!," screams Josie, still wailing. "HE SAID I'M GONNA GET P UUUUU BERTY TOO! THAT'S NOT RIGHT, IS IT?"
Gina and I are struggling desperately not to laugh, either at Rick's predicament or Josie's very real terror - neither of us is winning the struggle. She picked Josie up and hugged her, saying, "Yes, you'll 'get' puberty, just like Ricky and Anna. All
it means is that you'll be growing up - becoming a teen-ager, that's all."
Instantly, the tears dry, hands go to hips, head tosses back, and in a most empirical tone, Miss Josie asks, "Then will somebody please tell me, just WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL HERE? I thought Ricky was GONNA DIE OR SOMETHIN'!"
Five minutes later, Gina, Ricky and I all came up for air.
"A child is someone who passes through you life, and then disappears into an adult."
- Prudential Insurance Ad Campaign, @ 1975
Let's love and enjoy them while we can, Friends.
The Hag
********************
Most Richly Blessed
attributed to an Unknown Confederate Soldier
Sometimes I wonder when things go wrong,
Has God forsaken and left me alone?
Then I remember through trials and distress,
He’s always with me,
I’m most richly blessed.
I asked God for strength,
that I might achieve;
I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey.
I asked for health,
that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches,
that I might be happy;
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power,
that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things,
that I might enjoy life;
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for,
But everything I had hoped for,
And almost despite myself,
My unspoken prayers were answered.
He’s always with me
I am, among all men, most richly, blessed.
Unknown
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POLITICALLY IRATE!
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Aug 11, 2006 3:07 am
Mood: enraged,
343 Views
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Bush Supporters Best Ignore This! With respect and consideration for all views, political and otherwise, this editorial sickened and infuriated me to the point that I want to give it as wide a viewing as I possibly can. Having already sent it to everyone on my e-mail list, I now post it here, for NO REASON other than TO VENT MY OWN POLITICAL SPLEEN. Make of it what you will, SFF friends, make of it what you will.
***************
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES
Editorial: The London Plot
Published: August 11, 2006
For almost five years now, we have carried around the legacy of Sept. 11. There is no sunny morning that does not revive its memory. The news of a terrorist plot against America-bound airliners yesterday called up feelings that are never all that
far below the surface.
There is nothing Americans want more than to win the war on terror, to come to a place where people no longer feel it is a fine thing to forfeit their own lives and the lives of innocents in order to make the world notice their anger and frustration. It is a point on which the country is absolutely undivided. It is one matter about which subway commuters, airline passengers and mall shoppers feel no irony or cynicism whatsoever.
It comes like a punch to the gut, at times like these, when our leaders blatantly use the nation’s trauma for political gain. We never get used to this. It never feels like business as usual.
On Wednesday, when the administration already knew that British agents were rounding up suspects in what they believed was a plot to blow up planes en route to the United States, Vice President dick Cheney had a telephone interview with reporters
to discuss the defeat of Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut in a Democratic primary. Mr. Cheney went off on a rather rambling disquisition, but its main point was clear: In rejecting Mr. Lieberman, who supported the war in Iraq, the Democrats were encouraging “the Al Qaeda types.” Within the Democratic ranks, the vice president added, “there’s a significant body of opinion that wants to go back — I guess the way I would describe it is sort of the pre-9/11 mind-set, in terms of how we deal with the world we live in.”
The man who beat Mr. Lieberman, Ned Lamont, lives in Greenwich, a suburb full of commuters who work in New York high-rise buildings. They are completely aware of the
way international terrorism can come crashing down on an ordinary family, leaving the survivors stunned and bereft. A dozen of their neighbors died at the World Trade Center. They will never be able to go back to a “pre-9/11 mind-set.”
But that did not seem to deter Mr. Lieberman from scoring a cheap sound bite yesterday. Leaving Iraq, as Mr. Lamont advocates, “will be taken as a tremendous victory by the same people who wanted to blow up these planes in this plot hatched
in England,” he said. “It will strengthen them and they will strike again.”
Here is what we want to do in the wake of the arrests in Britain. We want to understand as much as possible about what terrorists were planning. To talk about airport security and how to make it better. To celebrate what worked in the British
investigation and discuss how to push these efforts farther. It would be a blessed moment in modern American history if we could do that without turning this into a political game plan.
***************
Song: If You Cannot Find Osama, Bomb Iraq
To the tune of "If you're happy and you know it"
If you cannot find Osama, bomb Iraq.
If the markets are high drama, bomb Iraq.
If the terrorists are getting frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea's way too risky,
Bomb Iraq.
If we have no allies with us, bomb Iraq.
If we think someone has dissed us, bomb Iraq.
Say, "To hell with these inspections,
Let's look tough for the elections,
Close your mind and take directions,
Bomb Iraq!"
It's "pre-emptive non-aggression", bomb Iraq.
Let's prevent this mass destruction, bomb Iraq.
They've got weapons we can't see,
And that's good enough for me
'Cos it's all the proof I need to
Bomb Iraq.
If you never were elected, bomb Iraq.
If your mood is quite dejected, bomb Iraq.
If you think Saddam's gone mad,
With the weapons that he had,
(And he tried to kill your dad),
Bomb Iraq.
If your corporate fraud is growin', bomb Iraq.
If your ties to it are showin', bomb Iraq.
If your politics are sleazy,
Hiding that ain't easy,
And your manhood's feeling queasy,
Bomb Iraq.
Fall in line and follow orders, bomb Iraq.
For our might knows not our borders, bomb Iraq.
Disagree? We'll call it treason,
Let's make war not love this season,
Even though we have no reason,
Bomb Iraq.
If you cannot find Osama, bomb Iran,
If you cannnot find Osama, that's the plan,
I've made the world a bloody mess,
But, to me, that spells s-u-c-c-e-s-s!
Get behind me, take a stand, let's
Bomb Iran!
***************
THE FINAL WORD ...
...."God can afford to wait. God can afford to wait. Whether to convert the unbelieving, to reward the just, or to punish the wicked -- God can afford to wait. With Him everything comes home in the end. Our work is not only to believe that, but
to show that we believe it by everything that we say and do. God can afford to wait. God can afford to wait. ... In the sight of God there is only one time and only one story, of which all days on earth and all human events are parts. But that can only be discovered -- it cannot be taught. ... Many err in setting that hope aside, in losing belief that they are still sons and daughters. -- Richard Adams in SHARDIK
Respectfully submitted,
The Hag
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