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Steamfox Is In the Hospital
Posted 8 years agoNormally I don't link to other people's journals, but this one has just been brought to my attention:
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/8092439/
Personally, while I've never had the pleasure or opportunity to meet him in person, I have had contact with him over the years, and Roy has been one of my first and oldest fans since the very beginning, some twenty years ago. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. I know I will.
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/8092439/
Personally, while I've never had the pleasure or opportunity to meet him in person, I have had contact with him over the years, and Roy has been one of my first and oldest fans since the very beginning, some twenty years ago. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. I know I will.
These Are The Days of Our Lives
Posted 8 years agoThis collaboration between Queen & the late (and very much lamented) George Michael pretty much sums it all:
Sometimes I get to feelin'
I was back in the old days- long ago
When we were kids, when we were young
Things seemed so perfect- you know?
Those days were endless, we were crazy, we were young
The sun was always shinin'- we just lived for fum
Sometimes it seems like lately- I just don't know
The rest of my life's been, just a show
Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now, but one thing is true
When I look and I find I still love you
You can't turn back the clock, you can't turn back the tide
Ain't that a shame?
I'd like to go back one more time on a roller coaster ride
When life was just a game
No use sitting and thinkin' on what you did
When you can lay back and enjoy it through your kids
Sometimes it seems like lately, I just don't know
Better to sit back and go with the flow
These are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
These days are all gone now, but somethings remain
When I look and I find-no change
Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now, but one thing's still true
When I look and I find- I still love you
I still love you.
In memory of:
George Michael (1963-2016)
Singer/Songwiter, Gay Rights Activist.
Carrie Fisher (1956-2016)
Actress, Author, Screenwriter/"Script Doctor", RL Hollywood Royalty,
"The Last Princess of Alderann."
Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016)
Actress/Singer. Carrie's mom.
Richard Adams
Author, Watership Down
Sometimes I get to feelin'
I was back in the old days- long ago
When we were kids, when we were young
Things seemed so perfect- you know?
Those days were endless, we were crazy, we were young
The sun was always shinin'- we just lived for fum
Sometimes it seems like lately- I just don't know
The rest of my life's been, just a show
Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now, but one thing is true
When I look and I find I still love you
You can't turn back the clock, you can't turn back the tide
Ain't that a shame?
I'd like to go back one more time on a roller coaster ride
When life was just a game
No use sitting and thinkin' on what you did
When you can lay back and enjoy it through your kids
Sometimes it seems like lately, I just don't know
Better to sit back and go with the flow
These are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
These days are all gone now, but somethings remain
When I look and I find-no change
Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now, but one thing's still true
When I look and I find- I still love you
I still love you.
In memory of:
George Michael (1963-2016)
Singer/Songwiter, Gay Rights Activist.
Carrie Fisher (1956-2016)
Actress, Author, Screenwriter/"Script Doctor", RL Hollywood Royalty,
"The Last Princess of Alderann."
Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016)
Actress/Singer. Carrie's mom.
Richard Adams
Author, Watership Down
Hallelujah
Posted 9 years agoNow I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Your faith was strong, but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlght overthrew her
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tounge but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah........
-Leonard Cohen. 1934-2016
Also: Robert ("The Man From UNCLE") Vaughn. 1932-2016
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Your faith was strong, but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlght overthrew her
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tounge but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah........
-Leonard Cohen. 1934-2016
Also: Robert ("The Man From UNCLE") Vaughn. 1932-2016
...And So, Once Again I Must Say This Again....
Posted 10 years ago"If evil thoughts have not been uprooted from the heart, they are bound to mainfest themselves in evil actions."
-St. Philotheos
Every time this happens, I will repost this untill people listen and learn. Things like this will happen again, and unfortunately, so will the same, overdone attempts to explain the unexplainable:
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
*(originally posted after the VATech Massacre.)
I will not forget this, nor will I just "let it go." We've done that too many times, and reacted in the exact same manner every time. "Senseless violence" is an oxymorn; it has never made sense, nor will it ever, and there is no point in trying to make sense of the person responsible for it. You just can't, nor should you.
"Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again."
-Andre Gide
"We learn from experience that men never learn anything from experience."
-George Bernard Shaw (after Otto Von Bismarck)
-St. Philotheos
Every time this happens, I will repost this untill people listen and learn. Things like this will happen again, and unfortunately, so will the same, overdone attempts to explain the unexplainable:
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
*(originally posted after the VATech Massacre.)
I will not forget this, nor will I just "let it go." We've done that too many times, and reacted in the exact same manner every time. "Senseless violence" is an oxymorn; it has never made sense, nor will it ever, and there is no point in trying to make sense of the person responsible for it. You just can't, nor should you.
"Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again."
-Andre Gide
"We learn from experience that men never learn anything from experience."
-George Bernard Shaw (after Otto Von Bismarck)
Probably Deleated This Entry Too Soon
Posted 11 years agoAlternate site;
http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/EK-Goya
http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/EK-Goya
Has Anyone Here Seen my Old Friend John?
Posted 12 years agoHas anyone here, seen my old friend Abraham?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
Oh, he freed a lot of people
But it seems the good die young, yeah
I just looked around and he was gone
Has anyone here, seen my old friend John?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
Oh, he freed a lot of people
But it seems the good die young, yeah
I just looked around and he was gone....
-Marvin Gaye. Abraham, Martin, & John
To everything-
(turn, turn, turn)
There is season-
(turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything-
(turn, turn, turn)
There is season-
(turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
To everything-
(turn, turn, turn)
There is season-
(turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time of war, a time of peace
A time of love, a time of hate
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
To everything-
(turn, turn, turn)
There is season-
(turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to loose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time of peace, I swear it's not too late.
The Byrds. Turn! Turn! Turn!
(P. Seeger. Adapted from Ecclesiastes 3 1:8)
Dedicated to the 150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address and the 50th Anniversary of the Kennedy assasination.
Update 1/26/14: Pete Seeger (1919-2014) RIP.
Can you tell me where he's gone?
Oh, he freed a lot of people
But it seems the good die young, yeah
I just looked around and he was gone
Has anyone here, seen my old friend John?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
Oh, he freed a lot of people
But it seems the good die young, yeah
I just looked around and he was gone....
-Marvin Gaye. Abraham, Martin, & John
To everything-
(turn, turn, turn)
There is season-
(turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything-
(turn, turn, turn)
There is season-
(turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
To everything-
(turn, turn, turn)
There is season-
(turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time of war, a time of peace
A time of love, a time of hate
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
To everything-
(turn, turn, turn)
There is season-
(turn, turn, turn)
And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to loose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time of peace, I swear it's not too late.
The Byrds. Turn! Turn! Turn!
(P. Seeger. Adapted from Ecclesiastes 3 1:8)
Dedicated to the 150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address and the 50th Anniversary of the Kennedy assasination.
Update 1/26/14: Pete Seeger (1919-2014) RIP.
The Times They Are A-Changin'
Posted 12 years ago......Come writers and critics
who prophesize with your pen.
And keep your eyes wide
the chance won't come again.
And don't speak too soon
for the wheel's still in spin.
And there's not tellin' who
that it's namin'.
For the loser now
will be later to win...
Come Senators, Congressmen
please heed the call.
Don't stand in the doorway
don't block up the hall.
For he that gets hurt
will be he who has stalled.
There's a battle outside
and it's ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
and rattle your walls....
....The line it is drawn
the curse it is cast.
The slow one now
will later be fast.
As the present now
will later be past.
The Order is
rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
will later be last.
For the times they are a-changin'
-Bob Dylan
who prophesize with your pen.
And keep your eyes wide
the chance won't come again.
And don't speak too soon
for the wheel's still in spin.
And there's not tellin' who
that it's namin'.
For the loser now
will be later to win...
Come Senators, Congressmen
please heed the call.
Don't stand in the doorway
don't block up the hall.
For he that gets hurt
will be he who has stalled.
There's a battle outside
and it's ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
and rattle your walls....
....The line it is drawn
the curse it is cast.
The slow one now
will later be fast.
As the present now
will later be past.
The Order is
rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
will later be last.
For the times they are a-changin'
-Bob Dylan
This Time, it's with a knife
Posted 12 years agoI'm getting tired of reposting this every other month, so I'll just link to the last time:
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4332867/
http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/4332867/
The Form "Appology"
Posted 12 years agoTry it the next time you say something completely stupid. It always seems to work for politicians and celebrities:
"...I [Your Name] do deeply appologize if my comments and/or actions concerning [subject of controversy] has offended anybody. It was not my intention to offend [target audience and/or person/group that has been offended]....[Insert filler bullsquab here.]...My words have been taken entirely out of context. This is all [specific media outlet]'s/s' fault!"
"...I [Your Name] do deeply appologize if my comments and/or actions concerning [subject of controversy] has offended anybody. It was not my intention to offend [target audience and/or person/group that has been offended]....[Insert filler bullsquab here.]...My words have been taken entirely out of context. This is all [specific media outlet]'s/s' fault!"
I Do Not Wish for 'World Peace'...
Posted 12 years ago...I wish for World Sanity! Peace of World will follow Peace of Mind.
Every time this happens, I will repost this untill people listen and learn. Things like this will happen again, and unfortunately, so will the same, overdone attempts to explain the unexplainable:
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
*(originally posted after the VATech Massacre.)
I will not forget this, nor will I just "let it go." We've done that too many times, and reacted in the exact same manner every time. "Senseless violence" is an oxymorn; it has never made sense, nor will it ever, and there is no point in trying to make sense of the person responsible for it. You just can't, nor should you.
Looks like I need to add this too:
It doesn't matter from who, wheter it is from a Muslim radical, a anti-abortionist, white supremesist, militant enviromentalist, alienated youth, etc.. Or who the target is, be it a Jew, homosexual, Black, Asian, Christian, abortion doctor, OR JUST ANYONE or EVERYONE, nothing ever good ever came from hate. There is and never was anything holy or rightous about it. It is a self-destructive fire, and it burns EVERYTHING it touches. And after it burns itself out, it leaves only ashes. People, countries, religions, societies, civilizations, HATE DESTROYS EVERYTHING!
"Love conquers all, but hate destroys all."
I just wanted to share that.
*****
People didn't listen. I still see the same old reactions. Now it happened again. 8/5/2012
You can ban all guns, you can ban all violent media, it probably won't make much difference untill you can ban evil from peoples' hearts, minds and soul, and that last part is impossible. 12/16/12
"If evil thoughts have not been uprooted from the heart, they are bound to manifest themselves in evil actions." -St. Philotheos
Every time this happens, I will repost this untill people listen and learn. Things like this will happen again, and unfortunately, so will the same, overdone attempts to explain the unexplainable:
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
*(originally posted after the VATech Massacre.)
I will not forget this, nor will I just "let it go." We've done that too many times, and reacted in the exact same manner every time. "Senseless violence" is an oxymorn; it has never made sense, nor will it ever, and there is no point in trying to make sense of the person responsible for it. You just can't, nor should you.
Looks like I need to add this too:
It doesn't matter from who, wheter it is from a Muslim radical, a anti-abortionist, white supremesist, militant enviromentalist, alienated youth, etc.. Or who the target is, be it a Jew, homosexual, Black, Asian, Christian, abortion doctor, OR JUST ANYONE or EVERYONE, nothing ever good ever came from hate. There is and never was anything holy or rightous about it. It is a self-destructive fire, and it burns EVERYTHING it touches. And after it burns itself out, it leaves only ashes. People, countries, religions, societies, civilizations, HATE DESTROYS EVERYTHING!
"Love conquers all, but hate destroys all."
I just wanted to share that.
*****
People didn't listen. I still see the same old reactions. Now it happened again. 8/5/2012
You can ban all guns, you can ban all violent media, it probably won't make much difference untill you can ban evil from peoples' hearts, minds and soul, and that last part is impossible. 12/16/12
"If evil thoughts have not been uprooted from the heart, they are bound to manifest themselves in evil actions." -St. Philotheos
This Is It, Whatever Happens, Happens.
Posted 12 years agoBut here's something to think about:
[From: A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya. By Linda Schele & David Freidel. ©1990]
...In the near future Maya time also approaches one of its great benchmarks. December 23, 2012 (not the 21st-EKG), will be 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ahau 3 Kankin, the day when the 13 baktuns will end and the Long Count cycles return to the symmetry of the beginning. The Maya, however, did not concive this to be the end of this creation, as many have suggested. Pacal, the great king of Palenque, predicted in his inscriptions that the eightieth Calendar Round anniversary of his accession will be celebrated eight days after the first eight-thousand-year cycle in the Maya calendar ends. In our time system, this cycle will end on October 15, 4772.
Pg. 82
In other words, it's not much different than the transition from Dec. 31st to Jan 1st. of any year, century or millenium.
...But if I'm wrong, Oh well, I would like to say Thank You All for your fanship and support thoughout the years and it has been much appreciated even if I don't always say so, or even understand why. If it all ends tomorrow, and I go with it, it'll really, really suck, no doubt, but I just hope I haven't screwed up badly enough to warrant the trip to the "basement". If tomorrow is just another day, expect the art parade to continue as well as your continued support.
See you all tomorrow, in whatever plane of existence that may be.
[From: A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya. By Linda Schele & David Freidel. ©1990]
...In the near future Maya time also approaches one of its great benchmarks. December 23, 2012 (not the 21st-EKG), will be 13.0.0.0.0 4 Ahau 3 Kankin, the day when the 13 baktuns will end and the Long Count cycles return to the symmetry of the beginning. The Maya, however, did not concive this to be the end of this creation, as many have suggested. Pacal, the great king of Palenque, predicted in his inscriptions that the eightieth Calendar Round anniversary of his accession will be celebrated eight days after the first eight-thousand-year cycle in the Maya calendar ends. In our time system, this cycle will end on October 15, 4772.
Pg. 82
In other words, it's not much different than the transition from Dec. 31st to Jan 1st. of any year, century or millenium.
...But if I'm wrong, Oh well, I would like to say Thank You All for your fanship and support thoughout the years and it has been much appreciated even if I don't always say so, or even understand why. If it all ends tomorrow, and I go with it, it'll really, really suck, no doubt, but I just hope I haven't screwed up badly enough to warrant the trip to the "basement". If tomorrow is just another day, expect the art parade to continue as well as your continued support.
See you all tomorrow, in whatever plane of existence that may be.
Tired of It, But Will Keep On Saying It
Posted 12 years agoEvery time this happens, I will repost this untill people listen and learn. Things like this will happen again, and unfortunately, so will the same, overdone attempts to explain the unexplainable:
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
*(originally posted after the VATech Massacre.)
I will not forget this, nor will I just "let it go." We've done that too many times, and reacted in the exact same manner every time. "Senseless violence" is an oxymorn; it has never made sense, nor will it ever, and there is no point in trying to make sense of the person responsible for it. You just can't, nor should you.
Looks like I need to add this too:
It doesn't matter from who, wheter it is from a Muslim radical, a anti-abortionist, white supremesist, militant enviromentalist, alienated youth, etc.. Or who the target is, be it a Jew, homosexual, Black, Asian, Christian, abortion doctor, OR JUST ANYONE or EVERYONE, nothing ever good ever came from hate. There is and never was anything holy or rightous about it. It is a self-destructive fire, and it burns EVERYTHING it touches. And after it burns itself out, it leaves only ashes. People, countries, religions, societies, civilizations, HATE DESTROYS EVERYTHING!
"Love conquers all, but hate destroys all."
I just wanted to share that.
*****
People didn't listen. I still see the same old reactions. Now it happened again. 8/5/2012
You can ban all guns, you can ban all violent media, it probably won't make much difference untill you can ban evil from peoples' hearts, minds and soul, and that last part is impossible. 12/16/12
"If evil thoughts have not been uprooted from the heart, they are bound to manifest themselves in evil actions." -St. Philotheos
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
*(originally posted after the VATech Massacre.)
I will not forget this, nor will I just "let it go." We've done that too many times, and reacted in the exact same manner every time. "Senseless violence" is an oxymorn; it has never made sense, nor will it ever, and there is no point in trying to make sense of the person responsible for it. You just can't, nor should you.
Looks like I need to add this too:
It doesn't matter from who, wheter it is from a Muslim radical, a anti-abortionist, white supremesist, militant enviromentalist, alienated youth, etc.. Or who the target is, be it a Jew, homosexual, Black, Asian, Christian, abortion doctor, OR JUST ANYONE or EVERYONE, nothing ever good ever came from hate. There is and never was anything holy or rightous about it. It is a self-destructive fire, and it burns EVERYTHING it touches. And after it burns itself out, it leaves only ashes. People, countries, religions, societies, civilizations, HATE DESTROYS EVERYTHING!
"Love conquers all, but hate destroys all."
I just wanted to share that.
*****
People didn't listen. I still see the same old reactions. Now it happened again. 8/5/2012
You can ban all guns, you can ban all violent media, it probably won't make much difference untill you can ban evil from peoples' hearts, minds and soul, and that last part is impossible. 12/16/12
"If evil thoughts have not been uprooted from the heart, they are bound to manifest themselves in evil actions." -St. Philotheos
A Challange:
Posted 13 years ago"But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the Palace of Justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of Dignity and Discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force."
-Martin Luther King Jr.
(Where is the Muslim MLK Jr?)
-Martin Luther King Jr.
(Where is the Muslim MLK Jr?)
No More Grandparents
Posted 13 years agoLast night my last grandma passed away. She suffered a major stroke in Febuary which rendered her bedridden and for at least 3 months, unconcious & uncommunicative. She had briefly seemed to recover for a little while, and was able to talk, recognize us, and feed herself. Unfortunately it didn't last long, as she must've had another stroke, and ended up back in her former condition. She died peacefully in her sleep.
It's all over now grandma, RIP.
It's all over now grandma, RIP.
AGAIN?!?!
Posted 13 years agoEvery time this happens, I will repost this untill people listen and learn. Things like this will happen again, and unfortunately, so will the same, overdone attempts to explain the unexplainable:
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
*(originally posted after the VATech Massacre.)
I will not forget this, nor will I just "let it go." We've done that too many times, and reacted in the exact same manner every time. "Senseless violence" is an oxymorn; it has never made sense, nor will it ever, and there is no point in trying to make sense of the person responsible for it. You just can't, nor should you.
Looks like I need to add this too:
It doesn't matter from who, wheter it is from a Muslim radical, a anti-abortionist, white supremesist, militant enviromentalist, alienated youth, etc.. Or who the target is, be it a Jew, homosexual, Black, Asian, Christian, abortion doctor, OR JUST ANYONE or EVERYONE, nothing ever good ever came from hate. There is and never was anything holy or rightous about it. It is a self-destructive fire, and it burns EVERYTHING it touches. And after it burns itself out, it leaves only ashes. People, countries, religions, societies, civilizations, HATE DESTROYS EVERYTHING!
"Love conquers all, but hate destroys all."
I just wanted to share that.
*****
People didn't listen. I still see the same old reactions. Now it happened again. 8/5/2012
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
*(originally posted after the VATech Massacre.)
I will not forget this, nor will I just "let it go." We've done that too many times, and reacted in the exact same manner every time. "Senseless violence" is an oxymorn; it has never made sense, nor will it ever, and there is no point in trying to make sense of the person responsible for it. You just can't, nor should you.
Looks like I need to add this too:
It doesn't matter from who, wheter it is from a Muslim radical, a anti-abortionist, white supremesist, militant enviromentalist, alienated youth, etc.. Or who the target is, be it a Jew, homosexual, Black, Asian, Christian, abortion doctor, OR JUST ANYONE or EVERYONE, nothing ever good ever came from hate. There is and never was anything holy or rightous about it. It is a self-destructive fire, and it burns EVERYTHING it touches. And after it burns itself out, it leaves only ashes. People, countries, religions, societies, civilizations, HATE DESTROYS EVERYTHING!
"Love conquers all, but hate destroys all."
I just wanted to share that.
*****
People didn't listen. I still see the same old reactions. Now it happened again. 8/5/2012
Journal Repost
Posted 13 years agoEvery time this happens, I will repost this untill people listen and learn. Things like this will happen again, and unfortunately, so will the same, overdone attempts to explain the unexplainable:
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
*(originally posted after the VATech Massacre.)
I will not forget this, nor will I just "let it go." We've done that too many times, and reacted in the exact same manner every time. "Senseless violence" is an oxymorn; it has never made sense, nor will it ever, and there is no point in trying to make sense of the person responsible for it. You just can't, nor should you.
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
*(originally posted after the VATech Massacre.)
I will not forget this, nor will I just "let it go." We've done that too many times, and reacted in the exact same manner every time. "Senseless violence" is an oxymorn; it has never made sense, nor will it ever, and there is no point in trying to make sense of the person responsible for it. You just can't, nor should you.
An Observation (or two)
Posted 13 years agoWhat I say does not reflect my biases so much as the biases of those who respond to what I say.
It's no use arguing with "True Believers."
(And I've encountered my share on the Left, Right, and on nonsense trivial things that have nothing to do with anything at all.)
It's no use arguing with "True Believers."
(And I've encountered my share on the Left, Right, and on nonsense trivial things that have nothing to do with anything at all.)
Monitor Problems
Posted 13 years agoI've been having some problems with my monitor: It has a bad habit of going black, particularly when I'm online. Tried replacing the cables, updating drivers, changing resolution settings, even switching monitors but the problem still persists. Have to restart the computer whenever it happens, (sometimes multiple times). Any idea what the problem is, and how to fix it, or do I need a new graphics card?
Repost: Sept. 11th Reflection
Posted 14 years ago(The following was taken from my 9/11 tribute page released on the one year anniversary. I can't believe it's still up!)
What I Did That Day. (or, "Daddy, What was September 11th Like?")
6:30 am (Hawaii Strd. Time):
Since I didn't have classes that day, I was planning to spend the whole day (or at least the morning) doing my homework. That is, after sleeping for an extra two hours or so. About this time someone wakes up my sister for
school, usually my dad since my mom (at that time) was a nanny for the kids of a Naval couple (both of whom are
Commanders (that's a Lt. Colonel, or 0-5 in the other services) who live only a block and a half away.). Only this
time she was there about two hours before, since the husband (a submarine captain) was on [scheduled] deployment
anyway, and the wife, being and Exec. Officer of the communications station...well, you know what's going to happen,
and this story isn't about them, but me.
Anyway, it's 6:30, and I'm in a state of half-sleep and in the middle of a yiffy (don't even bother asking) dream
and my dad wakes up my sister with this piece of news, "Someone bombed the World Trade Center and the Pentagon." WTF???!!! Dream time (and any yiffy feelings) over. Time for CNN. Now fully awake, but not mentally, I saw, like the rest of you, on practically every TV station this surreal image of a passenger jet slamming into a
skyscraper. Dear readers, this was not the spectacular Hollywood explosions (which I love. Hey! I'm a GUY, sue me.) but a REAL ONE! No models on wires, CGI, primer cord, blue screen, or other SFX techniques. This is REAL,
and even though I tried, I was too distracted to do my homework. The whole day (and the next few weeks) will be spent watching the news, since that was the only thing on, and I'm an infamous news junkie anyway, just ask my uncle.
Evening:
Mom brought the kids over for pizza, which is not an easy task since I have more fingers on one hand than his entire palate, and it's not likely their mom will be home anytime soon. Now I ask you, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO A KINDERGARTNER AND A FOURTH GRADER WHAT AND WHY, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE SAME THING?
Around 9:00pm (give or take):
Chris (the mom) shows up to pick up the kids (in uniform BTW) and we offer her dinner. The first thing I ask her,
"The Pentagon? That should've been out strongest point." (Reflections of Pearl Harbor, which is on my island)
September 12th, the next day:
I'm in my Latin 201 class (which would explain the phrase seen above), and guess what? I'm the only fool who didn't finish his homework. Out of undeserved sympathy, the professor gives me credit for the day. Let's get real here, there should be no excuse for not doing your homework, even if terrorists want to start WWIII. So kiddies, forget this "touchy-feely" crap and DO YOUR HOMEWORK! I made no excuses for what I didn't do, but got lucky and got something I didn't deserve. So if I hear from your teacher that "I didn't do my homework 'cause EK Goya didn't do his, 'cause of terrorists," I will personally come over to your house, kick your sorry ass, and you will write a million times "I will not make excuses for not doing my homework" by hand. (It's easy to cut and paste on computer)
Epilogue:
For my grandparents, Pearl Harbor. For my generation, this.
-EK Goya
To see more, including 9/11 related art, [the very few] responses, and a animated gif of Osama's head exploding, go here:
http://members.vclart.net/EK-Goya/911.html
Update: That page is still there!
What I Did That Day. (or, "Daddy, What was September 11th Like?")
6:30 am (Hawaii Strd. Time):
Since I didn't have classes that day, I was planning to spend the whole day (or at least the morning) doing my homework. That is, after sleeping for an extra two hours or so. About this time someone wakes up my sister for
school, usually my dad since my mom (at that time) was a nanny for the kids of a Naval couple (both of whom are
Commanders (that's a Lt. Colonel, or 0-5 in the other services) who live only a block and a half away.). Only this
time she was there about two hours before, since the husband (a submarine captain) was on [scheduled] deployment
anyway, and the wife, being and Exec. Officer of the communications station...well, you know what's going to happen,
and this story isn't about them, but me.
Anyway, it's 6:30, and I'm in a state of half-sleep and in the middle of a yiffy (don't even bother asking) dream
and my dad wakes up my sister with this piece of news, "Someone bombed the World Trade Center and the Pentagon." WTF???!!! Dream time (and any yiffy feelings) over. Time for CNN. Now fully awake, but not mentally, I saw, like the rest of you, on practically every TV station this surreal image of a passenger jet slamming into a
skyscraper. Dear readers, this was not the spectacular Hollywood explosions (which I love. Hey! I'm a GUY, sue me.) but a REAL ONE! No models on wires, CGI, primer cord, blue screen, or other SFX techniques. This is REAL,
and even though I tried, I was too distracted to do my homework. The whole day (and the next few weeks) will be spent watching the news, since that was the only thing on, and I'm an infamous news junkie anyway, just ask my uncle.
Evening:
Mom brought the kids over for pizza, which is not an easy task since I have more fingers on one hand than his entire palate, and it's not likely their mom will be home anytime soon. Now I ask you, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO A KINDERGARTNER AND A FOURTH GRADER WHAT AND WHY, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE SAME THING?
Around 9:00pm (give or take):
Chris (the mom) shows up to pick up the kids (in uniform BTW) and we offer her dinner. The first thing I ask her,
"The Pentagon? That should've been out strongest point." (Reflections of Pearl Harbor, which is on my island)
September 12th, the next day:
I'm in my Latin 201 class (which would explain the phrase seen above), and guess what? I'm the only fool who didn't finish his homework. Out of undeserved sympathy, the professor gives me credit for the day. Let's get real here, there should be no excuse for not doing your homework, even if terrorists want to start WWIII. So kiddies, forget this "touchy-feely" crap and DO YOUR HOMEWORK! I made no excuses for what I didn't do, but got lucky and got something I didn't deserve. So if I hear from your teacher that "I didn't do my homework 'cause EK Goya didn't do his, 'cause of terrorists," I will personally come over to your house, kick your sorry ass, and you will write a million times "I will not make excuses for not doing my homework" by hand. (It's easy to cut and paste on computer)
Epilogue:
For my grandparents, Pearl Harbor. For my generation, this.
-EK Goya
To see more, including 9/11 related art, [the very few] responses, and a animated gif of Osama's head exploding, go here:
http://members.vclart.net/EK-Goya/911.html
Update: That page is still there!
Just Out of Curiosity...
Posted 14 years agoWould there be any interest in me posting some of my other non-cartoony art?
Tsunami Report
Posted 14 years agoThis entry was originally intended to congratulate my brother on his marriage last Saturday untill this mess happened. Anyway, here's the review:
10 Mar. 2011. Thurs:
Afternoon: My sister, aunty, my cousin and his girlfriend all arrive (on serperate flights) for the aforementioned wedding.
Evening (around 9:00pm HST): Got home after having dinner at my grandma's house. Just got into the door, when my brother looks at his phone wondering why one of his friends had texted him about a "Tsunami Watch". Turned on the tv and learned of the earthquake and tsunami that had hit Japan. "Watch" soon turned into "Warning" after that. Spent the rest of the night watching the news and waiting to see what the inevitable might bring. Fell asleep on the couch at around 3:30am.
Saturday: Wedding went on without a hitch, and perfect weather! (Funny, at the biggining of the week, all we were worried about was weather or not it might rain.)
As I had said in a pervious journal ( http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/1237454/ ) neither I, nor any any of my family live within a tsunami evac zone (although, my now sister-in-law and her new husband) technically live one street away from it, so I suppose now there might be cause for concern.
Damage Assessment:
Kaui and Oahu largely escaped harm, with Kaui minimal, if not negligable damage, and on Oahu, the damage being localized to Keehi & Haleiwa boat harbors. (Most of it might have been avoided if the boat owners heeded caution and took them out to sea IMO.)
Maui & the Big Island unfortunately bore the brunt of the damage, with surges as high as 11' in some places, destroying some homes, mainly in Kealakekua Bay in Kailua-Kona (I live Kailua, Oahu, further inland and near the mountains. BTW)
Total casualties: Zero!
The same can't be said about Japan unfortunately. But for a country that has survived civil wars, going from a feudal society to an industrial and military power in less than 50 years, losing that power in World War 2, and remerging from that shameful defeat to an economic power that nearly brought America to it's knees (irony). I am absolutely positive that my ancestral homeland will ressurect itself from the mire and (hopefully not to irradiated) ashes, and better than before!
We can all learn something from that.
10 Mar. 2011. Thurs:
Afternoon: My sister, aunty, my cousin and his girlfriend all arrive (on serperate flights) for the aforementioned wedding.
Evening (around 9:00pm HST): Got home after having dinner at my grandma's house. Just got into the door, when my brother looks at his phone wondering why one of his friends had texted him about a "Tsunami Watch". Turned on the tv and learned of the earthquake and tsunami that had hit Japan. "Watch" soon turned into "Warning" after that. Spent the rest of the night watching the news and waiting to see what the inevitable might bring. Fell asleep on the couch at around 3:30am.
Saturday: Wedding went on without a hitch, and perfect weather! (Funny, at the biggining of the week, all we were worried about was weather or not it might rain.)
As I had said in a pervious journal ( http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/1237454/ ) neither I, nor any any of my family live within a tsunami evac zone (although, my now sister-in-law and her new husband) technically live one street away from it, so I suppose now there might be cause for concern.
Damage Assessment:
Kaui and Oahu largely escaped harm, with Kaui minimal, if not negligable damage, and on Oahu, the damage being localized to Keehi & Haleiwa boat harbors. (Most of it might have been avoided if the boat owners heeded caution and took them out to sea IMO.)
Maui & the Big Island unfortunately bore the brunt of the damage, with surges as high as 11' in some places, destroying some homes, mainly in Kealakekua Bay in Kailua-Kona (I live Kailua, Oahu, further inland and near the mountains. BTW)
Total casualties: Zero!
The same can't be said about Japan unfortunately. But for a country that has survived civil wars, going from a feudal society to an industrial and military power in less than 50 years, losing that power in World War 2, and remerging from that shameful defeat to an economic power that nearly brought America to it's knees (irony). I am absolutely positive that my ancestral homeland will ressurect itself from the mire and (hopefully not to irradiated) ashes, and better than before!
We can all learn something from that.
Two and a Half Braincells
Posted 14 years agoWhat Charlie Sheen & Mommar Qadaffi have in common:
1. Both have a delusional, overinflated, arrogant, egotistical opinion of themselves.
2. Both surround themselves with bimbos who service them in ways other than sexually.
3. Both say the most outrageous things.
4. Both have people who are abandoning them in droves.
5. Both are in an extreme state of denial.
6. Both belong in an asylum.
7. Both just won't go away.
8. Both need to just go away.
9. Sheen is (or rather was) driving his sitcom straight to hell, and Qadaffi is driving his country straight to hell.
10. The U.N. is now calling for sanctions against Charlie as well.
Those two should do a show together.
1. Both have a delusional, overinflated, arrogant, egotistical opinion of themselves.
2. Both surround themselves with bimbos who service them in ways other than sexually.
3. Both say the most outrageous things.
4. Both have people who are abandoning them in droves.
5. Both are in an extreme state of denial.
6. Both belong in an asylum.
7. Both just won't go away.
8. Both need to just go away.
9. Sheen is (or rather was) driving his sitcom straight to hell, and Qadaffi is driving his country straight to hell.
10. The U.N. is now calling for sanctions against Charlie as well.
Those two should do a show together.
Turning Points #2
Posted 14 years agoToday marks another anniversary of an uprising that overthrew a dictaor. On Feb. 25, 1986, Philipine dictaor Ferdinand Marcos (another guy we probably shouldn't have supported), was overthrown by a popular uprising that surprisingly wasn't as violent as some might have feared. His ouster lead to the ascension of Corazon Aquino, the country's first (and not the last) female president, and widow of Marcos rival, and opposition leader Ninoy Aquino. (Who was assasinated by Marcos 3 years ealier. Her son, Benigno, is the current president.) And forcing Marcos, and his wife Imelda into exile in Hawaii, where he spent the last 3 years of his life. Imelda became something of a pop-culture icon here, mainly as a source of comedy for a local comedian who portrayed the "First Lady of the Shoe Business" as eeking out a meager existance as a down and out lounge singer. It would take a few more years before she, & her "hushband's" body was allowed to return home.
She now serves as a congressional representative, her son, Ferdinand "Bong Bong" Jr. is in the Senate, and their daughter is Governor of Ilocos Province. So it would seem that the Philipine people might have forgiven them a bit. (More or less.)
Only now are the victims of his brutal regime are getting their repriations. Mostly due to legal issues, and it has taken them this long to find where he's hidden his wealth, and money from shoes is only so much.
She now serves as a congressional representative, her son, Ferdinand "Bong Bong" Jr. is in the Senate, and their daughter is Governor of Ilocos Province. So it would seem that the Philipine people might have forgiven them a bit. (More or less.)
Only now are the victims of his brutal regime are getting their repriations. Mostly due to legal issues, and it has taken them this long to find where he's hidden his wealth, and money from shoes is only so much.
Turning points
Posted 14 years agoThe following happened on this day, Febuary 11th:
32 years ago: The Iranian Revolution overthrows the Shah, they gain freedom and democracy from a [unfortunately US backed tyrant], but shortly looses it to a tyrany that's even worse.
21 years ago: South African human rights activist (and later President) Nelson Mandela is freed from prison, ultimately paving the end of Apartied and bringing democracy in SA.
Present day: "Egyptian Revolution." President Hosni Mubarak overthrown in a silent coup ("resigns") following two weeks of protests by the Egyptian people.
Many in the news today call this a "Berlin Wall" moment, and call this a triumph of Democracy. It's not, this is only the beginning, and a very uncertain one. The Egyptian people today have rightfuly earned their freedom, now they have to work hard and try to keep it, or else they risk loosing it again to another tyrant like their brothers and sisters in Iran, a country which also had a popular uprising that lead to a theocratic dicatorship which had sucessfully squelched a similar uprising, not unlike those that put them in power, or what we see now. As I have said in a recent pic post, Revolutions don't always end well, most of them fail to deliver what the people hope for. The Iranian people failed twice in their bid for freedom. The Egyptians should remember that lesson and keep this from happening to them. Even as I write this, an new dawn begins in the land of Ra, and his children have two choices: continue of the hard work twoards freedom and democracy, or descend into chaos and despotism. The party's over. The real work begins now!
I am cautiously hopeful that they'll make the right choice, but history is not on my side.
When our Constitution was signed (on my birthday, coincidentally), someone asked Ben Franklin "What have you given us?"
He answered: "A Republic,....if you can keep it."
We may be loosing ours, but my question to the Egyptian People is: You have your republic back, can you keep it this time?
32 years ago: The Iranian Revolution overthrows the Shah, they gain freedom and democracy from a [unfortunately US backed tyrant], but shortly looses it to a tyrany that's even worse.
21 years ago: South African human rights activist (and later President) Nelson Mandela is freed from prison, ultimately paving the end of Apartied and bringing democracy in SA.
Present day: "Egyptian Revolution." President Hosni Mubarak overthrown in a silent coup ("resigns") following two weeks of protests by the Egyptian people.
Many in the news today call this a "Berlin Wall" moment, and call this a triumph of Democracy. It's not, this is only the beginning, and a very uncertain one. The Egyptian people today have rightfuly earned their freedom, now they have to work hard and try to keep it, or else they risk loosing it again to another tyrant like their brothers and sisters in Iran, a country which also had a popular uprising that lead to a theocratic dicatorship which had sucessfully squelched a similar uprising, not unlike those that put them in power, or what we see now. As I have said in a recent pic post, Revolutions don't always end well, most of them fail to deliver what the people hope for. The Iranian people failed twice in their bid for freedom. The Egyptians should remember that lesson and keep this from happening to them. Even as I write this, an new dawn begins in the land of Ra, and his children have two choices: continue of the hard work twoards freedom and democracy, or descend into chaos and despotism. The party's over. The real work begins now!
I am cautiously hopeful that they'll make the right choice, but history is not on my side.
When our Constitution was signed (on my birthday, coincidentally), someone asked Ben Franklin "What have you given us?"
He answered: "A Republic,....if you can keep it."
We may be loosing ours, but my question to the Egyptian People is: You have your republic back, can you keep it this time?
Journal Repost:
Posted 14 years agoOnce again, I find that I need to repost this. Once again, we fall we fall into the same pattern of shock, then blame, then forgetfulness, until the next time it happens.
And now a few thoughts.....
What a horrible week this has been. First Hawaii looses one of it's most beloved sons, and the rest taken up by the Virginia Tech massacre. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to all the furs (and everyone else, including the victims' families) who are VT students and alumni.
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
We never seem to "get it", do we?
And now a few thoughts.....
What a horrible week this has been. First Hawaii looses one of it's most beloved sons, and the rest taken up by the Virginia Tech massacre. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to all the furs (and everyone else, including the victims' families) who are VT students and alumni.
You know, every time I hear of these things, with the exception of the place, the people, and the casualties, the more they sound the same, and the less surprised I get. Okay, two of the ones last year threw a curve ball, but everything else, the shooter, the not-so-obvious-at-the-time-but-are-blatantly-obvious-now warning signs, and the all to predicatable reactions and finger pointing. We've heard this all before, even before Columbine; it's the media's fault, it's all that violent music, movies, video games, [a particular socio-political philosophy- 1/8/11,] we need more gun control, we need less gun control, blah, blah, blah, the usual suspects, and not getting to the real problem, and the one to blame: the sick, disturbed bastard who pulled the trigger.
It's very easy to blame societies woes for all this, and I don't have a solution that wouldn't violate every law of humanity, but I do know this: We are a violent species, and one of the very, very few that kills without reason. The capacity for evil and of good exists within us all. And knowing that such exists, is the first step in containing it. The warning signs are there, but they're not like a giant neon sign, and we do need to look out for them or else this will happen again.
Even the person in the mirror.
We never seem to "get it", do we?
