In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. John McCrae https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/in-flanders-field/ In 1915, inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” Moina Michael replied with her own poem: We cherish too, the Poppy red That grows on fields where valor led, It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies. She then conceived of an idea…
Category: <span>National Interests</span>
“Amor fati” fellow fanatics, “amor fati!” translated “The love of fate.” “It is foolishness to oppose a tendency which is obviously a law of history and to take countermeasures against a trend which is a natural law.” Nietzsche. Really? Does history itself have a personality, does it have a mind? Is that raucous tide able to bend or yield? Where goes it? What are its ends? Can we change history? The fatalists emphatically say “no.” Apparently “history,” the person, is not like the redeemed saints who realize God’s image. The will of the lover of fate is already determined and cannot change. Therefore worshipers at this altar cannot stop the inevitable. They just “go with the flow.”– Whether death or life. What the historo-gods rule, they carry out through forced will. The Christian perspective is in diametric opposition to these ideas. We say indeed, history, (His story), will take a certain…
Before the great Civil War of America, slavery debates fomented and raged — In Virginia, debated, in Massachusetts, debated, in D.C. debated, in Louisiana, debated. In Santo Domingo, insurrection, in South Carolina trouble, in Virginia revolt. Publications, gag-orders, rationalizations, justifications, fear and greed topped the editorial pages. Seems to me that slavery, once adopted, created it’s own world and that, it’s own challenges, and that, it’s own addiction, and that, it’s needed detox, but that, it’s own frustration for any desiring rehabilitation. Though deliberated, opinions expressed, arguments made, the end of slavery required a war, of flesh and blood. Peaceable settlement ran faster than could be caught, positive advances were met with equalizing drag-backs, negative de-advance required a hero’s laid down life to reverse. Progress impossible, agitation grew like a festering boil, which finally erupted. We had a combat between good and evil, right and wrong, truth and lie, Satan…
Life is not without hindrance, nor our walk without encumbrance. Impediments characterize our earthly travelling, interruptions are familiar. We get holdups and stoppages, difficulties and deterrents; sometimes it seems that this is all. These interferers challenge us sometimes to the max. We are fed up or have had it up to here. We moan, Why? — why is everything so hard? I want to give you some solace, but first let’s try to find some out-of-the-box answers. Out-of-the-box happens when no “normal” answers suffice, but also, we fear a total breakdown or quitting. Daydreaming, illicit fantasy, or nonchalance is not what we mean by out-of-the-box. We cannot discard our concern, be indifferent or take on a new level of “cool.” Instead, we mean that the restrictive parameters of in-the-box thinking must be willing to face their ultimate death. They are simply not cutting the mustard for success. First of these for consideration: quit…
500 ft.- Noah’s Ark replica-Ky. “The meek will He guide in judgment; the humble will hear and be glad. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live forever.” 22:26 Psalms. “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:11. We as mere men wish to change the things, events, or circumstances having be-chanced our life journey. We want to scramble them, soften the blow. We cannot. We cannot candy-coat, muddle, spin or water-down. These things have befallen us, period. Their collateral damage will not suddenly un-frag, huddle, or conglomerate, nor will its wound close up right now. Perhaps a miracle of heaven awaits, but not yet. Instead of gall, jealousy, or spite, the meek lights upon something other; acceptance. Acquiescence, reception, acknowledgment, agreement, belief; do you see where this is taking us? Yes, to…
The American Civil War tipped the scales for sad stories, many of which wrench the heart, even today. It reveals an era stacked with gloomy playing cards, cheerless scarecrows, heartsick yarns, and war-torn dilapidation. These are flora and fauna, these essentiality. The distinctive dream-escapee tasted life till it died; the bursting of bubbles, the swipe of found-less islands. Enheartenment looks not like a gratuity, windfall, or sweepstakes hit. It is not about happiness, joy, bliss or blessedness. Inflated words solicit us to their lip-service. Instead, a tidbit inspirits, a morsel of food enraptures, and a mere scent sends goose bumps up and down the neck. True love breathes not much in these parts, only in diminished silhouettes; all numbed down, reductionism dulls the culture, drives the humdrum, heats the monotonous day. War has come, Gung-ho! — but we are not ready, we have no guns; for soldiering, no skill-set. Go, the politician’s incite…
These things I learned this week: That, in the culture, individualism can be good, as long as I don’t make an idol of me. Again, culturally speaking, community is desired, but don’t make an idol of them. Who-a-person-is, subjectively, is discovered by them in receiving an objective identity, not by gazing within. The culture seeks to produce many identities from without the self. Next, diversity of attributes is to be celebrated; but to be realized only in the service of others, not to build a private reputation. Finally, an identity will reproduce itself. Webster’s from the year 1828 defines “culture” this way: The act of tilling and preparing the earth for crops; cultivation; the application of labor or other means of improvement. 2. … to improve good qualities in, or growth; as the culture of the mind; the culture of virtue. 3. … producing 4. Any labor or means employed…
The theory of “entfremdung” or ‘alienation’ relies on Lugwig Feuerbach’s comment which states that “The idea of a supernatural God has alienated the natural characteristics of the human being.” Max Stirmer said, “even the idea of ‘humanity’ is an alienating concept for the individual man and woman to intellectually consider in its full philosophic implication.” What the hey are these guys talking about? Are they talking about the past or future? Observation or prediction? Empiricists can only observe. Even as economists, they predict as weather-men or horoscope-heads They hold a fatalistic world view. But they do it anyway. These guys have observed through history: Fallen mankind’s balking at grasping the reality of a true and living Creator. They have predicted that it will always go this way. Yes, a world with a Maker brings uneasiness about their accountability. Untold is that man has a will and can choose God, forsake reaction God…