Introduction
Fifteen poems relate to both the wounding and taking of life, including the damage to our planet from wars.
For such, see the heading:
THE WOUNDING AND TAKING OF LIFE,
which is well down, and headed by an emoji face.
"Love's not something we pluck, but something that either exists within us or not,
and because love is humble, it's only something that others spot."
The poet, author
A Conversation With A Difference
“I wouldn’t RUSSIA, you know, because she’s probably snowed under having BRITAIN off more than she can chew.
You may have to PERU some other option.
Perhaps you could contact JORDAN. He’s very musical and good on the QATAR, and not the kind of guy who’ll make a TURKEY of himself come tomorrow’s gig. However, he may want to know SAMOA about it given that he hasn’t had any warning. IRAN him earlier regarding something else, and he’s pretty much got nothing to do, except for packing his collection of CHINA. Sometimes he drives around in his Holden MONACO looking for work, though he does have another SUDAN that he uses. I've often seen him BURMA long the road. When he’s not doing that, he sometimes goes fishing off an IRELAND that’s nearby, one that has a lot of flat GREENLAND. In Winter it gets quite CHILE, and thus it more like an ICELAND, though one does get to see a few WALES passing, and quite a number of sharks have been spotted. Hence why some jokingly call it FINLAND. I discovered that he has a miniature ride-on train, and ISRAEL line is quite long. He's quite clever. One day, after he got sick of the cost of petrol, he went and MADAGASCAR, but hey, I’m simply digressing here.
Failing all that, try CHAD. If UKRAINE your neck, you can just see him now. He’s mowing his lawns. He’s a little clumsy though. The odd time I’ve see him KOREA into his flower garden. IRAQ him up sometimes because I joke about it too much. He's always keeps his lawns short, but one time he let it grow very long, and I saw a MONTSERRAT. KENYA ring him now, soon-like? He’s worth contacting just INDIA case JORDAN can’t make it.
At the end of the day, you need to get someone VIETNAM or someone else.
OMAN, that smells good, but I’d put those potatoes in the oven with the BRAZIL nuts thus minimising the amount of GREECE given that CUBA butter you’re using. I’d pop some SWEDEN too. You could then GHANA them with herbs. That’s quite a lot you’re making. In fact, it’s BELGIUM out of the pan already. That amount should FIJI all, given that it’s meant to SERBIA six.
It’s making me feel quite HUNGARY. I’d better stop looking at it, otherwise you might think I’ve an ALGERIA motive. If I were left alone, I would NORWAY at it, and there’d be none left.
Say, that pudding’s nice. Did JAMAICA yourself? And that cake’s nice too. You could ice it and DENMARK it with ANDORRA'S name given that it’s her birthday. Mind you don’t BANGLADESH or it might shatter.
When’s the picnic, by the way? I don’t think anything’s likely to spoil it BAHRAIN of course.
And before I forget, have you SCOTLAND yet for your dream home? Will you LIBYA here much longer?
Well, I think I’ll go for RWANDA along the beach where I often SEYCHELLES. After that, I might go down to the LIBERIA to get a certain book out. I've actually held off doing so because I owe then a GUINEA for losing a book. As for the ROMANIA of the time, I'm not sure. Usually MYANMAR go shopping, but I think she's caught up today. If I don't get back to you today, it'll most likely be KOSOVO. He's such a talker! Some people call him a LAOS because he makes them miss their bus. I think he has a dog called MALI, which tends to MALTA bit. Well, I'd better get going. See you later.”
By Lance Landall, like the rest here...
Another Conversation With A Difference
I RANGOON, but he was out, so I popped DOVER to see LIMA, his last name being STANLEY.
He was wanting to head overseas as SUEZ possible but couldn’t really afford it, and I replying sympathetically, “No DOHA?”
He nodded his head as he drained the BRUSSELS sprouts.
“Like some cheese?” he asked, “I just got it this morning from the NEW DELHI.”
Given that I didn’t think he’d been out, I asked, “DUBAI it, or did your MUMBAI it?”
“Mum,” he replied. “I sent her a couple of TEXAS. In the MAINE, she’s very good like that. In fact, the other day, she bought me a NEW JERSEY”
“Wow, that’s nice,” I echoed.
I took the cheese, thanked him, and slowly sat down, my back still sore after visiting the CAIRO.
I carefully moved the plaster of PARIS mould of a BUFFALO that he had been fastidiously working on. If I’d dropped it, he certainly wouldn’t have MINSK his words, and thus saying SURREY being of little help. To be honest, I learned long ago not to TAMPA with some of his things, his reaction like a SHANGHAI.
I thumbed through the MANILA folder that contained his travel plans.
“I will SUVA the soup soon,” LIMA said.
I thanked him again and inquired about his car that he was selling, saying, “DAKAR go?”
“No, not yet,” he replied glumly, “But I MECCA nice buyer. VICTORIA, I think her name was. Her last name being HANOVER. She used to go to your old school. GENOA?"
"No," I replied.
"She wanted something that she could go TURIN the country with, but she had GUAMS over the car," LIMA continued, "thus EXETER, though she was such a DERRY. I really should’ve been a bit heavier on the COLOGNE. It's SEOUL story. So, no chance of me DUBLIN my money. I seemingly not destined to ROME, and thus just stuck at home.”
“Well, it wasn’t in the greatest of condition,” I stated. “You bought it off your father, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” LIMA replied, “but I’m not going to BAGHDAD. After all, he did sell it to me cheap, you know.”
"That's true," I agreed. "And by the way, did you get the CARDIFF fixed? It's seen a few rough RHODES."
LIMA nodded.
The soup tasted nice, so too the sprouts.
“You could put another ad in the paper and see where it LEEDS,” I proffered. “Someone’s bound to be interested in an old PLYMOUTH. If I can sell my old Morris OXFORD, I’m sure you can sell yours, though I think CHESTER just bought it to help me out. Like with my AUSTIN. Better than they just LYON there. Well, I MOSCOW. Haven't time to BALTIMORE down. I need to get home and have a BATH because I’m catching up with my NICE. I don’t think you’ve met FLORENCE, nor her sister CHARLOTTE. If you want too, ALASKA. Anyway, lest I'm late and get sent to COVENTRY, I'll see you later. I don't like to HANOI her. I'll go via the back roads, DENVER the motorway. And by the way, it's best you get out for the ROSTOV the day too, rather than being STOCKHOLM, though you really do need to BUCHAREST when you can afford it. What about BRISTOL? Anyway, MUSCAT, see ya.”
Tick Tock Investigators
I’d been called to investigate stolen time, and was checking where it had gone,
A number of people having seen it fly, which I was duly dwelling on.
Yes, it seems that it had gone so fast, but no one knowing where it had got too,
And thus there not enough time in the day, and by all accounts, such appeared true.
All why they phoned Tick Tock investigators, I thus working around the clock,
Hours quickly disappearing before my very own eyes, and I taking stock.
But still no sign of them, and no one taking responsibility, and so
I simply shelving the case, ’cause it was very clear they weren’t going to show.
But I’ve oft pondered on this case, it quite a mystery, time disappearing,
One engrossed in this or that, and then it gone, and hence why this case I’m sharing.
Time seemingly slipping through one’s fingers, but how to catch the thief, and all why
I’m appealing to you all to keep a look out, ’cause this thief seems very sly.
And if you do sense where time's gone, please let me know, and I’ll reopen the case,
Going back over those lost seconds, minutes and hours, and those hands on each face;
Well, people do tamper with them, you know, such more cause for alarm, and therefore
One needs to watch, and aiding and abetting leading to doing time, what's more.
By Lance Landall
HELLO MISTER SEAGULL. IS THERE ANY CHANCE THAT YOU COULD TEACH ME HOW TO FLY? — OH YES, JUST AS HIGH UP IN THE SKY, BECAUSE I'M SO TIRED OF BEING DOWN HERE, IT TOO UNFAIR, AND WHY I LONG FOR HEAVENLY HEIGHTS, PEACE AND QUIET IN MY SIGHTS, AND BECAUSE IT'S SO STILL UP THERE.
SO PLEASE, MISTER SEAGULL, SHOW ME HOW IT'S DONE, BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE SO MUCH FUN, THOSE SWOOPS AND DIVES, THAT GLIDING TOO, AND OH, WHAT A VIEW — YES, YOU SO ABLE TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL, THOUGH HEADING BACK COME SOME SQUALL, BUT ONLY FOR A TIME, AND THEN THAT CLIMB, AND YOU BACK GLIDING AGAIN, AND HENCE MY PEN, BUT I GUESS YOU AREN'T INTO POETRY, HAVE NO IDEA ALPHABETICALLY, AND WHY I GUESS I'M DESTINED TO REMAIN GROUNDED, THOUGH HAVING LONGINGLY EXPOUNDED, BUT TO NO AVAIL, I FEAR.
I WISH THAT BY SIMPLY ENLISTING MY WILL, I COULD MAKE MYSELF INVISIBLE — OH, WHAT FUN I'D HAVE, GOOD FUN, THAT IS, ONE MOMENT SEEN, PERHAPS ON A LEAN, AND THEN, DISAPPEARING WITH A QUIET POP AND FIZZ, AND THEN, LEAVING SOMETHING SPECIAL SOMEWHERE, WHICH WOULD SUDDENLY APPEAR, MUCH TO HOOTS OF DELIGHT, THERE NO NASTY FRIGHT, BUT A CERTAIN CONSTERNATION — WELL, GIVEN THE LACK OF EXPLANATION, THERE BEING NO NOTE, NO NOTHING, BUT HEY, I HAVE TO SAY, WHO WOULD LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH, ESPECIALLY AN INVISIBLE MOUTH?
OH YES, THE LIST OF MY MYSTIFYING BUT BENEVOLENT ANTICS WOULD GROW BY THE DAY, ONE TEMPTED TO TICKLE AN EAR OR TWO, BUT NO, I WOULDN'T DO, THOUGH A TAP ON A NAUGHTY SHOULDER COULD PROVE A DETERRENT, THUS HELPING SOME FRUSTRATED PARENT, BUT NO, I WOULDN'T DO THAT EITHER, SIMPLY NEITHER, FAR TOO BUSY ELSEWHERE, MORE INTERESTED IN DISPENSING CHEER, BUT SAD TO SAY, POSSIBLY, I DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY, AND WHY I STILL REMAIN IN VIEW, NIGHT AND DAY, SUCH UNABLE TO DO.
WELL, IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS, ISN'T IT? MAYBE A LITTLE BIT?
LOVE GOT UP AT 5 O'CLOCK — NO, SILLY, WELL BEFORE, WELL
BEFORE — IN FACT, IT HAS NO CLOCK — GRABBED ITS JOY BOX, DONNED ITS CARING CLOAK,
BRUSHED EACH THOUGHTFUL LOCK, AND OFF IT WENT, HEAVEN SENT, ITS ROUNDS
NEVER ENDING, IT PRECIOUS TIME SPENDING — YES, USING EVERY MOMENT
PRODUCTIVELY, GENEROUSLY, CREATIVELY, PERSUASIVELY, TASTEFULLY,
EMPATHETICALLY, HEROICALLY — IN FACT, EXTRAORDINARILY, AND ALL HOW IT
BLESSES HUMANITY, THEN GETTING HOME LATE AT NIGHT — NO, SILLY, LATER
STILL, MUCH
LATER STILL — IN FACT, ITS BED NOT SLEPT IN, LOVE NEVER IN, BUT BUSY,
BUSY, BUSY, NIGHT AND DAY, ALWAYS SOMETHING IN ITS IN-BIN.
WOULDN'T
IT BE GREAT IF LOVE SNUCK UP ON US ALL, AND SAID,"GOTCHA!", AND
WE MELTED IN ITS ARMS, FELL FOR ALL ITS CHARMS, ACCEPTING ITS
SHAWL, AND EVERYWHERE WE WENT, AND ALL WE SAID AND DID (EXACTLY AS LOVE
MEANT), FLOWED WITH LOVE, THOUGHT AND CARE, AN ARTISTIC, CREATIVE FLAIR,
AND THUS THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, IT FULL OF EMPATHY AND GRACE, AND
PEACE AND HARMONY THAT ONE COULD TRACE.
OH YES, IF ONLY LOVE
WOULD, WE WILLINGLY SURPRISED, EVEN HOPING THAT IT WOULD, AND
THEREFORE, OUR WISHES REALISED, WE HAPPILY CAVING IN, THUS ALLOWING
LOVE TO WIN, THAT SUCH MIGHT CHANGE THE WORLD, AND A MUCH BRIGHTER FUTURE
BUILD, THAT ALL MIGHT LIVE AS ONE, AND THEREFORE, THERE NO NEED OF SWORD OR GUN.
I BUMPED INTO LOVE ONE DAY — AN EMBARRASSING EXPERIENCE BY THE WAY — 'CAUSE LOVE
SOON SAID TO ME, "HOW MUCH HAVE OTHERS SEEN OF ME, AND GIVEN YOU'RE OUT AND ABOUT?"
WELL, YOU COULD'VE GIVEN ME A CLOUT, I HAVING TO STOP AND THINK, MY FACE A SHADE OF PINK,
BUT LOVE WAITING PATIENTLY, AND INTERRUPTING THOUGHTFULLY, "PERHAPS YOU'VE JUST GOT
UNDER
WAY?" AND I OF COURSE REPLYING, AVOIDING ANY LYING, "I GUESS I HAVE,
AND WHERE TO NEXT?" AND LOVE'S KNOWING EYES FIXED. "WELL, DON'T WASTE
ANY TIME THEN, SON, 'CAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH
TO BE DONE," AS IF I DIDN'T KNOW, NOT THAT IT SEEMED TO SHOW, AND WHY LOVE WAS QUICK TO REMIND,
THOUGH MORE ON THE SIDE OF KIND, 'CAUSE WHEREVER WE GO, LOVE SHOULD BE SEEN, AND THUS
ALL ABLE TO KNOW WHERE LOVE'S BEEN, AND ALL WHY LOVE SAID, "HOW MUCH HAVE OTHERS SEEN
OF ME?" AND OH, DARE IT BE A THREAD, 'CAUSE LOVE SHOULD BE WIDELY SPREAD.
CERTAIN TRUTH
Anger — Something that leads to trouble.
Hatred — Something that darkens one’s soul.
Grudges — Something that leads to illness.
Revenge — Something that makes things worse.
Rudeness — Something that spoils our chances.
Cruelty — Something that animalises.
Meanness — Something that when it goes around comes around.
Cowardice — Something that reveals an inner weakness.
Selfishness — Something that gets in the way of relationships.
Ungratefulness — Something that gets in the way of blessings.
Childishness — Something that gets in the way of opportunities.
Pride — Something that sets us up for a fall.
Indifference — Something that reveals a lack of growth.
Coldness — Something that reveals an unloving heart.
Racism — Something that reveals ignorance.
Bigotry — Something that reveals intolerance.
Prejudice — Something that reveals immaturity.
Criminality — Something that reveals rebelliousness.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S TOO MUCH POISON IN HEARTS — YES, TOO MUCH ANGER, HATE AND THUS
DARKNESS, AND WHERE IT ALL STARTS, THOSE FEELINGS TURNING INTO WORDS AND ACTIONS,
AND I MEANING, TERRIBLE WORDS AND ACTIONS, THE WORLD JUST BECOMING A HELL, AND
WHY I FEEL I WANT TO YELL, "ROOT IT OUT! ROOT IT OUT!" 'CAUSE SUCH SIMPLY SADDENS, WOUNDS
AND KILLS, AND THIS WORLD WITH MORE MISERY FILLS, LET ALONE WHAT IT DOES TO THE INFECTED
ONE, HISSING WHAT'S NASTY, BASHING, OR USING A GUN — YES, IT'S TIME THAT LOVE GOT HOLD OF SUCH
HEARTS, BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN CHANGE REALLY STARTS,
BUT ONE MUST BE WILLING, OTHERWISE THERE'S NO FILLING, 'CAUSE LOVE
WON'T DWELL WHERE THERE'S ANY ILL, LOVE WON'T STAY WHERE
THERE ISN'T THE WILL, ITS VESSEL MADE FOR WARMING, AND NOT FOR CHILLING.
HERE'S A CALL TO ARMS, LOVING
ARMS, SO LISTEN UP, ARMS, YOU'VE WORK TO DO, EMBRACING EVERY SINGLE
SOUL, AND WITH YOUR WHOLE, SO THAT THEY MAY EXPERIENCE LOVE, THOUGHT
AND CARE, AND THE VERY SAME THING WANT TO SHARE, THE WORLD ALL THE BETTER
OFF FOR IT, AND THUS EVERYONE SEEN TO BENEFIT FROM IT — YES, SO LISTEN UP,
ARMS, YOU'VE WORK TO DO, AND QUICKLY TOO, SOME MUCH NEEDED EXERCISE, AND GIVEN ALL THOSE
PLAINTIVE CRIES, THE WORLD SO VERY NEEDY — YES INDEEDY — SO OPEN YOUR ARMS
WIDE, STRETCHING THEM OUT, THUS REACHING OUT, THAT THEY MAY BE LOVINGLY
APPLIED, THEREBY CROSSING EVERY DIVIDE, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT LOVE IS ALL
ABOUT, AND HENCE THAT CALL TO ARMS, HUMAN ARMS, YOUR ARMS AND MY ARMS.
LOVE
TOOK ME BY THE HAND ONE DAY, AND SHOWED ME AROUND THE WORLD, HELPING ME
SEE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THINGS AS MY HAND IT HELD — YES, THINGS LIKE
HUMAN THOUGHT AND CARE, CLEVER, CREATIVE, ARTISTIC FLAIR, NATURAL
WONDERS THAT AMAZED, THINGS THAT MY INNER SPIRIT RAISED, AND ALL WHY IN
AWE I STARED, AND EVEN MORE APPEARED, WHICH REMINDED OF SO MUCH LOST IN DISTRACTIONS, OR IN WORTHLESS, SUPERFICIAL ATTRACTIONS, ALMOST AS IF TWO WORLDS EXISTED, AND ALL WHY LOVE PERSISTED, THAT I MIGHT VALUE THE REAL
ESSENCE OF LIFE, NATURE, AND HUMANITY ITSELF, BE THAT ONE'S FRIENDS,
CHILDREN, HUSBAND OR WIFE, COUPLED WITH PURPOSE AND DIRECTION, THUS
NATURE AND LIVES NOT LOSING OUT TO SOME MATERIAL COLLECTION, BUT
RATHER, ALWAYS IN VIEW, AND THEREFORE, PRIORITIES NOT ASKEW, AND WHY
I'M GLAD LOVE TOOK ME BY THE HAND, INTERRUPTED WHAT I HAD PLANNED,
GIVEN THAT BETTER IT KNEW.
THE BEST AND RIGHT WAY TO LIVE YOUR LIFE:
ONLY LOVE, AND NEVER HATE, HURT OR HARM.
ONLY DO WHAT'S GOOD AND RIGHT, AND NEVER OTHERWISE.
ONLY EMBRACE WHAT'S WHOLESOME AND UPLIFTING, AND SHUN WHAT'S NOT.
ONLY PARTAKE OF WHAT'S BENEFICIAL, AND NEVER OF WHAT'S HEALTH-ROBBING.
ALWAYS THINK POSITIVELY, AND NOT NEGATIVELY.
ALWAYS EXERCISE SELF CONTROL, AND NOT OVERINDULGE OR OVERDO THINGS.
ALWAYS UPHOLD TRUTH, AND NEVER LIE, DECEIVE, OR MISINFORM.
ALWAYS RUN ON PURPOSE, MEANING AND DIRECTION, AND NEVER STAND IDLE OR INDIFFERENT.
ALWAYS KEEP AN OPEN MIND, AND NOT SUCCUMB TO BIAS, PREJUDICE OR BIGOTRY.
BE YOUR OWN SELF, AND NOT A COPY, PAWN OR STOOGE.
GO FOR NOBILITY AND INTEGRITY, AND SHUN BOTH PEER PRESSURE AND THE MINDLESS CROWD.
LIVE FOR OTHERS, AND THEREBY, THOUGHTFUL, HELPFUL, KIND AND GENEROUS.
HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE, AND THUS ALWAYS MINDFUL OF YOUR BLESSINGS.
SEEK ADVICE, AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO EXPRESS YOUR THOUGHTS OR FEELINGS.
BE HUMBLE AND REALITY BASED, AND THUS KEEPING A LEVEL HEAD.
BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL, AND NEVER JUDGMENTAL.
OUR
HEAD CONTAINS BOTH A COMPUTER AND CAMERA, BUT HERE, WE JUST FOCUSSING
ON THAT CAMERA, THOSE IMAGES THAT WE TAKE IN, AND THAT FOREVER REMAIN
WITHIN, BE THEY NEAR THE SURFACE OR BURIED DEEP IN VAULTS (THOUGH NONE
OF THOSE VAULTS HAVING BOLTS), AND THUS AGE-OLD IMAGES SOMETIMES
REAPPEARING, DELIGHTING OR SCARING, AND EVEN DARING, THANKS TO THAT
LENS, WHICH MANY A SIGNAL SENDS.
YES, MANY IMAGES THAT WE'VE NO CONTROL OVER, AND MANY THAT WE DO HAVE CONTROL OVER — IN OTHER WORDS, THAT WERE OKAY OR WEREN'T OKAY TO FOCUS ON, OR CLICK ON, AND THEY'RE NOT GONE, BUT STILL RESIDING THERE, AND HENCE THAT NEED OF CARE, THEY EITHER GOOD FOR US OR BAD FOR
US, OUR MIND NOT MEANT TO BE A RUBBISH TIP, A HOUSE OF HORRORS, NOR A
TEARFUL, REGRETFUL TRIP, BUT A HAPPY HAVEN, A WHOLESOME
GALLERY, WHERE THERE'S NOTHING WE NEED TO SKIP.
THERE'S
NO QUESTION, IT BUT A FACT, THAT WE EITHER USE OUR MIND POSITIVELY OR
NEGATIVELY, BENEFICIALLY OR INJURIOUSLY, THOUGHTS BEING THE FORERUNNER
OF EACH ACT, EITHER FOR GOOD OR EVIL, WORTH OR LOSS, SUMMER JOY OR
WINTER CHILL, AND THUS HOW WE THINK BEING WHAT WE BECOME, AND TO WHAT
WE RESIST OR TO WHAT WE SUCCUMB, THUS CONTROL IN OUR HANDS OR OTHER
HANDS, WE FREE OR SIMPLY UNDER SOMEONE’S THUMB, WE BLOWN BY THE WIND OR
MAKING OUR OWN PLANS, OUR MIND A BLESSING OR A CURSE, A WOUNDER OR A
NURSE, A DISCORDANT NOTE OR A RHYMING VERSE, WE DESTROYING OR CREATING,
GOING BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS, LEARNING OR VEGETATING, AND THUS OUR MIND
THE PRODUCT OF OUR OWN MAKING, AND THEREBY, WE TO RUIN OR SUCCESS
INEVITABLY WAKING.
The first of nine stand alones.
THE HUMAN WATERING CAN:
ENCOURAGEMENT, PRAISE, AFFIRMATION, FRIENDLY INTEREST,
ACCEPTANCE, KINDNESS, THOUGHFULNESS, SYMPATHY, EMPATHY,
LOVING CONCERN, CHEER, COMPASSION, SENSITIVITY, PATIENCE,
TENDERNESS, HELPFULNESS, INTERCESSION, SELF-SACRIFICE...
YOU KNOW, WE SPEND OUR LIFE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS AND THAT (OR SO AND SO), OFTEN MAJORING ON MINORS, OR MAKING MAJORS OUT OF
MINORS, WHEN MOST OF US HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR, WE HARDLY
UNDER SOME DICTATORSHIP, NOR IN A LAND WHERE THERE IS WAR, AND NOT
GOING WITHOUT FOOD, NOR NUDE, BUT BLESSED IN SO MANY WAYS, WE HARDLY
STRAYS, BUT WELL DRESSED AND LOOKED AFTER.
AND SO, LETS TAKE WHAT
WE HAVE AND MAKE THE BEST AND MOST OF IT, NEGATIVE MURMURINGS NEVER
BEING TO OUR BENEFIT, AND WE NEEDING TO REALISE THAT IN THIS WORLD THAT
WE LIVE IN — SURPRISE, SURPRISE — NOTHING'S PERFECT, AND THUS MUCH
PROBLAMATIC, COMPLEX, MARKED, SPOILED, SOILED — YES, TAINTED, NO MATTER
HOW IT'S PAINTED, AND YET, THERE'S STILL SO MUCH TO ENJOY, SO MUCH TO
LIVE FOR, AND WHY RATHER THAN FRET, AND OUR BLESSINGS FORGET, BOTH
POSITIVITY AND CREATIVITY WE SHOULD EMPLOY.
THE HUMAN TONIC:
EXERCISE, FRESH AIR, SUN, WATER, SMILES, LAUGHTER,
PLAY, REST, MASSAGES, HUGS, CUDDLES, PLEASANT MUSIC,
HOBBIES, PETS, MARITAL SEX, ENJOYABLE WORK,
FRIENDSHIPS, NATURE, FAITH...
WE
CAN BLAME OUR LEADERS — MAYORS, POLITICIANS, PRESIDENTS, PRIME
MINISTERS IN RESIDENCE — BUT WHO VOTED FOR ANY RASCALS THAT GOT
IN? YES, IT'S
US, SO MIND THE DIN, CHARACTER LESS VALUED THAN WHAT WE WANT, IT
SEEMS, AND ALL HOW
NIGHTMARES DEVELOP RATHER THAN DREAMS; AND MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE OUR
CHARACTERS ARE JUST AS SOILED, AND THUS HOW WE DON'T JUST END UP WITH
RASCALS, BUT HOW OUR OWN LIVES GET SPOILED.
LEADERS ARE OFTEN JUST
A REFLECTION OF SOCIETY, AND MANY APPEARING WORTHY WHEN THEY'RE NOT SO,
SADLY, AND THUS WE FOOLED, AND INNOCENT HERE, BUT YOU KNOW, NOT SO WHERE POOR
CHARACTER IS CLEAR, AND ALL WHY WE, BOTH OF OURSELVES AND OTHERS, NEED TO DO MORE SCRUTINIZING, BECAUSE THE
CURRENT COLLECTION OF LEADERS IS HARDLY SURPRISING.
THE HUMAN BOWL OF NUTRIENTS:
CABBAGES, BROCCOLI, SILVERBEET, BEETROOT, POTATOES, CELERY,
CORN, CAULIFLOWER, ONIONS, GARLIC, AVOCADO, LEEKS, GINGER, HERBS,
GRAINS, NUTS, HONEY, APPLES, ORANGES, BANANAS, GRAPES, PINEAPPLE,
APRICOTS, PEARS, DATES, PLUMS, PEACHES, MANGO, KIWIFRUIT...
WE NEED TO MIND OUR EXPECTATIONS, BE IT IN GENERAL, OR OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY, OTHERS HAVING THEIR OWN SCHEDULES,
PROBLEMS, ISSUES, STRUGGLES, EXPENSES AND SO ON, ENTER REALITY, AND
THUS THEY NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO BE THERE FOR US, OR AS MUCH AS MIGHT SUIT
US, WE SOMETIMES HAVING TO WALK RATHER THAN BIKE, OR HOLD THE CAMERA
RATHER THAN THE MIKE, AND SOMETIMES HAVING TO GO WITHOUT, DESPITE OUR
NEEDY SHOUT, OR HAVING TO WAIT, NOT FORCE SOME GATE, AND LIFE HARDLY
HANDING US THINGS ON A PLATE, AND THEREFORE, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR
WHAT WE DO GET,
AND IT BEING POINTLESS TO FRET, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALL HAVE
TO MAKE OUR OWN WAY, MOANING, COMPLAINING AND CONDEMNING GETTING US
NOWHERE, AND THE LATTER HOW WE CAN FRIGHTEN OFF
THOUGHT AND CARE, PEOPLE NOT TO BE MADE TO FEEL GUILTY, NOR SHOULD
THEY BE PRESSURED OR CAJOLED, WHICH IS HOW OUR SHIP CAN GET
HOLED, WE CUTTING OFF OUR NOSE TO SPITE OUR FACE, AND WHY WE NEED TO
MIND OUR CASE.
THE HUMAN BALM OF HEALING:
LOVE, MERCY, FORGIVENESS, RECONCILIATION, RESOLUTION,
FORBEARANCE, RESTORATION, REHABILITATION, IMPARTIALITY,
SHELTER, REFUGE, SECOND CHANCES, SUPPORT, PRESENCE,
TIME, COMFORT, AID, LISTENING EAR...
EVEN
NATURE KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF BALANCE, BUT SURELY WE, NATURE'S
CROWNING GLORY, INTELLIGENT ENOUGH TO KNOW THIS, A FACT THAT
INTELLIGENCE COULD HARDLY MISS, AND SO, WITHIN OUR LIVES AND SOCIETY,
BALANCE THERE SHOULD ALWAYS BE, BECAUSE WHERE THERE'S NOT, ISSUES AND
TROUBLES ARE EASY TO SPOT, THOSE POLITICAL LEFT AND RIGHT SWINGS AN
EXAMPLE, AND TOO MUCH WORK, NOT ENOUGH SLEEP, AND OVERINDULGENCE
LEADING TO ILL, THOUGH MANY MORE EXAMPLES COULD BE GIVEN, SOME PEOPLE
QUITE LETHARGIC, AND OTHER PEOPLE FAR TOO DRIVEN, SOME PEOPLE FAR TOO
SOFT, SOME PEOPLE FAR TOO HARD, SOME RELIGIOUSLY FANATICAL, AND SOME
WHO RELIGION CHOOSE TO DISCARD, AND SO IT GOES ON, SO MUCH COMMONSENSE
GONE.
THE HUMAN MUSCLE ROOM:
SELF-CONTROL, DISCIPLINE, TEMPERANCE, BALANCE,
WISDOM, COMMON SENSE, PATIENCE, TOLERANCE, FAIRNESS,
CONTENTMENT, ACCEPTANCE, ORDER, TIME MANAGEMENT,
CLEANLINESS, FORTHRIGHTNESS, CONSCIENTIOUSNESS...
THERE ARE THINGS IN LIFE THAT WE'VE A RIGHT TO DO, BUT THAT AREN'T ALWAYS WISE TO DO,
AND THUS IT COMING DOWN TO THOUGHT AND CARE, DOING WHAT'S MORE KIND AND FAIR,
WHICH REVEALS A THOUGHTFUL SENSITIVITY, A CERTAIN STRENGTH OF CHARACTER (INCLUDING
CHARITY), A PREPAREDNESS TO SELFLESSLY REFRAIN, ALL HOW CHILDREN WE SHOULD TRAIN,
THUS WORKING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF SOCIETY, AND GIVEN THAT WHAT GOES AROUND COMES
AROUND, PLEASANTLY OR PAINFULLY.
THE HUMAN WORKSHOP:
THE HANDICAPPED, THE HOMELESS, THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED,
THE DEPRESSED, THE INJURED, THE HURTING, THE POVERTY STRICKEN,
THE OPPRESSSED, THE WIDOWED, THE LONELY, THE WRONGLY ACCUSED,
THE ABANDONED, THE ABUSED, THE ANXIOUS, THE ASSAULTED,
THE PERSECUTED, THE STARVING, THE HELPLESS...
THE HUMAN TOOLBOX:
CREATIVITY, INOVATION, MOTIVATION, FORESIGHT, POSITIVENESS,
CRAFTSMANSHIP, GENIUS, STYLE, FLAIR, TALENT, TOUCH, EXPERTISE,
TECHNIQUE, PASSION, COMMITMENT, DETERMINATION, ENERGY
BELIEF, BRAVERY, ADVENTUROUSNESS, ARTISTRY, RISK...
THE HARDEST THING FOR LOVE TO DO, THOUGH KNOWING THAT IT'S BEST FOR YOU, IS TO
STAND AND WATCH WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO GO THROUGH, WHEN THAT IS FAR FROM WHAT
IT WANTS TO DO, BUT REALISES IT MUST DO, IF IT WANTS TO REMAIN HONEST AND TRUE.
THE HUMAN HALL OF FAME:
HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS, PEACEMAKERS,
PACIFISTS, CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS, HONEST, FEARLESS JOURNALISM,
HONEST, FEARLESS MEDIA, CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY GROUPS, RESCUE
ORGANISATIONS, DEFENDERS OF THE INNOCENT AND WRONGLY MALIGNED,
UPHOLDERS OF TRUTH, EXPOSERS OF WRONG, DENOUNCERS OF VIOLENCE,
SEXUAL ABUSE, DOMESTIC ABUSE, ELDER ABUSE, CHILD ABUSE, ANIMAL ABUSE,
RACISM, BIGOTRY, WAR CRIMES, GENERAL CRIMINALITY AND HATRED...
MORE FOOL US, AND A TRAGEDY IT IS, WHEN THE SIDE WE TAKE IS HERS OR HIS, AND THIS, WITHOUT HEARING THE OTHER SIDE, BE IT HERS OR HIS,
THE HORSE'S MOUTH LEFT TO ITS STABLE, HALF THE CARDS NOT EVEN ON THE
TABLE, AND THUS LIES OR HALF TRUTHS LEFT TO ROAM, THERE NO FINE-TOOTH COMB,
AND THUS TOO BAD ABOUT SOMEONE'S REPUTATION, JUST A FLURRY OF GOSSIP
WORKING THE SITUATION, AND ALSO JUDGMENTAL THOUGHTS, HENCE THOSE TIMES
WHEN THINGS END UP IN COURTS, AND ALL WHY IT DOESN'T PAY, AND NOR
IS IT FAIR, BASED ON HEARSAY, TO TAKE SOMEONE'S SIDE, 'CAUSE IN
COULD
COME A REVEALING TIDE, AND WHO MIGHT BE SWEPT AWAY?
THE HUMAN HALL OF SHAME:
LIARS, DECEIVERS, CADS, CON-MEN, TRAITORS, WARMONGERS, MALIGNERS,
TYRANTS, DICTATORS, DESPOTS, WOUNDERS, ASSAULTERS, ATTACKERS,
MURDERERS, TORTURERS, PERSECUTORS, TRICKSTERS, SADISTS, FALSE ACCUSERS,
GOSSIPERS, ABUSERS, USERS, TROUBLE MAKERS, LAW BREAKERS, JOY STEALERS,
HEARTBREAKERS, THIEVES, SCAMMERS, COWARDS...
JUST A FEW THINGS ABOUT LOVE...
Love doesn’t say one thing and do another.
Love doesn’t say it will and then doesn’t.
Love doesn’t tell you what you want to hear but what you need to hear.
Love doesn’t speak out of both sides of its mouth.
Love doesn’t turn on and off like a tap.
Love doesn’t take on something that it knows it can’t deliver, nor takes on something and then leaves it to others to finish.
Love doesn’t favour someone over another.
Love doesn’t do something that’s wrong in order to achieve something that’s good.
Love doesn’t run to two tunes.
Love doesn’t keep going on about someone’s mistake or misdemeanour.
Love doesn’t keep a list of grievances.
Love doesn’t sit down when it should stand up.
Love doesn’t open its mouth where it should keep it shut.
Love doesn’t hog any conversation, nor paints things differently.
Love doesn’t step over others to get to the top.
Love doesn't take shortcuts that cost in the long term.
Love doesn't walk away when things get rougher or tougher.
...'cause there's so much more.
THE WOUNDING OR TAKING OF LIFE
But for one, the following poems were penned October, November and part December 2023; may alternate between
secular and religious, are predominantly built around Gaza, and tie in
with my two pages The Evil Of Violence and World Concerns.
By the way,
and make no mistake about it, it’s NOT anti-Semitic to condemn the
slaughter of innocent men, women and children (which includes doctors,
nurses, relief workers and journalists), apocalyptic type carnage
(which includes the bombing of homes, schools, hospitals, ambulances
and places of worship), environmental damage (which includes
infrastructure, livelihoods), outright hypocrisy, propaganda, the encouraging of
genocide, displacement and dehumanisation, oppression, wrongful
imprisonment, settler attacks, “almighty vengeance” over self-defence,
the depriving a people of the necessities of life (like food,
medicines, hospital care), or their right to their very land and the
freedom to come and go — in other words, war crimes.
“When we’re penalised for our view, someone’s overstepped the mark, or democracy has gone askew.”
The poet, author
Wherever there is wrong on any side, don't support it!
Wherever there is evil on any side, strongly condemn it!
And wherever there is trickery on any side, boldly expose it!
"The greatest threat to human life is those who're prepared to take it, and all why we need to instil in the
young a hatred of killing, along with a total belief in the sanctity of life, and the birth-given rights of all."
The poet, author
"A sanctioned atrocity is a greater atrocity, and a potential threat to all."
The poet, author
A
LIFE IS NO ONES TO VIOLATE, AND NO ONES TO TAKE, DESPITE ANY EXCUSES
SOME MIGHT MAKE
— LOVE, NOBILITY, INTEGRITY, SENSE AND DECENCY NOT
CROSSING THAT LINE, THUS SHOWING SPINE —
A LIFE A LIFE, NOT A THING,
AND WHY WHEN SEEN OTHERWISE, ILL AND EVIL ARE SURE TO SPRING, AND WHY
IN ORDER TO PRESERVE LIFE, PROTECT LIFE AND ENHANCE
LIFE, ALL LIVES MUST BE TREATED WITH RESPECT, WHICH ONE SHOULD
NATURALLY EXPECT, BECAUSE LIVES AREN’T MADE OF WOOD AND STONE, BUT
FLESH AND BONE, THUS LIVING, BREATHING, MOVING, THINKING AND CREATING,
AND HENCE WHY I'M STATING, THAT LIFE IS THE ESSENCE
OF THIS WORLD, AND WHY ITS PRECIOUSNESS SHOULD BE UPHELD, PLUS EACH
HUMAN IS A UNIQUE BEING, WHICH SAD TO SAY, MANY DON'T SEEM TO BE
SEEING, HENCE THEIR VIOLATIONS, DESTRUCTIVE CREATIONS, HUMANS AT WAR
WITH EACH OTHER, WOUNDING OR KILLING THEIR FELLOW SISTER OR BROTHER —
THAT IS, GIVEN THAT WE'RE ALL RELATED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, AND CERTAINLY
VIA HUMANITY'S UMBILICAL CORD, TOO OFTEN SEVERED BY HATRED OR SWORD, A
TRAGEDY BEYOND BELIEF, THE CAUSE OF SO MUCH UNHAPPINESS AND GRIEF, BUT
WHEN WILL WE LEARN, AND FROM SUCH UNENLIGHTENED AND UNCIVILISED WAYS
TURN, THUS NO LONGER TURNING ON OUR OWN (AS IF FOES OF HUMANITY), BUT
DEALING WITH THAT HEART OF STONE, THAT CEMENT IN VARIOUS STAGES OF
HARDNESS, OR DEGREES OF THICKNESS, AND HENCE MY CALL FOR QUICKNESS,
THIS WORLD A BLOODBATH, A PLANET FULL OF HURT AND PAIN, AND THUS ALL
OVER HUMANITY, BOTH A SELFISH AND CALLOUS HISTORIC AND
CONTEMPORARY STAIN, AND WE STILL WEARING THOSE DIRTY CLOTHES — IN FACT, HANDING DOWN THOSE DIRTY CLOTHES, AND ALL WHY THERE’S NO END IN SIGHT TO OUR WOES.
"The excuses for murder are many, but as far as justification goes, there isn't any."
The poet, author
THERE
ARE THOSE WHO'RE PRO-ISRAEL, AND THOSE WHO'RE PRO-PALESTINE, AND HENCE
THOSE PROTESTS REGARDING EITHER, WHEN REALLY, IT SHOULD BE NEITHER, BUT
RIGHT NOW, "STOP THE KILLING! STOP THE SHELLING!"
WE'RE EITHER
PRO-LIFE OR NOT, AND IF WE'RE A CHRISTIAN, DEFINITELY NOT IN FAVOUR OF
KILLING, BUT SADLY SO, IF WE'RE STILL BACKING ANY SHELLING, BECAUSE
KILLING SHOULDN'T BE ON EITHER SIDE, NOR HATRED ON EITHER SIDE, AND HEY, SELF-DEFENSE BEING ONE THING, BUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING, QUITE ANOTHER THING.
OH,
SO MUCH FOR ONE'S FELLOW, HUMAN, SISTER AND BROTHER, AND ALL WHY WE
SHOULD BE SHOUTING, AND REPEATEDLY, "STOP THE KILLING! STOP THE
SHELLING!," AND TOGETHER, NOT PICKING SIDES, WIDENING DIVIDES, BECAUSE THAT'S NEITHER CHRISTIAN NOR SENSIBLE, BUT A SURE WAY TO FURTHER
ILL, AND THIS ALL WHY WE SHOULD MIND SELF-DEFENSE, AND MORE SO, THAT
EYE FOR AN EYE THING, IT SUCH A DRACONIAN THING, BUT HEY, A BODY FOR AN EYE? "NO, NO, NO!," WE SHOULD CRY.
AND
ALL WHY WE SHOULD REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING TWO THINGS AS WELL, WHICH IN
THE YOUNG WE SHOULD INSTIL, AND THEY ARE, THAT WAR MAY FORCE A RESULT,
BUT IT'S NEVER AN ANSWER, AND THAT WHEN WE ACT LIKE OUR ENEMY, WE'RE AS BAD
AS OUR ENEMY, AND MORE SO, WHERE SUPPOSEDLY TAKING THE
HIGHER GROUND, BECAUSE ONE SHOULD BETTER KNOW, AND GIVEN THAT
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND, WHICH IN OCTOBER WAS SEEN TO SHOW.
Since
when has it been acceptable to kill thousands of innocent men, women
and children (and to destroy their homes,
livelihoods, infrastructure and habitat in order to hopefully
remove a number of people deemed evil who
dwell amongst them, and
when they've little say in the matter?
THE
LIKES OF NETANYAHU (AIDED BY THE WEST), AND THE LIKES OF PUTIN (AIDED
BY THE EAST), AND LIKE SO MANY BEFORE THEM, WHO WE SHOULD ALSO
LOUDLY CONDEMN, ARE DESTROYING THE EARTH, OUR NEST, AND HOW ILL HAS
GIVEN BIRTH, AND SADLY, MUCH LEFT UNADDRESSED, THE GROUND AWASH
WITH CHEMICALS, AND SO TOO, THE SEA, STREAMS, RIVERS AND WELLS, AND
NEED I SAY THE RISK HERE (GIVEN WATER THAT'S DRUNK, FISH THAT'S
EATEN), LET ALONE THE LOSS OF CROPS (OR VEGES EATEN) — YES, IT NEVER STOPS, LAND BEING RENDERED USELESS EVERYWHERE, AND MINES
WICKEDLY BURRIED EVERYWHERE, AND OH, ALL THOSE CHEMICALS FROM
EXPLOSIONS THAT FILL THE AIR — YES, POISONS GOING EVERYWHERE, UP, DOWN,
POLLUTING CITY AND TOWN, THUS DECADES BEING NEEDED FOR RECOVERY, IF
THERE IS A RECOVERY, THAT IS
— YES, WARS NOTHING BUT A CURSE, AND THINGS ARE GETTING WORSE, AS WELL
AS THE EARTH HAVING SUSTAINED FAR TOO MUCH ALREADY, NOTHING REALLY
GOING AWAY, THE INJURY STUBBORNLY DETERMINED, AND CERTAINLY STEADY, AND THE CLOCK
TICKING WHILST THESE WARMONGERS PLAY, AND OH, HOW THEY WASTE EARTH'S
RESOURCES, WHICH AREN'T EVERLASTING, BUT NO, STILL THAT BLASTING, AND
THUS LIFE AND WHAT SUSTAINS IT GASPING.
"The nations raged, but Thy wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, for rewarding Thy
servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear Thy name, both small and great,
and for destroying the destroyers of the earth" (Rev 11:18, RSV).
This alternative capitalised poem is titled.
TIME TO STOP THE INSANITY
WHEN I LOOK AT GAZA AND THE TRAGEDY UNFOLDING, AND HOW ISRAEL, HUMAN RIGHTS HASN'T BEEN UPHOLDING, AND HOW IT'S BEEN ALLOWED
TO GET AWAY WITH SUCH ILL, THAT APOCALYPTIC HELL, IT NOT ONLY BREAKS MY
HEART, AND TEARS ME APART, BUT FILLS ME WITH RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION.
OH, THE GALL OF THAT WRONGLY LED, FAR-RIGHT, GOVERNED NATION, THE SCALE OF THE
SLAUGHTER AND DESTRUCTION UNBELIEVABLE, AND TO THINK THAT IT WAS
ACTUALLY PREVENTABLE, BUT NO, THE WORLD AT LARGE HAVING STOOD BY, EVEN CONTRIBUTING
TO EACH DESPERATE CRY — WELL, EVEN WORSE, THOSE WHO VETOED A CEASEFIRE, THOSE WHO
SUPPLIED THE BOMBS, THE MONEY, THE SUPPORT, AND WHO ALSO TESTED NEW
WEAPONRY, TREATED GAZA LIKE A LABORATORY, AND ALL WHY I WANT TO SCREAM (GIVEN THAT IT'S A NIGHTMARE AND NOT JUST A DREAM),
"STOP THE KILLING! STOP THE DESTRUCTION! YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR, WAY TOO FAR!"
YES, TOO BAD ABOUT HOMES, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, SUCH
NOT SELF-DEFENSE, BUT A HATRED AND WAY THAT'S CRUELLY INTENSE, A
GRIEVOUS SIN, IT SIMPLY REVENGE ON STEROIDS, AND IN MY OPINION, MENTAL
HEMORRHOIDS, AND WHY I AND OTHERS GASP, WE WHO COMPASSION AND MERCY
CLASP, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ABOUT ISRAEL OR GAZA, BUT SANITY, HUMAN DECENCY
AND NOBILITY — THE SANCTITY OF LIFE, ACTUALLY, ALONG WITH THOUGHT FOR
OUR ENDANGERED PLANET, WHICH IS SUFFERING IMMEASURABLY.
BUT TO CURE CANCER, TERRORISM (OR IS IT SOMETIMES UNDERSTANDABLE RESISTANCE?), ONE NEEDS TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSES
CANCER, AND IN THIS CASE, OPPRESSION, OCCUPATION, WRONGFUL
IMPRISONMENT, BARBARITY, CONFISCATION, BULLDOZERS AND MORE, HENCE THAT
ANGRY ROAR, THAT HORRID HAMAS ATTACK, AND WHY FOR REASONS,
ONE LOOKING BACK, IT ALL DECADES IN THE MAKING, THE PAST MISTREATMENT
BREATHTAKING, AND THUS HOW THINGS GO BAD — IN OTHER WORDS, FERMENT — NO
ONE LIKING A TENT, A LACK OF THIS OR THAT, AN OPEN AIR PRISON, AND NOR
WHERE THERE IS CALLOUS INTENT; AND AS FOR THERE BEING TUNNELS, THAT'S STILL NO EXCUSE FOR THOSE BABY KILLING PUMMELS.
YES, BLATANT, UNCHECKED, AND EVEN SANCTIONED EVIL, AND NOW, GREATER
EVIL, AND HAMAS NOT GOING AWAY, BUT AS WE'VE SEEN WITH AFGHANISTAN,
SAME TERROR JUST ARISING ANOTHER DAY, "ALMIGHTY VENGENCE" SIMPLY CREATING
MORE RECRUITS, AND WHY I'VE ASKED, "WHERE ARE THE ROOTS?", AND ALL WHY EVERY SILENT VOICE IS
COMPLICIT HERE, ALL WHO SIMPLY CHOOSE TO SIT IN THEIR FAVOURITE
ARMCHAIR, BECAUSE THE WORLD NEEDS TO STAND, AND THE WORLD NEEDS TO SHOUT, "GET OUT! LEAVE THEM ALONE! WE'RE DONE WITH HEARTS OF STONE!"
YES,
VIOLENCE HAS NEVER BEEN THE WAY, IT ALL ASTRAY, BUT WHEN WILL SUCH
PEOPLE LEARN, AND FROM SUCH BACKWARD WAYS TURN? — THE ENLIGHTENED NOT
SO ENLIGHTENED, OR ARE THERE AGENDAS, CERTAIN INTERESTS, BEDFELLOWS IN
A MUTUAL NEST? — AND ALL WHY TOO, MUCH DONE IN THE NAME OF LOVE KNOWS
NOTHING OF IT, AND MUCH DONE IN THE NAME OF GOD KNOWS NOTHING OF HIM,
IN MY HUMBLE VIEW.
NO, IT'S NOT ABOUT ISRAEL OR GAZA, BUT HUMANITY, AND ALL WHY IT'S TIME TO STOP THE INSANITY.
By Lance Landall
This poem was penned on 5 December 2023.
Two books worth reading: The Palestine Laboratory by Antony Loewenstein,
and The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein.
Also see the comments, quotes and links under the following poem (which contains
more regarding the content of the poem above, as do other poems).
This alternative capitalised poem is titled.
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
AT
THE END OF THE DAY, IT’S ALL ABOUT HUMANITY — PEOPLE — AND NOT REALLY
ISRAEL, GAZA OR UKRAINE, SAY, BUT THE EVIL OF WOUNDING AND KILLING, BE
SUCH VIA BULLETS OR SHELLING — YES, THE WICKEDNESS OF MISTREATING AND
VIOLATING HUMANITY, THOSE WAR CRIMES OF GLOBAL INFAMY — IN OTHER WORDS,
THAT SAME INSANITY, CARRIED OUT BY FOOLS AND WARMONGERS (AIDED BY
SUPPORTERS, SUPPLIERS AND PROPAGANDISTS, SADLY, ALL GUILTY
TOO), WHO’VE PLAGUED EARTH’S HISTORY, AND THOSE WHO'VE DRIVEN
PEOPLE TO ARMS (NO NAIL SCAR ON THEIR OPPRESSIVE PALMS), OR THOSE WITH
CERTAIN AGENDAS — OH YES, THEY ALL BEING THE WORST OF OFFENDERS, WHO, VIA
THEIR TORTURING, WOUNDING AND KILLING, HEARTLESS INDISCRIMINATE
SHELLING, DESTROY CITIES WHILST FOULING OUR PLANET TOO, AND ALSO VIA
THOSE LANDMINES THEY STREW, CHEMICALS AND CLUSTER BOMBS TOO, BUT
WHATEVER BE THE CASE, A CRIMINAL COURT IS WHAT THEY SHOULD FACE, PLUS
THE ROAR OF A GLOBAL CROWD, LONG AND VERY LOUD:
“STOP THE
MISTREATMENT AND VIOLATION OF HUMANITY, BECAUSE IT’S NOTHING BUT INSANITY, LET ALONE SELFISH,
CALLOUS, CRUEL AND EVIL, THE BEHAVIOUR AND MENTALITY OF A FOOL, WHO, TRAMPLES
OVER DECENCY, KNOWS NOT NOBILITY AND INTEGRITY, TRUE PURPOSE AND DIRECTION, NOR A LOVE THAT’S
HEAVENLY, AND NOR ANY RULE!”
YES, IT ALL SO ASKEW, YET ON AND ON
IT GOES, AND WHY EVEN MORE BLOOD FLOWS — OH, THE SUFFERING OF THE
PERSECUTED, TORTURED AND WOUNDED, WHO’RE OFTEN, AND THEREBY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY WOUNDED, AND SUCH MISTREATMENT BUT LIGHTING THE FIRES OF REVENGE (OFTEN DISPROPORTIONATE), OR ON BEHALF OF THE WOUNDED, OTHERS SEEKING
TO AVENGE, AND ROUND AND ROUND THAT SAD OLD CAROUSEL GOES, WHICH THE UTTER
MADNESS OF IT ALL SHOWS, AND WHY WE SHOULD’VE LEARNT BY NOW,
AND HOW, BUT NO, SO OFF WE GO, HENCE WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS, THUS
THERE HARDLY A PAUSE, AND HOW CAN IT CHANGE, BUT VIA HEARTS AND MINDS,
AN INNER CHANGE, A NEEDED CHANGE, AN URGENT CHANGE, BUT OH, HOW DO WE GET THERE?
EVERY HUMAN SHOULD BE SEEN AS PRECIOUS, THUS LIFE SACROSANCT, A NO-GO ZONE COME HURT OR PAIN, AND WHY FROM VIOLENCE OF ANY
SORT, ALL SHOULD ABSTAIN, THERE NOTHING GOOD TO BE GAINED BY SUCH, AND
ALL WHY WEAPONRY ONE SHOULDN’T CLUTCH, AND SELF-DEFENCE SOMETIMES JUST
AN EXCUSE, OR A CONVENIENT EXCUSE, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE ABUSE (WHAT SOME REALLY WANT DONE, BE IT VIA BRUTE FORCE OR A GUN), AND AS FOR WHAT’S DONE IN GOD’S
NAME, OH, THE SHAME, IT ALL THE SAME — YES, VIOLENCE, REVENGE AND
WARMONGERING BUT THE TERRITORY OF THE DELUDED, OPPORTUNISTS INCLUDED,
AND WHY IT ALL NEEDS TO STOP, AND STARTING RIGHT AT THE TOP, BUT OH,
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
THOUGH WHAT HAMAS DID IN ISRAEL WAS EVIL, AND GIVEN NO ONE SHOULD SEEK TO WOUND OR KILL,
THE ABILITY TO GET AWAY WITH SHOCKING AND YET SANCTIONED LIES, MURDER AND
DESTRUCTION, AND BLATANTLY SO, AIDED AND ABETTED BY AN INHUMANE
SIDESHOW, AND THOSE WHO BETTER SHOULD KNOW, HAS CLEARLY BEEN SEEN IN
GAZA (FAR MORE SO IN RECENT TIMES THAN PAST TIMES), A CRIMINALITY AND BARBARISM BEYOND BELIEF, A HUMANITARIAN DISASTER,
THE WHEELS OF EVIL RUNNING FASTER, THUS LEAVING BEHIND GENERATIONS OF
GRIEF, AND
ANGER, WE
SEEMINGLY STILL UNENLIGHTENED, AND JUDGMENT WISE, HARDLY FRIGHTENED, BUT OBSTINATELY DETERMINED, AND THUS
SOLDIERS (LOVED ONES) USED LIKE EQUIPMENT, AS IF THEY'RE SIMPLY HANDY
AND EXPENDABLE, AND UKRAINE
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, ANOTHER HELL, AND ONCE AGAIN, ANOTHER
BOMBED HOME, SCHOOL OR HOSPITAL, MULTIPLIED BY.....WELL, THE BLOODSHED
(ALL-ROUND) MAXIMIZED RATHER THAN MINIMIZED — YES, IT
ALL HYPOCRITICAL, INCLUDING BRAINLESS, MORALLESS, MERCILESS AND
TREACHEROUS, JUSTIFICATIONS COMING THICK AND FAST, THUS STILL STUCK IN
THE MIRE OF THE PAST, HENCE THAT EYE FOR AN EYE, NO, THAT BODY FOR AN EYE, THAT COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT AND MORE; A MENTALITY THAT NEEDS TO DIE! — OH, HOW THEY ERR, AND DIVINE
WRATH STIR,
AND WHY I ASK, HOW DO WE GET THERE?
AND
ADDING TO THAT TOXIC MIX, BIBLICAL MISINTERPRETATION, THE STONING OF
STEPHEN HAVING BROUGHT AN END TO THAT CHOSEN NATION (ISRAEL) — AND BY THAT I
MEAN, THAT THEOCRACY HAVING PASSED FROM THE SCENE, IT NO LONGER GOD'S
CHOSEN NATION, BUT NOW A DIVORCEE, THEY HAVING CRIED, "CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM," AND, "WE KNOW NO KING BUT CAESAR,"
FOOLISHLY, AND THEN STONING THE APOSTLE STEPHEN, WICKEDLY; AND THUS
ZIONISM BEING SOMETHING THAT MAN
HAS CREATED, NOT SOMETHING THAT IS BIBLICALLY STATED, THUS CERTAIN CLAIMS NO LONGER VALID, AND WHY I'M STILL
ASKING, "HOW DO WE GET THERE? HOW DO WE GET THERE?"
By Lance Landall
This poem was penned on October 2023, and added to on 10 November 2023.
For more on this particular subject, and the correct biblical position too, see my page
WORLD CONCERNS, and the section titled: ISRAEL AND PALESTINE.
You may also like to read my poem The God Of The Old Testament which is at the bottom of this page.
“And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and
plant it, but if it does evil in My sight, not listening to My voice, then I will change My mind
about the good that I had intended to do to it” (Jer 18:9,10).
“ ‘Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you [an unbelieving Israel]
and given to a people producing its fruits [the Christian Church]’ ” (Matt 21:43, ESV).
Biblically
speaking, when the Jewish nation turned against Christ, Christ rejected
it, leaving it to its demise, and that being, that the Jews were
scattered to other parts of the world (as predicted) under Roman rule,
and given those Jewish revolts that took place which angered the
Romans. Thus the land God had given them being removed from them, their
probation time up, as clearly conveyed in the Christian Bible. Thus
Zionism running contrary to such, and why Israel is now but an illegal
settler colonial state that has been forcing the Palestinian
inhabitants out who’ve always lived their.
Britain — Berlin
America — Hiroshima
Russia — Ukraine
Israel — Gaza
“We are fighting human animals, and we are acting accordingly,”
Yoav Gallant, Israeli defence minister, October 9, 2023
"We are dropping hundreds of tons of bombs on Gaza. The focus is on destruction, not accuracy."
Daniel Hagar, Israeli spokesman
"We will turn Gaza into an iland of ruins."
Benjamin Netanyahu
"Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst."
C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it with religious conviction."
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
The toll of collective punishment (genocide) and deliberate destruction that has occurred
during the Gaza war (at the time of penning this, 11 December 2023):
133 UNRWA staff killed in Gaza.
290 Palestinian health workers killed, and 130 wounded, not
to mention the many ambulances, clinics, hospitals, homes and schools, etc, that have been deliberately
targeted too, destroyed or put out of action; 265 schools destroyed, 300,000 homes destroyed or damaged, 26 out of 35 hospitals no longer functioning, and all these numbers rising.
81 media workers and journalists killed in Gaza.
Over
18,000 Palestinians killed (more than 7,112 of them being children),
over 49,000 wounded (more than 8,663 being children), and over
7,600 reported missing, presumably trapped under rubble or dead.
It's reckoned that 1 child is killed and 2 are injured every ten minutes in Gaza war.
700 to 900 children have had to have amputations.
1.9 million Palestinians displaced.
10,000 air strikes on Gaza.
And in the West Bank:
272 Palestinians killed, 3,365 wounded, and over 3,670 detained (not to mention more houses bulldozed).
Yes,
American funded cowardice, because America
has helped with all this by supplying Israel with 15,000 bombs
(including 100 bunker buster bombs, proof of doublespeak), and over
57,000 artillery shells; and by the way, provides Israel with over three
billion dollars a year.
"Shutting down any voices calling for an end to the killing of innocent Palestinian men,
women and children is just as much an evil as what we're witnessing in Gaza."
The poet, author
WAR MAY FORCE A RESULT, BUT IT NEVER PROVIDES AN ANSWER.
"There are often elements of truth in propaganda, and that is what makes it more believable and dangerous."
The poet, author
WHEN WE ACT LIKE OUR ENEMY, WE'RE AS BAD AS OUR ENEMY.
Craig
Mokhiber, the head of the UN human rights office, resigned due to
what he called the organisation's failure to address not only Israel's
apartheid policies, but textbook genocide being carried out by Israel's
military in Gaza. See either of the following videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ1b3nHq8YY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiGp2mvFLY0
"I believe there is a deliberate attempt to strangel our operations in Gaza."
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA chief, October, 2023
"When people rise up against their oppressor, and under final straw provocation, it's hardly terrorism,
but resistance, cause and effect."
"Every war is an atrocity, but every war that could have been avoided is a crime in which soldiers became criminals."
"It's all about the protection of everyone, creating a loathing of, and the silencing of, every
shout of hatred and roar of gun."
The poet, author
"The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows."
Martin Luther King, Jr.
"What is absurd and monstrous about war is that men who have no personal quarrel should
be trained to murder one another in cold blood."
Aldous Huxley
"No war by any nation in any age has ever been declared by the people."
Eugene Debs
Too
much, or simply what suits, is read into Solomon’s “a time to kill,” or
“a time for war,” and given that Solomon didn’t clarify his statements.
“A time to kill” may have simply been Solomon referring to certain
measures for the protection of threatened communities (self-defence, "war" in that sense),
or an injured domestic animal, say, and thus the extent of its injury
determining whether it would be more merciful to put it out of its
misery or not.
The truth is, few Israelis know the truth of things, having been indoctrinated otherwise,
and that can be said of many others too in the world.
For the correct
understanding of how the Palestinian, Israeli conflict came about, and
how
the Palestinians were robbed of their rightful homeland, watch the following video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOJqLTc6RkU
It's Not Us
It’s not us who revel in weapons and war.
It’s not us who take innocent lives.
It’s not us who rapes, maims and kills.
It’s not us who cruelly experiments and tortures.
It’s not us who deals in deception and propaganda.
It’s not us who seeks to force and silence.
It’s not us who removes liberty and freedom.
It’s not us who seeks to control humanity.
No. It’s always THEM!
Yes, as has been said: The first casualty of war is truth.
"War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to
the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit
of the very few at the expense of the masses."
General Smedley Darlington Butler of the USMC (highest decorated marine).
Christian content or degree.
WHEN
CHRIST DIED ON CALVARY, THERE WAS NO MORE NEED OF AN EARTHLY TEMPLE,
AND SUCH WAS SIGNIFIED BY THE RIPPING OF THE EARTHLY TEMPLE CURTAIN (IT
BEING THE LAST TEMPLE), CHRIST HAVING CRIED OUT, "IT IS
FINISHED!", AND THUS ONE'S SALVATION CERTAIN, AND THEREFORE, WORKS,
RITUALS AND A THIRD TEMPLE BUT BLASPHEMY —
YES, A SLAP IN CHRIST'S FACE GIVEN THAT WHAT HE DID, HE DID ONCE
AND FOR ALL, AND SUCCESSFULLY, AND THUS ADDING TO SUCH, BUT A GALL.
AND SHORTLY AFTER, THE GUARDIANSHIP OF HIS TRUTHS WERE REMOVED FROM AN UNBELIEVING ISRAEL AND HANDED TO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH — SPIRITUAL ISRAEL — THUS GONE THAT OLD THEOCRACY, IT HAVING FAILED THE TEST, THERE NO FUTURE GATHERING OF THE JEWS, SUCH SIMPLY BELONGING TO THE LIST
OF MISTAKEN VIEWS, AND THIS ONE BUT HAVING SADLY AIDED THE MISTREATMENT
OF THE PALESTINIANS, AND TURNED A BLIND EYE TO MODERN ISRAEL'S GRIEVOUS
SINS, AND WHEN EVERY HUMAN IS PRECIOUS IN GOD'S EYES, AND THUS LOVE AND MERCY BEING WHERE THE ANSWER LIES, NOT IN REVENGE, AND IT GOD WHO SAID HE'D AVENGE, AND THUS WE LIVING POST-CALVARY, NOT PRE-CALVARY, SO WOE TO ANY, WHO CONTEMPORARY GENOCIDE DEFEND.
YES,
THERE'S NO MORE BLOOD TO BE SPILT, BE IT THE BLOOD OF A HUMAN OR THE
BLOOD OF AN ANIMAL, AND WHY ON THE LIKES OF ROSARY BEADS, TEMPLES AND
ASCETIC BEHAVIOUR, OUR FAITH'S NOT TO BE BUILT, BUT ON THE BLOOD OF
JESUS, WHO, VIA HIS WORD, WARNS US NOT TO ADD TO, OR SUBTRACT FROM, WHAT
HE'S SAID, NOR WHAT HE'S DONE.
The following texts should be read in conjunction with the texts that are under my poem How Do We Get There?
“
‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king [God the Father] who
gave a wedding banquet for his son [Christ]. He sent his slaves [John
the Baptist, Christ and His disciples] to call those who had been
invited to the wedding banquet [the Jews], but they would not come [the
rejection of the Gospel by the Jews, particularly the leaders]. Again
he sent other slaves [the disciples, after Christ’s crucifixion],
saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my
dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and
everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light
of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while
the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them [the
Jewish persecutions of the early Christian church, e.g. Stephen’s
stoning]. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, [bands of Roman
soldiers under Titus, who was then only a prince] destroyed those
murderers [more than one million Jews perished], and burned their city
[this literally took place when Jerusalem and the second temple were
destroyed by the Romans in A.D 70 (Dan 9:26)]’ ” (Matt 22:2-7).
Christian content or degree.
WHEN
I LOOK AT THE GAZA AND WEST BANK PICTURE, AND THEN READ, "BY THEIR
FRUITS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM," AS STATED IN SCRIPTURE, I SEE SO MUCH TO
CONDEMN (GREAT REASON FOR CONCERN), LIKE THE BOMBING OF HOMES, SCHOOLS,
HOSPITALS AND MORE, FRUIT THAT'S CLEARLY ROTTEN TO THE CORE, AND THUS
GOD HARDLY TO BE FOUND THERE, BUT RATHER, THE INSTIGATOR OF SUCH EVIL AND FEAR — YES, A
DEVIL, WHO IN WAR AND STRIFE LOVES TO REVEL, AND WHOSE MODUS OPERANDI
INCLUDES THE DELUDED, THE ERRANT, THE MISTAKEN, AND THE OUTRIGHT
HYPOCRITE, WHO IN THE SEAT OF FALSE WITNESS, NOT THE SEAT OF TRUE
WITNESS, IS SEEN TO SIT, AND AS IN THIS CASE (MINUS LOVE AND GRACE),
DIRECTS THAT DAMAGE, INJURY AND SLAUGHTER THAT'S SEEN (A FAR TOO COMMON
SCENE), AND WHEN IT COULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED AND PREVENTED, BUT ERRANCY
AND FOLLY HAVING CONSENTED, DESPITE SCRIPTURE BEING PLAIN AND
CLEAR, AND HENCE WHY THE ONLY FRUIT THERE, BOTH BLATANT AND WRONGLY
SANCTIONED, IS FRUIT THAT'S GONE TERRIBLY BAD, AND WHY IN BODY BAGS
THERE'S MORE THAN ONE MUM AND DAD —
YES, "ALMIGHTY REVENGE" HAVING TAKEN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN TOO, NOT
THAT THEY WOULD'VE HAD HOMES TO RETURN TO, BUT A SCENE REEKING OF
UNHINGED REVENGE, A MENTALITY THAT'S OLDER THAT STONEHENGE, A TREE THAT
CAN ONLY BUT BEAR BAD FRUIT, ONE THAT'S POISONED AT THE ROOT, AND WHY
YOU'LL ALWAYS KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS.
YOU SEE, SELF-DEFENCE WOULD'VE DONE, SUCH UNDERSTOOD BY GOD'S SON, BUT LEVELING CITIES — OH, PLEASE —
THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT! AND ALL WHY ONE WOULD SMELL A RAT,
BUT THE VERY WORDS FROM THE MOUTHS OF THE LEADERS THEMSELVES, EVIDENCE
ENOUGH, PROVING WHERE IT'S AT.
"Thou shalt not murder is hardly old fashioned, nor religious twaddle, but words of wisdom and safety."
The poet, author
AND THEREFORE, WHO WOULDN'T SHOUT "STOP!", FOR THEIR SAKE, FOR HUMANITY'S SAKE? — IT ALL OUT OF HAND — AND WHY SHOULD THEY LOSE THEIR MUM OR DAD? — IT CHRONICALLY SAD, A SITUATION THAT SHOULDN'T BE, AND THAT DESTRUCTION OF A FAMILY.
WARS ARE SUCH AN EVIL THING, SUCH A CRAZY THING, SUCH A POINTLESS THING, AND ANYTHING SEEMS TO GO — AFTER ALL, IT IS WAR, ROTTEN TO THE CORE — BUT HEY, WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN, "NO!"
OH, THE POOR LITTLE MITES, MIDST ALL THOSE HORRID SIGHTS, THE SHOCKING WOUNDS, THE HIGH-PITCHED SCREAMS, THE COPIOUS TEARS, THE ENGULFING DUST, THE INFESTED DIRT, THE CHEMICAL SMOKE, THAT PAIN THAT SEARS, AND ALL THOSE STILL BODIES, AND WHY I HOLLER, "PLEASE! NOT THE CHILDREN!," THEIR LIFE BARELY BEGUN, THOUGH NO ONE, NO ONE, SHOULD EXPERIENCE THE EVIL OF SWORD, BOMB OR GUN, ANY ATROCITY DONE.
YES, SOLDIERS ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS THEIR CHARACTER, AND TOO MANY ARE JUST DOING WHAT THEY'RE TOLD, THEY EITHER IGNORANT, INDIFFERENT, SEARED OF CONSCIENCE, OR NOT PREPARED TO PAY THE PRICE, THUS COWARDLY WEAK RATHER THAN HEROICALLY BOLD, AND HENCE THAT THROW OF THE DICE, IT YOUR CHILD OR MY CHILD, AS IF A YOUNG LIFE'S NO BIG THING, AND THUS ROUND THOSE SOLDIERS AND COMMANDERS, A LARGE AND BLOODY RING.
OH, THE EMOTIONAL SCARS LEFT ON THE MINDS OF THOSE CHILDREN WHO SURVIVE, SOME WONDERING IF THEY REALLY ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE — WELL, GIVEN THAT THEIR LIFE HAS BEEN BADLY AFFECTED, THUS SERIOUS ISSUES EXPECTED, AND ANGER OFTEN PLOTTING REVENGE, BEGETTING A NEW RECRUIT, ENSURING MORE BAD FRUIT, AND WHY THE ILL OF IT ALL NEEDS TO CEASE, NOW!
"These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren" (Proverbs 6:16-19, NKJV).
"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue
the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 82:3,4, NIV).
LITTLE CHILDREN ARE HAUNTED BY THEIR PARENT'S MARITAL BREAKUP, THAT AGE-OLD BITTER CUP, BUT NOTHING HAUNTS LITTLE CHILDREN MORE THAN LIVING THROUGH A WAR, THOSE DREADFUL THINGS THEY FELT AND SAW, AND ALL WHY IN THEIR EYES THERE'S ANXIETY AND FEAR, WHICH ON THEIR BODIES TOO, THEY'RE SO OFTEN SEEN TO WEAR — YES, PHYSICAL WOUNDS, I MEAN, YET THEY PLAYING NO PART IN THAT SCENE, TOO YOUNG AND INNOCENT, AND SIMPLY THERE BY DINT, THOUGH DESTINED TO SUFFER THEREAFTER, SO MUCH SADNESS BEHIND ANY LAUGHTER, IF THERE IS ANY LAUGHTER.
TELL ME, WHO OR WHAT DETERMINES WHAT A LIFE IS WORTH — IN OTHER WORDS, HUMANITY?
IS IT YOU OR I, OR SOMEONE ELSE? IS IT SOME LEADER, A GROUP, NATION, OR RELIGION, AND IF SO, WHY?
OR IS IT A MOMENT OF ANGER, A DESIRE FOR REVENGE? PERHAPS A BULLET, GRENADE, BOMB, OR BLADE? AND SAY, ARE WE HUMANS OR ANIMALS, ANGELS OR DEVILS? DO WE UPHOLD OR REJECT COMPASSION AND MERCY? DO WE INCREASE OR DECREASE ILLS? ARE WE HEADING UP OR DOWN, GOING FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS? DO WE SEE OR NOT SEE?
WHETHER ONE IS PRO-GAZA OR PRO-ISRAEL, SAY, LOVE, WISDOM, SENSE AND UNDERSTANDING SHOULD PREVAIL, SAVE THE DAY, AND BY THAT I MEAN, NONE OF US SHOULD BE COMPLICIT IN THAT TRAGIC SCENE, PARTICULARLY THAT "NO CEASEFIRE" CALL, BUT RATHER, SHOUTING "STOP!", BECAUSE IT DOES NEED TO STOP — YES, IT ALL, AND THEREFORE, THAT BEING THE ONLY SIDE TO TAKE, AND THUS A PILGRIMAGE THAT ALL SHOULD TAKE, BECAUSE THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY HAS ALWAYS BEEN HISTORY'S SAD WAY, SOME ON THIS SIDE, SOME ON THAT SIDE, AND THUS VIOLENCE ALWAYS HAVING ITS SUPPORTERS, TOO BAD ABOUT THOSE MURDERED MEN AND WOMEN, THOSE SONS AND DAUGHTERS, OR SO IT SEEMS, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE SOME END — NEVER THE WAY, OF COURSE, IT CLEARLY THE WRONG HORSE — AND WHY SUCH, WE SHOULD NEVER DEFEND, BUT RATHER, HURRIEDLY DIVORCE.
AND SO, ONE EITHER SHOUTING "STOP!" OR "NO CEASEFIRE!", THE LATTER AKIN TO HATE SPEECH GIVEN THAT IT GIVES THAT SAME OLD ARM MORE REACH, AND WHICH THEREBY SHOWS OUR ACCEPTANCE WHERE THERE SHOULD BE NO ACCEPTANCE, BUT A TOTAL FLAT "NO!"
"A ceasefire is outrageous."
Mike Johnson, speaker of the US House of Representatives.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN ISRAEL, THE QUESTION I HAVE TO ASK IS, HOW CAN ANY NATION AND ANY INDIVIDUAL, NOT RISE UP IN ANGER AND PROTEST OVER THE GAZA KILLING FIELDS — THE HELL — THE UTTER DESTRUCTION OF ANY BUILDING STANDING (HOME, SCHOOL, OR HOSPITAL), THE UTTER WASTE OF EARTH'S RESOURCES (VIA WHAT'S BEEN DAMAGED, VIA WHAT WILL BE NEEDED AGAIN, AND VIA WHAT'S BEEN UNNECESSARILY USED VIA THE ORDERS OF ERRANT MEN), THE DREADFUL DAMAGE TO, AND POISONING OF THE LAND (NOT ACCIDENTAL BUT PLANNED), THE UNPARALLELED, BLATANT AND SANCTIONED PERSECUTING, WOUNDING AND MURDERING, WHICH, GIVEN IT'S ALL BEEN ALLOWED TO HAPPEN (A VERY GRAVE SIN), GIVES US MORE REASON TO FEAR TOMORROW, BECAUSE WHO AND WHAT WILL BE NEXT WHERE IT ALSO SUITS, REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH PAIN AND SORROW?
Contains Christian content or degree.
DEAR FELLOW CHRISTIAN, NONE OF US FREE OF SIN, PLEASE FORGIVE MY FRANKNESS HERE, MY PASSION HERE, MY UPSET HERE — AND I’VE A SENSE OF SHAME — BECAUSE HOW DARE YOU SPEAK IN GOD'S NAME, SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT ISRAEL HAS DONE IN GAZA (AND IN UKRAINE, PUTIN THE SAME).
BY DOING SO, WHICH BETTER YOU SHOULD KNOW, YOU'RE EFFECTIVELY SPEAKING IN MY NAME, AND THUS HOW YOU DEFAME ME AS A CHRISTIAN, THEREBY APPORTIONING BLAME, BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT SUCH EVIL, AND NOR DO I BELIEVE THAT GOD SUPPORTS SUCH ILL.
THE TRUTH IS, YOU'VE GOT IT ALL WRONG, THAT OLD THEOCRACY GONE, AND THUS GOD NOT DIRECTING IT ANYMORE, NOR SANCTIONING ANY WAR, AND CHRIST HAVING USHERED IN A NEW ERA, NOT ONE THAT OPERATES AS BEFORE, AND HERE, CARRIES OUT SAME HAMAS TYPE TERROR.
SO PLEASE, DOWN ON YOUR KNEES, BECAUSE WHERE'S YOUR CONSCIENCE, YOUR CHRIST-LIKENESS, YOUR IMPARTIAL, TENDER, EMPATHETIC, COMPASSIONATE, MERCIFUL HEART? — OH, WHERE ON EARTH DO I START.
THIS IS NOT A PROPHETIC WAR, BUT THE RESULT OF BRITISH FOLLY AND BRUTAL ISRAELI OPPRESSION, ALL OF WHICH HAS BEEN AIDED AND SANCTIONED BY ERRANT AMERICAN ZIONISM, THAT HERE, KNOWS NO LAW.
AND SO, WE'RE LOOKING AT A HELL, A HELL THAT ENDANGERS US ALL, AND A HELL THAT WORSENS THAT AGE-OLD CHILL, BECAUSE A LIFE IS A LIFE, AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT AWAY STRIFE, NOT CHEER IT, NOT SUPPORT IT, NOT SANCTION IT, BUT CONDEMN IT, BECAUSE IT'S BARBARIC, MURDEROUS, RACIST, CLEAR-CUT GENOCIDE, PLAIN WANTON DESTRUCTION, MADNESS, AND YOU’RE COMPLICIT, NOT ME, SO PLEASE LEAVE OFF IN GOD’S NAME!
"To take the sword, gun, or bomb in Christ's name is to repudiate both Christ and his message."
John C. Lennox
"Religious and racial persecution is moronic at all times, perhaps the most idiotic of human stupidities."
Harry S. Truman (1945-1953)
