does fear of flying or death take us thereto know life older than any witnessand now past, may have eyes forseen our dareto greedily seek for our uniquenessonce tearing free from our primitive rootmore fragile than the tree, to think and willcould humanity take us from disputeor will violence feed us our fatal pill?concern not for another's attendancewho keeps to assuage intellectual prideas captains map amoral contrivanceof right, but confess a just course abidethey'll speak with no doubt of true directionwhile more, appeasing perceived mutiniesthan terms imbibed in common religioncould we know truth from man's hypotheses?coroners will define life from its deathand vision life's divination by linelike rings of trees never reveal its breathwill Horus' eye remain bounded in trinefingers and symbols just point back at youlike breath is not caught in your reflection Nihilism, will words always bring you towhy, do we accept nothing over One?
Written 3/17/2009, Copyright ME Wilson
we are history
yesterday i beared witness
to something i'd never thought i'd see
here, in this place
and we made it happen
the song...
there is
n o t h i n g
we can't do.
believe, trust, pray,
keep going
and you can change
yOUR world.
So let me get this straight: The McCain campaign says that even tho Barack Obama was CLEARLY referencing McCain's economic policies when he used the "lipstick on a pig" cliche, just because Sarah Palin called herself a Pit Bull with lipstick, the word "lipstick" now can mean nothing but Sarah Palin? Again, just because voters might have the word "lipstick" still ringing in their ears from her hateful lying speech last week, she is now due an apology for John McCain's non-change-policies being called a pig in lipstick? Am I missing something?
What the McCain campaign is missing is that since they have run a campaign on the basis of distracting voters from the truth and from what happened on any given yesterday, they are not now entitled to claim as theirs anything that happened on any given yesterday or last week. Live by distraction, die by distraction. Those are your rules, Karl--er--John, so man up and abide by them.
Now, if she claimed "lipstick" as all her own, do the cosmetics companies have to halt advertising till after Nov. 4? Can no new wacky colors for lips be named into the marketplace until Sarah's electoral fate has been decided? Or is there some statute of limitations on convention rhetoric that we are supposed to acknowledge? If so, McCain better lay off that "CHANGE" message he stole from Obama's ENTIRE convention, eh? My ears are still ringing from that, so hands off, Karl George John.
Worse still, since she called herself a pitbull in lipstick with her little speech joke, does that mean all talk of Pit Bulls is now the property of Palin and the McCain campaign? No way! Just when Nat Geographic has shown us that even Pit Bulls like those formerly belonging to Michael Vick can be retrained from killers to being family pets, I'm not interested in associating the breed anew with the intellectual violence that is the McCain/Palin/Rove/Bush ticket. I have no interest in seeing the dozens of Pit Bulls currently in my local shelter have to wait for adoption now that their breed is once again associated with attacking and killing thanks to the RNC.
It's time to stop the slander against Pit Bulls!
Adopt a family-friendly Pit Bull today, and lay off the lipstick.
And by the way, if I have it right, the McCain campaign that has ILLEGALLY USED at least FOUR copyrighted songs (i.e. stolen away intellectual property rights from real, registered owners of those rights) is now saying they unofficially lay claim to the word "lipstick" because Barracuda used it in her speech? Does that mean they now officially own the rights to the Jackson Browne song they (really, the RNC of Ohio) stole for a commercial and were forced to take off the air? You see the problem: you can't claim any moral or rhetorical privilege on words when you fail to abide by the law that protects copyrighted words.
As true as it might be that the McCain campaign is so "Running on Empty" as to need to distract us every day from the issues, they are still not entitled to copyrighted or any other words for their exclusive use.
LIPSTICK!
LIPSTICK !
You can't stop me, John McCain. ENOUGH!!!!!!!
Next: "A Defense of Pigs", stay tuned!
This was posted on www.22words.com by Ray.
The world needs to start a new chapter and the US are still the story tellers. Only Barack can turn the page.
How would you sum up Barack Obama in 22 words? Go to www.22words.com
Crossposted at MyDD and DailyKOS.
With no power beyond his use of words, the person who will next month become the Democratic nominee for the office of President has caused more action at home and abroad than those who hold the reigns of power in their hands.
I've been quiet for a while. I decided to be quiet about my disappointment with the American public. My findings during my tenure in Human Resources gave me insight to this pervasive problem. The problem is that sometimes even "smart people" find comfort in being stupid and choose to "attack smart" as the possible ominous enemy. I see this problem hasn't gone away but has only become worse. Yet everyone wants to send their children to college--only to be slapped down if they don't join the masses of "anti-intellect". Passionate, wonderful Barack can't change the world all at once so he has to shrink a little in order to not scare the masses away. And now everyone is wondering--what has happened to him? I'll tell you what I think---he is doing this with purpose because it is the only way he can win. Actually it is brilliant, yet probably personally painful to him. I know. I've been through it but thought I could win by changing hearts and minds all at once. The only thing that does is to give call to the lynch mob. The pathetic part is if hearts and minds don't change; America does not have a chance for survival. That is why we need Barack. When he is elected he is the only one that has the capacity and the drive to open the hearts and minds that have been closed for so long.As usual I have been inspired to ease my pain through poetry.Words, Intelligence, Decisions, Actions…Dictionary definitions:Words - a principal carrier of meaning.Intelligence - capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc.Decisions - The act of reaching a conclusion or making up one's mind.Actions - an act that one consciously wills and that may be characterized by physical or mental activity…something done or performed; act; deedThe era of 2008 in America…I keep hearing,Who do you think you are…to those that appear to representperceived intelligence.It seems to make people wince;this sign of brain activitythat makes people fear“you are not one of us”.I say, what is all the fuss?Are you telling me,it’s smart to be stupid?Tell me what I don’t see.The capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding,aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings...is of utmost importance;certainly will affect one’s leanings,although must includeresponsibility for consequence;this is certainly of significance.Now we must ask ourselves, as well,are words nicely put togetherjust mere window dressing, pleasant to the ear,or a reason to fear?Are words in themselves a highlyimportant factor to bringmaximum results?My answer is – YESThey deliver the meaning.If done effectively;this is your best hope foreffective results;although formulated without intelligencewill not bring answers more,furthermore;intelligence without LEARNINGwill not fill the messagewith the yearningthat we are looking for.Another wards the package must includeMeaning, Learning, Conclusion, Performfor intelligence to countarriving to us in the correct form.So my advice is not to fear intelligencejust because it does appear.Although don’t give creditjust because it is here.The primary lesson is to never resistone’s capacity for learning;this we must insist.S. Shields, 2008
The word "racist" has been used a lot of late. Often by others, sometimes by those of us.
I would just like to say a few words about that - and other - nouns.
In German there is no word for "Heroin Addict" - the best it can be translated is "Heroin Seeky".
I like this way of looking at people. Someone is not an Object/Noun ("Addict", "Racist", ...), they are a Person with an Adjective modifying them ("tending to seek a drug", "having a behavior").
The whole disturbing trend of using the "r-word" is not much better than the other-consonant-word. When you do that you objectify the person - you turn them into a noun that identifies them as something other than a person.
I remember a good Canadian friend telling me, when I was in my 20s and had just moved down to South Carolina from Toronto, that she was a "bigot bigot" (iow - "intolerant of intolerants"). I had a desire to agree with her - so I did, out loud - but I was beginning to learn that the "bigots" that I had expected to meet in SC were usually people who I got to know and like before I discovered their "bigotry". Even then I was having a hard time reconciling my view of these nouns called "bigots" and the people I was getting to know and appreciate in their complexities.
Words matter.
"person" is the noun. Other words describing a person need to be adjectives. People can often choose to change their adjectives.
-chris
They say that words can sometimes hurt and that the tongue is like a double edge sword. Well recently Presidential hopeful Barack Obama said that when you go to a lot of the towns in the Midwest, jobs have been gone for over 25 years…. And it’s not surprising then they get bitter. These comments are now the spring board by many to say demeaning things about some one who wants to make such a positive difference to all American and their immediate neighbors. Evil as we know will find any way it can to destroy the good in man
Bitter And Sweet
Barack has no need to apologize
It’s alarming how we choose these blinded eyes
To the disgruntled workers and frustrated students
Troubled with the performance of alternate governments
Every where you go it’s all the same
Repeated traditional Washington politics again
And unnecessary war continues to derail
National responsibilities which conditionally fail
Deceitful tactics to have people believe
So many are resilient and are rolling up their sleeve
We are to believe them resilient and optimistic
Every where Hillary goes she uses this tactic
Especially alarming that Hillary doesn’t see
The people are bitter, they want the truth and no hypocrisy
A 'Seanfhocal' is an old Irish Proverb of which there are many. I will, from time to time put these up on my blog in the hope that they might help inspire Barack and his supporters towards his goal of becoming President of The US and inspirational and worthy leader of the free world.
"Ni raibh an cuiosach ina thaoiseach maith ariamh"
"The mediocre never made great leaders"
America has a chance for the first time in decades to choose one "less ordinary" in choosing Barrack Obama.
It is certain that the words take them to him the wind, as maybe ironiza the opponent political today of Obama, but the youths, the new generations need disoñar it doesn't unite simple solution of the problems, the youths look for, we dream, disoñamos a better future, not alone a patch to the present problems, not alone to repair that that this damaged one. We yearn to have hopes again with the life, with the world, with the human being, with our countries, with the politics, with same nostros, with the neighboring countries, with the reality. Of course, of course, because maybe we have never been able to have that illusion and the clearest demonstration of it is it the youth's typical scepticism today in day that maybe has crawled for decades until arriving to our days. The indifference of the new generations, the “quemeimportismo”, the juvenile individualism, the feminine individualism, maybe they are not more than escape rafts to a lack of ideals in the life, in the world that doesn't surround. With the result that they are more pertinent than never, inspirations like those of Obama, because but we can dream of a world better than this, maybe yes impossible, maybe, but at least, if we cannot dream with which we can reach it, they are gone this way generations in finding it, then be not worthwhile to believe in that project called human being.
A called Colombian writer William Ospina escribío a titled book “it is late for the Man”, for heaven's sake that when one listens Obama, one wants to have hopes with which the answer is that it is not this way that there is hope. The matter goes beyond Obama, it would be unjust to even put on the shoulders of a human being the responsibility of the hope so alone of a country, and go that country, a big country in the whole complexity of the word like they are United States. He/she goes beyond Obama I say, because the question is to sit down a precedent, to sit down the precedent in the world power, in the epicentre of world attention, like it is U.S. that one needs, it is required, it is looked for, not even lead, let us be realistic and concrete, be needed who inspires better worlds, better countries, better cultures that you/they respond to the ideals for those that have been created and through which have gone evolving and being formed in the history. Neither I speak that we will fall in the time of looking for instead of political: prophets or mystics. But yes that the politics and the administration publishes they recover its philosophical essence, its mystic, its spirit, because without it not very sense has in sum. It is maybe the politca one of the means more disappointing today in day of the society in the entire world. The politicians are military, former military, technocrats, agents of the stock exchange, agents of the multinationals and the corporations, lead populist, in short, there is a shipwreck of ideas and of ideals, as if has been condemned of the politics.
Therefore it is necessary that you us of the possibility, in America and in the world in general, of being able to take as relating, the achievement, that somebody looks for to change to their country, to renovate it, to refresh it, repensarlo, for heaven's sake, the culture doesn't exist but he/she is renewed, alone he/she stagnates and he/she dies. Yes it is this way, it is possible to open a breach, so that the world also understands that should bet for the changes, not for the men without ideas and with influences, for the risks of believing in the transformations, even in the self-criticism as countries, as culture, as political environments. The youths don't believe, because we know until the satiety that is not possible to really change to this world, to transform it in some societies in those that we can feel proud of being part of them, but yes we understand that yes we can introduce those changes at that the town looks that democratically, it is necessary to believe in an idealistic youth, with constructive and not destructive moral securities, without false unnecessary moral superiorities. Then we can convince ourselves of improving the world. And he/she is right the Senator Obama, is not the same thing the things, if there is a wave, a wave of believing that you can bet for something better, because it is other the attitude then of people.
That it is easy, it doesn't stop anything, there are tremendous opposed machineries to the change and blissful of leaving the things like they are because they feed and they work directly as the stabilization of a passive society that alone it changes when the machineries of the power want this way it.
With so many words being flung about, and possibly a few lies being told, here are some quotations (oh my, words about words?) to ponder:
LIES:
PATRIOTISM:
"The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, but he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them." George Orwell
"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it." George Bernard Shaw
COURAGE:
"Heroism is not only in the man, but in the occasion." Calvin Coolidge
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." Winston Churchill
EXPERIENCE:
FEAR: FDR's entire quote is even more powerful:
Source: http://www.quotedb.com/categories
If you listen to me at all about the Presidential race I am going to slip into the conversation at one point or another that I was completely shocked to find out our precinct captain was a life long Republican. How does that happen? Why does it happen?
The tone of Senator Obama is one of inclusion. I thought Democrats were the only ones tired of division tired of having politicians saying and doing anything to get elected. But Obama’s words always reflect the tone of his campaign. His tone is hopeful. And that gives opponents a chance to say that his beautiful words mean nothing that they are pretty but nothing more. But as he speaks more and more people listen to his theme of unity. He asks people to forget the divisions of the past and to move forward. His tone lets us know that bitterness serves no purpose and that there is too much at stake. We are a world leader and need to start acting like the tone of Obama’s campaign. Inclusive and willing to roll up our sleeves to make the world a better place. Senator Obama deflects criticism by offering solutions by the tone of his words, inclusion and working together.
One Democratic mom says that Senator Obama promises to change too many things that it is too much for one politician to accomplish. Senator Obama understands, as we do that the last 7 years cannot go unchallenged. His tone is of leadership. He inspires us to do more. He inspires us to let go of bitterness that has torn this country apart. His tone tells the world that we are willing to reach out to them to make things better than they have been.
So his opponents say he cannot change anything because his experiences is lacking. They hope you will listen to their words and forget about the accomplishments of his career. He taught Constitional law and the tone of his campaign reflects our need to recapture our rights. He has worked for his state with the poverty stricken neighborhoods and the tone of his campaign inspires us to make our poor less needy. His tone directs us to pass more legislation to keep money in the pockets of the poor and elderly and less to people that have more than enough. He has worked hard in congress and championed many bills and worked hard along side those that now try to lessen his words and diminish his accomplishments. That is the tone of their campaign to diminish others to look better themselves in order to gain their own special interests. That tone carries with their campaign. Will they be willing to listen to others that have a difference of opinion or will they be exactly like the administrator we have now?
Regardless of cynics more and more people flock to hear those inspiring “pretty” words. His tone has not changed and it will not. A leader inspires us and helps people become better by setting a good example and calling on us to reach our full potential. In businesses a leader is not a substitute for team work. It is up to the people to take back their own voice and Senator Obama inspires them to do so.
It is time for Washington to change there is no dispute about that. And yet still his opponent’s counter that words cannot change politics. The young voters have always been inspired by words and yet lacked the willingness to follow through with taking the time to cast a simple vote- until now. Independents have long since distanced themselves from either party- until now. Republicans are willing to listen to his words because of this new tone - inclusion. When Democrats and Republicans can come together to make our country strong the way it can be it is indeed a time of awe. Did I tell you that the Precinct captain at our district caucus was a Republican? Sorry if I repeat myself but I love hearing the tone.
've written a long analysis of rhetoric and its importance to the in light of the Clinton/Obama campaigns: http://ketchupandcaviar.com/2008/02/25/hillary-clintons-rhetorical-offenses-and-why-words-matter/ Excerpts follow.
Enter Barack Obama, whose rhetorical skill is unusual in American politics. The shock is not just that he is young and eloquent, but that people seem to be buying it. They’re showing up to rallies in large numbers. They’re enthusiastic. And they’re voting for him.
To competitors who have played by the rules, this must be nothing short of offensive. Conventional wisdom has demanded that they immunize themselves from cynical derision by emptying their public statements of ambition—whether that means style or nuance, grand ideals or difficult truths. The point is to stay out of trouble and win votes.
....
Act I, Scene I: Enter Clinton, stage right, wearing coronation robes—grand, radiant, inevitable. In the beginning the thought of not winning no more occurs to her than the thought of being a peasant occurs to a queen. The audience knows as soon as she walks onto stage how brittle these great expectations can be—that she's set up for a fall, that the tragic seed of the unraveling exists in the rigidity of the expectations. When there is just the slightest hint of resistance to these expectations, things do indeed begin to unravel.
Act I, Scene II: Clinton, early morning on the misty battlefield—she has turned in her robes for armor. After the near-coronation, Clinton will show us that she can fight for what is rightfully hers. And so she lets loose the dogs of war.
SATURDAY
I would appreciate it very, very much if I could have "my" say, even though I am "NOT" an "Obama" Supporter. Would'nt you rather I be HONEST with all of you? I'm sure that OBAMA would appreciate that, whereas he is so much into "integrity".....right? Also, he is into, people's "Freedom of Speech".....directly from our Country's LAW.....The Constitution! THANKYOU. I will make this as short as I possibly can, but, it IS important to read. Thankyou.
I have come onto this website, not as a "spy".....because, otherwise, I would not be on this "blog!" I have come onto the site to see what YOU all think is SO SPECIAL about Obama! I have been fascinated with this "FASCINATION!" Well......I hate to say it, but, from the moment I came onto the blog.....all I could read was how "Obama" is CONSTANTLY spewing out the "same old speech" but, changing the name of the City or Town he might be in, just to "suit" the people. Also, another thing I noticed......All of you trying to "hide" the fact that Obama makes the same exact speech......over and over and over again!! How VERY "BORING!!"
Now.....let me ask you a VERY LOGICAL QUESTION: If you were out at sea, and a storm came up, all of a sudden.....and, by mistake, you were, unfortunately, "knocked off the boat, into the tremendous waves,and could not even breathe, God Forbid. Would you rather have someone with you on that boat that spoke "PRETTY WORDS" all the time, but knew hardly ANYTHING about sailing OR the water and swimming......or......would you rather have a person that was NOT as"inspirational" a "speaker" but was an ABSOLUTE EXPERT when it came to sailing a boat, and also had always kept up on being a SENIOR LIFE SAVER with regard to swimming and saving a life? I think you all would answer the same way(hopefully), if you were honest, right? You would MUCH rather have the person that had the "EXPERIENCE" than the person that could "TALK PRETTY" when it came down to "saving your life".......right? Right.
THAT is why I am trying to make the analogy. It fits. Because, as wonderful a man Obama is, and as wonderful "sounding" a speaker he is.......he does NOT have the "EXPERIENCE" YET, to run this Country that we love so much. I would say, that with another 4-8 years, Obama would be "just right" for the Presidency, because he would have had the "Experience."
Now, being in this Beloved Country of ours, right now, has almost been like being on the Titanic, right? Only, THANK GOD, we have not COMPLETELY sunk yet! Had George Bush stayed in Office, even another year, we might have. I am NOT trying to sway you to vote for Hillary for NO GOOD REASON. I am trying to convince you, that "EXPERIENCE" COUNTS FOR AN AWFUL LOT....especially in the times WE live in, right now! Everything imaginable needs to be "corrected" in a BIG way! The only difference between Barack and Hillary is age and Experience, or "lack there of!" Therefore, I am trying to tell you that, Barack does NOT have to be "ruled out completely" as EVER becoming President. He is still a younger man. It is just the fact, like with the sinking boat, that he NEEDS quite a bit more EXPERIENCE......and,in another 4-8 years(especially if he were to become the Vice President, with Hillary), he would HAVE that EXPERIENCE under his belt!!! He would LEARN a tremendous amount, and THEN, be able to run our wonderful Country, and it would still be in GREAT SHAPE......especially with the BOTH of them, at the "HELM!!" The "DYNAMIC DUO!"
PLEASE......instead of always looking at "age", which many of the Barack supporters are doing.....remember, "YOU" will all be older at some point, and, believe me, the time DOES go by very quickly, and THEN you will realize that EXPERIENCE DOES MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.....in many areas within the world. If you ever had a "problem" with anything Bill Clinton did.....you have to remember.....HILLARY CLINTON is a completely different human being. She has worked SO very hard, and tirelessly, for 35 years, to get where she is now. She also gave up becoming a Lawyer, just to be able to "stick up" for CHILDREN'S RIGHTS after graduating. How many people, as much as they may love children.....would have done that??? Not many, at all. THAT, right there, shows you the CARING and COMMITMENT she has for things that are SO important to her......and ALL of us, ARE important to her, with ALL of our "issues."
SO........even though you may "think" that Barack is "all that" when it comes to being the next President of our Country.......he does not HAVE "all that" quite yet, honestly, and, if you wait, just a few more years, I guarantee you that you will be MUCH happier, because you did, and you will have a President(Hillary) that, in the meantime, will straighten everything out that NEEDS to be straightened out, and THEN Barack can become the NEXT President of the United States.....but, NOW is the time for HILLARY! EXPERIENCE "DOES" "TRUMP" PRETTY WORDS. If you all have not learned that, by now, then you NEVER will.......and, that will be sad. Because experience plays a major role in our everyday lives.
Hillary will do EVERYTHING that she promises, and, I am sure, even more. She is SUPER intelligent, she is empathetic and sympathetic to everyone's "plight" with jobs and healthcare and tuition and foreclosures and the Veterans Issues and the Police and Fire Fighters that are due to be paid MUCH MORE MONEY and BENEFITS for their bravery.....as we see EVERYDAY, and witnessed on 9/11. SO, PLEASE, do NOT just go by basically "one" speech by someone......go by EXPERIENCE, and you will NEVER loose! Hillary is also a very caring human being, and she WILL "work her heart out, every single day she is in Office, for the American People", and I TRULY believe that, because her WHOLE LIFE has been dedicated to helping people, and THAT is where the proof lies.
Thankyou for reading this. It shows that you are mature and are able to at least, consider another side, other than just ONE. THAT is what AMERICA is all about.....RIGHT? GOOD LUCK, and take care......everyone. VOTE FOR HILLARY(this time), and next time, BARACK will be in line to be the NEXT PRESIDENT!! I wish Barack the best. However, I think, in his heart of hearts, that, even though he "feels" that he would be able to take on the Country's challenges at this point in time, I truly think that he KNOWS that he is NOT "quite" ready, even though the "idea" sounds great and he has so many people cheering him on at the moment.....that, alone, can make someone feel as if they can do anything! But.....the reality is, THAT is not always true, even though they mean well....whic, I KNOW he does. He is a GOOD man, but, just give him more time, give HILLARY the Presidency, this time, that she has REALLY EARNED, after all these years of VERY hard work, and then, will come Obama's time to shine. He's "shining now", I know, but......he will shine EVEN MORE in 4-8 more years......honestly.
