Written on 11:34 PM by Jack B.
Never forgotten
Just a year ago today
Cold-blooded murder
Value of a life
Measured by will of others
Not on inner soul
Who can really know
Inside an innocent's mind
Though we don't see it
Take words of a cheat
All that is needed to kill
While mobs urge it on
What have we come to?
Pray for who remain, Terri
Please, pray for us all
Also this is what I posted almost a year ago today on April 2, 2005 (as a matter of fact, it was one of the very first posts on this blog): Haiku #7 - For Terri Shiavo
Written on 3:56 PM by Jack B.
A friend of mine considers himself first and foremost an “artist” (of the paint and easel kind), but while he’s getting his M.F.A. in Art, he’s taken to photography to pay the bills. Often while working he will take literally dozens of photos, click, click, click, right after the other. Most of them are beautiful since he has a fine eye for color and perspective, but he doesn’t really keep them since he thinks of the photos as part of his “job” and not part of his “art”.
So, if he doesn’t want them occasionally I’ll ask if I can have them. Especially the ones he didn’t mean to take, when the camera just keeps clicking after you’ve taken your finger off the button. Those lucky moments, taken by chance, when the light and shadows collide to create something compelling, illuminating the photo far beyond its subject matter.
Here are three of the ones I like in particular that, to me, have that kind of abstract aesthetic appeal.
When it comes to taking pictures light sometimes plays tricks on us, being exactly where we don’t want it to be at any given moment. Sometimes, however, I think it knows better than we do.
Written on 12:12 PM by Jack B.
Sun shines high in sky
No signs of clouds or the chill
Spring finally here?
Written on 10:09 AM by Jack B.
Beginning of Spring
Why doesn't it feel like it?
Calendars can lie
Written on 7:41 PM by Jack B.
Teri Shiavo's feeding tube was removed one year ago. The basic nutrients of life.... She was killed (yes, killed) in a way we wouldn't do to a dog. I thought cruel and inhumane treatement was illegal under the Constitution...but apparently if you're not an adulterous husband with a common-law (not legal) wife and two children who has a lawyer who's a vocal proponent of euthanasia and are being treated in a hospice with connections to said lawyer, add water, foremost of them all was removed from her. For days she basically "dehydrated" (the term the media liked to use instead of "starved", even though it basically meant the same thing) to death. Trying going without food or water for one day. Not easy, is it? Now trying to doing it for a week or more. You'd be dead. Teri (who I actually heard some supposed"doctors" on the talking head TV shows at the time say wasn't even human anymore) lasted longer than many thoughtthat to a media who was rooting for her death, politicians who were cowards and judges who were complicit and you get state-santioned killing...of an innocent person whose only crime was being mentally disabled and unable to feed herself.
One year later, I haven't forgotten. I never will. Nor will many others. The media would have us believe that Terri's supporters were all a bunch of fanatics. I don't know about that. I've never been fanatically about anything (unless you count the NY Yankees) but I do have a long memory and more importantly I vote. I'd be willing to bet many of those who were on Michael Shiavo's side (according to all those polls) are part of the disinterested majority who don' vote and have forgotten about this altogether. More fool them. One day, mosy of us be helpless and dependent on someone other than ourselves, just as we were in infancy, and then who will look at for you? The Florida courts? Not bloody likely.
For more info you can go to: BlogsforTerri and The Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation which has continued the fight not to let this happen to somebody else.
Written on 5:45 PM by Jack B.
| You're 40% Irish |
You're probably less Irish than you think you are...
But you're still more Irish than most. |
Thanks to the Happy Catholic
Written on 1:34 PM by Jack B.
Today is the Feast Day of St.Patrick, evangelizer and Apostle to the Irish. One of my great-grandmothers on my mother's side was reputedly of Irish origin so I unapolgetically celebrate a saint who single-handily and without violence converted most of the Emerald Isle. More on St.Patrick here
Here is St.Patrick's Lorica/Breastplate/The Deer's Cry (it has many names but is one of the greatest prayers ever written):
I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
I arise today through the strength of Christ with his Baptism, through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension, through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom.
I arise today through the strength of the love of Cherubim in obedience of Angels, in the service of the Archangels, in hope of resurrection to meet with reward, in prayers of Patriarchs, in predictions of Prophets, in preachings of Apostles, in faiths of Confessors, in innocence of Holy Virgins, in deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through the strength of Heaven; light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendor of Fire, speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea, stability of Earth, firmness of Rock.
I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me: God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to secure me: against snares of devils, against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature, against everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.
I summon today all these powers between me (and these evils): against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and my soul, against incantations of false prophets, against black laws of heathenry, against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry, against spells of witches, smiths and wizards, against every knowledge that endangers man's body and soul. Christ to protect me today against poisoning, against burning, against drowning, against wounding, so that there may come abundance in reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of Christ. May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.
To get a real feel on the man and not just the legend behind a drinking holiday one should really read his
'Confessio' , one of the only documents known to be written by the man himself...over 1500 years ago.
Excerpt:After a few years I was again in Britain with my parents, and they welcomed me as a son, and asked me, in faith, that after the great tribulations I had endured I should not go an where else away from them. And, of course, there, in a vision of the night, I saw a man whose name was Victoricus coming as it from Ireland with innumerable letters, and he gave me one of them, and I read the beginning of the letter: 'The Voice of the Irish', and as I was reading the beginning of the letter I seemed at that moment to hear the voice of those who were beside the forest of Foclut which is near the western sea, and the were crying as if with one voice: 'We beg you, holy youth, that you shall come and shall walk again among us.' And I was stung intensely in my heart so that I could read no more, and thus I awoke. Thanks be to God, because after so many ears the Lord bestowed on them according to their cry.
So Happy St.Paddy's. Don't drink too much, don't over do the corned beef and cabbage and don't hit anyone with a shilleigh.
Written on 11:00 AM by Jack B.
From the portico
See the dancing child on grass
Happy innocence
Written on 8:33 AM by Jack B.
Stay away junk food
I'm trying to lose some pounds
Keep off calories
Written on 11:19 PM by Jack B.
The greatest sin today is that there is no sin.
- Pope Pius XII in 1946
Written on 5:13 PM by Jack B.
Gotten in a rut
Always same old, same old stuff
Wish I could change things
Written on 3:02 PM by Jack B.
Framed upon the wall
Photographic reflections
Aren't always true
Written on 9:51 AM by Jack B.
As a Yankee Fan there are other teams that you are distinctively conditioned to root against (i.e. The Boston Red Sox) but one team I always found myself rooting for (except when they played the Yanks) was the Minnesota Twins. Not because of Minnesota itself (since I’ve never been there) but because growing up the Twins were personified by a class-act player by the name of Kirby Puckett. A pudgy guy who played great outfield and hit with the best of them, Puckett led his team to World Championships and success despite it being from one of the smallest markets with one of the cheapest owners. Puckett lost his eyesight due to a relatively rare condition which made him leave the game early (and probably got him elected to the Hall of Fame so quickly) and now again at such an early age (45) he has passed on. He was a man of courage and dignity and incredible skills both on and off the faith and this opposing fan tips my cap to him and sends condolences to all Twin Fans and Kirby Puckett’s friends and family.
Posted in
baseball
|
Written on 9:26 AM by Jack B.
Didn't watch Oscars
Hadn't seen the nominees
Could care less who won
Written on 12:32 PM by Jack B.
The day's gone away
How fast it passes us by
Hold tight to the clock
Written on 10:38 AM by Jack B.
Recall in my mind
Children of night in shadow
Lost in memories
Written on 3:54 PM by Jack B.
Repent!...
and don't forget to wash your forehead before you go to sleep.
