Sic Semper Tyrannis 2008

"we dance in our chains" Nietszche

"The phrase dancing in chains is in Beyond Good and Evil, Chapter VII. "This world with which WE are concerned, in which we have to fear and love, this almost invisible, inaudible world of delicate command and delicate obedience, a world of "almost" in every respect, captious, insidious, sharp, and tender--yes, it is well protected from clumsy spectators and familiar curiosity! We are woven into a strong net and garment of duties, and CANNOT disengage ourselves--precisely here, we are "men of duty," even we! Occasionally, it is true, we dance in our "chains" and betwixt our "swords"; it is none the less true that more often we gnash our teeth under the circumstances, and are impatient at the secret hardship of our lot. But do what we will, fools and appearances say of us: "These are men WITHOUT duty,"-- we have always fools and appearances against us! "  TS Wittig

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I find this passage in "Beyond Good and Evil" to be expressive of much of human experience.  It captures something  I have been trying to express in several ways including "The Butcher's  Cleaver."

The protracted process of the presidential primary season brings this very much to mind.  Perhaps the campaigns enjoy all this.  For me it would be a time in purgatory.

I would be interested in your thoughts on the subject.  pl

"Dear Hearts Across the Seas" Patrick Lang

"For 14 hours yesterday, I was at work teaching Christ to lift his cross by the numbers, and how to adjust his crown; and not to imagine he thirst until after the last halt. I attended his Supper to see that there were no complaints; and inspected his feet that they should be worthy of the nails. I see to it that he is dumb, and stands before his accusers. With a piece of silver I buy him every day, and with maps I make him familiar with the topography of Golgotha.

Captain Wilfred Owen, The Manchesters
Killed in Action, Nov. 4, 1918"

Download dear_hearts_across_the_seas_by_patrick_lang_america_the_catholic_weekly_magazine.htm

In Memoriam - November 11, 2006

Sergeant Willsun M. Mock, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment was killed in action  22 October, 2006.  Sergeant Mock was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq.  PL

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"The minstrel boy to the war has gone,

In the ranks of death you'll find him;

His father's sword he hath girded on,

And his wild harp slung behind him;

"Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard,

"Tho' all the world betrays thee,

One sword, at least, thy right shall guard,

One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

Thomas Moore

http://www.ingeb.org/songs/theminst.html

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/10/btsc.damon/index.html

Bonsai from Stan

Jerome asked about Bonsai.  My classmate Stan Henning who lives in Oahu offers the following.  Whatever I know about the ME, he know much better about the Far East.

Download BonsaiStan.JPG

Also Strange rocks (guaishi). Located in the Wuhou Memorial to the famous Three Kingdoms strategist, Zhuge Liang, in Chengdu.  Stan wishes you all a Happy New Year in the Year of the Dog.

Download Stanrocks.JPG

Pat Lang

Hiroshige

There are so many ugly things in the world lately that I thought to put this piece by Hiroshige up for everyone's pleasure.

Pat Lang

"Fighting Position" - Farrell

Alan Farrell's verse.

Download fighting_position.doc

Download fighting_position.pdf

"Syndromes of Wisdom" - Murry

Download syndromes_of_wisdom.pdf

"Lunatic Leviathan" - Murry

Download lunatic_leviathan.pdf

"Dead Metaphors" Murry

Download dead_metaphors.pdf

"Soldier, Soldier" Murry

The verse of Michael Murry

Download soldier_soldier.pdf