Unsung Paragon

Great poem, you have my 10!

Wonderful rhyme, very creative wording.

If you don't understand this, you probably believe all the lies Fox News feeds you.

What's not to understand William? Schroeder and Chirac knew this when it started, and much good that did!

Great poem!

This is so correct William. I feel you disgust in this wonderful poem. I often look at people who will not even talk about how sad life is for so many in our country right now,who have soldeirs fighting and dying and we go about the usual stupid bliss. I know for the children, and getting together, Christmas to remember the "Reason for the Season", is so important. But where is the respect for other's. It is buy and buy and buy. If years ago we had insisted on buying American, things may be different.

I have heard every excuse in the book to not even talk about what is going on. Why we buy from overseas, why we must "have" that big SUV> Why it is ok to ignore the War going on. Years ago the entire country got involved at least part of everyday for the Military so far from home. I am not saying that we should sit and be morose all day every day. But we are way to unempathetic to the situation we are in. Christmas is not fun for many, and they will not be going to the sale's, and I am not talking about Military American's who are gone this time. I am talking about those who are struggling so hard. "Am I my brother's keeper", is a definite no. It is buy , buy, buy, and I am gonna be happy. Thanks for the truth. Ellen B

William, this is an outstanding poem and conveys your feelings on the matter so well. I am leaving a ten.

Ellen, Our media just stopped doing investigative reporting and became just news about disasters, entertainment and in my opinion a outlet for gov't propaganda. Nowadays people have to search for truth. Everything is kept secret and we are fast losing our right to be called a Democracy. Sadly, another reason is there is no draft and our youth have been smitten by the god of hedonism.

Apryl, I was going to read other people's article today, but couldn't even think straight until I wrote this poem. It really overpowered me. I spent over 4 hours writing it.

It is all related to me William. We are obsessed with shopping while mothers cry. We shop but won't fight for worker's rights, and we wait for a little "guiding" news, as you say. We are too busy living as if nothing is wrong to look at anything else. I guess I missed your point I was into mine so deep. I did connect it all tho. You are correct however, on both ideas. Ellen B

"as the clouds of war go on and on"

"Who dares doubt the words of this Christian"
I did understand.

I understand your anger, William. I share it. For me it is a balancing act, joy on one side and despair on the other. Over the years I came to the conclusion the best I could do for those I loved was to be happy, not blind to the clear wrongs, but when people are in a disaster or a tragedy, there needs to be someone around who is not immersed in depression too. Another great influence for me as an adult was the realization that so many came out of the concentration camps full of horrid memories and made good lives and actually felt life was a gift and joy should be appreciated. If they could do it then I could too. I don't really go into debt for Christmas. In fact my daughter will get one 25.00 gift from me. My husband will get a shirt. If I overspent for Christmas I could not enjoy it and I intend to enjoy it. Someone must be able to be happy on this earth or we all go down, no one can help pick up others if all are down. And I don't try to buy fancy cars or anything else either. I can't stop the war. I can't make people quit trying to kill others here in America. I can't stop a lot of crimes or any crimes that I know about right now. But I can thank God for my life and the sense to appreciate it and be ready to do the same for someone else's. Some of these lessons were learned the hard way. I will not give them up. Not now. And as long as I can think straight I might be able to do something at some point to make the world a tad bit better than it is today.

My foster brother has spent too many years away from home at Christmas ever since the first Desert Storm. Now his son will be gone this Christmas too. We do our best to continue the Christmas festivities for all of the younger children but I don't think that the adults in our family would bother if it weren't for the kids.

Powerful poem. Very good.

Yes it just goes on and on. My uncles were in Korea, Donald in Vietnam, my Son in Dessert storm and my granddaughter, Is old enough, Thank God she is a girl and dont want to go to war. When will it ever end. Why cant people just get along.

A wonderful poem William and I am glad you took the time it took to write it and put it up for us, yes, things don't seem to change, and one of the reasons I no longer listen to or watch the news is I can't stand the spin that is put on it by one channel or another, you can get dizzy trying to make sense of it. I read about what is going on and then make up my own mind, I don't need someone else to do that for me, at least not yet. I hate the war, and I wish there would never be another one, and that this one would stop and quickly, but I don't want there to be another group of Vietnam veterans ostracized either, I am the mother of one of them, and I would like to see Peace on Earth, I think God and everyone wants that, I don't understand, well I do, as it is the nature of the beast on earth, I don't know if it is greed or power that precipitates war, but it doesn't matter really, they are the same . A strong and wonderful poem William, thanks for putting it up here, and yes, we do go about trying to be Merry and bright at Christmas for the little ones, but myself, I am just grateful for what I have, and Billy asked me last night what he could give me and I said, Love Billy, that is all I can't buy for myself. so love me William, that is a great gift, and it costs nothing but a smile on your face, and I will love back, maybe that is how it will all be peaceful someday, I hope there is a plan for that.

Yes Elsie, that's all we can all do: love one another.
Peace and blessings to all,
Cristina

Wonderfully well done, William, and horribly, horribly true.

I hope everyone is planning to write their congressmen voicing their disgust with the outrageous conditions and situation our military and volunteer military is facing...
one letter or email equals 10 voices..10 voters...
Those in the armed forces cannot write or call...we have to.
They are to be commended for their bravery and ability to follow orders. But many many of them are disgusted,burned out ,sick of the seemingly dead ended efforts.
and ,yes,our news agencies are programed to tell only the rose colored glasses truth.

Well spoken ,William....send it to your congressman! ( 10 bucks says he or she won't get it )

"So turnstiles spin to start new crusade
Packages of gum for children wait
To hear the bombs of our new charade
And after Christmas sales save save save"

It's way too much trouble for our leaders to think of a new paradigm, apparently......

I feel the pain and disgust with you Bill.
I know what all Amercans are going through. I've been to the States 13 times and i've had the most wonderful experiences everytime.

But 'm going to go with lynn a here. I'll be damned if I go despondent.

Let me explain why I say that. We have the most corrupt, cruel and unplanning ruling governmment in the world. People around where I stay have been cruelly murdered in the world. Since the take over in 1994 we have become the drug, murder, rape,etc center of the world. Many of my colleages have emigrated in their millions. Yes!!!! In their millions. I will go too.
Everything...railways, airlines, hotels, roads, factories, drinking water, electrical supplies, etc are going to hell.

But I will not change my sunny nature, I will not stop dancing. I will not give in to this omni-present evil. If I do I'll be a moral coward. It's one way in which I fight. It's one way in which I stay sane.

Now you know. Great poem Bill. It stirred up deep emotions.

This is a great poem Bill. Very strong, very poignant and very heart felt. The (sometimes contrasting) images you pain are so striking. Indeed it's a crazy time we live in and looking over the Atlantic and at the current US foreign policy (in action) , to put in mildly, worries all of us here. Well said Bill and well done.

William, thank you for this strong and oh so telling poem. I, like Elsie, have given up on the news. It is so easy for them to turn facts to lies.

Happy Holidays,

Back for a visit to catch up on the posts...your"stuff' has that draw .
It is dismaying to read so many don't listen to the news....there are places to find news that hasn't been shellacked with white wash...
If we turn our ears off completely ,if we close ours eyes ,if we mute ourselves to the situations at home and abroad,then we are sheep..willing to take whatever is handed to us..invariably you will follow the masses that choose the easy road of complacency. You will follow that road off a cliff or to a slaughter house...any grazing that occurs is purely incidental.
If I am offending anybody with these words,I am sorry. Someone writes"it's a crazy time we live in"...when has it not been so?
WWII is probably a time many on Gather have lived or know well. Did those at home or away fighting wall themselves off from the situation? Some did,most did not because they realized the stakes...and all were actively involved in the war effort. Sacrifices were made at home so that the military would be able to have. Rationing was a way of life. We don't ration a thing...we ,in our complacent "let someone else make the decisions for us " attitude ,have passed our birthright of democracy and freedoms to "leaders".
The 60's ,a tumultuous time in our nation ,saw people taking a stand ..and that stand brought about change. As uncomfortable a time ,the social unrest ,the war protests,the riots~ it was a period of upheavel that bore great and necessary change.Needed change and good in many areas. I am not advocating riots. I am advocating that we watch, be vigilant, mind the home fires write your letters!....if these young men and women are brave enough to serve in an illegitimate war,brave enough to follow orders even knowing those orders are detrimental knowing that anything less would be a fraction of our military ( our country's army rebelling would cause the collapse of our nation as a similar fate to other cultures,nations ) then we should be brave enough to call upon our elected leaders and demand a true accounting,demand a swift end to a war that has lost the true objective and is nothing more than a corporate money grab ,demand no escalation of war to other borders.
I'm sorry that I took so much space. This issue is so much bigger in scope than a little block will allow.
William,in my earlier post I meant that the politicians would not "get it " as in understand your eloquent words. I need to edit better.:)

I totally agree with you Sheila.

that I need to edit better? LOL! :)
Thanks,William.... it means so so much...

When virtue is lost in a slogan
And silence spreads seeking paragon
Stars never shine when all hope is gone
But who really cares in this bargain

Bravo...now I can understand it ...well penned and beautifully expressed...

I FORGOT THIS..

I had to come back to this article, WIlliam. It is like a nightmare that can not be forgotten, that comes to mind at the most inopportune times. How can we help when there seems no way to help, no way to right a wrong, to save someone who can not save him or herself. I thought about my comment yesterday and it may appear glib. I promise you it is not. It isn't that I take this reality of war and greed callously, it is this sense that I can not stop it and at some point it will also come crashing down on us as well and some of us need to be prepared to be strong and capable with energy to share with others who may very well have been in the thick of tragedy. In my own way I do very much believe I am my brother's keeper, whether it be blood or through existence. I also believe we really can expect to reap what we sow. I think as a nation we are in big trouble. At present we are losing the battle. I don't see the way through yet. I will always struggle for joy, and am very good at it, expert actually, as a means of survival. Maybe that is all I meant. If I crumble I am worthless to everyone. If I keep a love of life strong and capable inside me then it is there to give. To not need myself at some point, to not need to focus on myself at some point means I can focus on another, and that is precisely what I think life is about. Of course, the cruelty didn't need to be interjected into this, but it was by those we can not stop. I look at what I am powerless to change and search for what I could make better and hold on to a time when I won't feel powerless to actually help make things better. I hope I am making some sense. This really is so gut-wrenching it is almost beyond being able to speak about it.

I need time to digest your response more fully Lynn before my response, but I do not think you glib.

I like it! You write such good poems.

Lynn, When we look at the world today and the evil blood stained actions of our leaders, we of course feel powerless, but as your comment strongly implies, life does go on. Yes, we need to find joy in ourself and often need to scarifice to give happiness to others. Your comments make perfect sense to me and I sincerely thank you for posting such sage words.

Fantastic William!

I agree with your descriptions and feelings about the war, the waste and tragedy of all those lost and ruined lives, both on "our side" and the "other". It's a sad day when you cannot believe one word out of our leaders' mouths. I don't watch the news; it's not that I'm hiding my head, but I cannot see what I gain by hearing what spin doctors have written. Our local news is not news, it's "entertainment tonight locally." A complete waste of time in my opinion. I occasionally tune in for the weather; they may not be right but at least they aren't deliberately lying.

I admire lynn's words and philosophy. I wish I could be so positive. (and of course, I wish I could go dancing with Fred, who is also positive.)

I would like to go dancing with anyone and I think that is a positive thought too, thank you Wilma for that, I am trying to keep a positive attutude about me, because if I don't I will become depressed and join a lot of people that I try to help, so I am going to keep thinking good thoughts and hope there is a resolution soon to all of the world's problems, and if enough good people think enough good thoughts, perhaps it will have a positive effect, but I don't think that is going to happen soon , and I admire Lynn for the stand she has taken and you for your's William, I will join you in your sentiments, I think I did above, this is a great poem, but I am not going to be afraid of anything , I can't the worst things I have dreamed of have come true for me

wow, you are a busy boy... another great one...
here's a 10 plus another cow... hehe

Part of me wants to say, the devil, like the poor, we will always have with us. And like the poor, it should not be ignored, papered over with happy times and shopping sprees.

I love the poem William; like the word choice, and the strong rythm

William, so sad. So true...

Sheila H, I've given my Senator and Representative an earful this past year by letter and phone. They know my opinion.

I could not agree with you more Rose. I was a Republican, but the GOP has turned its back on the citizens and now sounds like a Nazi propaganda machine with such diabolical hucksters like Limbaugh, Hannity, Levine and Fox News. I'd be ashamed to be identified with the republicans of today. I'm now an Independent.

I can understand that it took you over 4 hours to write this. I have never been able to write poetry. When you feel something needs to be said, then you need to say it. There are too many people who just don't bother to say what they feel or even take the time to think about anything other than their life. Your words make us think.

Rhoda, Emerson taught that every moment in life is precious. Those 4 hours were a joy. I've been working on a new poem for over two days and many hours. I greatly enjoy this. For you to say I make you think is the highest compliment I can receive. Thank you.