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| A view from above; surprisingly hopeful | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 27 2008, 04:55 PM (310 Views) | |
| big al | May 27 2008, 04:55 PM Post #1 |
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Bull-Carp
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Their eyes are watching from above Tuesday, May 27, 2008 By Tony Norman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Somewhere beyond the Elysian Fields, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. are the last to leave a celestial forum they've nicknamed the Martyrs' Ball. It is the 40th anniversary of their respective assassinations, so both men are feeling more wistful than usual. By eternity's standards, less than a second has passed, but by their lingering sense of how time passes on Earth, they have endured years full of speeches and celebrations crammed into one day. Both were moved to tears by Walt Whitman's lengthy tribute. He was one of their favorite poets because of his deep knowledge of the American spirit. Marian Anderson's voice seemed to reverberate throughout the celestial sphere itself when she fronted a choir that included Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner and James Chaney. She sang all of Martin's favorite spirituals. They both mock-grimaced through President John F. Kennedy's jokes told, as usual, at their expense. JFK still knew how to tease his younger brother. He also reminded Martin Luther King about needing a ghostwriter for his own 50th anniversary Martyrs' Ball speech in a few years. "Give me some words that Rev. Jeremiah Wright can't make fun of and I'll practice my delivery so that it doesn't sound like his very bad imitation of my very good inauguration speech," President Kennedy said as the heavenly hosts roared with laughter. "One of these days, you're going to have to stop holding me responsible for everything Rev. Wright says," Martin said, eliciting yet another round of laughter and applause. Eternity is a place where irony is appreciated. Standing at the great Reflecting Pool of Reality later that evening, Martin and Bobby look into its crystalline depths, causing the distance between heaven and Earth to part like clouds. Images shimmer into view. Loved ones can be seen. The secrets of men's hearts are revealed. The political beast stands revealed in all of its nakedness. Martin puts his arms around Bobby's shoulder as Sen. Edward Kennedy's face appears. They scan the newspaper headlines about his brain tumor in silence. "He is making peace with whatever happens," Bobby says. "Still, my baby brother is no fatalist. He's in no hurry to be with his older brothers again. Good for him." Bobby stirs the waters again. Hillary Clinton's face comes into view. "Hillary is mentally and spiritually exhausted," he says. "I agree," Martin says. "Evoking the day you were murdered as justification for staying in the race sounds worse than what she meant." Bobby gazes at the Democratic presidential candidate's anguished expression in a time-lapse montage. "The grueling pace of the primary has made her careless. Her ambition is at war with her best instincts." Martin stoops to stir the waters of the Reflecting Pool with his index finger. He sees the face of a newborn baby. He smiles with pleasure. "My oldest son and his wife have named my first grandchild Yolanda Renee King," Martin announces with pride. "That thunder you hear coming from the celestial mountains is the sound of Coretta jumping for joy." "Congratulations, Martin," Bobby says. The civil rights leader stirs the waters once more. Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama's face comes into view. "It's hard to believe a mere four decades has passed since we both slipped the bonds of Earth," Martin says. "The evolution of America's racial attitudes in a generation is as big a miracle as the two of us standing here reacting to it. We are witnessing a milestone in the nation's history." "Is this truly Barack Obama's moment, Martin? Is he the spiritual heir to your 'I Have a Dream' ethos, or will he succumb to worldly pragmatism and do whatever it takes to win?" "Like every man, he finds himself resisting the temptation to take shortcuts," Martin says. "He is so close to grasping the prize that he can almost taste it. But there is danger in this moment as well. There are many sick and deluded men and women who will not abide his election to the highest office of the land. What will their rage compel them to do about it?" They listen to Barack Obama delivering the commencement address at Wesleyan University as Teddy Kennedy's stand-in. They are impressed by his eloquence and his heart for changing America. It feels visionary to them. It feels familiar. "My brother loves this man. Now I can see why. He is as charismatic as you once were," Bobby says. "I beg to differ," Martin says. "This young man definitely has more Kennedy in him than King." Suddenly, the waters grow dark and Martin and Bobby's reflections return to the surface of the water. "Even we don't have the right to see the future, Martin, but I still have a good feeling about it." Martin Luther King sighs. "Whatever happens -- all will be well," he says. "We have the rest of eternity to learn and absorb that truth." Mr. Norman is often much more confrontational and abrasive. Big Al |
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Location: Western PA "jesu, der simcha fun der man's farlangen." -bachophile | |
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| Red Rice | May 27 2008, 06:40 PM Post #2 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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A fantasy piece about Bobby Kennedy and MLK commenting on the merits of Hillary versus Obama?
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Civilisation, I vaguely realized then - and subsequent observation has confirmed the view - could not progress that way. It must have a greater guiding principle to survive. To treat it as a carcase off which each man tears as much as he can for himself, is to stand convicted a brute, fit for nothing better than a jungle existence, which is a death-struggle, leading nowhither. I did not believe that was the human destiny, for Man individually was sane and reasonable, only collectively a fool. I hope the gunner of that Hun two-seater shot him clean, bullet to heart, and that his plane, on fire, fell like a meteor through the sky he loved. Since he had to end, I hope he ended so. But, oh, the waste! The loss! - Cecil Lewis | |
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| Bernard | May 27 2008, 06:56 PM Post #3 |
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Senior Carp
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| George K | May 27 2008, 06:58 PM Post #4 |
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Finally
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Can anyone point out to me what (other than gender and race) are the differences between Obama and Clinton?
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| Red Rice | May 27 2008, 07:02 PM Post #5 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Simple. One is the Anti-Christ. The other is Voldemort.
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Civilisation, I vaguely realized then - and subsequent observation has confirmed the view - could not progress that way. It must have a greater guiding principle to survive. To treat it as a carcase off which each man tears as much as he can for himself, is to stand convicted a brute, fit for nothing better than a jungle existence, which is a death-struggle, leading nowhither. I did not believe that was the human destiny, for Man individually was sane and reasonable, only collectively a fool. I hope the gunner of that Hun two-seater shot him clean, bullet to heart, and that his plane, on fire, fell like a meteor through the sky he loved. Since he had to end, I hope he ended so. But, oh, the waste! The loss! - Cecil Lewis | |
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| George K | May 27 2008, 07:05 PM Post #6 |
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Finally
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| Horace | May 27 2008, 07:06 PM Post #7 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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The difference is that the set of people who are passionately convinced beyond any doubt that Hillary is better for this country than Obama, is currently slightly smaller than the set of people who are passionately convinced beyond any doubt that Obama is better for this country than Hillary. |
| As a good person, I implore you to do as I, a good person, do. Be good. Do NOT be bad. If you see bad, end bad. End it in yourself, and end it in others. By any means necessary, the good must conquer the bad. Good people know this. Do you know this? Are you good? | |
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| George K | May 27 2008, 07:08 PM Post #8 |
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Finally
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![]() I needed that. Really. I did.
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| Bernard | May 27 2008, 07:31 PM Post #9 |
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Senior Carp
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Go to their respective official web sites and take a look under issues. At Obama's site you'll find problems idealized in one or two sentence orations. So? Where's the beef? At Hillary's site, though not perfect, you'll find specific problems and concrete plans. Obama is snootish, pompous and green. Hillary, for her shortcomings IS wiser to the ways of Washington and, I believe, the world. These are not bad attributes for someone who wants to be President IMB. I also think Hillary is more central than Obama and stands a better chance of forging positive and constructive alliances with Republicans. I think Obama is a knee-jerk reaction to what we've had for the past 8 years -- a lot of which is not great -- and I think he will simply give the 'political pendulum' another push. Considering where we are, I think giving the pendulum as little energy as possible is the best thing at this time (in that regard, going with McCain might not be the worst thing--he might be the buffer zone we need till the next election in '12). I think Obama has pulled the wool over a lot of people's eyes. I think Hillary is less divisive than Obama. Obama's campaign has used race to great advantage in this race, IYAM. I don't trust Obama. His repeated exaggerations and distortions and his playing totally totally safe on issues is suspect IMB. |
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| Red Rice | May 27 2008, 07:38 PM Post #10 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I agree with much of what you write, Bernard. |
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Civilisation, I vaguely realized then - and subsequent observation has confirmed the view - could not progress that way. It must have a greater guiding principle to survive. To treat it as a carcase off which each man tears as much as he can for himself, is to stand convicted a brute, fit for nothing better than a jungle existence, which is a death-struggle, leading nowhither. I did not believe that was the human destiny, for Man individually was sane and reasonable, only collectively a fool. I hope the gunner of that Hun two-seater shot him clean, bullet to heart, and that his plane, on fire, fell like a meteor through the sky he loved. Since he had to end, I hope he ended so. But, oh, the waste! The loss! - Cecil Lewis | |
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| David Burton | May 27 2008, 09:06 PM Post #11 |
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Senior Carp
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me too, but I still do not support her. at this point I am rather disillusioned by all of them. they all work for the same people, none of whom have the best interests of the nation in mind. i may sit out this election and tend to more promising pursuits; music, getting my book published and golf. |
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| Mark | May 27 2008, 09:18 PM Post #12 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I will join you David. But I will still go to the polls and vote my conscience. And that vote will not be cast for Clinton, Obama or McCain. |
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___.___ (_]===* o 0 When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells | |
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| JoeB | May 27 2008, 09:22 PM Post #13 |
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Senior Carp
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To get elected president in the USA you have to sell your soul. The buyers are the same no matter which party you belong to. |
| "There are many ingredients in the stew of annoyance." - Bucky Katt | |
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| Mark | May 27 2008, 09:37 PM Post #14 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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And we need to change that. Electing Democrats and Republicans from the current crop of "front runners" will do nothing. |
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___.___ (_]===* o 0 When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells | |
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| sarah_blueparrot | May 27 2008, 09:42 PM Post #15 |
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Fulla-Carp
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This is fantastic.I found the article interesting. |
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Death is simply a shedding of the physical body like the butterfly shedding its cocoon. It is a transition to a higher state of consciousness where you continue to perceive, to understand, to laugh, and to be able to grow. - Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross | |
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This is fantastic.
11:24 AM Jul 11