Many decades ago, I wrote a poem/story entitled the "Emperor's Face"
In a far off land, in a distant time, the people knew their leaders. We, in our narrow sense of being, might say they selected, or elected, those leaders. But that was not the case.
There came a time when the old emperor died.
As was the custom, the people made pilgrimage to see the new Emperor's face.
In a small village there lived a boy.
As the road outside his house began to fill with people,
he asked his parents where the people were all going.
"Why, they are going to see the new emperor," was the response.
"Are we going? I would like to see the Emperor's face." the boy said.
But the boy's parents were blind, and the trip was long and the roads rough.
So the told him they could not go; even if they did, it was their destiny -- they had known it their whole lives -- they would never see the Emperor's face.
As they spoke, the boy looked upon their faces ...
and was surprised at the manner in which they spoke.
It was an experience desired by all the people of the realm.
Yet ... in what others might see as loss, his parents seemed content.
The boy sat in his doorway and watched as the marching crowd grew larger.
He sat. He looked inside at his parents -- calm and content.
He sat but became impatient.
He had never disobeyed his parents.
They had said they were not going -- they could not go.
It was their destiny to never see the Emperor's face.
He sat -- and he thought.
He considered their words.
"They" could not go.
"They" could not see the Emperor's face.
"They" but did that mean, or mean to include, "he could not see?"
They could not see. But he saw just fine.
Thus it was that he determined he would see the Emperor's face.
He would leave his parents and journey alone.
He was going to see the Emperor's face.
So he announced his plan,
and without awaiting a response,
ran to the road and pushed into the crowd.
"Impudent Boy," shouted an old woman,
"do you know your place?"
"You're going to see the Emperor's face," he shouted.
"We're going to see the Emperor's face," he shouted.
"I'm going to see the Emperor's face," he shouted.
And with that he began to push his way ahead.
Watch it boy --
keep your place --
you'll be the last to see the Emperor's face.
He pushed to the edge of the precession ...
he ran along side ...
as he passed he could hear the shout:
Watch it boy --
keep your place --
you'll be the last to see the Emperor's face.
This il-mannered lad, ran out of place
He'd be the last to see the Emperor's face.
Across the hill, and rivers and streams ...
the boy continued to go where the people had gone.
He was going to the castle
He knew the place ...
the place where he would see the Emperor's face.
Rude boy, il-mannered tike.
the orderly people had never see the like.
For it was said, in this land of theirs'
everyone knew their place.
Mor eimportant,
they knew to keep their place.
Yet here was this boy ...
who passed them all ...
He was out of place ...
Determined to see the Emperor's face.
Watch it boy --
Learn your place --
You'll be the last to see the Emperor's face.
When he arrived at the castle he did not stop.
He passed the guards who saw his face.
This boy who didn't know his place.
Into the court yard he ran ...
ahead of him the High Imperial Stand.
Where is the man?
Where is his face?
Where would the Emperor have his place?
As he ran he heard exclaimed:
"We've seen the face.
The boy turned to the sound and then looked around.
Where was that place --
Where would he need to be ...
to see the Emperor's face.
He ran past the ministers who held their place.
He ran past the guards guards -- they kept their place.
As he ran he heard exclaimed:
"I've seen his face."
He ran to the stirs and to the highest place ...
He was now bound and determined to see the Emperor's Face.
Atop the stand he looked about.
He could see the people and pleased.
"I've seen the face." he'd hear ...
and he would see the people near yield their place ...
and each in turn would take that place ..
for the people were orderly and all knew their place.
The boy stood and examined each and every face.
He'd found a place, and held his place --
until each had seen the Emperor's face.
At home, his parents heard the returning crowd ...
Their destiny fulfilled ... they were made aware.
Their son had found his place,
He was the last to know Emperor's face.
.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Bush's mess keeps growing
The way things are currently being reported, it seems that Obama will spend his first term cleaning & rebuilding the house that Bush tried to destroy.
For more than eight years (beginning with the musing comment to vote for Bush just so I can see if he'll be as bad as I was projecting) I have pointed out that George Bush worked for Ben Laden and his father worked for the Saudi. The Saudi wanted Saddam taken out -- Bush senior failed. Ben Laden wanted Saddam taken out and the United States to run a TRILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT -- Bush junior succeeded. Now Obama has to clean up the mess and take out Ben Laden (The leader of Al Quada and architect of the World Trade Center destruction who Buss2 declared irrelevant in the world of terrorists).
Now we also have the problem of Health Care -- the Republicans want older and poorer Americans to die ... GOP Christian Evangelical backers want these people to die ... they care nothing for the sick and aged ... their opposition to universal care shows that ... at least we can take solace in the knowledge that these people will never enter any Heaven run by Christ ... how could they ... they openly oppose everything the gospels profess he taught. Fortunately for them, their belief that Christianity is a crock and it's base are idiots is truth -- unfortunately for the rest of us, the fact that the Christian base is composed of idiots is what has gotten us into the mess that Obama must now correct.
sigh ...
For more than eight years (beginning with the musing comment to vote for Bush just so I can see if he'll be as bad as I was projecting) I have pointed out that George Bush worked for Ben Laden and his father worked for the Saudi. The Saudi wanted Saddam taken out -- Bush senior failed. Ben Laden wanted Saddam taken out and the United States to run a TRILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT -- Bush junior succeeded. Now Obama has to clean up the mess and take out Ben Laden (The leader of Al Quada and architect of the World Trade Center destruction who Buss2 declared irrelevant in the world of terrorists).
Now we also have the problem of Health Care -- the Republicans want older and poorer Americans to die ... GOP Christian Evangelical backers want these people to die ... they care nothing for the sick and aged ... their opposition to universal care shows that ... at least we can take solace in the knowledge that these people will never enter any Heaven run by Christ ... how could they ... they openly oppose everything the gospels profess he taught. Fortunately for them, their belief that Christianity is a crock and it's base are idiots is truth -- unfortunately for the rest of us, the fact that the Christian base is composed of idiots is what has gotten us into the mess that Obama must now correct.
sigh ...
Friday, August 21, 2009
Health Care - Not for America
America does not deserve health care. The Congress is proving that. What the nation deserves is what the Republicans -- with Democratic support -- have provided.
THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE
Most of the industrialized world has universal single payer health care. On average, that health care costs half of what Americans pay. The difference is found in paying people to deny care to those who pay for health insurance. The difference comes from the need foe extensive end-of-life catastrophic health care -- which would be avoided if timely primary care were not denied.
Of course, Americans do not live as long as those in the rest of the industrialized world -- the idea behind denial of basic care is to ensure that people die before they can collect of their insurance.
Curious fact. If we cut costs by emulating the rest of the civilized humanitarian world, we could pay for care for twice as many people -- and not spend a cent more than we now spend. In fact, we would actually save money over our current costs.
However,
THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE
mandates that our leaders line their own pockets and provide themselves with care while denying us equivalent care.
Americans deserve what they get -- because people get what they deserve.
THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE
Most of the industrialized world has universal single payer health care. On average, that health care costs half of what Americans pay. The difference is found in paying people to deny care to those who pay for health insurance. The difference comes from the need foe extensive end-of-life catastrophic health care -- which would be avoided if timely primary care were not denied.
Of course, Americans do not live as long as those in the rest of the industrialized world -- the idea behind denial of basic care is to ensure that people die before they can collect of their insurance.
Curious fact. If we cut costs by emulating the rest of the civilized humanitarian world, we could pay for care for twice as many people -- and not spend a cent more than we now spend. In fact, we would actually save money over our current costs.
However,
THE MOST HARM TO THE MOST PEOPLE
mandates that our leaders line their own pockets and provide themselves with care while denying us equivalent care.
Americans deserve what they get -- because people get what they deserve.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Palin ... satan follower?
stolen from
http://the-bohemian-register.blogspot.com/2009/08/snatch-granny-from-ice-flow-snatch.html
Snatch Granny From the Ice-Flow
Object of game: Sarah Palin’s grandmother was summoned to appear before Obama’s infamous Death Panel, made up of infamous Somalia Warlords that were made honorary citizens of the United States after solving the down syndrome problem via target practice.
Condemned to die on a shelf of ice made plentiful by global warming, Sarah Palin heads North with a dog sled team to save Granny who is in eminent danger of being eaten by polar bears. Sassy Sarah must leap from flow to flow to get to Granny before a hundred polar bears do.
One does not want to save Granny from any of the perils she encounters, because then she is no longer a Big Obama Victim. The player wants to use Granny as alligator bait in order to discover who is really behind the evil Death Panels. Could it be – Satan?
To make matters worse, Obama has employed Greenpeace Bounty Hunters after having a change of heart. Instead of wanting them to die a slow death, our President nows wants dear old Granny dead as a door nail. He is afraid Palin and her people might rescue the poor Grannys who are being protected by a legion of cute seal pups (sent by God) who must be clubbed to death in order to get to Granny.
Greenpeace Bounty Hunters need every dime they can get in order to stop honest Japanese Capitalist from making a living hunting whales.
Afraid of everyone, and not knowing who to trust, the object is to chase Granny further North, until she is swallowed by an Evil Killer Whale – and then spat out on the cold shore of Santaland! What is in a name? (Satanland)
After surviving an attack by sinister Socialist Tooth Fairies (who eat Christian babies in their sleep) that try to bribe the player into giving up with cold hard cash, alas one comes to the Red Ice Palace. Hearing jolly, but sinister laughter, Sarah knows she has found him, the biggest Red Menace of them all – Satan Santa!
Being a true Republican, who hates all giveaway program, Sarah knows it will take all the will power she can muster in order to refuse the fantastic free gifts Satan Santa puts before her in one incredible vision after another. Satan's Healthcare plan was a sight to behold! It included free Sex Slaves!
“It’s all yours – for free! If you and Granny just follow me!” bellows Satan Santa in a frosty voice. “You'll never have to work again in my Collective Commune! I will make you my Welfare Queen!” Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho! I will even make you my Empress on Christmas Day!"
Alas, the player has arrived at the Last Temptation of Sarah – the end game. Alas she understands why Satan Santa spreads his evil message on the day her Savior was born. Sarah must now assign chapter and verse to all the Biblical quotes that Satan Santa throws at her in order to trip her up. One wrong answer, and Satan Santa will be gnawing on Granny’s brittle bones.
Object Lesson of game: LIFE IS HELL WHEN YOU ARE A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN POLITICIAN
Are you sure this is the kind of lesson you want to receive?
23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
{8} Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. {9} "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." {10} Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" {11} Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
http://www.lifenews.com/bio2918.html
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Former Alaska governor and possible 2012 presidential candidate Sarah Palin is not backing down from her charge that the House health care bill includes "death panels." Palin faced significant criticism after saying provisions in the measure could lead to euthanasia or rationing of medical care.
Last week, Palin posted a well-received note on Facebook saying she worries the health care bill will be paid for on the backs of the elderly and disabled, who could be pushed into euthanasia and assisted suicide via rationing of medical treatment."And who will suffer the most when they ration care? The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course," she said.
"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society' whether they are worthy of health care," Palin says. "Such a system is downright evil."
The Obama administration, joined by liberal groups and Internet activists, attacked Palin for the comments and claimed the bill did not contain such concerns.
In a response issued today on the popular social networking web site, Palin offered no apologies for her frank assessment of the problems with the bill.
"President Obama can try to gloss over the effects of government authorized end-of-life consultations, but the views of one of his top health care advisers are clear enough," she said.
"It’s all just more evidence that the Democratic legislative proposals will lead to health care rationing, and more evidence that the top-down plans of government bureaucrats will never result in real health care reform," Palin added.
The comments hearken back to her first remarks and pertain to Ezekiel Emanuel, an Obama advisor who works at the Office of Management and Budget and is the chief architect of the health care bills. He has come under criticism from pro-life advocates for views that are considered well outside the mainstream.
Palin's new comments are very analytical and they include 11 footnotes, linking to bill texts, government reports, articles and supportive commentary.
Palin's earlier comments and her rebuttal are focused on Section 1233 of the bill, which has been criticized as making it so physicians are given financial incentives to urge patients to hold end-of-life discussions with them that could pave the way for euthanasia or rationing.
"With all due respect, it's misleading for the President to describe this section as an entirely voluntary provision that simply increases the information offered to Medicare recipients. The issue is the context in which that information is provided and the coercive effect these consultations will have in that context," Palin writes.
That's similar to the views expressed by not only leading pro-life groups but Charles Lane, an editorial page writer for the liberal Washington Post.
http://the-bohemian-register.blogspot.com/2009/08/snatch-granny-from-ice-flow-snatch.html
Snatch Granny From the Ice-Flow
Object of game: Sarah Palin’s grandmother was summoned to appear before Obama’s infamous Death Panel, made up of infamous Somalia Warlords that were made honorary citizens of the United States after solving the down syndrome problem via target practice.
Condemned to die on a shelf of ice made plentiful by global warming, Sarah Palin heads North with a dog sled team to save Granny who is in eminent danger of being eaten by polar bears. Sassy Sarah must leap from flow to flow to get to Granny before a hundred polar bears do.
One does not want to save Granny from any of the perils she encounters, because then she is no longer a Big Obama Victim. The player wants to use Granny as alligator bait in order to discover who is really behind the evil Death Panels. Could it be – Satan?
To make matters worse, Obama has employed Greenpeace Bounty Hunters after having a change of heart. Instead of wanting them to die a slow death, our President nows wants dear old Granny dead as a door nail. He is afraid Palin and her people might rescue the poor Grannys who are being protected by a legion of cute seal pups (sent by God) who must be clubbed to death in order to get to Granny.
Greenpeace Bounty Hunters need every dime they can get in order to stop honest Japanese Capitalist from making a living hunting whales.
Afraid of everyone, and not knowing who to trust, the object is to chase Granny further North, until she is swallowed by an Evil Killer Whale – and then spat out on the cold shore of Santaland! What is in a name? (Satanland)
After surviving an attack by sinister Socialist Tooth Fairies (who eat Christian babies in their sleep) that try to bribe the player into giving up with cold hard cash, alas one comes to the Red Ice Palace. Hearing jolly, but sinister laughter, Sarah knows she has found him, the biggest Red Menace of them all – Satan Santa!
Being a true Republican, who hates all giveaway program, Sarah knows it will take all the will power she can muster in order to refuse the fantastic free gifts Satan Santa puts before her in one incredible vision after another. Satan's Healthcare plan was a sight to behold! It included free Sex Slaves!
“It’s all yours – for free! If you and Granny just follow me!” bellows Satan Santa in a frosty voice. “You'll never have to work again in my Collective Commune! I will make you my Welfare Queen!” Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho! I will even make you my Empress on Christmas Day!"
Alas, the player has arrived at the Last Temptation of Sarah – the end game. Alas she understands why Satan Santa spreads his evil message on the day her Savior was born. Sarah must now assign chapter and verse to all the Biblical quotes that Satan Santa throws at her in order to trip her up. One wrong answer, and Satan Santa will be gnawing on Granny’s brittle bones.
Object Lesson of game: LIFE IS HELL WHEN YOU ARE A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN POLITICIAN
Are you sure this is the kind of lesson you want to receive?
23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
{8} Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. {9} "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." {10} Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" {11} Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
http://www.lifenews.com/bio2918.html
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Former Alaska governor and possible 2012 presidential candidate Sarah Palin is not backing down from her charge that the House health care bill includes "death panels." Palin faced significant criticism after saying provisions in the measure could lead to euthanasia or rationing of medical care.
Last week, Palin posted a well-received note on Facebook saying she worries the health care bill will be paid for on the backs of the elderly and disabled, who could be pushed into euthanasia and assisted suicide via rationing of medical treatment."And who will suffer the most when they ration care? The sick, the elderly, and the disabled, of course," she said.
"The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society' whether they are worthy of health care," Palin says. "Such a system is downright evil."
The Obama administration, joined by liberal groups and Internet activists, attacked Palin for the comments and claimed the bill did not contain such concerns.
In a response issued today on the popular social networking web site, Palin offered no apologies for her frank assessment of the problems with the bill.
"President Obama can try to gloss over the effects of government authorized end-of-life consultations, but the views of one of his top health care advisers are clear enough," she said.
"It’s all just more evidence that the Democratic legislative proposals will lead to health care rationing, and more evidence that the top-down plans of government bureaucrats will never result in real health care reform," Palin added.
The comments hearken back to her first remarks and pertain to Ezekiel Emanuel, an Obama advisor who works at the Office of Management and Budget and is the chief architect of the health care bills. He has come under criticism from pro-life advocates for views that are considered well outside the mainstream.
Palin's new comments are very analytical and they include 11 footnotes, linking to bill texts, government reports, articles and supportive commentary.
Palin's earlier comments and her rebuttal are focused on Section 1233 of the bill, which has been criticized as making it so physicians are given financial incentives to urge patients to hold end-of-life discussions with them that could pave the way for euthanasia or rationing.
"With all due respect, it's misleading for the President to describe this section as an entirely voluntary provision that simply increases the information offered to Medicare recipients. The issue is the context in which that information is provided and the coercive effect these consultations will have in that context," Palin writes.
That's similar to the views expressed by not only leading pro-life groups but Charles Lane, an editorial page writer for the liberal Washington Post.
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