National Healthcare Bill

In a class discussion, my civics teacher asked what I thought about the Healthcare Reform Bill. The first steps of any reform, I thought, should be imposed not by a large governing body but by groups of individuals. For when that large governing body along begins to micromanage what belongs to the individual, freedom slips away. Very quickly, that governing body turns into a fascist mob where words like "freedom" and "rights" have no place except the graveyard of the Constitution.

A CNS reporter questioned Nancy Pelosi, "Where specifically does the Constitution grant Congress the authority to enact an individual health insurance mandate?" Pelosi's response revealed nothing besides ignorance. The fact that the Constitution does not grant Congress the authority to mandate health insurance should be the end of the argument, but to many that doesn't seem to quell the debate. Most want to know how reform would look like in actuality instead of simply theory. Luckily, we can see the effects both England and Canada have suffered from their national health care system. 750,000 British citizens are waiting for hospital admission, this does not account for the half of patients waiting over 18 weeks for care from their doctor. Then there's Canada with 800,000 citizens waiting for treatment which they'll receive in about 18 weeks-- if they're lucky. Doctors no longer have the drive or money to work for themselves, some turn to work for the government thus slowing the process down due to the "take a ticket" system and lack of personnel and equipment. In the end more lives are lost. Today, scientists work day and night researching ways to extend human life; they don't need medical expertise to see that socialized medicine is not the answer. THe problem can be partly solved by removing the hand of the government. In respect to healthcare, after the government has withdrawn, things such as TORT reform and the deregulation of health insurance begin to put the power back into the hands of citizens and improve healthcare.

Encomium: St. Augustine's Confessions

No crowd ever chanted "Augustine! Augustine!" No king or queen summoned him to sit and feast at their table. No royal fleet voyaged to carry his name across the seas. But bow down on their knees and lament did those whose eyes passed over the truth-filled pages of Augustine's Confessions. Tales of spiritual revelation, personal freedom, and selfless faith definte Augustine's road to Christ and provide a pathway for the modern reader to search within himself so that God may detract the scandals that lie within every heart.
Every human is born a sinner and dies a sinner. What, then, is man's ultimate end if there is no hope for these criminal patterns? As a boy in Thagaste, Augustine plotted out every way to defy the strict laws of Christianity. As a teenager, he furthered this pattern by indulging in carnal pleasures. In Confessions, Augustine tears down the curtain that cloaks the deceiving lies hissed into man's ears. He allows readers time to reflect on their own life and realize the need to repair the shattered pieces and turn to the One Savior for redemption. Never once does Augustine boast about himself, or repent in order to receive pity from others, or deny that Christ alone offered him His hand through the miry clay. Instead, through his explanation of personal and theological struggles, Augustine uses Confessions to identify with nearly every stage of man's distress and seeks to guide his audience toward the Truth of God.

Candid

None are worse than I who have defiled the reputation of mine and my lord to which I had remained so faithful. Let fiery hell be cast upon me that I may forget the wrongs I have committed! O God, listen closely to this cry of mine. The girdle I kept for my own was not unlike Eve partaking of the forbidden fruit. I deluded my mind to believing the enchanted belt would save my life, therefore preserving my strength to further serve my king. However, just as my king upholds chivalry above his own head, so should have I. So should have I! Diloyalty, that war-mongering scoundrel, was my primary sin. Betrayal, that fraudulent brute, infested every corner of my judgment. Was my host rude and estranged? Was he cheating and despicable? Was he spiteful and salamitous? On the contrary! For those depictions and other such foul things resided in me. Cursed be that green girdle, for if i was such a fool to steal it away and betray the code I held to so dearly, my life was not worth saving. The moment I dishonored my king, I began living life for my own selfish heart. A knight I am not, but a knave.
I fall at the feet of the One who is higher than I. All fault is mine to bear, but with Your grace my heart is made anew, a second chance I am given, my burden is lifted. Even though the worm is more innocent than I, you grant me life--life undeserved, but life given still.

Ezra Pound's "The Seafarer"

Ezra Pound's translation of "The Seafarer" provides grounds for being both a good translation and a poor one. Pound maintains the elements of Anglo-Saxon poetry. He stays tru to alliterative accentual verse by using caesura, alliteration, and stressed syllables. Line ten is a great example of this verse, and brings the atmosphere of "The Seafarer" to life: "Chill its chains are; chafing signs hew my heart round." Pound also regularly uses kennings and epithets. Perhaps the most important quality which allows Pound to stay tru to the Anglo-Saxon verse is that he translated the poem as a poem, rather than a narrative.
The original "The Seafarer" seems to be composed of two parts, the first half lamenting and the second half didactic. The huge difference between Pound's translation and that of another is that Pound completely cuts out lines 100-124--thus leaving out the didactic element of the poem. Pound also purposefully mis-translates line 78 to read "And his laud beyond them remain 'mid the English" rather than "with the angels". The Christian element of the poem magically disappears, leaving the audience with a lament. There is no redemption, no warmth.
Though Pound's translation stayed true to the Anglo-Saxon poetry elements, he strayed far from their culture of truth. He knew the impact of the Gospel was greatly evident, and he took every stride to eliminate it. Such are the ways of those who know the Truth but seek to destroy it. Truth is indestructable, so most simply ignore the Truth. When one reads further into Pound's translation or any like his, he will discover that ignorance isn't so blissful afterall.

My Point Is.....

Ever come across a situation when you're trying to explain something to someone but somehow it's just... not the same? Maybe it's a mistake, or some object, or a feeling. Did you wish that they would just get it? Everyone years for someone that would simply see it their way.

....there is.

Reason #3288313 why I adore my Savior: He understands.
No matter what situation I'm in, no matter how stressed or tired or enraged I am, He listens. He neither interrupts, nor leaves, nor tires. I remember one afternoon when I was sketching, out of frustration, God whispered something to me softly, "I am with you, child." If there was someone sitting next to me, they would not have heard it, but to I, who was spoken to, it was clear as crystal. Tears dampened my eyes-- I wasn't alone. I had never been alone. God knows me inside and out. He knows me more than my boyfriend, more than my best friend, more than my parents, more than I know myself.

He doesn't just know at what minute of what day of what year I said my first word, or when I took my first step towards Him, or when I first discovered the passions He placed in my heart, but He knows where it's all headed. He's not some super computer that stores up the world's information and secrets. A computer can't make novel decisions, a computer can't Love, a computer can't stay with you through thick and through thin. No object or person on this earth can satisfy the hunger for a True Listener, Comforter, or Lover.

God-- constant, never changing, ever present. I live by Him, my life is measured by Him, I base my life around Him.

Puzzle Pieces

Alright, so this isn't really anything I've written recently, but more like a compilation of things from a while ago. I used to write in a diary every night. I'd write about pretty much anything, my day, something I read, thoughts, feelings, friends, fears, the future... you name it, I wrote about it. So these are just a few excerpts from my dairy from the past 2 years or so. Enjoy : ]


Goodnight Moon. May the impossible stop at my feet, say hello to my heart, and step into my life. (February 18th 2007)

I don't know what to believe, I don't know what to decide, but I do know who to love. It's hard to love something in such a hard time of fast decision making and school and friends and boyfriends and sometimes we just have our hands so full. But, I do know what's right, it's right to love God, and it's right to put faith in Him; it's right to put your troubles into his hands and trust Him with everything you've got... it's just hard. (January 11th 2007)

This morning was one of those horrible mornings when you wake up and you really don't want to but your room is really hot and the sun is shining in through your windows and you cant get back to sleep. But you try anyways and you are tossing and turning and are unsurprisingly successful because the sticky heat makes you drowsy, but you end up waking up a full 20 minutes later and repeat the process about 8 times. (Jan. 27th 07)

Goodnight Moon. May I wake up somewhere else.

All I can say to myself is that there's time. There's more time to come and I hope it will arrive... in time...

So, I almost clicked on a pinball game instead of writing my diary tonight, I obviously convinced myself otherwise. (April 17th 2007)

As for a husband you may ask?? Well, we'll just see about that. If I end up having one, then may our lives be happy together, if not; let my life be contempt with my marriage with the Holy Spirit!!!!! (said in black preacher voice :] )

My dreams WILL be accomplished and that's that. Work hard and live a contempt life. Trust and follow God and live a complete life. May tomorrow bring good things.

The only thing was that he was sorta going into his freshman year... in college. But, my mum said he was flirting with me like crazy. Well, I think I secretly agree with her, it was rather obvious. But you never know, he might just be a really super nice and very attractive person trying to make sweet conversation, complimenting me, and smiling at me a lot .

That is my one fear in life. Losing my twin. Losing part of me. Losing my best friend. That's my weak point. If something happens to her, than something equal will happen to me. She and i reflect each other. (August 17th 2007)

Just because you love someone doesn't mean it's not a big deal to say "I love you"

Ok so today I woke up and really felt like shopping. Grocery style. (August 18th 2007)

So, that's been a little update on the past few days. I'd like to say "The End" but it's really not the end, i sorta have the rest of my life to live. (December 16th 2007)

It's just a scary thing to know that one day you're going to leave everything you know, everything you love, for something you aren't even sure about. (diary of December 18th 07)

Adam's Return (Lament)

This poem laments the absence of peace. It’s written in quatrains with lines of dactylic hexameter and iambic pentameter and with a rhyme scheme of ABCB.

Humbled, I cry to the God of the earth and all heavenly beings.

When has it been that the confident song of my spirit diminishes?

Sin draws out tormenting, harrowing, arduous, turmoil daily.

Worry infests in my sanctum, sweet melody finally finishes.

Men without peace are like songs with no melody, kings with no scepters.

See, O God, see what they do to me! False and misleading their pardons!

Scavengers spot me and lure me away from your stronghold at Zion.

Far from my homeland they force me to roam in their Babel of Gardens.

Loathing, self loathing, is dwelling inside me, no hope of escaping.

Conflict embraces its devious nature, infecting my silence.

Bellowing deep within, echoing, echoing, echoing grossly

Fleeting emotions are sin’s revolution, resounding with violence.

I have no rampart to fend off disquietude, mercy release me!

Loss of devotion, the boss of objective, I’m born with infection.

Grief is around every corner while brokenness knocks at my doorpost.

Whoever saw such things? Things that I see in my own sad reflection.

Senseless, bewildered, I look for some shade in this desolate desert.

What do I see in this wilderness? Thriving with life and great valor?

Tired, I sit at the foot of the dogwood tree, thankful for respite.

Something is in me though, something so strong that it rid me of pallor,

Sharp as the sword of a knight, but as smooth as the rock of Mount Zion.

Color I felt rushing back to my cheeks and cool breath filled my being.

No longer the pounding Triskelion running but God’s footsteps pacing.

Whispers so low and non vocal are strange to me, clenching yet freeing.

Succulent promise came. Bittersweet nothingness washed away swiftly.

Suddenly craving for water I’m quenched, never thirsting, I’m stronger

Then some ethereal mist whisked by brushing the tip of my nostril.

Breathing in deeply, the heavn’ly aroma I hold back no longer!

Light of the heavens, do show yourself fully and bless this poor beggar.

When I step out from the shadow Truth shines from every corner.

Treading on ground that is finer than gold and more beautiful still

Given the hope of a life spent with you, I’m no longer a foreigner.

I fall down to my knees and cry to Him,

“Release me from my chains and set me free!”

To You, O God, I give my life’s account.

By Saving Grace you lift me from debris,

Forgive me of my fault, my harm, my sin.

For I have crushed the blameless, beat the poor

My hands have touched; my eyes have seen Your Grace.

In You, O Lord, I stand and can endure.

Let all the nations praise the Prince of Peace!

Should any living man reject His love?

To God I asked forgiveness; He forgave.

He spoke to me, and I became a dove.

The Lord is good to those who trust in Him.

The sun shines bright for I whose trust is thin.

My peace restored, therefore I weep no more.

Forbear, forgive, forget, for peace within.