Edmund Burke once said that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil was for good men to do nothing. That's a good thought, but not necessarily true. Good men do a lot of things with the best of intentions that turn out to do nothing but serve evil. Evil is sublime. Evil is cunning. Evil is not based only on willful action or omission, it is based on the Universe's tendency toward balance.
Balance is not always good. Balance means that for every good there is an evil. Fair means for every triumph there is a loss. I don't want fair, I want the good guys to win no matter what. I want righteousness to have an advantage. I want Good to push Evil out of the way and reach out to the ends of the Earth.
When that has happened, when it is done, there will be a time of peace; but unless individuality is lost there will be dissent. When there is dissent there will be sides. Evil will use that. In whatever perfect world there may be, so long as people can think, there will always be an apple.
Et in Arcadia Ego.
To be continued...
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Monday, October 18, 2004
God Willing
Well, I’ve been off and distracted so I haven’t been able to come up with anything especially insightful or witty. The things I’ve read lately have been fluff, though I have read some pretty good comic books. Most recently I have enjoyed “Superman: Red Son” which may be one of the top five comics I’ve ever read, and “Powers” volumes 1 through 3 by Michael Bendis. Those are also classics, just like Bendis’ work on Ultimate Spider-man.
Saw “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” which was like watching a live action Max Fleischer cartoon, and equally enjoyable. Angelina Jolie in an eye-patch; God bless that kid. Seriously though, it was very well conceived and produced and a nice break from standard fair.
My state sent me a second absentee ballot. The first, which I commented on before, was only a write in, so supposedly the state sends one to ensure you can vote in case your regular ballot doesn’t arrive. Seriously, that’s what they say. So I actually got to vote against Bush and Kerry and for Badnarik twice! Gosh I hope they count them. I’m also trying to get Fichus on my county board of supervisors…
Right now I am listening to symphonic Pink Floyd in between rocket attacks rattling the windows. One thing being here has shown me is the ability of humans, which I must claim as my species, to adapt. Sure, some are reduced to quivering masses of tear producing flesh, but the majority of us go about our business and count our fingers and toes after they hear the boom. A mortar shell bouncing off your roof does get your attention though.
I had a friend get shrapnel this week, and he is leaving Babylon to go home. He’ll be OK, but we had some worried moments. There are three awards I never want to receive from my firm: the Purple Heart, the POW medal, and the Congressional Medal of Honor; too often those are awarded posthumously. I’m not scared of death, but I’m really enjoying this plane of existence right now.
We had a couple of people here leave this plane of existence earlier this week. I had coffee with one of them the night before. He stayed up late watching Al-Arabiya TV, then went in the morning to get a shower. A 107MM Chinese rocket, which the Babylonians aren’t supposed to have, landed about 20 feet from him. Not fair, not unjust, just was his time. There’s no real defense, there’s no real prep besides wearing some protective gear. What do you do?
Go on living. Listen to Pink Floyd and watch Angelina Jolie make eye-patches look sexy. Read comic books. Post a blog. Insh’allah.
Saw “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” which was like watching a live action Max Fleischer cartoon, and equally enjoyable. Angelina Jolie in an eye-patch; God bless that kid. Seriously though, it was very well conceived and produced and a nice break from standard fair.
My state sent me a second absentee ballot. The first, which I commented on before, was only a write in, so supposedly the state sends one to ensure you can vote in case your regular ballot doesn’t arrive. Seriously, that’s what they say. So I actually got to vote against Bush and Kerry and for Badnarik twice! Gosh I hope they count them. I’m also trying to get Fichus on my county board of supervisors…
Right now I am listening to symphonic Pink Floyd in between rocket attacks rattling the windows. One thing being here has shown me is the ability of humans, which I must claim as my species, to adapt. Sure, some are reduced to quivering masses of tear producing flesh, but the majority of us go about our business and count our fingers and toes after they hear the boom. A mortar shell bouncing off your roof does get your attention though.
I had a friend get shrapnel this week, and he is leaving Babylon to go home. He’ll be OK, but we had some worried moments. There are three awards I never want to receive from my firm: the Purple Heart, the POW medal, and the Congressional Medal of Honor; too often those are awarded posthumously. I’m not scared of death, but I’m really enjoying this plane of existence right now.
We had a couple of people here leave this plane of existence earlier this week. I had coffee with one of them the night before. He stayed up late watching Al-Arabiya TV, then went in the morning to get a shower. A 107MM Chinese rocket, which the Babylonians aren’t supposed to have, landed about 20 feet from him. Not fair, not unjust, just was his time. There’s no real defense, there’s no real prep besides wearing some protective gear. What do you do?
Go on living. Listen to Pink Floyd and watch Angelina Jolie make eye-patches look sexy. Read comic books. Post a blog. Insh’allah.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
Some stuff.
So, being as I am in a warm, dry place where metal encased explosives fall from the sky periodically, I got to vote by absentee this week. Perhaps I have been cheated because I will not be able to factor into my decision the last four weeks of scandal, mudslinging, and punditry, but I am comfortable with my decision: Michael Badnarik.
That's right ladies and gentleman, I voted Libertarian. Frankly, as much as I know I threw away my vote, it will be worth it in a year to look at the man in the White House and say, "don't blame me, I voted for Michael Badnarik." Frankly I have no faith in the candidates of either of the major parties, and could not in good conscience take part in the appointment of either man. I may have made an ineffectual gesture, but at least I can look at myself in the mirror. The Philosopher Jester strikes again.*
In unrelated news; love hurts. Love scars. It wounds, it mars any heart not strong or tough enough to take a lot of pain.
But it is a many splendored thing, and all you need... Like oxygen even.
Dawn Wells was born 18 Oct 1938. Frankly, she's still gorgeous, like some kind of Mary Ann-droid. She's also a Libra like me (19 Oct).
*Philosopher Jester is a title I based on Plato's Republic; if there a ruler should be a Philosopher King, I figured every ruled kingdom would need a Philosopher Jester. Tertium Quid Pro Quo.
That's right ladies and gentleman, I voted Libertarian. Frankly, as much as I know I threw away my vote, it will be worth it in a year to look at the man in the White House and say, "don't blame me, I voted for Michael Badnarik." Frankly I have no faith in the candidates of either of the major parties, and could not in good conscience take part in the appointment of either man. I may have made an ineffectual gesture, but at least I can look at myself in the mirror. The Philosopher Jester strikes again.*
In unrelated news; love hurts. Love scars. It wounds, it mars any heart not strong or tough enough to take a lot of pain.
But it is a many splendored thing, and all you need... Like oxygen even.
Dawn Wells was born 18 Oct 1938. Frankly, she's still gorgeous, like some kind of Mary Ann-droid. She's also a Libra like me (19 Oct).
*Philosopher Jester is a title I based on Plato's Republic; if there a ruler should be a Philosopher King, I figured every ruled kingdom would need a Philosopher Jester. Tertium Quid Pro Quo.
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