I say that not because I happen to believe it - actually - is, but because, from all the hype and hysteria presently swirling around the imminent inauguration of the most controversial and unpopular President-Elect in United States history, a Mr Donald J Trump, one would - could - not but assume that the end of days is presently upon us... .
And yet when one peruses the biblical text in the good 'ole King James Version of the Holy Bible - as I myself directly reference in my own 42-pager upon the seemingly endless, never-ending run-up to the most infamous American election of all time - what on earth could references to 'the last [T]rump' and 'the [T]rump of God' otherwise possibly refer to...I mean, really? Surely divine shorthand for the present scenario even if it does simultaneously reveal The Divine One as possessing a super-dooper, unrivalled and unfathomable sense of humour!?!?!
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
When words are not worth the attention they would attract
The Syrian people - like the rest of the world - heard the stirring, purposeful words of courage and implacability: yes, the "development or moving around of chemical weapons [within Syria] would constitute [the crossing of] a red line"...following which, 'we all understood', the U S of A would take the [requisite military] action needed to rectify the situation...i.e. Syria's despotic murderer Bashir al-Assad would be left in no uncertain terms as to who was really in control in his land: i.e. America - not himself.
No, I myself speak with hyperbole and imprecisely here; rather - by employing said weaponry in order to vaporize his enemies - Assad would be left in absolutely no doubt whatsoever as to what would happen, how the 'civilized world' so-called, would react, were chemical and/or biological weapons to be utilized in the Syrian conflict: real humanity wouldn't tolerate it, would respond swiftly and sharply and put paid speedily to Assad's pretensions, to his genocidal treatment of 'his own'... .
But just as President George Bush (Senior) gave the effective green light to another infamous high-profile despot and tyrant around two decades earlier, President Obama likewise capitulated, grew weak at the knees when push came to shove...and, much as Bush effectively allowed then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to bombard the Kurds in Iraq's north with biological/chemical weapons after the Iraq War - a war moreover when virtually the entire globe was right behind the United States' action to free Kuwait from Hussein's annexation, to the extent that even that well-known bastion of anti-Americanism, the United Nations, by almost unanimous decision authorized the U.S. military response (just think of it!) - Bush Senior's latter-day successor, Barack Hussein Obama, has likewise - despite his own 'red line' declaration - simply refused to give reality to his own fine, ever so carefully and precisely enunciated words.
Personally I neither support America's *long-adopted role of de facto World Policeman, nor for that matter still entertain even faint hopes of, much less expect, **real moral courage ***from that nation in face of many of the present-day threats encompassing our planet, it's just a pity that those politicians so often lauded to the rafters, such as ****Obama, so often likewise fail to follow through on their solemnly-spoken undertakings.
*Itself the subject of a two millennia-spanning biblical prophecy in the New Testament Book of Revelation.
**Though some would maintain that President Obama has indeed shown such moral leadership over climate change and his historic (but likely soon to be relegated to the dustbin of history) deal thereabouts with the Government of China no less: that is, in achieving what many had understandably given up hopes of, i.e. some genuine worldwide consensus and concord on that threat to all humankind (whether ultimately human-induced, aggravated or otherwise). For in global environmental catastrophes there are no real winners, and if humankind, animal-kind and plant-kind are pretty well wiped out through our lack of moral courage, vision and preparedness to take a risk-averse, precautionary, *****life-at-any-cost approach to the present threat to life on Planet Earth, our extinct offspring and their own nonexistent progeny will hardly be around to bemoan our lack of foresight, and ask us, much like Scrooge's Ghost of Christmas Past, why we weren't willing to really listen to our own prophets of doom in our day of opportunity. Dead folk, after all, tell no tales.
***Though in so saying I myself - as so many do, in a quite unreflective way - seem to both expect America to consistently adopt just such a de facto position as Moral Watchman of our present-day world and yet simultaneously adopt the surely mutually-contradictory stance of butting out of any and every major present-day conflict or military crisis that presents. Like these other critics I too invariably want to have my cake and eat it too!
****Though to give the man his due credit, on such diverse issues as 'global warming', healthcare, gun control and reconciliation with two longstanding, diehard American foes, Iran and Cuba, he has certainly been well prepared to take the road less travelled, and make real attempts - however presently or ultimately unsuccessful - to put concrete form upon his (otherwise purely idealistic) sentiments thereabouts.
*****By which, I hasten to add, the measure that will ultimately be taken - mandatory Sunday laws, America-wide then internationally ...is most definitely not the answer, and will itself bring on the time of trouble such as never was, and never ever will be again...as it'll usher in The Return of The (True) King...!
No, I myself speak with hyperbole and imprecisely here; rather - by employing said weaponry in order to vaporize his enemies - Assad would be left in absolutely no doubt whatsoever as to what would happen, how the 'civilized world' so-called, would react, were chemical and/or biological weapons to be utilized in the Syrian conflict: real humanity wouldn't tolerate it, would respond swiftly and sharply and put paid speedily to Assad's pretensions, to his genocidal treatment of 'his own'... .
But just as President George Bush (Senior) gave the effective green light to another infamous high-profile despot and tyrant around two decades earlier, President Obama likewise capitulated, grew weak at the knees when push came to shove...and, much as Bush effectively allowed then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to bombard the Kurds in Iraq's north with biological/chemical weapons after the Iraq War - a war moreover when virtually the entire globe was right behind the United States' action to free Kuwait from Hussein's annexation, to the extent that even that well-known bastion of anti-Americanism, the United Nations, by almost unanimous decision authorized the U.S. military response (just think of it!) - Bush Senior's latter-day successor, Barack Hussein Obama, has likewise - despite his own 'red line' declaration - simply refused to give reality to his own fine, ever so carefully and precisely enunciated words.
Personally I neither support America's *long-adopted role of de facto World Policeman, nor for that matter still entertain even faint hopes of, much less expect, **real moral courage ***from that nation in face of many of the present-day threats encompassing our planet, it's just a pity that those politicians so often lauded to the rafters, such as ****Obama, so often likewise fail to follow through on their solemnly-spoken undertakings.
*Itself the subject of a two millennia-spanning biblical prophecy in the New Testament Book of Revelation.
**Though some would maintain that President Obama has indeed shown such moral leadership over climate change and his historic (but likely soon to be relegated to the dustbin of history) deal thereabouts with the Government of China no less: that is, in achieving what many had understandably given up hopes of, i.e. some genuine worldwide consensus and concord on that threat to all humankind (whether ultimately human-induced, aggravated or otherwise). For in global environmental catastrophes there are no real winners, and if humankind, animal-kind and plant-kind are pretty well wiped out through our lack of moral courage, vision and preparedness to take a risk-averse, precautionary, *****life-at-any-cost approach to the present threat to life on Planet Earth, our extinct offspring and their own nonexistent progeny will hardly be around to bemoan our lack of foresight, and ask us, much like Scrooge's Ghost of Christmas Past, why we weren't willing to really listen to our own prophets of doom in our day of opportunity. Dead folk, after all, tell no tales.
***Though in so saying I myself - as so many do, in a quite unreflective way - seem to both expect America to consistently adopt just such a de facto position as Moral Watchman of our present-day world and yet simultaneously adopt the surely mutually-contradictory stance of butting out of any and every major present-day conflict or military crisis that presents. Like these other critics I too invariably want to have my cake and eat it too!
****Though to give the man his due credit, on such diverse issues as 'global warming', healthcare, gun control and reconciliation with two longstanding, diehard American foes, Iran and Cuba, he has certainly been well prepared to take the road less travelled, and make real attempts - however presently or ultimately unsuccessful - to put concrete form upon his (otherwise purely idealistic) sentiments thereabouts.
*****By which, I hasten to add, the measure that will ultimately be taken - mandatory Sunday laws, America-wide then internationally ...is most definitely not the answer, and will itself bring on the time of trouble such as never was, and never ever will be again...as it'll usher in The Return of The (True) King...!
Friday, January 6, 2017
Does the 'good man' Always Win Out? Well, yes and no; maybe not in the short-term, but Ultimately - in the long run...
Though this maxim certainly applies to 'the good and the great', to the best - though not necessarily brightest - that humankind has had 'on offer' (i.e.open to public display, to the public gaze) throughout the centuries and millennia, I reserve my thoughts and best wishes today for a much-overlooked and underrated politician in that land of such turbulence, of political turmoil and tension, the United States of America... . No, not on this occasion for the likes of Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and others of their calibre - nor of course in this instance obviously for such larger than life folk as the legendary (but very real) biblical folkhero Job (about whom Yours Truly has been compiling a layperson's guide for the last umpteen years or so)...and of course above and beyond and infinitely surpassing this 'suffering innocent' and his Scriptural compatriots such as the patriarch Joseph (and even Moses - and many others) stands That Supremely (if temporarily) Tragic - but Ultimately Triumphant/Victorious - Innocent Sufferer Jesus Christ Himself... .
Having made the foregoing elaboration, I greatly hesitate to include any especially present-day flawed and failing individuals among such illustrious company, yet - having stated my initial intention so to do, let me forthwith proceed...but again make a briefest as diversion to another seemingly quite insignificant but worthy individual whose inclusion bears tribute to the salutary lesson that those things - and moreover people - who stand so small 'in the world's eyes' may perhaps - at times - stand greatest in Heaven's estimation... . No, I refuse to subscribe to the media-hyped-up concept that such-and-such and so-and-so an individual is 'worth' so many millions and/or billions sheerly due to the inordinate size of her or his bank balance and other monetary assets, pecuniary interests and/or material accumulations - whereas the beggar eking out a precarious existence in this world's garbage heap is somehow supposedly worth nothing - not only in comparison but presumably even in absolute terms... .But not so did my Lord and Saviour so view things, for as has so often been said, by those engaging in consecrated reflection upon His own infinite sacrifice on Golgotha's cross, if there were no other individual than you or I - or that pauper in this world's system - then, wonder of wonders and miracle of miracles (to directly quote a phrase from a song on the record track of that interesting Jewish operatic of yesteryear, 'Fiddler on the Roof')...yes, the God Man Himself would have given His own precious life to save even that one...from eternal damnation... .
The individual concerned? A young would-have-been, i.e. 'wannabe' filmmaker named 'Cameron', a teenager who inadvertently as it were crossed the path of that exemplary New Zealand filmmaker, director, producer and scriptwriter Sir Peter Jackson and his *equally much-overlooked co-producer and co-writer, wife Fran Walsh - alongside their *equally much overlooked co-writer, Philippa Boyens (who together helped convert JRR Tolkien's epic classic The Lord of the Rings into the film sensation it has now long since become). Cameron, still in his late teens then (if I recall rightly), was soon diagnosed with **cancer (of the blood - leukemia), I believe, and so passed from this life into the seemingly gray ether of the grave, or 'Hades' as it was once known.... But not before Peter Jackson and co made his acquaintance, or he theirs, and thus a wonderful song, 'Into the West', was born that not only encapsulated the very spirit of the denouement of the Great Controversy for the heart of Middle-earth, but in a very real was is its signature tune and parting-gift to posterity.
Though itself now necessarily a mere footnote in this spiel, let me finally make the briefest of mentions here to the original subject of this blogpost...whom I'm dead certain no-one will have guessed. It's the former republican presidential hopeful, the oft-maligned senior senator from Arizona, a Mr John McCain. Though in my own view as a person and human being, every whit as decent and upstanding and fine an individual as the man who bested him, i.e. President Barack Hussein Obama, this former war prisoner and subsequent hero of the Korean War has now appeared unflinchingly before the United States Congressional Panel on Security (I believe) to champion the cause of true democracy in a land wherein the very concept seems to have been on the slippery slide for quite some time already...in clear and decided 'opposition', of sorts, to his own party's President-to-be, Donald J Trump...a patriotism also shown by his 44-year predecessor, fellow Arizonan Senator and Republican Party Presidential standard-bearer Barry Goldwater...who proved his own patriotism to his nation and its democratic traditions and principles by having the guts and the balls to stand up to his own party's one-time President, the infamous Richard Milhaus Nixon - in the renowned Watergate trials. Such would have inevitably resulted in impeachment had not Nixon himself preempted that unwanted outcome by resigning. Again, Goldwater braved fellow Republicans' ire by likewise confronting a subsequent Republican President, the very popular Ronald Reagan - indeed over the very issue that saw my own long-since-deceased Dad 'tear up' his own American citizenship and become a naturalized New Zealander: i.e. the illegal bombing of innocents in Central America during the Iran Contra scandal and suchlike (in the nations of El Salvador and Nicaragua).
Yes, Senator McCain, you yourself have now once again - and in a way that puts and places it beyond doubt or risk of repudiation - proven your quality, as Samwise Gamgee of the Shire said of Faramir of Gondor...in your courageous willingness - whatever opprobrium comes your way...(and yes, you have made some awful decisions in times past, most notably the selection of Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, as your running-mate in 2008)...to stand for truth and democracy, and in a world where lip service is increasingly paid to both (but inversely less real respect).
*My own sins now come to mind, as - following a marathon session in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year, during which - as I prepared to finally part with the precious treasure of the entire dvd series of the same to some presumably appreciative nephews of mine - I reviewed all the background 'guff' (after reviewing all the extended films). And thus and so I'd fully intended, to the extent of even making a rudimentary mental outline (if perhaps not on paper) of a tribute to the same folk, i.e. Jackson's much ignored and sidelined partner Fran Walsh and their close confidante and fellow creator Philippa Boyens...but that now for another occasion, and mention - if brief and passing - herein will now have to suffice... .
**Weirdly a once close secondary school friend - of then and subsequent inter-school Christian fellowship association, as well as chess-playing prowess and dogged rivalry - of mine returned to my home town upon my first viewing of this story (alongside the entire dvd series), himself suffering from the ghastly condition of non-Hodgkin's Lymphona (sp?), and within months himself passed off the stage of this mortal plane...but not before fulfilling a lifetime dream to visit the especially scenic western states of America (such as Utah, Colorado and Arizona). He then suffered a debilitating heat exhaustion that saw him enter a medical clinic (or several)...and three weeks later (after his trip began) returned home to his Mum and Dad (who live/d a few blocks away), within a month received an invoice for medical treatment to the tune of $2,000 or so, and then after he'd died (a month or so on) was subject to the indignity of his surviving parents being forced to pretty well mortgage all their accumulated financial assets as they sought to pay off a further bill (from the aforementioned) for around 20 grand or so...but that for another day... .
Having made the foregoing elaboration, I greatly hesitate to include any especially present-day flawed and failing individuals among such illustrious company, yet - having stated my initial intention so to do, let me forthwith proceed...but again make a briefest as diversion to another seemingly quite insignificant but worthy individual whose inclusion bears tribute to the salutary lesson that those things - and moreover people - who stand so small 'in the world's eyes' may perhaps - at times - stand greatest in Heaven's estimation... . No, I refuse to subscribe to the media-hyped-up concept that such-and-such and so-and-so an individual is 'worth' so many millions and/or billions sheerly due to the inordinate size of her or his bank balance and other monetary assets, pecuniary interests and/or material accumulations - whereas the beggar eking out a precarious existence in this world's garbage heap is somehow supposedly worth nothing - not only in comparison but presumably even in absolute terms... .But not so did my Lord and Saviour so view things, for as has so often been said, by those engaging in consecrated reflection upon His own infinite sacrifice on Golgotha's cross, if there were no other individual than you or I - or that pauper in this world's system - then, wonder of wonders and miracle of miracles (to directly quote a phrase from a song on the record track of that interesting Jewish operatic of yesteryear, 'Fiddler on the Roof')...yes, the God Man Himself would have given His own precious life to save even that one...from eternal damnation... .
The individual concerned? A young would-have-been, i.e. 'wannabe' filmmaker named 'Cameron', a teenager who inadvertently as it were crossed the path of that exemplary New Zealand filmmaker, director, producer and scriptwriter Sir Peter Jackson and his *equally much-overlooked co-producer and co-writer, wife Fran Walsh - alongside their *equally much overlooked co-writer, Philippa Boyens (who together helped convert JRR Tolkien's epic classic The Lord of the Rings into the film sensation it has now long since become). Cameron, still in his late teens then (if I recall rightly), was soon diagnosed with **cancer (of the blood - leukemia), I believe, and so passed from this life into the seemingly gray ether of the grave, or 'Hades' as it was once known.... But not before Peter Jackson and co made his acquaintance, or he theirs, and thus a wonderful song, 'Into the West', was born that not only encapsulated the very spirit of the denouement of the Great Controversy for the heart of Middle-earth, but in a very real was is its signature tune and parting-gift to posterity.
Though itself now necessarily a mere footnote in this spiel, let me finally make the briefest of mentions here to the original subject of this blogpost...whom I'm dead certain no-one will have guessed. It's the former republican presidential hopeful, the oft-maligned senior senator from Arizona, a Mr John McCain. Though in my own view as a person and human being, every whit as decent and upstanding and fine an individual as the man who bested him, i.e. President Barack Hussein Obama, this former war prisoner and subsequent hero of the Korean War has now appeared unflinchingly before the United States Congressional Panel on Security (I believe) to champion the cause of true democracy in a land wherein the very concept seems to have been on the slippery slide for quite some time already...in clear and decided 'opposition', of sorts, to his own party's President-to-be, Donald J Trump...a patriotism also shown by his 44-year predecessor, fellow Arizonan Senator and Republican Party Presidential standard-bearer Barry Goldwater...who proved his own patriotism to his nation and its democratic traditions and principles by having the guts and the balls to stand up to his own party's one-time President, the infamous Richard Milhaus Nixon - in the renowned Watergate trials. Such would have inevitably resulted in impeachment had not Nixon himself preempted that unwanted outcome by resigning. Again, Goldwater braved fellow Republicans' ire by likewise confronting a subsequent Republican President, the very popular Ronald Reagan - indeed over the very issue that saw my own long-since-deceased Dad 'tear up' his own American citizenship and become a naturalized New Zealander: i.e. the illegal bombing of innocents in Central America during the Iran Contra scandal and suchlike (in the nations of El Salvador and Nicaragua).
Yes, Senator McCain, you yourself have now once again - and in a way that puts and places it beyond doubt or risk of repudiation - proven your quality, as Samwise Gamgee of the Shire said of Faramir of Gondor...in your courageous willingness - whatever opprobrium comes your way...(and yes, you have made some awful decisions in times past, most notably the selection of Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, as your running-mate in 2008)...to stand for truth and democracy, and in a world where lip service is increasingly paid to both (but inversely less real respect).
*My own sins now come to mind, as - following a marathon session in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year, during which - as I prepared to finally part with the precious treasure of the entire dvd series of the same to some presumably appreciative nephews of mine - I reviewed all the background 'guff' (after reviewing all the extended films). And thus and so I'd fully intended, to the extent of even making a rudimentary mental outline (if perhaps not on paper) of a tribute to the same folk, i.e. Jackson's much ignored and sidelined partner Fran Walsh and their close confidante and fellow creator Philippa Boyens...but that now for another occasion, and mention - if brief and passing - herein will now have to suffice... .
**Weirdly a once close secondary school friend - of then and subsequent inter-school Christian fellowship association, as well as chess-playing prowess and dogged rivalry - of mine returned to my home town upon my first viewing of this story (alongside the entire dvd series), himself suffering from the ghastly condition of non-Hodgkin's Lymphona (sp?), and within months himself passed off the stage of this mortal plane...but not before fulfilling a lifetime dream to visit the especially scenic western states of America (such as Utah, Colorado and Arizona). He then suffered a debilitating heat exhaustion that saw him enter a medical clinic (or several)...and three weeks later (after his trip began) returned home to his Mum and Dad (who live/d a few blocks away), within a month received an invoice for medical treatment to the tune of $2,000 or so, and then after he'd died (a month or so on) was subject to the indignity of his surviving parents being forced to pretty well mortgage all their accumulated financial assets as they sought to pay off a further bill (from the aforementioned) for around 20 grand or so...but that for another day... .
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