Be is for BEING BENEVOLENT

The Rogue Speaks:

In an attachment sent to me by a friend, I read the following:  "A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats its least fortunate amongst them."  I wanted to find just what wise man said that, so I did a little investigating and found that variations of that statement have been said by many wise people over many years.  Here are just a few:

Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.~Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973), My Several Worlds [1954].

The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer

A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.
~Samuel Johnson, Boswell: Life of Johnson

"...the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. " ~ Last Speech of Hubert H. Humphrey

"A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members." ~ Mahatma Ghandi

Now you may think that this post is somehow connected to the Christmas season.  It isn't, although it could be.  There has been way too much infighting in Congress these days about how to solve our national debt issues.  The conservatives want to reduce programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, which will seriously hurt the people who need those programs the most.  They strongly object to making the richest people in America have to pay more in taxes, while the opposition thinks that it is only fair that those rich people have the same tax rates as the rest of us.  I think this is pretty reasonable, don't you?

In an exit poll taken on election day, an overwhelming majority of voters  agreed with me on this issue.  Were you one of them?

If you don't think that this is fair, tell me why you don't.  Before you comment, however, here is a  quote for you to ponder.  These words came from the mouth of Jesus Christ, whom many of you profess to follow and serve.  After you have thought about these words from your divine and spiritual leader, send me your comments.

Mark 10: 17-31

"And as he was going forth into the way, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good save one, even God.  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother.  And he said unto him, Teacher, all these things have I observed from my youth.  And Jesus looking upon him loved him and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.  But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions.   And Jesus looked round about and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God.  And the disciples were amazed at his words.  But Jesus answereth again and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."



This is my offering for Alphabe-Thursday.  I would like to thank, once again, Jenny and Steve Matlock for the kindness they showed to me and Rod during our move here to Brunswick.  They went above and beyond the call of duty when we needed help.  We will always be grateful to them.

And a pumpkin...

The Rogue Speaks:

  Here's my Saturday Centus, finally.  Am I late?  Yeah, well, just a little!  I have a photo for you that is kind of holiday-ish in that it combines TWO holidays.  I tried to get a turkey in the photo, but couldn't find one just wandering around in my yard.  Darn!  I hate it when that happens!

Rod finally found the witch's cauldron full of Mardi Gras beads yesterday, so now we are in business for tonight.  I hope the little demons who ring our doorbell tonight don't demand candy over those beads, because they'll be out of luck.

Our first Halloween in Brunswick!  I wonder just what it will be like!  I'll let you know.

p.s. Be sure to check out the photo in my sidebar.  It's not as cute as Jenny's, but I've been dying to use it.

WTF

The Rogue Speaks:

I know what you're thinking!  Our homework for Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday is supposed to be "PG."  Would you believe me if I told you that WTF stands for What The Fudge?  Hmmm-no, I didn't think so.  In any case, I have TWO of Jenny's hand painted (No stencils!) signs.  AND I'm planning to get more to give as gifts!!  This was just a brilliant idea on her part!  I hope she sells a gazillion of them!  The other sign I have says, "It is what it is," which is another one of my favorite sayings.

I am sick, sick, sick of this contentious race for the presidency, and I'm not the only one.  Most of us will be so glad for it to be over and done with for another four years!  I am trying to just shut my mind off to politics for the next two weeks, but a couple of things in the last several days just keep popping back up on a regular basis.  One of those things is education.  I firmly believe that it isn't enough to concentrate on one skill and one skill only.  To be a well-rounded and knowledgeable individual, one must have a reasonable understanding of all the courses we learned in school, whether or not we actually use them.  Who knows?  Some day we may actually NEED that knowledge!

If anyone has ever watched Jay Leno's segment called "Jay Walking," you know what I mean.  In this segment, Jay interviews people from all walks of life about things we should have learned in school.  Most of the people are blatantly ignorant about history and geography and current events.  I don't want to cut these people some slack.  I think that as citizens, we have a responsibility, especially in today's world, to know, for example, that Syria is not Iran's path to the sea, as one presidential candidate stated.  The fact is that Iran has its OWN sea--the Persian Gulf, for Pete's sake!  And Syria? Well, Syria is on the OTHER side of Iraq from Iran, and lies on the Mediterranean.  Not knowing your geography, when running for president of the United States, is outrageously preposterous and scary!  We just can't have the leaders of other countries thinking that our president is stupid, now can we????  When I heard that statement come out of the mouth of a candidate, I briefly glanced at the sign that Jenny made and thought, "WTF!!!"

I am not particularly interested in the Military Channel on t.v.  Rod watches it, though, and I play Scrabble.  Even though I don't watch it, I know that we no longer fight battles at sea, so we have no need for all those battleships that were floating around back in 1917.  Now we have aircraft carriers and nuclear subs.  The army has no need for horses, or swords (except for ceremonies with full-dress uniforms) or those long bayonets attached to outdated rifles.  We now have "new age" weapons.  Too bad one candidate isn't aware of those changes.  Once again, I glanced at my Jenny sign.

In a couple of weeks, it will all be over, and then we can look forward to seeing Christmas decorations in all the stores--yes, before Thanksgiving!  I'm hoping that all the candidates will start removing their political signs before they become even more of a blight on the landscape.  We can sit back on election night and watch the count.  Rod will be in his chair with a dog on either side, and I will be stretched out on the sofa with a glass of wine and Violet by my side.  When the last vote is counted, I will glance up at my OTHER Jenny sign, sigh, and say to myself, "it is what it is."

MEET THE NEIGHBORS

The Rogue Speaks:

I was out chasing "whitey" down the fairways yesterday, and by the time I got home, I was way too tired to write.  My offering for Saturday Centus is a little late, and the photo that Jenny gave us to work from is in my sidebar, but nevertheless, here's my little story:

MEET THE NEIGHBORS

“Hi!  I’m Fred!  I love your costume—very original!  I’m just meeting all my new neighbors and I thought this Halloween party would be a good idea.  I haven’t seen you around.  You must work the night shift.  You have sexy eyes, but you don’t talk much, do you!  Let me show you the upstairs.  We can be alone and get to know each other.

Well, this is it!  You could take your mask off.  It must get hot.  Here, let me help you.  Hey!  This isn’t a mask!  Wait!  What are you doing???  No!!!! My neck!!!! You’re hurting me…….!!!”

VLAD, THE IMPALER

The Rogue Speaks:

I want to trick or treat at Blogger headquarters.  I have some rotten eggs that I would like to throw at their windows, because they won't let me upload photos to my post.  I can put them in my sidebar, however, so be sure to check them out.

VLAD, THE IMPALER

 

 

 

Vlad, the Impaler (1431-1476) is also know by his family name, DRACULA!!!  He was an excessively cruel leader of Wallachia, the present-day Romania.  Vlad fought against the Ottoman Turks, and was knows as the Impaler because he executed his enemies by impaling them on a long wooden stake, then stood it up in the ground for all to see.  The weight of the body would slowly drag the victim down, in a painful death.

 

In 1476, Vlad was brutally murdered and beheaded.  His head was sent to Constantinople, in Turkey, but the rest of his body was never found, though many people over the years searched for its final resting place.  It is thought by some that Vlad came back to life, and remains alive today, wandering the earth in search of more victims.

 

QUICK!  LOOK BEHIND YOU!  IT'S DRACULA!  MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

ELECTRIC LEAVES

The Rogue Speaks:



ELECTRIC LEAVES


The leaves cruched under my boots until they didn't.  I had reached the edge of the lake.  I turned and gazed up the path.  On the left was the sourwood tree, its leaves glowing neon red in the sun--electric leaves.

A young woman and her lover lay on a faded quilt beneath the tree, their bodies close, his fingers gently pushing her long brown hair back from her face.  She slipped her arms around his waist and pulled him down to her.

I turned and, opening the urn, I flung the contents into the water, saving a little to place by the sourwood tree, under our electric leaves.


An October Saturday Centus, with 109 words including the prompt, which is in bold type.  If you have not taken part in this exercise, please consider joining me and the other Centusians, led by our muse,  Jenny Matlock.  Every week is a different challenge, and it is so much fun to read the creative ideas of other writers.

Blogger is messing with my head again, and won't let me publish photos with my post, so you will find the photo for this Centus in my right sidebar.  If anyone knows what's going on with these strange and goofy error codes blogger is handing out, please let me know.  Google doesn't even know!  What do you think about that??

See you on Thursday!!

OUR SEASON

The Rogue Speaks:

Little Pigeon River - JMcEwen

 

 

Our Season

“Remember our ‘Salad Days?’” she asked wistfully.

“You mean when we were green and tender?” he replied with a smile, taking her hand.

“Yes! When fall comes, and I see how beautifully leaves grow old, I realize that it is only a season since we were youthful and vibrant. Our lives go by so quickly the older we get.”

“Did you think we would stay young forever?  That’s no fun!  I’m glad I can rest now, and sit with you like this—like a pair of comfortable shoes that have seen better days, but fit so perfectly together.”

 

 

Jenny gave us such a wonderful Saturday Centus today, didn't she?  The prompt is in bold type, and the words, limited to 103, just fell out of my fingers and onto the page!  I'm anxious to see the offerings of the other Centusians, and I hope you will join me.