'' I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor -- that's not my business
-- I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help
everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to
help one another, human beings are like that.
We all want to live by
each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to
hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone
and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone.
The way of life can be free and beautiful.
But we have lost the way.
Greed has poisoned men's souls -- has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.
We
have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that
gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical,
our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little:
More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need
kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent
and all will be lost.
The aeroplane and the radio have brought us
closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the
goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us
all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world,
millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a
system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who
can hear me I say "Do not despair".
The misery that is now upon
us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way
of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the
power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long
as men die [now] liberty will never perish...
Soldiers -- don't
give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you -- who
regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to
feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder.
Don't
give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds
and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are
men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate --
only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers --
don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty.
In the seventeenth
chapter of Saint Luke it is written " the kingdom of God is within man "
-- not one man, nor a group of men -- but in all men -- in you, the
people.
You the people have the power, the power to create
machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power
to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful
adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power -- let us
all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give
men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and
security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power,
but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will.
Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight
to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with
national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us
fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will
lead to all men's happiness.
Soldiers -- in the name of democracy, let us all unite!''
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Valhalla (The Blood of Fenrir)
It is day twenty-eight of my hunting trek. My name is Torec Ulvarsson. Long have my father and his father lived in the mountains over Skiirsgaarde. I have slain two deer and snared four rabbits. I've seen multiple tracks and frozen droppings of what I believe to be a great wolf. I retraced my steps back to a small encampment two days north of Skiirsgaarde to store my bounty. I have brought slates to inscribe my pursuit of the beast, for I may not survive the attempt. Twice, evidence of it in this place has appeared. My location: Two days north of Skiirsgaarde is the encampment. Another day east are hot springs running southeast underneath dense forest. From here turn south, into a deep valley. There is no sign that any man has ever been here.
It is day thirty-five of my hunting trek. Seven days have passed since I found evidence of the direwolf. There are many caves along the western side of the valley, and most could house several men. I have found coarse white fur in the rocks, and small traces of drag marks in the snow. Snow falls fiercely each night. There are few deer here. The valley is very empty aside from trees.
It is day thirty-seven of my hunting trek. I have seen the beasts! Three of them wandered over the hills half a day to the south of the caves. I saw them from a high place from across a short canyon. By the trees beside them, I could see that they were close in size to a horse! I fear that these great wolves bear the blood of Fenrir himself. By the time I reached the place, they were gone in the bright snow. It was good fortune that I saw them from distance downwind.
It is day thirty-nine of my hunting trek. There are no traces of the group I saw two days ago. They are swifter than anticipated. I have followed the clear trail of a single monstrous beast. When I first spotted him, I am sure he also saw me. With struggle I stayed downwind of the beast as it moved among the rocks in the south-east of the valley. I have prayed to Skadi, and to Odin for admittance into the Great Hall. I will likely not survive any encounter with the beast, but I will stalk him until my end.
It is day forty-one of my hunting trek. I stumbled into the beast as I entered a small clearing beneath a hill. He stared down at me from the hill. Oh, what feral eyes! He snarled as I readied my bow, but I was too slow for his charge. I was quick to dive under his first bite, and wrestled with his foreleg. I broke its knee, but was slashed by its claws along my side. While tumbling to pin the beast, I kicked at its head, but only agitated him to bite at my foot. I was flung from the beast as I tried to wound its other foreleg. Before I could regain my footing its teeth were in my shoulder, and my whole left arm was torn from me. Weakly, my remaining fingers found my dagger, and in our continuous grapple I buried it deep in the beast's belly. With twitching throes, he wounded me again with his teeth on my leg before falling still. I cauterized my severed shoulder, and the gashes on my side. It took me a full day to drag myself back to the caves. I will not likely last the night. My exhaustion is too great. I am too cold. The beast is slain. Odin will welcome me.
It is day thirty-five of my hunting trek. Seven days have passed since I found evidence of the direwolf. There are many caves along the western side of the valley, and most could house several men. I have found coarse white fur in the rocks, and small traces of drag marks in the snow. Snow falls fiercely each night. There are few deer here. The valley is very empty aside from trees.
It is day thirty-seven of my hunting trek. I have seen the beasts! Three of them wandered over the hills half a day to the south of the caves. I saw them from a high place from across a short canyon. By the trees beside them, I could see that they were close in size to a horse! I fear that these great wolves bear the blood of Fenrir himself. By the time I reached the place, they were gone in the bright snow. It was good fortune that I saw them from distance downwind.
It is day thirty-nine of my hunting trek. There are no traces of the group I saw two days ago. They are swifter than anticipated. I have followed the clear trail of a single monstrous beast. When I first spotted him, I am sure he also saw me. With struggle I stayed downwind of the beast as it moved among the rocks in the south-east of the valley. I have prayed to Skadi, and to Odin for admittance into the Great Hall. I will likely not survive any encounter with the beast, but I will stalk him until my end.
It is day forty-one of my hunting trek. I stumbled into the beast as I entered a small clearing beneath a hill. He stared down at me from the hill. Oh, what feral eyes! He snarled as I readied my bow, but I was too slow for his charge. I was quick to dive under his first bite, and wrestled with his foreleg. I broke its knee, but was slashed by its claws along my side. While tumbling to pin the beast, I kicked at its head, but only agitated him to bite at my foot. I was flung from the beast as I tried to wound its other foreleg. Before I could regain my footing its teeth were in my shoulder, and my whole left arm was torn from me. Weakly, my remaining fingers found my dagger, and in our continuous grapple I buried it deep in the beast's belly. With twitching throes, he wounded me again with his teeth on my leg before falling still. I cauterized my severed shoulder, and the gashes on my side. It took me a full day to drag myself back to the caves. I will not likely last the night. My exhaustion is too great. I am too cold. The beast is slain. Odin will welcome me.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Valhalla (The Spears of the Romans)
Vulm turned his head sharply, for he had just realized that he had been paying no attention to what Felmi was saying. So he simply cocked an eyebrow, betraying none of the shock he felt upon returning to reality. Then he noted that Felmi was probably just bragging, for he appeared to expect no answer. Vulm admired the trio of human skulls hung from Felmi's belt, proof of his accomplishments in battle.
Vulm continued dragging a whetstone alone the edge of his sword. He had taken it from the hands of a man he had beaten to death with a large stone. There was no dishonor in the kill, for it was during his first battle. He had dropped his cracked long ax for a more direct weapon. That day had gifted Vulm with many kills, and passage into the great hall of the gods. He was off in his head again, he realized, but he did not care. Felmi had finally shut up and was staring into the fire.
Vulm felt hope rise in his chest that this was the morning of his next triumph. He knew he would be greeted as a champion in the afterlife, but he still did not want to die. After all, no one could truthfully promise beautiful women and the stoutest drinks in the afterlife for sure. Nobody had come back to tell stories. He supposed he could live without either, so long as he still held his sword. He sheathed it slowly, to hear the grate of metal on metal, and set the whetstone aside.
There was a shout in the darkness, followed by the familiar sounds of weapons finding flesh. Cries of pain went up to the sky; then cries of alarm. The sounds multiplied among the trees. It was an attack. Immediately Vulm and Felmi were on their feet. A spear flew from the blackness, and impaled Felmi through the chest. Felmi fell. Without pause, Vulm drew the spear from it's grisly sheathe, saw that Felmi still tightly gripped his handaxe, and sprinted into the darkness from where the spear had flown.
As he plunged into the night, his eyes adjusted from the fire. He saw several dead kinsmen, and several more still clinging together to fend off a host of horsemen. Romans. A horseman lagging behind the assault saw Vulm, and came directly at him. Vulm planted his feet, and readied himself, drawing a small throwing ax from his belt. As the rider neared, he loosed the small ax, and it plunged into the horseman's right shoulder, just underneath the armor. This gave Vulm time to dodge to the other side of the horse, and bury the spear under the man's jaw. The horse carried the corpse past Vulm's field of vision, as four more horsemen entered the clearing from his right. Only one of his kinsmen still stood against a dozen Romans, and Vulm had no time to close distance to him, for two horsemen broke from the assault to charge at him. Vulm was outnumbered, and he could certainly not outrun the horses. The Romans spared few. Vulm did the only thing he could, and charged at the two horsemen. As he reached for his sword, Vulm felt his entire body go numb. It was adrenaline, he knew, and he shook off the shock from the spear now lodged firmly in his belly.
Vulm roared, pulling the spear from his gut. He felt his bodily pressure change as blood and entrails exited his body in a spurt. The Roman weapon hit the hard earth with a solid clunk. He had just enough time to hurl the spear still in his hand, and draw his sword. The spear missed entirely, but Vulm did not care. He fell onto his stomach, tasting the dirt as the two horsemen came to a halt beside him. He heard heavy feet striking ground, and the slick ringing of a sword being drawn. Vulm felt the sword enter his heart like winter in his chest. At least, he thought, he still held his own sword. The gods would welcome him. He was sure of it.
Vulm continued dragging a whetstone alone the edge of his sword. He had taken it from the hands of a man he had beaten to death with a large stone. There was no dishonor in the kill, for it was during his first battle. He had dropped his cracked long ax for a more direct weapon. That day had gifted Vulm with many kills, and passage into the great hall of the gods. He was off in his head again, he realized, but he did not care. Felmi had finally shut up and was staring into the fire.
Vulm felt hope rise in his chest that this was the morning of his next triumph. He knew he would be greeted as a champion in the afterlife, but he still did not want to die. After all, no one could truthfully promise beautiful women and the stoutest drinks in the afterlife for sure. Nobody had come back to tell stories. He supposed he could live without either, so long as he still held his sword. He sheathed it slowly, to hear the grate of metal on metal, and set the whetstone aside.
There was a shout in the darkness, followed by the familiar sounds of weapons finding flesh. Cries of pain went up to the sky; then cries of alarm. The sounds multiplied among the trees. It was an attack. Immediately Vulm and Felmi were on their feet. A spear flew from the blackness, and impaled Felmi through the chest. Felmi fell. Without pause, Vulm drew the spear from it's grisly sheathe, saw that Felmi still tightly gripped his handaxe, and sprinted into the darkness from where the spear had flown.
As he plunged into the night, his eyes adjusted from the fire. He saw several dead kinsmen, and several more still clinging together to fend off a host of horsemen. Romans. A horseman lagging behind the assault saw Vulm, and came directly at him. Vulm planted his feet, and readied himself, drawing a small throwing ax from his belt. As the rider neared, he loosed the small ax, and it plunged into the horseman's right shoulder, just underneath the armor. This gave Vulm time to dodge to the other side of the horse, and bury the spear under the man's jaw. The horse carried the corpse past Vulm's field of vision, as four more horsemen entered the clearing from his right. Only one of his kinsmen still stood against a dozen Romans, and Vulm had no time to close distance to him, for two horsemen broke from the assault to charge at him. Vulm was outnumbered, and he could certainly not outrun the horses. The Romans spared few. Vulm did the only thing he could, and charged at the two horsemen. As he reached for his sword, Vulm felt his entire body go numb. It was adrenaline, he knew, and he shook off the shock from the spear now lodged firmly in his belly.
Vulm roared, pulling the spear from his gut. He felt his bodily pressure change as blood and entrails exited his body in a spurt. The Roman weapon hit the hard earth with a solid clunk. He had just enough time to hurl the spear still in his hand, and draw his sword. The spear missed entirely, but Vulm did not care. He fell onto his stomach, tasting the dirt as the two horsemen came to a halt beside him. He heard heavy feet striking ground, and the slick ringing of a sword being drawn. Vulm felt the sword enter his heart like winter in his chest. At least, he thought, he still held his own sword. The gods would welcome him. He was sure of it.
You're caught up in so many simple distractions,
All of which you can't use to justify actions.
You're blind in a world built solely for seeing,
So shut off your lenses and focus on being.
There's a part in the core of every human mind,
That some spend their whole lives trying to find.
A place of solace in the purpose of self,
Like a dusty old tome on a library shelf.
The story is riveting, the characters are deep,
But back on the surface those aren't the values we keep.
What you see as a fantasy is actually true,
And the truth here is, that you don't have a clue.
That hole in your heart is hard-wired in,
So that you will struggle with a life full of sin.
For struggle defines the person you are,
And sinning is nature, setting the bar.
That hole in your heart is impossible to bind,
So you bleed your whole life while trying to find,
That which you think can make you complete,
But while scouring the surface, you'll find only defeat.
The hole in your heart can never be filled,
With animal urges or the empires you build.
That spot is reserved for the things you can't see,
Having values beyond an open mind is key.
I say these things now with only one hope:
Learn from my words, and start up the slope.
Be set on your path and keep looking back,
Get a birds-eye view so that you can keep track.
I ultimately know I can't force you to grow,
And that, for eternity, will torture me so.
For the only thing I think can dull the pain in my heart,
Is to spread this message through the medium of art.
All of which you can't use to justify actions.
You're blind in a world built solely for seeing,
So shut off your lenses and focus on being.
There's a part in the core of every human mind,
That some spend their whole lives trying to find.
A place of solace in the purpose of self,
Like a dusty old tome on a library shelf.
The story is riveting, the characters are deep,
But back on the surface those aren't the values we keep.
What you see as a fantasy is actually true,
And the truth here is, that you don't have a clue.
That hole in your heart is hard-wired in,
So that you will struggle with a life full of sin.
For struggle defines the person you are,
And sinning is nature, setting the bar.
That hole in your heart is impossible to bind,
So you bleed your whole life while trying to find,
That which you think can make you complete,
But while scouring the surface, you'll find only defeat.
The hole in your heart can never be filled,
With animal urges or the empires you build.
That spot is reserved for the things you can't see,
Having values beyond an open mind is key.
I say these things now with only one hope:
Learn from my words, and start up the slope.
Be set on your path and keep looking back,
Get a birds-eye view so that you can keep track.
I ultimately know I can't force you to grow,
And that, for eternity, will torture me so.
For the only thing I think can dull the pain in my heart,
Is to spread this message through the medium of art.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The Pillars of Matthew Keegan Coale
What I am about to share with you is sacred to me. These are the five rules that I do my best to live by, and I yearn to teach others that they might be moved to better themselves. This set of simple rules encapsulates growth of the human mind and spirit, and is always subject to changes as I too grow and learn. I beg you to memorize these five pillars that make me who I am, that you might find some truth in them.
ONE: Know Thyself, at all costs. Without knowledge of yourself, you cannot make crucial decisions for yourself. This knowledge includes everything from genetics, personality, and physical capability, to preferences, behaviors, and separation of wants and needs. Knowing these things is important to who you want to be, and what your path in life is. By knowing yourself, you can also find fulfillment, and therefore the joy of helping to fulfill others.
TWO: Live by the three BIG Sins. There are only three sins in this mortal realm, and they are Boredom, Ignorance, and Greed. Why are these sins? Because they are the only three things that prevent life's purpose. (That's right, the meaning of life is simple: Because humankind cannot reach their maximum potential at this time, and your lifespan is short, the purpose of your life should be to create progress. This means being Christ-like, immaterial, and loving of all those around you, as you'll see reflected in these rules. This means sharing yourself without asking anything in return.) Now, I know I touched on the three BIG sins before, but it was long ago, so let me reiterate. These three sins encapsulate what it is to be animal, not human, and must be addressed with care, for your brain may not identify your actions with these motives. Almost every malicious act can be derived from these three sins. Lust is a form of primal greed, for example. Denying these sins is comparable to the noble eight-fold path taught in Buddhism, to rid the mind of unneeded desires. While you cannot possibly live purely apart from these sins, you can at least be aware of them, and perhaps prevent some harm done by them. If you think ahead, this rule also implies that you should always be honest. Honesty is a rarely mastered virtue.
THREE: Make Savage the Body and Civilize the Mind. Literally, never stop working to better yourself. If you do not better yourself, you are denying what it is to be human. Bettering yourself goes hand in hand with why these rules exist, namely, to better oneself. Bettering yourself is the first step toward helping others do the same. (You cannot truly change someone, only show them that they can change. Lead by example.) Science has proven that many ancient forms of discipline created to balance to body, mind, and spirit are not only truthful, but accurate. Find a discipline, that someday you might have disciples. Training one aspect of yourself helps to hone the others.
FOUR: Bitches be Trippin'. Okay, it can be phrased a multitude of ways. This is simply the way that most can easily remember it, as it is often the most quoted rule. What it means is that people fuck up. All people walk different paths; it is not your place to judge where they must walk. Learn to forgive, that when you are errant in your ways you might be forgiven. This is reminiscent of a part of the lord's prayer, as you may have noticed. Someday you may find yourself in need of forgiveness, simply due to a moment of weakness. People fuck up. Deal with it.
FIVE: Communication is Key. Without expression, we are simply plants. Flowers or trees we may be, beautiful to perceive, but with silence comes solitude. How many leaves have taught you applicable lessons? Without communication, problems are not solved, or can even go unknown. Learn to speak what you need, know, want, and feel, because without voicing these things, nobody learns from your experiences. Communication allows for humankind to chronicle history, create art, and solve every kind of problem. Originally, this rule was phrased: If you don't tell me there's a problem, it's not my problem. Honesty is also implied. Always be honest, unless you must protect another's well being. Without being truly honest, you are not allowing your communication to contain the information needed to do what it is intended for. Question everything, preferably, aloud.
With these rules, you may find some answers to bigger picture questions. These are, in essence, the pieces of truth I have stumbled across on my path, and I pray you utilize them. If you have ANY questions, arguments, or speculations, PLEASE state them. I am always happy discuss whatever it is you grow concern for. Ask and ye shall receive.
P.S. Disregard the angry rants of 19 year old me also posted on this blog. It was an odd path from then to now. My passion outweighed my logic.
ONE: Know Thyself, at all costs. Without knowledge of yourself, you cannot make crucial decisions for yourself. This knowledge includes everything from genetics, personality, and physical capability, to preferences, behaviors, and separation of wants and needs. Knowing these things is important to who you want to be, and what your path in life is. By knowing yourself, you can also find fulfillment, and therefore the joy of helping to fulfill others.
TWO: Live by the three BIG Sins. There are only three sins in this mortal realm, and they are Boredom, Ignorance, and Greed. Why are these sins? Because they are the only three things that prevent life's purpose. (That's right, the meaning of life is simple: Because humankind cannot reach their maximum potential at this time, and your lifespan is short, the purpose of your life should be to create progress. This means being Christ-like, immaterial, and loving of all those around you, as you'll see reflected in these rules. This means sharing yourself without asking anything in return.) Now, I know I touched on the three BIG sins before, but it was long ago, so let me reiterate. These three sins encapsulate what it is to be animal, not human, and must be addressed with care, for your brain may not identify your actions with these motives. Almost every malicious act can be derived from these three sins. Lust is a form of primal greed, for example. Denying these sins is comparable to the noble eight-fold path taught in Buddhism, to rid the mind of unneeded desires. While you cannot possibly live purely apart from these sins, you can at least be aware of them, and perhaps prevent some harm done by them. If you think ahead, this rule also implies that you should always be honest. Honesty is a rarely mastered virtue.
THREE: Make Savage the Body and Civilize the Mind. Literally, never stop working to better yourself. If you do not better yourself, you are denying what it is to be human. Bettering yourself goes hand in hand with why these rules exist, namely, to better oneself. Bettering yourself is the first step toward helping others do the same. (You cannot truly change someone, only show them that they can change. Lead by example.) Science has proven that many ancient forms of discipline created to balance to body, mind, and spirit are not only truthful, but accurate. Find a discipline, that someday you might have disciples. Training one aspect of yourself helps to hone the others.
FOUR: Bitches be Trippin'. Okay, it can be phrased a multitude of ways. This is simply the way that most can easily remember it, as it is often the most quoted rule. What it means is that people fuck up. All people walk different paths; it is not your place to judge where they must walk. Learn to forgive, that when you are errant in your ways you might be forgiven. This is reminiscent of a part of the lord's prayer, as you may have noticed. Someday you may find yourself in need of forgiveness, simply due to a moment of weakness. People fuck up. Deal with it.
FIVE: Communication is Key. Without expression, we are simply plants. Flowers or trees we may be, beautiful to perceive, but with silence comes solitude. How many leaves have taught you applicable lessons? Without communication, problems are not solved, or can even go unknown. Learn to speak what you need, know, want, and feel, because without voicing these things, nobody learns from your experiences. Communication allows for humankind to chronicle history, create art, and solve every kind of problem. Originally, this rule was phrased: If you don't tell me there's a problem, it's not my problem. Honesty is also implied. Always be honest, unless you must protect another's well being. Without being truly honest, you are not allowing your communication to contain the information needed to do what it is intended for. Question everything, preferably, aloud.
With these rules, you may find some answers to bigger picture questions. These are, in essence, the pieces of truth I have stumbled across on my path, and I pray you utilize them. If you have ANY questions, arguments, or speculations, PLEASE state them. I am always happy discuss whatever it is you grow concern for. Ask and ye shall receive.
P.S. Disregard the angry rants of 19 year old me also posted on this blog. It was an odd path from then to now. My passion outweighed my logic.
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