Previous William Thomas Sherman Info Page postings, quotes, observations, etc.
"It is my duty to inform you that although you have been loved previously, as of this present date, you will no longer be loved unless and until such later time as we deem appropriate and suitable."
How many times did you say "Life has too many problems to make it worth bothering with. I think I would just as soon die and go to sleep instead?" Or "I perish and die for lack of food, but if I had it I would live." Or "I perish and die for lack of food. But if I had it I would live?"
The world, whatever world you live, think, or lie in (including Hell), is ruled by someone and if you don't like the world then either leave it, or else take your complaints, civilly and politely, to its leader, or else overthrow the existing regime. However, if you opt for the latter, you'd better be morally and rationally superior to who and whatever it is you would replace. So that a fundamentally moral and rational world is really the only kind of place worth living in -- and I for one, at least, cannot conceive of how it could be otherwise.
People pay taxes and tithes to the government and church, etc. to build schools, hospitals, and churches; then pay taxes and tithes to the devil to have him destroy (or ruin) schools and churches (while keeping the hospitals.) This arrangement may have got you money and riches beyond your wildest dreams, but it also has secured for you problems and troubles beyond yours or anyone's worst nightmares.
ENTER THIS YEAR'S gunjones.com SILENT NIGHT-DEADLY NIGHT SWEEPSTAKES by guessing the number of family victims, including wounded versus killed outright, in the upcoming Christmas Eve disgruntled-loner mad holiday shooting spree! Closest guessers receive the following:
1st Prize. The complete collection of Harry Potter books.
2nd Prize. The first, second, and third seasons of "Dexter" on DVD.
3rd Prize. The soundtrack CD to "Band of Brothers" with music by John Williams.
Runners up will receive a copy of "Warcraft" or "Lord of the Rings" along with a coupon for a month's free on-line play.
Send your entries, no later than Dec. 23rd, to wts@gunjones.com Results of number of those killed or wounded provided by your national or local evening news.
Miss Snip
She was a Seattle cougar
ever since being a little cub.
And though small
she still is,
the royal scowl
in that face of hers
looks to me like thunder.
And I think she would
Pray with you
If she could,
And you asked her.
Now at this point, following the fight between rival gangs, Tony gets killed; so that Maria kneeling over him sings "Somewhere." (Having tried a number of different ones at amazon.com's .mp3 downloads, I thought Charlotte Church's version as good and fitting as any other for the purpose.)
The following, with its not little timely relevance for many of us today, comes from "The Speech against the Foundation of a Mission among the Senecas" (of New York, 1805); found in The Life and Times of Red Jacket (1841) by W. L. Stone.
"[Red Jacket (aka Sagoyewatha, 1752-1830)]: FRIEND AND BROTHER -- It was the will of the Great Spirit that we should meet together this day. He orders all things, and has given us a fine day for our council. He has taken his garment from before the sun, and caused it to shine with brightness upon us. Our eyes are opened, that we see clearly; our ears are unstopped, that we have been able to hear distinctly the words you have spoken. For all these favors we thank the Great Spirit; and him only.
"Brother: This council fire was kindled by you. It was at your request that we came together at this time. We have listened with attention to what you have said. You requested us to speak our minds freely. This gives us great joy; for we now consider that we stand upright before you, and can speak what we think. All have heard your voice, and all speak to you now as one man. Our minds are agreed.
"Brother: You say you want an answer to your talk before you leave this place. It is right you should have one, as you are a great distance from home, and we do not wish to detain you. But we will first look back a little, and tell you what our fathers have told us, and what we have heard from the white people.
"Brother: Listen to what we say. There was a time when our forefathers owned this great island. Their seats extended from the rising to the setting sun. The Great Spirit had made it for the use of Indians. He had created the buffalo, the deer, and other animals for food. He had made the bear and the beaver. Their skins served us for clothing. He had scattered them over the country, and taught us how to take them. He had caused the earth to produce corn for bread. All this He had done for his red children, because He loved them. If we had some disputes about our hunting ground, they were generally settled without the shedding of much blood. But an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great water, and landed on this island. Their numbers were small. They found friends and not enemies. They told us they had fled from their own country for fear of wicked men, and had come here to enjoy their religion. They asked for a small seat. We took pity on them; granted their request; and they sat down amongst us. We gave them corn and meat; they gave us poison in return.
"The white people, brother, had now found our country. Tidings were carried back, and more came amongst us. Yet we did not fear them. We took them to be friends. They called us brothers. We believed them, and gave them a larger seat At length their numbers had greatly increased. They wanted more land; they wanted our country. Our eyes were opened, and our minds became uneasy. Wars took place. Indians were hired to fight against Indians, and many of our people were destroyed. They also brought strong liquor amongst us. It was strong and powerful, and has slain thousands.
"Brother: Our seats were once large, and yours were small. You have now become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. You have got our country, but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us.
"Brother: Continue to listen. You say that you are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great Spirit agreeably to his mind; and, if we do not take hold of the religion which you white people teach, we shall be unhappy hereafter. You say that you are right, and we are lost. How do we know this to be true? We understand that your religion is written in a book. If it was intended for us as well as you, why has not the Great Spirit given to us, and not only to us, but why did He not give to our forefathers, the knowledge of that book, with the means of understanding it rightly? We only know what you tell us about it. How shall we know when to believe, being so often deceived by the white people?
"Brother: You say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it? Why not all agreed, as you can all read the book?
"Brother: We do not understand these things. We are told that your religion was given to your forefathers, and has been handed down from father to son. We also have a religion, which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us, their children. We worship in that way. It teaches us to be thankful for all the favors we receive; to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion.
"Brother: The Great Spirit has made us all, but He has made a great difference between his white and red children. He has given us different complexions and different customs. To you He has given the arts. To these He has not opened our eyes. We know these things to be true. Since He has made so great a difference between us in other things, why may we not conclude that He has given us a different religion according to our understanding? The Great Spirit does right He knows what is best for his children; we are satisfied.
"Brother: We do not wish to destroy your religion, or take it from you. We only want to enjoy our own.
"Brother: You say you have not come to get our land or our money, but to enlighten our minds. I will now tell you that I have been at your meetings, and saw you collect money from the meeting. I cannot tell what this money was intended for, but suppose that it was for your minister, and if we should conform to your way of thinking, perhaps you may want some from us.
"Brother: We are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while, and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, makes them honest, and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again of what you have said.
"Brother: You have now heard our answer to your talk, and this is all we have to say at present as we are going to part, we will come and take you by the hand, and hope the Great Spirit will protect you on your journey, and return you safe to your friends."
If Hell ever could be said to look for and find a silver lining it is in that there is a show or movie to be had in whatever it is going on. (To paraphrase that now famous line from Dwain Esper's "Maniac" -- "He's such a ham.") And yes, I do very much think the story of Job, Herakles, and Jonah etc. were really nothing more than the golden opportunity of some grand spirit person, posing as God or Zeus (in people's minds), to play movie director.
They have fake Batman, but ah look who (in addition to Commander Shore and Ben Kenobi) we got (I can even now see Darth Kenobi trembling or else protesting "No way! No way!")
