We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Why should the world be overwise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!
"America's Malaise"
.
Right to Bear Arms is Wrong
.
.
By Ken Oxley
.Screw the constitution. Surely that's the conclusion any right-minded American will have reached by now. The slaughter of innocents in Virginia is the latest in a sickening series of preventable massacres. And it won't be the last so long as the second amendment - the right to bear arms - is stubbornly upheld.
Every year more than 30,000 Americans die from gunshot wounds - that's at least 82 a day... a figure that makes the UK's 2005/6 death toll of 50 pale into insignificance. And all because guns have become every bit as ingrained in American culture as mom's apple pie and the Fourth of July.
In Virginia, the only restriction on owning a gun is that you cannot buy more than 12 in a year. How utterly insane is that?
What is even more terrifying, however, is America's unwillingness to deal with the problem. Deep down, US politicians must realise that the only way forward is to restrict gun ownership. Better still, introduce a gun amnesty and begin a lengthy, but necessary process of outlawing these lethal weapons. Countless studies have shown this to be the only viable solution to America's malaise. As long ago as 1993, eminent criminologist Professor Martin Killias concluded: "The level of gun ownership worldwide is directly related to murder and suicide rates."
But while some liberal-minded politicians may support such a move, few are prepared to stick their head above the parapet... for fear of it being shot off. Standing up to the all-powerful gun lobby buys you a one-way ticket to the far end of the political wilderness. No one appreciates that more than George Bush, who quietly allowed legislation that would have prevented people buying automatic assault rifles to lapse.
Already, there have been thousands of newspaper articles published about deranged gunman Cho Seung-Hui's victims, complete with gut-wrenching stories of how their hopes and dreams were snuffed out. There will be soul-searching TV documentaries to follow. And no doubt we can look forward to Virginia Tech - The Movie, once a suitable amount of time has elapsed for grief to subside... and a script to surface.
But will any of it make the slightest bit of difference to public opinion? Will US citizens - and politicians in particular - bite the bullet rather than embrace it and have the courage to call for fundamental changes to the American way of life? Of course they won't. There's simply too much money - and votes - riding on keeping the gun lobby sweet.
Tragically, Virginia Tech - The Sequel, may already be in the pipeline.
-----------------
(*) Ken Oxley is a columnist for the Sunday Sun
--> This article originally appeared on Sunday Sun
.
.
Here from the belly of the beast, I must say that the airwaves, cable lines and all the other media outlets are filled with the usual "grieving America" platitudes. Unfortunately it's all a load of bullshit. Except for the family and friends actually touched by this madness, it really is business as usual for the public. It is sickening to say that I believe most people, while horrified, think of this as one of those unavoidable tragedies that happens in a "free and open society." This society has come to expect these kinds of shootings. Sort of like, "oh there's another nut job blowing people away, oh well...Who is Paris Hilton dating?" It has become all so ho-hum to most. It gives the useless news media here something to pretend to analyze. They fumble over each other trying to be the first with the latest info. Generally all we get is bad information and speculation by dim-witted talking heads.
Of all the rights guaranteed by the amendments of the US Constitution, the only one that seems to be absolutely sacrosanct and untouchable is the 2nd. This is the famous "right to bear arms" amendment. The fact that it was intended so that there would be an armed citizen militia is usually overlooked. It is viewed as a license to own every outrageous type of assault weapon ever devised. These are the rights of "hunters" and "gun hobbyists" and can not be infringed. Now free speech, free press and the right of free assembly are guaranteed rights in the Constitutions also but the government has no problem circumventing those. Does anyone complain about this? Not really. Let someone suggest more gun control and all Hell breaks loose. This is the lunacy of "America" in 2007. I can hardly wait for the next couple of years.
UPDATE : My theories of what the actual reactions would be have been correct. Already, the gun nuts are saying that instead of controlling guns, everyone should carry one. Their logic is this: if someone had been armed, that person could have stopped the maniac. I guess forward thinking is obviously not a common American trait. I can image the increase in shootings over petty arguments and other perceived insults. If you have a gun, you are most likely to use it. There is actually a Virginia legislator who introduced a bill (turned down thankfully) that would have allowed students to carry concealed weapons. Totally frickin' nuts! I thinking there is little hope that the USA will be anything other than a madhouse.
.
-----------------
--> The text originally appeared on the comment's page of this Blog
--> Visit David Baldinger's Website
--> Visit his Blog
.
Of all the rights guaranteed by the amendments of the US Constitution, the only one that seems to be absolutely sacrosanct and untouchable is the 2nd. This is the famous "right to bear arms" amendment. The fact that it was intended so that there would be an armed citizen militia is usually overlooked. It is viewed as a license to own every outrageous type of assault weapon ever devised. These are the rights of "hunters" and "gun hobbyists" and can not be infringed. Now free speech, free press and the right of free assembly are guaranteed rights in the Constitutions also but the government has no problem circumventing those. Does anyone complain about this? Not really. Let someone suggest more gun control and all Hell breaks loose. This is the lunacy of "America" in 2007. I can hardly wait for the next couple of years.
UPDATE : My theories of what the actual reactions would be have been correct. Already, the gun nuts are saying that instead of controlling guns, everyone should carry one. Their logic is this: if someone had been armed, that person could have stopped the maniac. I guess forward thinking is obviously not a common American trait. I can image the increase in shootings over petty arguments and other perceived insults. If you have a gun, you are most likely to use it. There is actually a Virginia legislator who introduced a bill (turned down thankfully) that would have allowed students to carry concealed weapons. Totally frickin' nuts! I thinking there is little hope that the USA will be anything other than a madhouse.
.
Just Peachy by David Baldinger
-------------------> The text originally appeared on the comment's page of this Blog
--> Visit David Baldinger's Website
--> Visit his Blog
.
Why Are You Still There ?
Runaway Child
By Patrick Harris.
Runaway Child, don’t have to take it anymore
Runaway Child, just walk out of that door
Runaway Child, no more chances to take
Runaway Child, it’s your choice to make
Runaway Child, aren’t you sick and tired of the pain
Runaway Child, here there’s nothing to gain
Runaway Child, you get treated like dirt
Runaway Child, get away from the hurt
Runaway Child, here it’s no use
Runaway Child, get away from the abuse
Runaway Child, you don’t have 9 lives
Runaway Child, take that step or dive
Runaway Child, why are you still there
Runaway Child, how much pain can you bear
Runaway Child, you don’t have to say goodbye
Runaway Child, say goodbye, when they DIE!
----------------------------
.
Runaway Child, just walk out of that door
Runaway Child, no more chances to take
Runaway Child, it’s your choice to make
Runaway Child, aren’t you sick and tired of the pain
Runaway Child, here there’s nothing to gain
Runaway Child, you get treated like dirt
Runaway Child, get away from the hurt
Runaway Child, here it’s no use
Runaway Child, get away from the abuse
Runaway Child, you don’t have 9 lives
Runaway Child, take that step or dive
Runaway Child, why are you still there
Runaway Child, how much pain can you bear
Runaway Child, you don’t have to say goodbye
Runaway Child, say goodbye, when they DIE!
----------------------------
--> Poem's source : http://www.poemhunter.com
US university shooting kills 33
.
A US shooting rampage at the Virginia Tech university has left 33 people, including a suspected gunman, dead.
.
There were two incidents two hours apart, at a student dorm where two were killed and at an engineering building where 30 and the gunman died. Officers said they were working to link the attacks and had a preliminary ID of the gunman but would not release it.
After the deadliest shooting rampage in US history, President George W Bush said the US was "shocked and saddened". "Schools should be places of safety and sanctuary and learning. When that sanctuary is violated, the impact is felt in every American classroom and every American community," he said. The state university in the town of Blacksburg is home to 26,000 students.
Virginia Tech police chief Wendell Flinchum said that emergency services had received a call at 0715 (1215 GMT) alerting them to a shooting at the dormitory - West Ambler Johnston Hall. He said that two hours later there was a second report of shooting, this time at the engineering building, Norris Hall.
Asked why the campus was not closed after the first shooting, Mr Flinchum said that, at that stage, it was thought to be an isolated incident. Police believed the first shooting may have been a "domestic incident" and that the gunman had left the campus.
'Many, many shots'
Eyewitnesses said some students jumped from classroom windows to escape the gunfire, which triggered panic on campus. Some of those locked down inside the university buildings were using the internet to try to glean information about what was happening and many e-mailed the BBC News website. Nikolas Macko was in a mathematics class in Norris Hall when he heard a series of loud bangs in the hallway which prompted a female student sitting near the door to move to close it.
"She peeked out into the hallway, and saw the shooter, so she immediately closed the door. Three other students moved a table that was in front of the room - it seats approximately 40 students at capacity - and barricaded it against the door. "A few seconds later, the shooter tried to open the door, but my classmates kept it well shut, as they held the table against it from floor level.
"The shooter shot the door twice at chest level, which resulted in two holes in the door, one of which hit the podium in the front of the class room and the other continued out the window. At this point he reloaded, shot the door again - this shot did not penetrate - and moved on to the other classrooms," Mr Macko said.
Virginia Tech student Erin Sheehan said she survived an attack on her German class and described the gunman. She said: "He was, I would say, about a little bit under six feet tall, young looking, Asian, dressed sort of strangely, almost like a boy scout, very short-sleeved light, tan shirt and some sort of ammo vest with black over it."
Motive unclear
Mr Flinchum said it was unclear if the dead gunman was a student. He could not confirm that the man was involved in the first attack.
Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said: "Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions." He said the university was in the process of informing the next of kin of those killed and that counsellors were in place at the campus for student families. The university urged students to call parents to let them know they were safe.
The deadliest mass US shooting prior to the Virginia attack was in Texas in 1991 when George Hennard killed 23 people and himself in a cafeteria. The US also has a history of deadly school shootings. In 1966, the day after killing his wife and mother, gunman Charles Whitman opened fire from a tower on the campus of the University of Texas killing 14 people and injuring 31 others. In 1999 two teenagers at Columbine High School in Colorado killed 12 fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives.
.
--> More about this :
KEY STORIES
EYEWITNESS
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
WATCH LISTEN
----------------------
--> The article and links originally appeared on www.bbc.co.uk
.
Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF)
.
(Ben Heine © Cartoons)BIBF, background
Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), which has been held successfully for thirteen sessions since its establishment in 1986, has stuck to its tenet of “introducing excellent books from the world intoChina
.
Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), which has been held successfully for thirteen sessions since its establishment in 1986, has stuck to its tenet of “introducing excellent books from the world into
.
The 14th Beijing International Book Fair will be held at
.
----------------------
--> Contact : bibfcomic@126.com
--> Websites : www.bibf.net, www.zhongman.com
.
Breathing Art
.
(A Poetic Justice Photomontage)
.
Ceaselessly giving.
Art opens inward
The generous spirit of the heart.
Art widens the eyes,
The soul,
Then seeks you within it.
Rigid and hot,
It needs freedom, faith
To consider where it’s taken you,
Like dipping your mind’s brush
Into the cleansing water,
Thoughts swim, breathing like fish.
Now given to, submerged,
Bathed in the shape of it,
What wrangles your soul?
If you find your breath full...
Think not of the artist’s truth,
Think but of your own;
Spirit and the heart of hope
Weep
And question why…
© 2007 mrp/thepoetryman
.
Mark, thank you, Associate in Peace...
.
.
(A Poetic Justice Photomontage).
Ceaselessly giving.
Art opens inward
The generous spirit of the heart.
Art widens the eyes,
The soul,
Then seeks you within it.
Rigid and hot,
It needs freedom, faith
To consider where it’s taken you,
Like dipping your mind’s brush
Into the cleansing water,
Thoughts swim, breathing like fish.
Now given to, submerged,
Bathed in the shape of it,
What wrangles your soul?
If you find your breath full...
Think not of the artist’s truth,
Think but of your own;
Spirit and the heart of hope
Weep
And question why…
© 2007 mrp/thepoetryman
.
Mark, thank you, Associate in Peace...
.
A new Cartoon Website just opened : "Kurdish Cartoon", presenting cartoons and artists from all over the world !
.The Kurdishcartoon Creators :
ایده راه اندازی سایت "کردیش کارتون"، 12 مرداد 1385، توسط "پژمان علی پور" مطرح شد که پس از توافق دوستان، کار طراحی آن شروع و از هیجدهم فروردین سال 1386روزجهانی کاریکاتوربه طور رسمی راه اندازی شد. به همین منظور برای ماندگاری و انسجام بیشتر و طراحی و ریشه ای تر کردن اهداف کوتاه مدت و بلند مدت و گسترده تر کردن فعالیتهایمان، تعدادی از همفکران گردهم آمدیم تا قابلیت سایت "کردیش کارتون" که بر پایه فعالیت گروهی افراد زیر :
.
Why are some lives made
to count more?
.jpg)
to count more?
“Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter.”
– African Proverb
“And though tyranny, because it needs no consent, may successfully rule over foreign peoples, it can stay in power only if it destroys first of all the national institutions of its own people.”
– Hannah Arendt, The Origins Of Totalitarianism
.
This is another mascot project for the Hoverstop company. This company has created an ergonomic mouse that helps to avoid RSI (Repetitive Stress Injuries) when working with a computer.
.
.
Hoverstop will:
- Avoid unnecessary stress in hand, wrist, arm and shoulder
- Increase the level of comfort whilst working on the computer
- Help to relax and concentrate on the task
- Improve productivity
- Reduce the risk for injuries like RSI
...do all of the above without interrupting your work.
Comfort
.
.
By using the Hoverstop ergonomic mouse system you will introduce a serie of additional micro breaks while performing your normal work procedures. The additional micro-breaks can add over 10 minutes of rest per hour to your hand and arm.
Erwin Welbergen
The idea behind Hoverstop came to life when Erwin Welbergen, the founder and inventor of Hoverstop, started experiencing problems with RSI himself. With a background as a human motion scientist and having managed his own company for fifteen years intensive computer use was a daily activity. The problems with RSI and the threat to the continuity of his company led to the development of Hoverstop
Together with ex-colleagues of the VU University in Amsterdam the concept was developed into a functional product. In March 2002 Hoverstop applied for the patent for the mouse and other devices where passive use may lead to health problems.
The management team consists of Erwin and Richard Wolfe. Richard has extensive experience in marketing and sales in international business services.
.
Erotico-Fantastico-Burlesque :
The End
The End
.
.
Hi everybody, I'm sad to announce that my other Blog, Erotico-Fantastico-Burlesque, won't be updated anymore. If you wish to see my new artworks, please continue to visit Ben Heine-Cartoons, which is updated everyday. Thanks again for having shared with me this erotico-fantastico-burlesque dream!
.
.
Your Lips Smack of
Devout Hypocrisy!
Devout Hypocrisy!
.
.
Pale Saintliness
By thepoetryman
O! Deceitfulness!
O! Pale saintliness!
Must you eradicate all sound reason?
Must you tread upon all of the globe
With your loose-lipped godlessness
While the red droplets of heaven
Are collapsing on the meek and tired,
And the empire’s bombs plummet
Upon the offspring of hearts and souls?
What gains have you in this; your delusion?
Surely the path to heaven is not covered
In falsehoods and charlatans handing out flowers.
Your lips smack of devout hypocrisy!
Your reasoning, a blunt object upon the head!
Your god smacking lips quiver in vagueness!
Your words refuse to venture out with humanity,
Instead they lounge upon uncomfortable faith
Cracking hope with the weight of your coffers!
It is immense within mankind.
It is yielding and graceful.
Dampness and the soil congregate there
While we set out to destroy the living;
Words as bullets ripping through
Piercing the downtrodden and weak!
We need take these hateful terms,
This small, narrow-minded language
And rip them all to shreds
Then, with the hand of humanity open,
We must unlearn our gradated wants and needs.
We must unlearn these ugly traditions
Of lies, murder, war, and greed.
We must open our hands.
By thepoetryman
O! Deceitfulness!
O! Pale saintliness!
Must you eradicate all sound reason?
Must you tread upon all of the globe
With your loose-lipped godlessness
While the red droplets of heaven
Are collapsing on the meek and tired,
And the empire’s bombs plummet
Upon the offspring of hearts and souls?
What gains have you in this; your delusion?
Surely the path to heaven is not covered
In falsehoods and charlatans handing out flowers.
Your lips smack of devout hypocrisy!
Your reasoning, a blunt object upon the head!
Your god smacking lips quiver in vagueness!
Your words refuse to venture out with humanity,
Instead they lounge upon uncomfortable faith
Cracking hope with the weight of your coffers!
It is immense within mankind.
It is yielding and graceful.
Dampness and the soil congregate there
While we set out to destroy the living;
Words as bullets ripping through
Piercing the downtrodden and weak!
We need take these hateful terms,
This small, narrow-minded language
And rip them all to shreds
Then, with the hand of humanity open,
We must unlearn our gradated wants and needs.
We must unlearn these ugly traditions
Of lies, murder, war, and greed.
We must open our hands.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)