06-18-2012, 01:49 AM
Penguin,
"I'm not quite sure what your point is in the first 8 lines of that last verse. That we should all "man up"? " (answer in this follow long paragraph)
Guilty of Prophet Voice, but it is difficult not to go there when condemning all of mankind. I could have been less general and more specific, but the idea is that these sorts of character traits are an inherent part f the human condition, and while we may fight them, we can never be fully free of self-centeredness, fear, resentment, and so on. So that sets the last part up as being sarcasm. Basically making fun of the idea that it is so important if you shit your pants or not when a gun is pulled on you. That sort of bravado, or false self esteem is just posturing. There is also an acknowledgment of a sort of fatalism, in that we all die, we all are washed under, no matter how great or insignificant our lives were, death is the great equalizer (not that brings any comfort). This is, at least on the most superficial level a repudiation of the Hemingway idea that to overcome "fear" one must face death down, as though fear were not a ongoing and pervasive element of life that could be dealt with one and never bother us again. Having lived through a few of those Hemingway-esque type of events, I can state that they do not rid one of any fear, or even fear of death. They may make you appreciate life more, but in many ways, such events tend to intensify fears hold on a person, not lessen it.
Thanks for your comments. Yes to "in wanton acts of cultural and actual genocide
we think our holiness the same as God " I do need something better there. I agree with the next one, but "righteous wrath" is not what I am talking about. But yea, the wording is awkward.
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the hand of self-centredness - a little wordy?
Yes, probably, but I am personifying Self-centeredness, so it is Self-centered's hand, not a "self-centred hand", I think that is a legitimate distinction.
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Thanks again,
Dale
"I'm not quite sure what your point is in the first 8 lines of that last verse. That we should all "man up"? " (answer in this follow long paragraph)
Guilty of Prophet Voice, but it is difficult not to go there when condemning all of mankind. I could have been less general and more specific, but the idea is that these sorts of character traits are an inherent part f the human condition, and while we may fight them, we can never be fully free of self-centeredness, fear, resentment, and so on. So that sets the last part up as being sarcasm. Basically making fun of the idea that it is so important if you shit your pants or not when a gun is pulled on you. That sort of bravado, or false self esteem is just posturing. There is also an acknowledgment of a sort of fatalism, in that we all die, we all are washed under, no matter how great or insignificant our lives were, death is the great equalizer (not that brings any comfort). This is, at least on the most superficial level a repudiation of the Hemingway idea that to overcome "fear" one must face death down, as though fear were not a ongoing and pervasive element of life that could be dealt with one and never bother us again. Having lived through a few of those Hemingway-esque type of events, I can state that they do not rid one of any fear, or even fear of death. They may make you appreciate life more, but in many ways, such events tend to intensify fears hold on a person, not lessen it.
Thanks for your comments. Yes to "in wanton acts of cultural and actual genocide
we think our holiness the same as God " I do need something better there. I agree with the next one, but "righteous wrath" is not what I am talking about. But yea, the wording is awkward.
------------------------------------------------------------
the hand of self-centredness - a little wordy?
Yes, probably, but I am personifying Self-centeredness, so it is Self-centered's hand, not a "self-centred hand", I think that is a legitimate distinction.
------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks again,
Dale
How long after picking up the brush, the first masterpiece?
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.