T P O

T   P   O
The Patient Ox (aka Hénock Gugsa)

G r e e t i n g s !

** TPO **
A personal blog with diverse topicality and multiple interests!


On the menu ... politics, music, poetry, and other good stuff.
There is humor, but there is blunt seriousness here as well!


Parfois, on parle français ici aussi. Je suis un francophile .... Bienvenue à tous!

* Your comments and evaluations are appreciated ! *

Monday, May 31, 2010

A Lot of Hot Air Out There! - by TPO ( Hénock Gugsa )





A Lot of Hot Air Out There *
-------------
by TPO ( Hénock Gugsa )



In this age of incivility and public discord when the media (TV, radio, and newsprint) is thriving mostly on the backs of hotheads and megalomaniacs, is it not surprising that we have not yet suffered a severe depression epidemic leading to societal degradation and malaise, to say nothing of murder and suicide? Talk shows are shouting-matches, "reality" is unreality, shallowness and pettiness are "in" while depth and fairness are derogated to mere elitism or faux ennui (fake tediousness).

Having said all of that, the focus of my discussion here is the Washington Post news article, "Mexican pirates attack Texas fishermen on Falcon Lake, which straddles border," dated May 30, 2010. In particular, I would like to zero in on the readers' input in the commentary section. One finds there a microcosm of a society that is on the precipice of hysteria and madness. I [under the pseudonym of "FormerET"] participated briefly in the discussions, and left hurriedly because I could not stand the insanity. The following is an exact replication of my participation in the loony bin ....

FormerET wrote:

I am an American. But in this case, I am on the side of the
Mexicans even if they are brigands. The Americans that go into
the Mexican waters to fish are illegals. We have no sympathy
for Mexican illegals here. Why should Mexicans have any respect
for American illegals there? These axxholes are lucky to get
out of there alive! The shoe is in the other foot,baby!
5/30/2010 8:54:29 AM
------------------------------------
PennyWisetheClown wrote:

One is pilfering a trout and the other
is destroying our social service system, causing crime, working
illegally, not paying taxes and crossing borders to stay.
Your analogy really holds a lot of weight.
------------------------------------
FormerET replied:

So you're saying the Americans are not "causing crime", are not
"working illegally" (fishing or stealing fish), not "crossing
borders" willy-nilly?
------------------------------------
PennyWisetheClown:

Not at all i was pointing out the difference between the two is
so large it renders your analogy moot.
But if you want to split hairs i will concede that both are
still a crime. But one would be considered jay walking and the
other would be considered a felony.

==================================

Elisa2 wrote:

FormerET - Go back and read all of it. You obviously stopped
before you read that the Mexican gang comes into the US side
and carrying drugs, or that almost no one from the US ever goes
into the Mexican side anymore.
---------------------------------
FormerET replied:

I have read all of it. My point still stands. In the eyes of
the law, Americans do not have any right to go and plunder
there just because Mexican brigands come over here and do their
mischief. Now, you must put emotion aside if you want to
analyze this matter objectively. Even soldiers in war time are
not permitted to plunder a land that they have taken from an
enemy. And we are not at war with Mexico despite the implicit
wishes of some commentators here.
5/30/2010 9:47:46 AM

==================================

hared wrote:

All Americans should be on a war footing, and prepared to fight
on our home soil. All of these si se *****rs are and will be
the enemy, and the target. So get in shape, get prepared, get
resolved, and get armed, heavily armed and heavily supplied.
Just like our boys walking through the streets of Afghanistan,
and Iraq. These *****rs are snickering now, but will be
slobbering woe is me and crying for their patron saints, when
they are getting their @sses kicked here soon. And just like in
Arizona, these *****rs started it, and we will end it.
5/30/2010 10:09:12 AM
---------------------------------
FormerET replied:

Yes, my little Fuhrer!
And a Heil Hitler to you!
5/30/2010 11:37:50 AM
---------------------------------
hared wrote:

...nah, more like founding father George, and we won't forget
about these traitorous jews, who are out front in their
enabling, for a profit of course, of these border criminals and
their illegitimate farts...
5/30/2010 11:44:44 AM

=================================

mojo975 wrote:

Just legalize marijuana already so we can quit playing this
game and actually make money.
5/30/2010 11:41:53 AM
---------------------------------
FormerET replied:

Now this is one of the few sensible and least insane things
I've read here all morning.
Thanks and peace brother!
5/30/2010 11:57:24 AM

=================================

TPO concludes ....

So, there you have it. Everything that was said is verbatim. Nothing has
been accomplished ... nothing is resolved.

One thing is certain: A lot of hot air out there!

================================
================================

*“A Lot of Hot Air Out There” ~ © Hénock Gugsa  ( ሄኖክ  ጉግሣ ) - 05/31/2010

Thursday, May 13, 2010

"L'Envoi" - by Willa Cather







Willa Cather (1873 - 1947)
-------------
"L'Envoi"

Where are the loves that we have loved before
When once we are alone, and shut the door?
No matter whose the arms that held me fast,
The arms of Darkness hold me at the last.
No matter down what primrose path I tend,
I kiss the lips of Silence in the end.
No matter on what heart I found delight,
I come again unto the breast of Night.
No matter when or how love did befall,
'Tis Loneliness that loves me best of all,
And in the end she claims me, and I know
That she will stay, though all the rest may go.
No matter whose the eyes that I would keep
Near in the dark, 'tis in the eyes of Sleep
That I must look and look forever more,
When once I am alone, and shut the door.