The Seasons: A Poem

Posted by on
Sunrise over Amazing Grasses Family Farm The mad Artist wields His brush, Painted colors rush, To life and give flush, Before the quiet autumn hush. The life seems to pour, As colors fall to the floor, To be seen no more, Outside the dark, grey door. Brightness from below, Sun upon the snow, High, cold clouds blow, Flakes and ice appear to grow. The man melts with little seen, Underneath, pale, grey green, Hides life in dark unseen, Waits for warmth and to careen. Buds on branches show, Patience starts to grow, Trickles, streams and veins flow, Bringing fruits of melted snow. Sprung to life it springs, Bees, birds, sound rings, Lush green flings, Its gift bounty brings. Green growth gives one last rush, Underneath the Painter's brush. The mad Artist wields His brush, before the quiet autumn hush. More poetry is available from James M. Hahn in  The Last Dragon and Other Poems  available now. My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is avai
0

Change the Game?

Posted by on
I was extremely upset to read the article below. Pope Benedict XVI endorsed the initiative stating, "Let's protect children from the spread of violence." Personally, I am a strong believer that children, boys mainly, should be able to play with toy guns, etc. It is a natural drive in boys to want to fight, play army, play war, fight dragons, etc. This is not a bad thing. This is one part of what makes men valiant, honorable, and good. Of course this "play" must be directed and controlled. It must be turned toward the fighting of evil and injustice and protecting the innocent and vulnerable.

I grew up playing with toy guns. I passed my hunter safety course with a 98 when I was 11 and was able to get my license. My father taught me to respect firearms. Neither I, my brother, nor any of our hunting buddies have turned out to be violent men.

To me, this initiative is silly and idealistic. It is driven by the anti-war effort and under the guise of protecting children is emasculating more and more men. The men who were not taught to use their "power" for good and to protect others have become terrorists. The men who were not allowed to play with guns and told that that sort of play is bad have become pacifists. Who will protect us when the terrorists meet the pacifists? Let kids play with guns and teach them how to use them. It's looking like we may need them soon.

By the by...this organization is part of the United for Peace Organization which has some interesting bedfellows. Some of the ones just in my Ohio - The Young Communist League of Athens, Catholics for Faithful Citizenship (led by the founder of Catholics for Kerry of the 2004 fame), Socialist Party USA. National members include - N.O.W. (yeah, think about that one - peace for all but those in the womb!), PAX CHRISTI, RainbowPUSH Coalition.

I guess I'm disheartened that B16 would give public support for this without clarifying the real problems and solutions. Taking toy guns away from children is not going to make the world a better place any more than distributing toy flowers.

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 22, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI gave his public support to the Change the Game project, an initiative that asks children to put toy weapons aside."I am pleased with this initiative and I would like to extend the appeal: Let's protect children from the spread of violence!" the Pope said on Sunday when greeting crowds gathered to pray the Angelus.The project, which began in Leece, Italy, sponsors campaigns to "disarm" children of their violent play things. Since it began, Change the Game has collected some 4,500 toy weapons.With the help of the civil authorities of Leece, Vito Patti, known as the Magician Fracasso, organized a month-long "disarmament" campaign that ended Jan. 6.When Benedict XVI received Magician Fracasso in a private audience, the magician gave the Holy Father 12 toy weapons collected during the campaign.The Change the Game project is now being promoted in other European cities. ZE07012207

Comments

Post a Comment