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For Veterans’ Day, it seemed appropriate to post one of the most notable poems coming out of the Great War, certainly the sort that sticks with you once you’ve read it. I had just been talking about this poem with Jason K. not all that long ago.
WILFRED OWEN: Dulce Et Decorum Est
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of disappointed shells that dropped behind.
GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!— An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And floundering like a man in fire or lime.—
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
In memorium. The armistice was signed 90 years ago today, offering a brief respite before the smoldering embers of discontent raged again two decades later.
Well, it looks like Logos is about ready to go live on the Mac with their Bible software. You can read about it here. The software will go head-to-head with longtime Mac Bible software Accordance. I really like Accordance, but suspect the added competition will be good for everyone.
This election did not turn out how I hoped, but the time has come to congratulate President-elect Barack Obama on his victory tonight. I also congratulate his supporters, of which I call many friends. We have called the election at OFB.
We may not agree on every issue, but I believe we agree that we want a better future for the country. Let's hope everyone can work together for that. Let us have a spirited debate on the issues that challenge us, but let us do so respectfully and remembering that we are all Americans.
I thank Sen. John McCain for running a honorable, challenging campaign and for representing me and many of my fellow Americans over the past months admirably. I look forward to seeing him continue to do the business of the country in the coming years in the Senate. I appreciate his classy speech tonight (Read It Here) congratulating Sen. Obama -- it once more showed why I am proud to have cast my vote for him, despite the outcome.
May God bless the next president of the United States, my president, and the people he will govern in the years to come.
As I put on my Facebook status (borrowing and adapting from John McCain):
Stand up! Stand up and vote! Nothing is inevitable here. We never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. Vote!” (Oh, and Run Johnny Run!)about an hour ago clear
I’ll mention some of my votes below, but first, as a reminder, here’s the actual bit of the speech from Sen. McCain:
Don’t give up hope. Be strong. Have courage. And fight.
Fight for a new direction for our country. Fight for what’s right for America. Fight to clean up the mess of corruption, infighting and selfishness in Washington.
Fight to get our economy out of the ditch and back in the lead.
Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.
Fight for our children’s future.
Fight for justice and opportunity for all.
Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.
Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. America is worth fighting for. Nothing is inevitable here. We never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.
Now, let’s go win this election and get this country moving again.
And before you go to quick, no, I did not vote straight ticket.
For President and Vice President: John McCain and Sarah Palin (R )
For Governor: Kenny Hulshof (R )
For Lt. Governor: Peter Kinder (R )
For U.S. Congress: Todd Akin (R )
For Secretary of State: Mitch Hubbard (R )
For Attorney General: Mike Gibbons (R )
For State Senate: Tom Dempsey (R )
For State Representative: Mark Parkinson (R )
For Circuit Judge: Ted House (D )
Amendment 1, English as the Language of Business: YES
Amendment 4, Adjustments to storm-water control bond: NO
Proposition A, Removal of Casino Loss Limit: NO
Proposition B, Medicaid Provided Home Healthcare: NO
St. Charles Prop. B, Francis Howell $78.5 Bond Issue: NO
Proposition C, Mandatory Renewable Energy Use for Electric Companies: NO
Can you believe it has been two years? For two years we have listened to candidates build platforms, argue their cases and tear down their opponents. Now we look at the final two candidates and the question that should be on everyone’s mind is this: who offers the best solutions for this country? My answer is John McCain.
Note: Also check out OFB's editorial endorsement on John McCain, here.
Tomorrow is going to be crazy, as will be at least part of Tuesday. Going into it, I am already tired and I have much more I need to get done. But, at least then we will be at Tuesday night and I can hunker down for an exciting night of election coverage.
Remember: Vote John McCain on Tuesday, November 4!
The man who should have been the next president of the United States, Gov. Mike Huckabee, aired this amusing video during his program on Fox News tonight as part of his opening (humorous) monologue:
“Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America. Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We're Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.
”
