morning coffee
her autumn breath joins
rising fog
First posted in The Four Seasons of Haiku
Showing posts with label fog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fog. Show all posts
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Haiku 093009
autumn dawn
his breath joins
lake fog
***************
Recently, we read the following:
New York Times: “Pope Ends Czech Visit With Warning About Power” by Dan Bilefsky
“Ending a three-day trip here aimed at fighting secularism, Pope Benedict XVI told about 40,000 of the faithful on Monday that the collapse of the Communist system had shown the price paid by those who chase power and deny God.
“ ‘The last century — as this land of yours can bear witness — saw the fall of a number of powerful figures who had apparently risen to almost unattainable heights,’ Benedict, 82, said during an open-air Mass in Stara Boleslav, a town about 15 miles northeast of Prague where the Czech patron St. Wenceslas was slain in the 10th century.
“ ‘Suddenly they found themselves stripped of their power,’ he added, in an allusion to the fall of Communism in 1989.
“The pope came to this decidedly skeptical nation as part of a Continentwide mission to urge the unbelieving out of their collective apathy…”
***************
And we thought:
…The workings of power and politics, perhaps, should not be boiled down like this, as if it were all a simple matter of believing in God or not. The dynamics of political systems and political change is more complex.
The Pope, being a scholar, knows better. Throughout history, a number of political leaders, although believers, had fallen out of power just the same. The people whom the Pope wishes to draw to Catholicism in a more profound way deserve a more thoughtful and well-reasoned discussion of the nexus between secular and religious matters -- not just a convenient, vaporous sound bite…
autumn dawn
his breath joins
lake fog
***************
Recently, we read the following:
New York Times: “Pope Ends Czech Visit With Warning About Power” by Dan Bilefsky
“Ending a three-day trip here aimed at fighting secularism, Pope Benedict XVI told about 40,000 of the faithful on Monday that the collapse of the Communist system had shown the price paid by those who chase power and deny God.
“ ‘The last century — as this land of yours can bear witness — saw the fall of a number of powerful figures who had apparently risen to almost unattainable heights,’ Benedict, 82, said during an open-air Mass in Stara Boleslav, a town about 15 miles northeast of Prague where the Czech patron St. Wenceslas was slain in the 10th century.
“ ‘Suddenly they found themselves stripped of their power,’ he added, in an allusion to the fall of Communism in 1989.
“The pope came to this decidedly skeptical nation as part of a Continentwide mission to urge the unbelieving out of their collective apathy…”
***************
And we thought:
…The workings of power and politics, perhaps, should not be boiled down like this, as if it were all a simple matter of believing in God or not. The dynamics of political systems and political change is more complex.
The Pope, being a scholar, knows better. Throughout history, a number of political leaders, although believers, had fallen out of power just the same. The people whom the Pope wishes to draw to Catholicism in a more profound way deserve a more thoughtful and well-reasoned discussion of the nexus between secular and religious matters -- not just a convenient, vaporous sound bite…
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Haiku 071609
summer dawn
thick fog hides
unmowed grass
***************
Recently, we read the following:
New York Times: “Cheney Is Linked to Concealment of C.I.A. Project” by Scott Shane
“The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, the agency’s director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday.
“The report that Mr. Cheney was behind the decision to conceal the still-unidentified program from Congress deepened the mystery surrounding it, suggesting that the Bush administration had put a high priority on the program and its secrecy.
“Mr. Panetta, who ended the program when he first learned of its existence from subordinates on June 23, briefed the two intelligence committees about it in separate closed sessions the next day….
“The disclosure about Mr. Cheney’s role in the unidentified C.I.A. program comes a day after an inspector general’s report underscored the central role of the former vice president’s office in restricting to a small circle of officials knowledge of the National Security Agency’s program of eavesdropping without warrants, a degree of secrecy that the report concluded had hurt the effectiveness of the counterterrorism surveillance effort….
“In the tense months after Sept. 11, when Bush administration officials believed new Qaeda attacks could occur at any moment, intelligence officials brainstormed about radical countermeasures. It was in that atmosphere that the unidentified program was devised and deliberately concealed from Congress, officials said….
“In the eight years of his vice presidency, Mr. Cheney was the Bush administration’s most vehement defender of the secrecy of government activities, particularly in the intelligence arena. He went to the Supreme Court to keep secret the advisers to his task force on energy, and won….”
***************
And we thought:
….Eventually, the sun burns off the morning mist. Similarly, public opinion will force the shedding of Cheney’s burkha….
summer dawn
thick fog hides
unmowed grass
***************
Recently, we read the following:
New York Times: “Cheney Is Linked to Concealment of C.I.A. Project” by Scott Shane
“The Central Intelligence Agency withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years on direct orders from former Vice President Dick Cheney, the agency’s director, Leon E. Panetta, has told the Senate and House intelligence committees, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said Saturday.
“The report that Mr. Cheney was behind the decision to conceal the still-unidentified program from Congress deepened the mystery surrounding it, suggesting that the Bush administration had put a high priority on the program and its secrecy.
“Mr. Panetta, who ended the program when he first learned of its existence from subordinates on June 23, briefed the two intelligence committees about it in separate closed sessions the next day….
“The disclosure about Mr. Cheney’s role in the unidentified C.I.A. program comes a day after an inspector general’s report underscored the central role of the former vice president’s office in restricting to a small circle of officials knowledge of the National Security Agency’s program of eavesdropping without warrants, a degree of secrecy that the report concluded had hurt the effectiveness of the counterterrorism surveillance effort….
“In the tense months after Sept. 11, when Bush administration officials believed new Qaeda attacks could occur at any moment, intelligence officials brainstormed about radical countermeasures. It was in that atmosphere that the unidentified program was devised and deliberately concealed from Congress, officials said….
“In the eight years of his vice presidency, Mr. Cheney was the Bush administration’s most vehement defender of the secrecy of government activities, particularly in the intelligence arena. He went to the Supreme Court to keep secret the advisers to his task force on energy, and won….”
***************
And we thought:
….Eventually, the sun burns off the morning mist. Similarly, public opinion will force the shedding of Cheney’s burkha….
Monday, April 13, 2009
Haiku 041309
spring dawn --
budding bushes
purple haze
**************
Recently, we read the following:
TIME.com: “Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense" (by Joe Klein, In the Arena)
“Legalizing marijuana may be politically risky. But the economic benefits are becoming difficult to ignore.
“For the past several years, I've been harboring a fantasy, a last political crusade for the baby-boom generation. We, who started on the path of righteousness, marching for civil rights and against the war in Vietnam, need to find an appropriately high-minded approach to life's exit ramp. In this case, I mean the high-minded part literally. And so, a deal: give us drugs, after a certain age — say, 80 — all drugs, any drugs we want. In return, we will give you our driver's licenses. (I mean, can you imagine how terrifying a nation of decrepit, solipsistic 90-year-old boomers behind the wheel would be?) ….
"We boomers are getting older every day. You're not going to want us on the highways. Make us your best offer.”
***************
And we thought:
…. Enough said …. Well, maybe, just one more point -- or a few. Why not a lower threshold age of, say, 75 instead? Or some age related to mandatory deferred compensation, pension, or retirement payouts? The sooner baby boomers can “tune in, turn on ... " (as Klein partially suggested) -- and make peace (one would add) -- the better for this increasingly uncivil world. And they don't really have to be allowed "all drugs, any drugs they want." Just the one -- pot. (In addition, of course to their legitimate stash -- i.e., prescription drugs -- for erectile dysfunction, arthritis, diabetes, cholesterol, etc.)
And then, maybe, they don't really have to give up driving totally -- just driving on the highways. No doubt, car and truck manufacturers wouldn't want to completely lose this large demographic too soon.... So much stuff to break down and consider further, Master Klein. Migraine's coming.... =)
spring dawn --
budding bushes
purple haze
**************
Recently, we read the following:
TIME.com: “Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense" (by Joe Klein, In the Arena)
“Legalizing marijuana may be politically risky. But the economic benefits are becoming difficult to ignore.
“For the past several years, I've been harboring a fantasy, a last political crusade for the baby-boom generation. We, who started on the path of righteousness, marching for civil rights and against the war in Vietnam, need to find an appropriately high-minded approach to life's exit ramp. In this case, I mean the high-minded part literally. And so, a deal: give us drugs, after a certain age — say, 80 — all drugs, any drugs we want. In return, we will give you our driver's licenses. (I mean, can you imagine how terrifying a nation of decrepit, solipsistic 90-year-old boomers behind the wheel would be?) ….
"We boomers are getting older every day. You're not going to want us on the highways. Make us your best offer.”
***************
And we thought:
…. Enough said …. Well, maybe, just one more point -- or a few. Why not a lower threshold age of, say, 75 instead? Or some age related to mandatory deferred compensation, pension, or retirement payouts? The sooner baby boomers can “tune in, turn on ... " (as Klein partially suggested) -- and make peace (one would add) -- the better for this increasingly uncivil world. And they don't really have to be allowed "all drugs, any drugs they want." Just the one -- pot. (In addition, of course to their legitimate stash -- i.e., prescription drugs -- for erectile dysfunction, arthritis, diabetes, cholesterol, etc.)
And then, maybe, they don't really have to give up driving totally -- just driving on the highways. No doubt, car and truck manufacturers wouldn't want to completely lose this large demographic too soon.... So much stuff to break down and consider further, Master Klein. Migraine's coming.... =)
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