NINE ELEVEN HIGHLIGHTED HUMAN HATE AND FOLLY
I have a hard time finding anything good about those years
Today is the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack. I recall where I was on that day at work. A coworker and I went across the street to a gas station to see the tower before it fell. The whole experience of the overreaction and the opportunistic drumming to war left a very sour taste in my mouth. There was actual fear among my fellow North Dakotans that day, I couldn’t understand why at the time. In fact even today it seems silly to have a fear at that location. In this event and what was done proceeding it is what I write my verse on today. The nationalistic sense of patriotism for a short time did occur with me. But soon the clear intentions by the Bush Administration to use the tragedy fully for their own ideological ideals was clear. It was a very pigheaded America which soon appeared. The torture and imprisonments of innocent bystanders was quite disturbing. I do not have any sense of American pride over the whole ordeal. Anyway, here’s my verse.
Here are some postings from X regarding George W. Bush for this day, and reference to his presidential library to warn of the attack on American democracy.
I had to take a look at Truth Social on 9/11 to see what might be found. The usual diet of conspiracy theory was found. The following gives a taste of what these folks are focused on. Trump’s remarks on the day on video were posted, I did not take time to hear what they might be.
The following are a series of quotes broadly encompassing the theme of my verse, in this case on ‘revenge.’ These are all from Forty Thousand Sublime and Beautiful Thoughts from 1914. I’ve tried to get a biography of each, taken from writings in Wikipedia for your information.
“We can more easily avenge an injury than requite a kindness; on this account, because there is less difficulty in getting the better of the wicked than in making one's self equal with the good.”
- Cicero.
Marcus Tullius Cicero (3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the establishment of the Roman Empire. His extensive writings include treatises on rhetoric, philosophy and politics. He is considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists and the innovator of what became known as "Ciceronian rhetoric".Cicero was educated in Rome and in Greece. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the Roman equestrian order, and served as consul in 63 BC.
“A pure and simple revenge does in no way restore man towards the felicity which the injury did interrupt; for revenge is but doing a simple evil, and does not, in its formality, imply reparation.”
- Jeremy Taylor
Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667) was a cleric in the Church of England who achieved fame as an author during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell. He is sometimes known as the "Shakespeare of Divines" for his poetic style of expression, and he is frequently cited as one of the greatest prose writers in the English language. The best evidence of his diligence as a student is the enormous learning of which he showed so easy a command in later years. In 1633, although still below the canonical age, he took holy orders, and accepted the invitation of Thomas Risden, a former fellow student, to supply his place for a short time as lecturer at St Paul's Cathedral.
“He that thinks he shows boldness or height of mind by a scurrilous reply to a scurrilous provocation measures himself by a false standard, and acts not the spirit of a man, but the spleen of a wasp.”
- South
Robert South (4 September 1634 – 8 July 1716) was an English churchman who was known for his combative preaching and his Latin poetry. He was praised for his wit, though Mark Noble wrote that once, whilst giving a sermon to Charles II, he observed the entire congregation had gone to sleep - Noble remarks that, "Stopping and changing the tone of his voice, he called thrice to Lord Lauderdale, who, awakened, stood up: "My Lord" says South very composedly "I am sorry to interrupt your repose, but I must beg that you will not snore quite so loud, lest you should awaken his majesty", and then as calmly continued his discourse."
But if for wrongs we needs revenge must have,
Then be our vengeance of the noblest kind:
Do we his body from our fury save,
And let our hate prevail against his mind?
What can 'gainst him a greater vengeance be,
Than make his foe more worthy far than he.
-Lady Elizabeth Carew.
Elizabeth Carew (née Bryan; c. 1500 – 1546) was an English courtier and reputed mistress of King Henry VIII. Elizabeth also showed an interest in literature. She is credited with persuading her uncle, John Bourchier, to translate the Spanish tale The Castle of Love into English. He is also known to have translated the courtly romance, Huon of Bordeaux, for Elizabeth. Elizabeth's husband was beheaded on Tower Hill on March 3, 1539. After this Elizabeth was evicted from Beddington and took refuge at her other property in Wallington. She wrote to Cromwell from there, asking him to intercede for her with the king. Her mother also wrote to Cromwell, saying that Elizabeth "has not been used to straight living and it would grieve me in my old days to lose her."
Few things are more agreeable to self-love than revenge , and yet no cause so effectually restrains us from revenge as self-love. And this paradox naturally suggests another; that the strength of the community is not un frequently built upon the weakness of those individuals that compose it.
-Colton.
Charles Caleb Colton (bapt. 11 December 1777 – died 28 April 1832) was an English cleric, writer and collector, well known for his eccentricities. Colton's books, including collections of epigrammatic aphorisms and short essays on conduct, though now almost forgotten, had a phenomenal popularity in their day. Toward the end of 1820, Colton published Lacon, or Many Things in Few Words, addressed to those who think., in a small cheap edition.
That is what I have to share on this day. Thanks for reading.
90th posting, September 11, 2023