Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Insanity of War

INSANITY

Wars are begun by those too old to fight
Who find reasons among themselves for war
Reasons not unlike those
For waging previous wars
The same but on a large scale
With more at risk

To repeat actions that have failed
Expecting better results
Defines insanity

Wars are begun by those too old to fight
But they don't pay the real price of their war
They extract that price
From those too young to die
The full price
All they have
Their lives

And when that price is paid
What is there to show for it
But blood in the dust of some foreign land

This is insanity


Troy Parker Farr

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Impeachment is a Remedy, Not a Punishment

Impeachment is a tool given to us by the founders of our country with which to stop imperial ambitions of presidents who believe that the executive branch deserves more power than the legislative or judicial branches of our government. Even though impeachment may fall on an individual president or vice-president in a form that seems like a punishment, the real purpose is to stop their actions, preserve our democracy, and maintain the balance of power between the three branches of government.

It should not be seen as vengeful, but as a necessary remedy when presidents overstep the bounds of their presidencies. Otherwise, the actions of imperially minded presidents and/or vice-presidents, will serve as precedent to future occupiers of the White House, who may like wielding this unchecked power.

Impeachment is the only tool we have to prevent the office of the presidency, or any other office, from growing more powerful than it was meant to be. It is what keeps the people from being helpless in the face of tyranny or despotism. This growth of power comes about so slowly that people at first do not notice, but finally, when more and more rights and liberties are lost, they begin to look for a way to redress their grievances.

Impeachment is for stopping serious abuses of power. Impeachment is a tool, and it is the one given to us by the constitution. It is our responsibility as citizens to demand that our representatives in congress take action on our behalf when impeachment has become an appropriate remedy to use.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Cheney and the Truth

Why should we believe Vice-President Cheney's opinions about Iran? Or about anything else? Isn't he the man I heard endlessly droning on about "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq long after the rest of us knew there weren't any? His repetitive comments helped get us into the war in Iraq. Are we going to sit back and let his comments do the same thing in Iran?
In my opinion, this is absolute madness. We have become like a nation of sheep. Why don't we wake up?

Troy

Friday, October 19, 2007

Poem from "The White Tree"


LESSON

I have learned
That nothing you think you know
Nothing you believe
Means anything
Unless you can live it

Does a tree bear fruit in winter
Or an axe chop wood
Leaning against the wall?

Troy

Thursday, October 4, 2007

What Happened to the News?


The "news" is seldom news anymore. It is more likely to be someone's opinion of what is happening. Sometimes it is an interpretation, as when a newscaster tells you what someone is saying, while in the background you see that person's lips moving, saying things you can't hear for yourself. Sometimes it devolves into a discussion between people not necessarily qualified to be authorities on what they are discussing, thus producing in-depth studies of shallow thoughts. I would just like to see and hear the news, and make up my own mind as to what it means.

Troy