Justin-A stupid history

Throughout the two millennia that the Christian church has existed, it has formed a pattern of helping new converts feel comfortable by absorbing and attempting to sanctify some of their customs.  The result of this has given us Christmas Trees, Easter Eggs and a whole plethora of symbolism that has little to do with the church and yet is fiercely defended by her.

To a point, the worst of these ties has been the celebration of fertility married to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Confusion abounds as the most holy day in Christendom is painted pastel and accompanied by a bunny bearing colored eggs. Even the name is pagan in origin.

          Christmas when viewed objectively is extremely confusing. Placed by the church in the wrong season, Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ in Israel using Nordic symbolism. Laying sacrifices before tree gods became gifts under trees. Conservative American evangelicals have picked up the call of “keep Christ in Christmas” generating the idea of a culture war concerning Christmas. A war that continues to be won by Christians every time someone writes the year with the letters A.D. The same group seems less inclined to keep the “mass” in Christmas.

          With the Christian Church’s history of absorption and adoption of other cultural holidays, it seems that Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve, would be a natural fit into the calendar. Regardless, a large group of modern evangelicals eschew the practice of Halloween because of its pagan roots. Some groups even go so far as to remove the name given the day by the church and call their celebration a “Harvest Party” which is exactly what the pagans of old would have been celebrating at this time of year.    

Jason - Stupid People

King Richard III

Some historians suspect it might have been the chemicals in the paint that tripped up the thoughts of Richard Lawrence. He had found work as a house painter in the Washington D.C. area and over the course of a few years he began to act erratically. By late 1832 he quit his job and and began to dress in such a way that the children in the neighborhood called him King Richard.

It is possible this was his intent all along. When he quit his job his sister asked him why and he said he didn’t need to work. He explained he was King Richard III and as such the United States government owed him a large sum of money. King Richard had been dead for some 350 years. She didn’t know it but this was a hint to a very dangerous train of thought. Richard reasoned that it was President Andrew Jackson who was stood in the way of him getting payment. So, he needed to be removed from office.

There would be a kind of justice, he thought, in the King of England taking the life of a President.

Not one but a pair of one shot Derringer pistols were hidden in the clothes of the Mr. Lawrence and he made his way to the capital, where the funeral of Congressman Davis would be attended by “Old Hickory” himself. There were a couple problems with his plan. First, these pistols were incredibly sensitive to moisture and the weather was rainy and generally damp. Additionally, even though the President was 67 years old, he was by all counts a formidable opponent.

The faux king waited behind the pillar he knew the President would have to pass by. One hand was inside his clothes in the grip of the gun. He waited and watched. He recognized his target by his shock of hair, let him pass them stepped out behind him. He withdrew the pistol, pointed and pulled the trigger.

The cap went off, sounding like a shot, but it was a misfire caused by the moisture in the air. Andrew Jackson, having been in some thirteen duels, knew exactly what this sound was. While those around him scattered, hid or got down, he wheeled around looking for who would dare. He eyes landed on the fop and with a grip on his cane, he charged.

Richard pulled the second pistol, pointed and again no projectile came from the gun. At this point it was too late. Swing after swing the President hit the addled man with his cane. It was then the crowd, led by Davy Crockett himself, tackled Lawrence and escorted the ferocious President to safety.

Tough Decision - Jason

With Care

My Mom and Dad sat just behind
Where single hand my arm could find
Perfect office
Perfect chair
But it was me they’d wrapped with care

The time had come to vessel pick
From pages glossy, bright and slick
Lives unravelled
Lives unfair
How do I wrap her life with care?

Can purple tell of mother’s love?
Will wood reveal the home above?
Diming thought
Diming prayer
I want to shout I do not care

I want to dwell in times gone by
Remember nights with starry sky
Memories lived
Memories rare
In times I now enwrap with care

We step in castle shadowed walk
With hands entwined we laugh and talk
Sugared visions
Sugared air
Like ornaments I wrap with care

We hold each other arm in arm
To fire light on uncle’s farm
Lifted union
Lifted there
More gifts in time I wrap in care

The tears they weigh upon my cheek
The waiting eyes insist I speak
Broken focus
Broken pair
So now I must wrap her with care

Justin - A Tough Choice

To Stand
Three stood knowing time was growing near
When they would have to make their loyalty plain;
To idol kneel or to endure the flame,
Action, or inaction would make clear
If they would submit to pagan king
Or if they would invoke his wrath so vain;
Like children to their ancient faith they cling.
  
From the idol their worship they withheld,
To not betray their people or their God.
They watched as the approaching soldiers plod,
The coming troop they knew their doom did spell.
Again refuse to kneel to idol king,
Bound, they stumbled forward at the prod,  
Holding faith in face of death’s hot sting.

Sitting knowing time is growing near
A posture shift I will be called to make; 
To stand and sing with pride inspired, fake
Or kneel with those oppressed by hate and fear.
And yet I feel my heart divided torn;
My pride would not entirely be fake
When viewing waving symbol tired worn.
  
But if I'm called my nation to adore,
Then should I not her people also love
(A nation of the people not above)
The oppression of her children to abhor? 
How can I hold this shred of pride I feel,
And fly with hawks circling round the doves? 
How can I stand while brothers, mourning, kneel?

The prescribed patriot’s posture now has changed

And frenzied furnace flames no longer leap,
Yet worship to the idol we upkeep,
Only symbols have been rearranged.
Beaten by your country though you feel,
Weighed by injustices that daily heap.
The one sin not forgiven is to kneel.