All The Power In The World

In the 1994 movie The Crow, the main protagonist 'Top Dollar' says 'All the power in the world resides in the eyes'. He wasn't wrong, just recently I found out the very reality of those words.

Having had trouble with my eyes I ended up at the eye casualty at the local main hospital in Nottingham. A few days after I got to see a specialist. The news wasn't good, as I sat there he frankly told me the realities and that because having had so much eye surgery in the past they couldn't do any more. If they did they may be in danger of undoing all the surgery gone before and actually going into the eye to rectify the problem was unthinkable, in fact he refused to do it, adding 'if you gave offered me millions in cash - I'd refuse'. Part of me didn't want to hear what he was telling me, I'd read up on things, I thought it would be possible to remove the problem but no. I came out of the room feeling crushed, eyes dilated through drops the white lit corridors of the hospital seemed bright, almost dreamy, I had to wake up. Putting my sunglasses on the doctors words echoed in my mind, my problem would get worse, only if I had a detached retina could he go in and remove the vitreous gel floating around in my eye, but then the gel itself was causing problems already and could be the cause of future problems. There seemed no solution. If the gel didn't cause problems the retina would probably detach, blindness was very much a future possibility.

Vision blurred I made for the main exit, peoples voices seemed like echoes and I was consumed in thought, a stray tear escaped, my mouth quivered slightly and I bit down hard to bring myself under control. The gel in my eye swam around making my already distorted vision seem like I was underwater. 

On the train home I felt empty, surely they could sort it out, medicine is so good these days right? No. Medicine can only do so much, it can't repair everything, the reality hit me like train colliding with the one I was on. The journey back seemed to take moments, I had music on my mp3 player but it was merely background noise, the exterior of the train seemed removed, it just felt like me sat on a seat traversing the local fields, alone.

I got home, stumbled through town on auto-pilot and immediately went to bed. I slept soundly, wanting the eye drops to fade in potency. I woke, lay there and suddenly tears coursed down my face.

And now, days after hearing this? I feel ok, still deflated but getting stronger daily. The mood of 'I can't do anything' has been replaced by 'I can do anything I want and why worry?'. As the legendary general Hannibal once said 'I will either find a way or make one'.

May hasn't been an easy month, I suspect harder months are to come but I'm not yet ready to yield to darkness.

Creationist Propaganda Of The Worst Kind

Whilst collecting and sorting my mail from a basket that catches it at the main door at the bottom of the stairwell this morning I noticed a neighbour had mail from a christian creation church named 'Creation Ministries International'. It was bound in transparent cellophane and thus easy to see and read. I couldn't help but notice that it had a picture of Charles Darwin overlaid with a no entry sign.

The Article was written by a Gary Bates who heads it with 'Pressing on with questioning evolution'. Ok, so it's not really my mail to read, though as neighbours the first one to the mail tends to sort through it and leave peoples letters in respective piles. I quickly perused the article for a moment and the content was contradictory from the beginning. The author opens with 'Can we imagine living in a world devoid of christian influence (well I can actually), where compassion is regarded as a weakness and abortion is acceptable because babies aren't wanted or just the wrong sex?'

We then get some biased paraphrased world war two history lesson of sorts, Hitler's regime killing millions of Jews and around 70,000 handicapped German people. We get mentions of German people being duped by propaganda, eugenics programmes all culminating in the fact it was social Darwinism to blame. Near the foot of the page it states 'Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it'. I didn't read on, as I've stated though it was clear to view it wasn't my mail and what I was reading was only making me feel angry.

It's almost like creationists have created an alternate christian reality for themselves, a different world with their own take on history, so let's address a few facts mentioned in the article I briefly read.

Let's begin with the holocaust Gary mentions and I will refer him to letter wrote to the Pope Pius XII during the war by Ukrainian metropolitan Andrej Septyckyj referring to the German government as a regime of terror and corruption, more diabolical than that of the Bolsheviks. The Pope replied by quoting verses from Psalms and advising Septyckyj to 'bear adversity with serene patience.'

Wladislaw Raczkiewicz, president of the Polish government-in-exile, appealed to the Pope in January 1943 to publicly denounce Nazi violence. Bishop Preysing of Berlin did the same, at least twice. Pius XII refused.

And lastly when advised by his own clergy such as Monsignor Giovanni Battista Montini, the future Pope Paul VI, who wrote to him and said, 'The massacres of the Jews reach frightening proportions and forms.' Pope Pius simply said there wasn't enough evidence to verify the rumours. Though to be fair there is examples the pope did covertly intervene on some occasions such as the deportations in Hungry though the vatican largely remained silent throughout the war to the atrocities when it could have raised its voice and made a difference.

Let's also mention his predecessor Pope Pius XI who said 'Mussolini is a wonderful man. Do you hear me? A wonderful man'. This was the same pope that blessed Italian bombers as they went to bomb Ethiopian villages in Mussolini's war of Imperial conquest.

I want to end this little segment on the holocaust and Gary's alleged Darwinian influenced eugenics programme by quoting Hitler himself;

'I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the almighty creator; by defending myself against the Jews, I am fighting for the Lord. I would like to thank providence and the almighty for choosing me of all people.'

Of course looking back in ancient history and events in the bible you soon find it in spades, Moses ordering his people to kill all of the Midians, in Numbers 1:7 in the bible it states;

'They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man. 8 Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. 9 The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. 10 They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps.'

But it gets better, not content with the above, when women, children and other captives were taken along with the war booty Moses says in part 15 'Have you allowed all the women to live?' he asked them. 16 They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man." Notice how they keep the dames for themselves?

There's many other such examples in the bible, god it seems doesn't really have a problem with ethnic cleansing at all, in fact he actively encourages it. So, Hitler from his above quote would seem to be acting on divine inspiration, of course we also know he did want a pure Aryan race but his theory and take on it wasn't about the many in Germany, it was about the whim of the few in power that facilitated it.

And before we move on let's not forget Noah's Ark and gods own mass genocide and ethnic cleansing of the world, it don't get any bigger or better than that!

If we look at the closing line I read and quoted above 'Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it' then we only have to look at later regimes in Cambodia and Serbia or the Kurds in Iraq to know that people who DID know history DID in fact repeat it. Mankind has always been a tribal creature and sadly through history has always fought amongst itself being the Red Indian tribes of American, to the Aztec tribes among countless others. Add religion into this mix and mans desire for control and power becomes heightened and atrocities become justified because they become a God's or Allah's will and command. Religion has been used to justify many wars and slaughter throughout history as we all know.

Let's move onto the disabled and abortion bit he mentions. Well with the above we can only conclude pregnant women of opposing tribes in biblical areas were killed but there's more specifics in the bible too. The Book of Leviticus, Chapter 21, says that if you are a disabled person you can’t be a priest or take communion; in the New Testament, it says renounce sin and you can ‘take up thy bed and walk' (Luke, Chapter 5); and disability is seen as a punishment from God, ‘be cured if you sin no more,’ in John, Chapter 9.

Or we could move onto Leviticus 21:17-23 which states 'Whosoever ... hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or anything superfluous, a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbacked, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; No man that hath a blemish of the seed'.... it goes on some more but I'll spare you.

As with the other stuff there's more examples I could quote, religious apologists I'm sure could add their own 'nicer' biblical quotes to the debate but this only serves to demonstrate how the bible is a contradictory fractured affair, rewrote and badly edited over the ages.

As for abortion, well it's not nice but sometimes necessary in the world of today, if I was told an unborn child a partner was expecting was deaf, blind and dumb then what would be the point of them being in a world they couldn't interact with, see or hear? Taking the religious drivel above into account there'd be no point them being here anyway because if there was a heaven they'd not be welcome.

I really don't know why it comes to Darwin or natural selection what creationists are afraid of, or why they seek to disprove it or eliminate it from enquiring rational minds? There's more resounding evidence and proof for it than there ever has been for creationism. Francis Collins, the American physicist/geneticist who was the leader of the human genome project and is also a christian puts the mankind's age at around 100,000 years old, other scientists differ on it being older or younger but many say older. That said, when we look at the creationist side of things happening about 6 or 7 thousand years ago we could say over a timeline and on what Collin's says that mankind was here for 99% of the time regardless. During that duration he had to forge his way in the world enduring war, famine, resettlement and natural disasters. It's only in the last percent of Collin's time frame that god actually gets interested in mankind and sets up shop in a hot arid backwater of the world and his created crew get busy doing his work (Adam and Eve rubbish to one side here). We all know though through archaeology and recorded history that civilizations had risen and fallen, people such as Alexander the great had crossed most of the known world and the ancient Greeks had been talking some degree of sense about democracy and philosophy. Gods of course had been created in abundance before the alleged main dude entered the fray to explain of course what mankind couldn't explain back then.

I find it sad to see that organisations such as the Creation Ministries International would post such blinkered one sided rubbish to people. To refer to your own article Gary, you and the organisation you are in are duping people with propaganda of worst kind.

From The Cradle To The Grave

"Life is a dead end street." H.L Mencken, writer and satirist.

"I'm not afraid to die, I just don't want to be there when it happens!" Woody Allen, comedian.

"As men we are all equal in death." Publilius Syrus, one time Syrian slave of Romans turned writer.

Death is subject we generally like to keep on the periphery of our thoughts because plain and simple it's just easier that way. Although in life there may be times we have brushes with death be it in a car accident or through friends and loved ones suffering we generally like to think 'death' is something far off. Yet from the cradle onwards death is something we draw inexorably closer too, none can escape it and eventually it consumes us all with its unknowing darkness. It encompasses all, in essence we just vanish. As we get older it has more of an ongoing significance to us but the fact is death negates every single aspect of our lives eventually.

I'm not sure if other animals have knowledge of death but trapped animals usually lash out and strive for life or some sit apathetically and wait for it's onset. Humans however do have that ongoing knowledge of death, it's all around us from family to movies, to media.

You might be sat there feeling uncomfortably at reading the grim words above but the single fact we all have in common is that we all die at some point, we just cannot escape it, the book finally closes. When friends or loved ones die we can open their 'life' book and reflect on their life and exploits, we can remember them in our own unique way. When we die we can reflect on nothing, consciousness ends.

Death of course affects us differently. I was talking to a homeless guy today who said he'd had a good early life but since both parents had died he'd gone down hill and into drugs. There was a silence and then he added he may have ended up doing drugs anyway but his parents death had perhaps hastened the process as he'd found it hard to cope. My thoughts on this were that he needed the escapism to avoid dwelling on the reality that was death (amongst other things).

My own personal experiences of death have been consenting to my mothers life support machine being switched off when doctors told me they were unable to save her from brain damage. I sat and watched her die, I literally saw death happen before me. In some ways it gave me a few moments to come to terms with it better, rather than it being sudden and shocking news.

I spoke to my gran the other week who is in her late 80s. I broached the subject of death and she openly said she was ready to die with no fear it as she was tired of life, seemingly its all become an exercise in futility for her as old age slowly robs us of our faculties.

In some instances when we are aware of the onset of death of say a loved one we can take steps to make things easier, we can plan, we can say goodbyes, tell them we loved them or even say things that have remained unsaid for years but needed to be said. The cruel reality is though death robs us of loved ones without remorse. Though in my own opinion it is far better to be prepared for it than it be sudden in some respects. Then of course this brings me to the counter argument of do people on death row welcome the thought of knowing when they are going to die? This brings me to my earlier point of death is something we like to push into the distance because in comparison saying 'I may die in 40 years' against someone on death row saying 'I am going to die in 40 days' is far, far easier to swallow.

We all cope with death differently. Many of course turn to faith and religion. All religions of course handle the subject differently or in different stages. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and that a 'you' survives each death into another temporal life which is judged on your previous life's karma. Christianity, Islam and Judaism state you only have one temporal life and earthly life is a test for the after life. Though I am not religious the buddhist thoughts on life, karma and death fascinate me as you can over several lives refine your karma or not as the case may be. On the plus side you could reach 'nirvana' but is a perfect you the end of things anyway? That you have stepped off what buddhists call the 'wheel of samsara' and have reached a perfect peace? because surely that being the case there is nothing more to reincarnate. That said I'm no expert on that religion, or any other because I prefer not to entwine myself spiritually and believe. I am however always eager to learn history and facts or the lack of them in some cases I say with a sardonic smile.

The philosopher Heidegger stated that firstly death is the end of us and our experience, secondly that death is not an end goal - it is simply stoppage. Thirdly that death is inevitable and uncertain and finally the previous three points make us wonder if there is any meaning to our life.

The Greek philosopher Epicurus once wrote that "Death is nothing to us, for what has been dissolved has no sense and experience - and what has no sense and experience is nothing to us."

These days the term 'Epicurean' is all about seeking pleasure, the reality though is that Epicurus said that people should actually try and avoid pain, he wasn't some 24/7 party person! Epicurus basically said instead of desire people should seek friends, warmth and food. When we have this then we become at peace for these are the things of a good life and to be honest he has a good point, except we know there is more to life than the above. Another good point Epicurus touches on about death though is that to be without experience (see above quote) is to be without suffering.

A fruit will ripen and produce seed and then die, humans and animals are the same. We mature, we mate and try to ensure we prevail - it's the passage of nature. When a person dies we carry fragments of their lives within our own, it makes us glow and feel good when we reflect it again makes us feel intimate with them even though they are not there. Going back to Heidegger a moment, he says that people often live their lives with a certain denial of death. That isn't to say people don't dwell on it but if we do dwell on it then that can be seen as trying to control it. I'm sure people into extreme pursuits such as mountain climbing or deep sea diving, or even astronauts think about death and despite obvious risks they take their thoughts will give them some degree of control over how they feel about it.

Going back to religion though, which is totally man made at least if gives some a comfort blanket surrounding the subject of death and offers the chance of an afterlife. My view on the afterlife is pretty much inspired by some of the great philosophers and contemporaries like Hitchens, Russell and Dawkins et al. As Hitchens states that imagine from the moment you are born till the moment you die you are scrutinized totally by god, then you pass all the tests and go to heaven and are watched all over again - it would be like living in some kind of celestial North Korea. Seriously who would want that? To me it is gross folly and ignorance to let religion govern your life and dictate how it should be lived. To be immortal would more scary than knowing you are going to die. Imaginary celestial cities falling into disrepair as the workers could simply do the job tomorrow or the next day. After we'd met back up with loved ones and family and in some cases realised why we didn't like them in the first place, what then? An eternity of doing not that much and plenty of time to do it in, so things eventually become of little relevance. The philosopher Nietzsche criticises religion on the valid point it attempts to denigrate our real world in favour of a superior fantasy transcendent one. I certainly won't spend my life telling a god that is only a belief how good he actually is just to get a ticket to an afterlife. For me there is something oddly comforting knowing that life actually has to end and this thought gives my life more purpose in the present.

Lets draw on some practical positives about death. The main thing at the end of our days to make us more content is to know that our life has had some significance. To some this is almost definitely having children and watching them grow. To others it may be writing a book, painting or writing songs. As humans we are capable of doing many things that we can pass on into the memories of others, to me that gives meaning to our being. Life is to be embraced whilst we have the chance and before we get too old. We can do many things in our life to benefit others just through being human and exhibiting human compassion.

In closing I relate death to having an anaesthetic at a hospital. You are shrouded in darkness but you are at peace, free from pain and suffering in a serene void. If death is similar then I do not fear death itself, I just hope the dying isn't painful! At the end of the day there's no point fearing death because we can't do anything about it.

Quote Of The Week

I was in Newark yesterday (and Starbucks opened there on Sunday - yay), Anyway I was browsing on the flea market and chanced upon a cd by The Mission for a bargain price. So when I handed my purchase over to the middle aged stall holder he said with a little cackle;

'Hehehehehe... little goth'

Well it made me smile anyway!

Quote Of The Week

Labour veteran, long time member of parliament and hero of mine Dennis Skinner at the Queens speech in parliament yesterday as the Queen approached Skinner replied to Black Rods invitation, with "Is Helen Mirren on standby?". The quip brought laughter from the House of Commons, being in reference to the portrayal by Helen Mirren of Elizabeth II in the 2006 film, The Queen.

Quote of the Week

Blanche from Coronation Street watching Jamie and Danny Baldwin have a punching match said;

'Southerners'

(I was eating my tea, I don't avidly watch the programme!!!)

Quote of the week

Watched the Johnathon Ross chat show earlier and nearly choked on my earl grey tea as he said quite satirically and with some meaning 'I've just had my house decorated by some workers from the London borough of Poland'