The world's wonders cast off the gloom
Too often, headlines trumpet ominous developments everywhere, foretelling gloom and doom. But no Jeremiah am I. Perhaps there may yet be time for wiser leaders to emerge and show us down saner paths. Meanwhile, even in troubled times, I find much to please me now, and I also recall many pleasures from years past.
Consider the often seen but seldom noticed hills and fields and forests of our lovely country. Electronic marvels that faithfully reproduce music (from when it was music). Even oft-maligned TV, with diligent searching, offers commendable entertainment. Literature, art, loving family and friends.
And what far-flung wonders we have seen. The incomparable Grand Canyon. The ethereal beauty of the natural wedding chapel of Kauai. The ubiquitous pigeons that serve as grace notes to the magnificent Piazza San Marco in Venice. And, yes, the glitzy monuments to unabashed avarice in Las Vegas.
We were given a marvelous planet, complete with bountiful resources for those who will use them well. How sad that many of us prefer to proselytize and fight and generally hammer the Golden Rule into shards.
Why can't we all help each other and live together in peace?
Dan Maddox
Greensboro
Comments (6)
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"The ubiquitous pigeons that serve as grace notes to the magnificent Piazza San Marco in Venice. "
== by my pal Tom Lehrer ===
I'd like to take you now on wings of song, as it were, and try and help you forget perhaps for a while your drab, wretched lives. Here's a song all about spring-time in general, and in particular, about one of the many delightful pastimes the coming of spring affords us all.
Spring is here, a-suh-puh-ring is here.
Life is skittles and life is beer.
I think the loveliest time of the year is the spring.
I do, don't you? 'Course you do.
But there's one thing that makes spring complete for me,
And makes ev'ry Sunday a treat for me.
All the world seems in tune
On a spring afternoon,
When we're poisoning pigeons in the park.
Ev'ry Sunday you'll see
My sweetheart and me,
As we poison the pigeons in the park.
When they see us coming, the birdies all try an' hide,
But they still go for peanuts when coated with cyanide.
The sun's shining bright,
Ev'rything seems all right,
When we're poisoning pigeons in the park.
Lalaalaalalaladoodiedieedoodoodoo
We've gained notoriety,
And caused much anxiety
In the Audubon Society
With our games.
They call it impiety,
And lack of propriety,
And quite a variety
Of unpleasant names.
But it's not against any religion
To want to dispose of a pigeon.
So if Sunday you're free,
Why don't you come with me,
And we'll poison the pigeons in the park.
And maybe we'll do
In a squirrel or two,
While we're poisoning pigeons in the park.
We'll murder them all amid laughter and merriment.
Except for the few we take home to experiment.
My pulse will be quickenin'
With each drop of strychnine
We feed to a pigeon.
It just takes a smidgin!
To poison a pigeon in the park.
Posted on March 3, 2006 3:14 AM
James,
Even if I had a point, which I don't, I wouldn't quiet know where to begin. Kinda speechless.
Posted on March 3, 2006 4:08 AM
Yvonne:
try waltzing to the lyrics .. that'll help
1,2,3 1,2,3 1,2,3 1,2,3 ...
Posted on March 3, 2006 6:13 AM
One of the best letters written in a long time. Obviously, this guy has some wisdom. We all have so many reasons to be thankful for all the wonders surrounding us.
Posted on March 3, 2006 2:25 PM
Yellow Dog,
You are so right. But the last line will be called "too liberal" by our right wing friends. It is the kind of line I have seen obliterated by them time and time again on this blog. Would not surprise me if Hugh, Dan, and NeoCON came out and called this person a commie, tree hugging, liberal, left wing, "Bush Hater", Rodney King loving sicko.
You think I'm being silly, but it has happened and it will happen again!
Posted on March 3, 2006 4:52 PM
An eloquently poetic letter that makes a lot of good, common sense.
I do not see how anyone could argue with the last line. DD, your comments are inciting. Is that the point of your comment? To provoke an arguement where there is no basis?
Posted on March 3, 2006 9:32 PM