Rivendweller
Lorien
Apr 20 2007, 3:51pm
Views: 539
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The film " Bobby" captures so much of todays grief, then and now...
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I watched " Bobby " last night with my daughter. We were both crying at the end.She, because of the state of the world today and these horrific events, me - because we did not listen then and we still are not listening now. I quote for those who may be interested, portions of Robert F. Kennedy's speeches that remain true today..they bear repeating I feel. "But we have to make an effort in the United States, we have to make an effort to understand, to get beyond, or go beyond these rather difficult times. My favorite poem, my favorite poet was Aeschylus. And he once wrote: "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will,comes wisdom through the awful grace of God." What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country,..." This portion from a history blog: "Kennedy was in the middle of his final, ill-fated campaign and prepared to go into the most dangerous part of Indianapolis. Just before heading to the event, his press secretary got the word that King had been shot dead by a white man. Immediately, staff members scrambled to cancel the event. Ghettos were sure to explode in violence across Indianapolis and America. But when Kennedy chose to ignore the warnings, the Indianapolis Chief of Police weighed in. His men could not provide protection. It was simply too dangerous. So Bobby Kennedy went in alone that night to deliver the greatest speech of his life. He told that broken crowd of Americans how it was not the time to embrace violence but rather to live the very values for which Martin Luther King had died. Later that evening, riots did break out in over a thousand cities and towns across America. Parts of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago burned long into the early morning. Countless other cities and towns were engulfed in violence and rage. But that night, Indianapolis went to sleep in peace. It was the story of how one man made a difference. It is a reminder of how one person can still bend history. It is a challenge sent through the ages of how we can still save a dying world." And finally...his words regarding Viet Nam ring as true as ever concerning Irag: "I do not want--as I believe most Americans do not want--to sell out American interests, to simply withdraw, to raise the white flag of surrender. That would be unacceptable to us as a country and as a people. But I am concerned--as I believe most Americans are concerned--that the course we are following at the present time is deeply wrong. I am concerned--as I believe most Americans are concerned--that we are acting as if no other nations existed, against the judgment and desires of neutrals and our historic allies alike. I am concerned--as I believe most Americans are concerned--that our present course will not bring victory; will not bring peace; will not stop the bloodshed; and will not advance the interests of the United States or the cause of peace in the world. I am concerned that, at the end of it all, there will only be more Americans killed; more of our treasure spilled out; and because of the bitterness and hatred on every side of this war, more hundreds of thousands of [civilians] slaughtered; so they may say, as Tacitus said of Rome: "They made a desert, and called it peace." . . .
Whether because Frodo was so worn by his long pains, wound of knife, and venomous sting, and sorrow, fear, and homeless wandering, or because some gift of final strength was given to him, Sam lifted Frodo with no more difficulty than if he were carrying a hobbit child pig-a-back.... Frodo opened his eyes and drew a breath....'Thank you, Sam,' he said in a cracked whisper. 'How far is there to go?' --RotK, "Mount Doom" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Formerly A'amel from days gone by.
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