"De Profundis clamo ad te, Domine”
From the Depths, you cry out;
Ears only to be met
by roaring waves - Thunderous tumult.
Death, may come.
It comes to all of us.
To some, it comes earlier. But it comes.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Capitalist Imperialism...what has it driven the world to?
"Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь!" - Karl Marx, The Communist Manifesto
Admittedly, there are soldiers in Iraq who are serving for the altuistic cause of providing a better life for Iraqis who have been under the oppressive Saddam regime. Some may say, we can't blame the Coalition troops for cracking under pressure. We are only human.
The video above illustrates a sad testimony of the peace-keeping soldiers from the UK/US coalition. In order to quell a riot happening outside a base, the soldiers charge the civilians, and later drag a few in for a beating. If one listens to the film-maker, his tone of voice changes, to gradually reflect relish and inhumane support for the beatings. Why is this being condoned? Why isn't anyone IMPORTANT saying anything about this? What were the leaders doing when this was being filmed? As far as I can tell, the riot-squad returned to base right after the suppression of uprising. But no one actually stopped the violence from happening.
This is a hilarious spoof on the typical female-voiced GPS systems that feature in modern cars. I love the how it says "Please"...and then just pauses. If that happened to me, I'd say "please what". Then send it in for a repair. Talking to that machine would imply a schizo-phrenic under-current just waiting to erupt.
Please allow me to introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste I've been around for a long, long years Stole many a man's soul and faith
And I was 'round when Jesus Christ Had his moment of doubt and pain Made damn sure that Pilate Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name But what's puzzling you Is the nature of my game
I stuck around St. Petersburg When I saw it was a time for a change Killed the czar and his ministers Anastasia screamed in vain
I rode a tank Held a general's rank When the blitzkrieg raged And the bodies stank
Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name, oh yeah Ah, what's puzzling you Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
I watched with glee While your kings and queens Fought for ten decades For the gods they made
I shouted out, "Who killed the Kennedys?" When after all It was you and me
Let me please introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste And I laid traps for troubadours Who get killed before they reached Bombay
Pleased to meet you Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah But what's puzzling you Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby
Pleased to meet you Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah But what's confusing you Is just the nature of my game
Just as every cop is a criminal And all the sinners saints As heads is tails Just call me Lucifer 'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
So if you meet me Have some courtesy Have some sympathy, and some taste Use all your well-learned politesse Or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah
Pleased to meet you Hope you guessed my name, um yeah But what's puzzling you Is the nature of my game
I must say that this song has been captivating in a strange way. Personally, the version I like is the one performed by the London Symphonic Orchestra with Michael Hutchence.Its rhythmic chanting begs the listener for his or her attention.As with songs that I am interested in, I pay special attention to the lyrics, and hence, today did a little “wiki-ing” on it. Rather than going along with the general opinion that it is “a satanic song” with it obvious pandering to have “sympathy for the devil” by Satan-personified, I would go with the idea that the entire song sings about man’s decadence and self-destruction – which Satan is really happy to sing about (It would be better illustrated if you could hear it for yourselves).
From Wikipedia.org, “Sympathy for the devil”
The song is sung by Mick Jagger as a first-person narrative and commentary from the point of view of a suave and sophisticated Lucifer. It is often claimed that the lyrics were inspired by The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. At the beginning of Bulgakov's novel, an elegant stranger, later revealed to be Satan, is introduced in this way:
"'Please excuse me,' he said, speaking correctly, but with a foreign accent, 'for presuming to speak to you without an introduction.'"
The style of the stanzas also bears resemblance to a passage in The Devil and Daniel Webster.
"Sympathy for the Devil" begins:
Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
Backed by a constantly intensifying rock arrangement, the singer recounts his exploits over the course of human history and warns the listener:
If you meet me, have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, and some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste
At the time of the release of Beggars Banquet the Stones had already raised some hackles for sexually forward lyrics such as "Let's Spend the Night Together" and for dabbling in Satanism (their previous album, while containing no direct Satanic references, had been titled Their Satanic Majesties Request), and "Sympathy" brought these concerns to the fore, provoking media rumors and fears among some religious groups that The Rolling Stones were indeed devil-worshipers and a corrupting influence on youth. It should be noted, however, that one interpretation of this song is that "The Devil" is in fact mankind. The lyrics are a brief history of some of the most notable atrocities committed by man against man, including The Hundred Years War (I watched with glee while your Kings and Queens fought for ten decades for the Gods they made), the October Revolution (I stuck around St. Petersburg when I saw it was a time for a change, killed the Czar and his ministers), and World War II (I rode a tank, held a gen'ral's rank while the blitzkrieg raged, and the bodies stank). In that light, the song would appear to be a criticism of the immorality in Western Civilization perceived by the songwriter.
In addition to the very idea of a sympathetic view of the Devil, the lyrics include references to the deaths of John and Robert Kennedy (the latter having occurred only months before the album was released). The song may have been spared further controversy when the first single from the album, "Street Fighting Man" became even more controversial in the wake of the race riots occurring in many cities in the U.S.
This was from a session entitled "We the citizens: Talking Cock in Parliament", chaired by Colin Goh, of Talking Cock fame. I love his refrain that has been ringing in my head, to the tune of a song which somehow slips my recollection (though it sounds really familiar). Hossan voices a sentiment which the common-Singaporean is concerned with in his everyday struggles:
"I live in Singapura, its not perfect living, but at least its interesting. I live in Singapura, though its kinda crazy, we win other Country!"
A cross-shaped steel beam that survived the 2001 World Trade Centre terrorist attack in New York was moved Thursday from Ground Zero to a nearby church, accompanied by victims' families, clergy and construction workers.
A cross-shaped steel beam that survived the 2001 World Trade Centre terrorist attack in New York was moved Thursday from Ground Zero to a nearby church, accompanied by victims' families, clergy and construction workers.
The cross has become a symbol of hope to thousands around the world following the attacks.
The 2-ton, 20-foot-high cross was placed on a flatbed truck for the three-block trip to St. Peter's Church, which served as a temporary morgue for Sept. 11 victims and as a sanctuary for rescue workers searching for human remains.
Construction worker Frank Silecchia found the artefact days after the 2001 attacks. He showed it to a minister, the Rev. Brian Jordan, and asked him what he saw.
"I said, `Frank, I believe that is a cross'," said Jordan, who dedicated the artefact at the site a month later. "We are all anxious for some type of God's presence."
Jordan led the procession, calling the cross "a sign of consolation and inspiration to workers who served at Ground Zero for the 10 months of recovery."
Land where the cross stood is being excavated for office towers and a Sept. 11 museum.
"This piece of steel meant more to many people than any piece of steel ever," said Richard Sheirer, head of the city Office of Emergency Management in 2001.
The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation has promised to eventually provide a permanent home for the cross, most likely at the World Trade Center Memorial Museum, which is to open in 2009.
Found this article particularly meaningful. The serendipitous find of the steel beam has brought comfort and santity to those who steel dwell upon Ground Zero.
"But its just a steel beam."..."You may think its a cross, but its just rubbish which you symbolise as something significant."
These could have been some thoughts that arose from the erection of this monument in the first place. And certainly they are valid for doubters of the Christian faith.
However, what should be looked at is the intensity of how a mere beam (rightly said), could be symbolically transformed into a rallying point for those who still grieve over lost loved ones. Other questions may arise saying, "Why didn't they find a steel crescent and star? Or a Star of David?...A Cross...that's so easy to find and make. They're everywhere".
But isn't that precisely the point? That they ARE everywhere. And yet, we don't acknowledge their presence until something severe like 9/11 happens. And we return yet again to the meaning found in religion, that we as little children used to find in Sunday school stories of Abraham and Jacob.
Was listening to my collection of Christian songs today...and this song made me sit up and pay attention. It was asking some truly important questions that we may be familiar with. We know what the Priest or Pastor is going to talk about, when he begins preaching about "not just being a Sunday Christian". We know that what God wants from us is to be a congregation of faithful disciples who are willing to sacrifice for Him, just as He sacrificed His son for us.
Too often in our daily lives, we occupy ourselves with the mundane chores of life on earth. Going to school, doing tutorials, doing readings, slogging all over at part-time jobs to make a few extra cents of spare cash.
We’ve always been asked the question:Where does God figure in this equation?
Do we all live, day-by-day, feeding hand-to-mouth – pressing on in this life’s existence without yearning for something greater?It is so uncanny, that I have been preparing readings for my Gender class today that speak of ‘gender as masquerade’.Isn’t this what the song is proclaiming?
That we are all in a little pantomime? Even in our church-life?
That is disturbingly, very sad. Stained Glass Masquerade - Casting Crowns
Is there anyone that fails Is there anyone that falls Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small
Cause when I take a look around Everybody seems so strong I know they'll soon discover That I don't belong
So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it too So with a painted grin, I play the heart again So everyone will see me the way that I see them
Are we happy plastic people Under shiny plastic steeples With walls around our weakness And smiles to hide our pain But if the invitation's open To every heart that has been broken Maybe then we close the curtain On our stained glass masquerade
Is there anyone who's been there Are there any hands to raise Am I the only one who's traded In the altar for a stage
The performance is convincing And we know every line by heart Only when no one is watching Can we really fall apart
But would it set me free If I dared to let you see The truth behind the person That you imagine me to be
Would your arms be open Or would you walk away Would the love of Jesus Be enough to make you stay
P.S. I think Casting Crowns has quite a few critical songs directed at such ‘empty worship’. Another good one is “While you were sleeping”. Cheers (and if u want the songs…just ask. =) )
This being the Mid-autumn festival period (when mooncakes suddenly start popping out of bakery ovens due to commercial motivations), thought I could share a favourite poem of mine (no, its not 床前明月光, which is a good poem nonetheless, just that I find it over-read and over-quoted). Enjoy the read!
《水调歌头》
明月几时有， 把酒问青天， 不知天上宫阕， 今夕是何年，
我欲乘风归去， 又恐琼楼玉宇， 高处不胜寒。 起舞弄清影， 何似在人间。
转朱阁， 低倚户， 照无眠， 不应有恨， 何事长向别时圆，
人有悲欢离合， 月有阴晴圆缺， 此事古难全，
但愿人长久， 千里共婵娟。
-苏东坡
P.S. President Ong Teng Cheong's eulogy for his wife ended with the a reading of this poem, less the last line "千 里共婵娟"。 From what I recall, his intention was to remind the listeners that life with one's loved ones is not infinitesimal; but rather that he could only have wished that his mortal life with her was.
A miracle happened to me today. The Chemicals and Us test that we had done (or rather, that my classmates had done) before the mid-term break was returned to us all in the lecture period. (I had done mine as a retest, last Friday). Actually, when Prof Simo was handing out the sheets...the first one on the stack was mine. He just walked over to me, looked me in the eye, and silently handed the test script to me. Looking down at the grade I got, I couldn't believe my eyes. "93/100" it said. It just happened so fast. After handing out the scripts, Prof Simo told the class that model answers would be loaded on IVLE, and that people who had "gotten 70+ scores should relook at their study techniques". And the whole while, I was thinking to myself..."What if I had not taken the restest?" Most certainly I would have been one of those 70+...or worse. To think that only last week, I had been seriously contemplating the decision to drop this module. Against all advice that it is "one of the easiest modules" in USP, and reviews that have been nothing short of positive, I had actually been thinking of dropping the module because of my constant struggles in Chemistry this semester. (To those who may not know...I'd never done Chem prior to this mod. Unlike 'wiser' USP students, who would almost certainly choose to do things they're good in - simply to score). I had prayed really really hard the whole semester, asking God to lead me through my academic studies, especially since I am in dire need of improvement in the all-too-elusive CAP. Today's miracle has reiterated something that has always been head-knowledge to me: One must always, ALWAYS, trust in the Lord; for He will bring us through, no matter the difficulty or consequences.
Some would say I'm a health-freak and a pseudo sports enthusiast wannabe. Others who think they know me say my poetry doesn't seem 'me'. I'll let you decide.
