Now Turnus leads his troops without delay,
Advancing to the margin of the sea.
The trumpets sound: Aeneas first assail’d
The clowns new-rais’d and raw, and soon prevail’d.
Great Theron fell, an omen of the fight;
Great Theron, large of limbs, of giant height.
He first in open field defied the prince:
But armor scal’d with gold was no defense
Against the fated sword, which open’d wide
His plated shield, and pierc’d his naked side.
So now I know the rest of the story.
I visited a small city in Russia a few years ago. It’s really not that small. Formerly Stalingrad, now Volgograd, it’s a city where history lives just down the street from my good friend Vitaly (and a million or so others). I met Vitaly on a trip there with a all-volunteer orchestra from the US. Vitaly and I hit it off quickly. He knew English well enough and had a neat sense of humor. He is a taxi van driver and the pastor of a small church there. He gets paid by doing the former so that he can help others doing the latter.
So we’ve been keeping in touch via email regularly. I got to visit him again last year when I visited Moscow, Tomsk (Siberia), and Volgograd performing with a big band jazz group. This is one of those friendships that just picked up again as if I had only gone down the street for some groceries. He tells me his English is good but he always confuses kitchen and chicken in translation.
I sent him an email asking if he’s experienced the same kind of thing I had where weeks go by and the time in between vanished as if stolen by a thief. He responded well.
You said interesting thing about time. It is true. It is difficult to understand that every minute or hour which God gave us costs “very expensive”, and we shall to spend it very very wise. I pray to God about that regular. Life is short, pray hard.
Such truth from halfway around the world. I look forward to visiting him again next year as our family plans a trip around the world with stops in Moscow, Volgograd, and then Taipei. And don’t you forget to visit the online destination called Watercooler Wednesday each week at Ethos.
We’ve been watching the HBO miniseries on John Adams life. Man, times were tough back then. John had a strong personality and had to persuade much of the continental congress that independence was the right thing. It was uphill all the way. He had some great quotes which I provide here.
We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge or gallantry would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other.
Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.
But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.
I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.
and perhaps my favorite…
In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.
This fourth of July I’ve decided to spend a lot more time studying and relearning American history. I’m fascinated with our history and my limited but growing knowledge of such. It may be related to the current political scene and the various approaches that some have proposed for the future of our country. It may be the idea of firsts. No other country in the history of the world ever tried anything like our founders did. Allowing regular people to make decisions for themselves that only kings and nobleman did prior… crazy talk back then.
In the last few years, some really great books have been written about the people and places of the American Revolution. It’s a good thing too, as I’ve read and been intrigued by them, though I wish more average Joe’s like me would take the time to do the same. Though it’s not always to good to stay focused on the past, it sure is rough when you completely ignore it. Not at first always, but always just the same.
So the big question for me this 4th of July. Why? Why would men of reputation and means lay it all on the line. To lose meant death by hanging. To win meant liberty (and with it came many significant challenges). But to do nothing was worse than both. And today… Why do men and women rush into a burning building to save people they don’t know? Why do military personnel go back voluntarily for a second term to a hostile environment? There are countless examples of similar selfless acts. The one thing in common… they believe in something bigger than themselves. Whatever sacrifice they make is worth it.
The next question? Would I have the courage to do the same?
This cross has been the source of controversy for some time. Some local atheist wants it removed even though it`s on private property. It provides a fantastic 360 view of la jolla down to mission bay and over to the downtown area.
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