"A Plague on Both Your Houses"!

"A plague on both your houses"! So screams Mercutio as he falls dead in front of Romeo who accidently caused Mercutio's death, by coming in between Mercutio and Tybalt as they fought. The rage of Romeo is evident as he races after Tybalt to avenge his friend's death. Ahh, the plays of William Shakespeare and the drama,adventure, and tragedy this particular one provides. Imagine what this would have been like in the 1500s when it was first performed in Elizabethan England. Too see it performed in that time would have been incredible. The line that Mercutio screamed would have made perfectly good sense to the audience. The Black Death had devastated Europe from 1340-1400. The plague would have been remembered by all, who survived it; just as we today remember the polio and tuberculosis scares of the 20th century. Yet, the play, "Romeo and Juliet", is usually known for the romance and tragedy of the two young lovers. They caught our attention and are mimicked or performed all over the world. Yes, it is a wonderful drama that William gave to us. Of even more significance is the fact that this was one of Shakespeare's early plays and was first performed around 1597. Just think, this is a piece of work that has survived the ravages of time for 415 years! I wonder how many of today's works would last that long. However, that is in the future and the future is an unknown quantity. That is a lesson that Romeo and Juliet learned quite thoroughly. Maybe it is one of the many teachings Shakespeare wanted us to see. The future is one item which we cannot control. It bothers us beyond belief. We make plans with friends and family in the future. We save funds for the future. We look to future events with pleasure and dislike. We do everything we can to control the future; but we really do not achieve that goal. Yes, most of the time things go according to the way we want them to, but at what cost. Like Romeo and Juliet, we plan for love and happiness; yet, life is filled with trials which can destroy the joy we have worked for. The two young lovers lost at everything; gaining only a few precious moments to share with one another. Mercutio's curse consumed the two as it was their two houses which he screamed about. A plague was on both the houses. In the same was, a plague can be laid on all of us for our contentment in never filled. We like the Capulets and Montegues engage in fights and battles as we gossip and spread rumors about others. We bicker and argue among our own families; instead of accepting one another. Yes, we are more alike the people of the 16th century than we wish to accept. We need to learn the same lessons and realize the senselessness of warring with one another over some ridiculous slight that we feel has been given. At the end of the play, Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt, and Mercutio are all dead. The houses of the families, the Capulets and the Montagues, have lost their young, their hopes, their dreams, and are instead joined together in mourning and lost; rather than in the love and happiness that would have been theirs with Romeo's and Juliet's marriage. Here, the future has been changed gravely and the world as they knew it was gone forever. The future is there beyond our view, it is cloudy, chaotic, always in motion. Today, we are here, able to stop the bitterness, the anger, the hatred, the jealousy. Mercutio's curse could continue or it could be ended if only we treated each other the way we profess we do. I know I going to do this; I hope others will join with me. No, I'm not planning on doing this in the future; I'm doing it now....with love, compassion, and consideration.

The Path of Chance

As we walk the path of our journey we are given many obstacles to overcome. In like manner we are also the recipients of multiple opportunities. How often do we turn our backs on these chances due to our fear of what the future could bring? We are overcome with the thought of failure, ridicule, loss, and the whisperings from friends concerning our age, health, or some other variable. Sometimes we fear success for others may change their perceptions toward us. For some reason we forget the gains we would achieve from going for the opportunities! The experience, the knowledge, the abilities, and the chance to partake in something new and exciting! Age should never be a reason for

not taking a chance! Did my ancestor, William and Mary Brewster allow their ages to stop them from boarding the Mayflower and beginning a new life in an unknown world? NO! Mary Brewster was over 50 years old when arrived in the new world! She and William took the opportunity to leave behind everything and everyone they knew in order to have a life of freedom! This is the ancestry I am descended from. Individuals who took the chance and found themselves rather than always playing it safe! Life is what we make it and we are the ones who determine our journeys. This determination depends on our handling of both obstacles and opportunities. We take control of our own destinies. We can either grow or remain where we are. Which path will you take? The one of least resistance or the one which brings you the most growth? I know my path - now go and find yours! SLIGO GLEN: WALKING OUT OF SILENCE (excerpt) ...So that you suddenly realized you were given the complete and utter gift of your own transparency, the revelation of your own exact boundary with the world. The frontier between silence and speech exactly the line you must cross to give yourself while saving yourself, the gleam in your heart and your eye, another sun rising, the old memories alive after a long night of absence and the world again suddenly worth risking, worth seeing, worth innocence, worth everything. -david whyte

The World I See

Sometimes we need to sit back and realize that there is a big world and that we are just an extremely small part of it. That's why I wanted to share this poem which is by my favorite Russian writer, Ardent Tarkovsky. I hope you enjoy it and the photo I chose from weheartit.com.

Ignatyevo Forest The last leaves' embers in total immolation Rise into the sky; this whole forest Seethes with irritation, just as we did That last year we lived together. The path you take's reflected in our tear-filled eyes, As bushes are reflected in the murky flood-lands. Don't be difficult, don't touch, don't threaten, Don't offend the forest silence by the Volga. You can hear the old life breathing: Clumps of mushrooms growing in damp grass -Though gnawed to the very core by slugs, They still inflame the skin. All our past is like a threat -Look, I'm coming, watch, I'll kill you! The sky shivers and holds a maple, like a rose, -May it burn still stronger - right into your eyes.

The "Rashomon "Effect

The US Ambassador to Libya has been killed along with 3 other staffers of the embassy. Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, appears at a press conference shaming the present administrations lack of response. He emphasises an apology instead that the White House has perceived to have been made. A nation and its leaders both Republican and Democrat respond with stunned exclaims at Romney's tone and expression. A photo circulates showing a smirk on his face as he leaves the podium. His words offer no respect to the 4 dead; nor does he acknowledge that 10 Libyans were killed ad well- trying to protect the Embassy and its staff from extremists. Romney's own leading party members condemn his inflammatory rhetoric. Even the world is astonished at the deaths in Libya and at Romney's speech. Republican s and Democrats both warn of responding quickly and rashly at what occurred. The need for silence during a threat to American ambassadors and their staffs is necessary in order to handle the situation quietly, quickly, and without further loss of life. Romney has placed a new agenda before that ; his desire for the presidency and power has overshadowed the goals of foreign policy and diplomacy. Moreover, his lack of respect to those who have been killed seems cold and unsympathetic. However, lets say that we see things from his point of view. I watched a movie in my "Media in Society " class that really affected me. "Rashomon " is a 1950 Japanese crime drama directed by Akira Kurosawa. It concerns the murderer of a man. So what does this have to do with Romney? Simple the movie looked at the murderer from everyone's point of view. From the man arrested to the wife of the one killed to believe it or not the dead man's perception as well. Each one had a totally different view on the crime. Yet, they were all there witnessing the same exact event! Maybe Romney really did see the events occurring in Libya and the US response to it in the way he ascribes too! We all have different perceptions and our own unique responses to situations. Unfortunatly, Romney comes across as a callous, power hungry man who has no clue as to what to do in a critical event in the world. That is what is wrong. Romney's image has been tarnished not only Ny leading representatives of the Republican and Democrat parties, but also by many people in the United States and the world as well. There are many in the US who see a military strike to be immediate and necessary,but to what extent? Who would be the target? This is when calm and intelligence must prevail. The Ambassador and his fellow staffers were killed by angry extremists. The extremists killed their own fellow citizens who were protecting the embassy and staff. The Ambassador had worked with the people of Libya du

ring last year's revolution against the controlling dictatorship. So where am I going with this? Simple, isn't it wiser and smarter to go after those who killed the Ambassador, his staff, and those who were protecting them? But you see that is my point of view. There are those who wouldn't agree. Yet, I do believe that those killed should be given and shown the respect they deserve from the citizens of the United States and its leaders. This is what Romney did not show or give. In reality his remarks were those of an individual in desire of power rather than a candidate for president. This isn't just my viewpoint, many leaders of this country feel this way as welll. However, we have to see events as Romney does for his perception is very important as we the people head to our election booths and vote. I pray that reason, calmness, and intelligence is elected over emotional, antagonistic, powermongers.

Somthing In The Air

There is something in the air.

A feeling of change. It weaves and wafts its way through the air, the sky, the waves of the ocean, and the motion of stars. It is a touch of coolness; a taste of sweetness ; a scent of spices; and the sight of a position change of the sun. Yes, a change is coming and each day we move closer to its purpose. A new beginning! A new season! A joy of relief from the stagnant humid heat of summer! An aviance of gatherings and the warmth of friendships is foretold as the sun lowers itself earlier into the western horizon. Imaginings of the storyteller races to find the tales that will be shared in the glow of companions and the sweet taste of apples in a mug of cider! Behind us the past fades into memories of youth and childhood. In front of us the essence of growth and celebration which comes with rest and relaxation! A cinnamon donut - a cup of cocoa - friends to share with the glow of hope and rebirth! There's something in the air and we are all a part of it; to enjoy or ignore. Me, I'm going to enjoy the sweet, fun times of Autumn! Autumn is my favorite time of the year. Its the beginning of colors and cooler temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere. Autumn is filled with memories and fun. Enjoy the promise it brings and the delight of children as they jump into leaf piles. The following poem is by Robert Frost and with it is an image that takes me back to my childhood and the farm I lived on. Enjoy! The Cow In Apple-Time by Robert Frost Something inspires the only cow of late To make no more of a wall than an open gate, And think no more of wall-builders than fools. Her face is flecked with pomace and she drools A cider syrup. Having tasted fruit, She scorns a pasture withering to the root. She runs from tree to tree where lie and sweeten. The windfalls spiked with stubble and worm-eaten. She leaves them bitten when she has to fly. She bellows on a knoll against the sky. Her udder shrivels and the milk goes dry.

The Journey: 09-11-2001 Day Of Remembrance

The Journey: 09-11-2011 Day Of Remembrance: Today is Tuesday, September 11,2012. Exactly eleven years ago I received a phone call from my sister telling me that a plane had crashed in...

09-11-2011 Day Of Remembrance

Today is Tuesday, September 11,2012. Exactly eleven years ago I received a phone call from my sister telling me that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center Towers in New York City. I turned on the news and found myself watching in horror as a second plane went into the remaining tower. From that point on I watched horrified at the scenes being played out on the news. A third plane crashing into the Pentagon in Washington, DC - a fourth stopped from its destination of the White House by the passengers; but it too, crashed in a field in Pennsylvania killing everyone on board. Over 3,000 people killed in the most horrendous act of terrorism in modern American history. On this day, Americans are gathering together to remember the victims of this attack. We put our differences aside and find ourselves looking at the past; and we should. Yet, we also need to look at our present and the future. Eleven years ago we were a country that was divided. We were bickering over who actually won the presidential election. The truth is we were acting like children. Then a disaster occurred. We stopped and stood in silence as the reality of the attack was forced into our minds. Over and over we watched the planes slam into the World Trade Centers, the Pentagon, and that field in Pennsylvania. Over and over we listened to the conversations that took place between those who died and the loved ones they left behind. Many of us know exactly where we were and what we were doing when the events unfolded before our bewildered eyes. Suddenly it didn't matter who was president. We gathered together, joining in our sorrow of the lives taken that day. The moms, dads, grampas, grammas, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. We called them all Americans who died that day- even though they included individuals from every country of the world. The world mourned with us as well and we turned together as one to the one person who could give us some sort of reason or explaination. That's right we turned to our president. All arguing ended as we listened to President George W Bush as he took charge and brought us through the nightmare we found ourselves in. Was he perfect? No, but how many of us are. At that moment and time he was what we needed and we took. The world became astonished for we Americans put aside our differences and became one. We stood tall and worked hard at overcoming the shock we had suffered. We rose and as one moved to finding a path toward healing and helping one another. We stood together proud and strong holding true to our American Dream and beliefs. Now, today let us gather again to remember the loss, but let us also remember that when we put aside our differences we are an even stronger country. Let us stop the bickering and the raging and ranting of us versus them. Let us gather together and work to build a more America which is true to its goals of being a "government of the people, by the people, and for the people. All the people. Just ad the terrorist attack eleven years ago did not discriminate the dead let us not discriminate the living. May God bless you all. And may you all remember the sacrifice of that day and of the sacrifices that have been made since that day.!