Vice and Virtue, and Vice-Versa are “V” Words To Die For

Greetings children of the empire! Today I was planning to speak with you about the things that make our country great; its vices and virtues. However a little examination of the vices or sins as listed by the officialdom of churchdom left me wondering a bit. I found myself comparing, I feel, apples and oranges. I submit for your consideration, complete with links to wikipedia explanations, the list of vices and virtues, except the vice column is titled sin.

Sin Virtue
Lust Chastity
Gluttony Temperance

Greed Charity
Sloth Diligence
Wrath Forgiveness
Envy Kindness
Pride Humility

This entire list baffles me. It takes little observation to see that what are listed as a sins are actually motivators toward sinful behaviors. They are not actions, but rather tendencies, feelings, urges, etc. The virtue column tends to list actions or certain behaviors, one would assume in response to the tendencies, feeling, urges, etc.
So I would suppose that men and women who have no sins in their heart can also have no virtures, since virtues are a response to a sinful nature. Abraham Lincoln has been quoted as stating, “It has been my experience that those with no vices have very few virtues.” No doubt.

What’s the person with no self pride to accomplish? Does the starving orphan care if his meal was bought by a greedy tax write off? What great inventions and forward progress would society have missed if not for the sloth of idle dreamers? Was it forgiveness or righteous anger that ousted Adolph Hitler and the Nazi party and stopped the holocaust? And, I submit that none of us would be here if left to chastity to produce us.

So am I a proponent of sin and a basher of virtues? No. I think there is a better formula. I think the world is not made up of such black and white issues. I think common sense and moderation are worthy aspirations. I think Winston Churchill had it close when he said of someone I wasn’t able to identify, “He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.” I can sympathize. I’ve met people like that. Most of you know at least one. Some of you even have them in your families. But I’m sure you’re not from around here, beneath the Carolina moon.

Dread

Ukulele is a “U” Word on the U turn of life

The ukulele, an odd, four stringed, mini guitar like, musical instrument, such as the one held by the congressional representative below, may seem like an odd subject to blog about. But, it demonstrates a life lesson.In Google searching for ukuleles I moved from the political song and dance to the ethnic, which I remain unsure of.
I was unsure and remain unsure if the culture is Cajun, Gypsy, or perhaps Mexican? I figured the ukulele could actually have also been a Mexican instrument since stringed Mariachi bands seem to be mostly Mexican. So, I next searched for a Mexican ukulele and found:

By now I realized this wasn’t going to be a politically correct blog post, but fortunately the next pic I found was ironically (see above pic) Don Ho, (see below pic) who definately was Hawaiian.


This was the first thing in my ukulele search that made sense, and it brought me back to where my stereotypical view of the ukulele started; blue skies, blue waves, gentle breezes, fragrant flowers, hula girls, in short, paradise.

Isn’t that a typical U turn of life? We start out in paradise, and not being satisfied we devise politics, then divide into ethnicities, then develop social problems, finally escaping into entertainment, and at the end of it all we slip back into paradise; right back where we started with a song. Finally I have been able to answer the great question of generations! It may not be politically correct, but life is a ukulele!

And, that's today's point of view, from somewhere in paradise, beneath the Carolina moon.

Posted by Dread, who would like to have a cheap ukulele as a tchotski.

Three Tom Turkeys

Three Tom turkeys,

Each with a different name

Three Tom turkeys,

Each pursuing fame

Three Tom turkeys,

None of them a stranger,

Three Tom turkeys,

Flirting with great danger

Three Tom turkeys,

Sparring to beat each other out,

Three Tom turkeys,

Creating such public doubt

Three Tom turkeys,

Aiming to stir up discontent,

Three Tom turkeys,
Their war chests already spent

Three Tom turkeys,

Their breasts puffed and looking fit,

Three Tom turkeys,

We know you're full of it.

Three Tom turkeys,

We've watched you race this far,

Three Tom turkeys,

Who do we think you are?

Does anyone have a clue, besides the good folks beneath the Carolina moon?

We Interrupt this Blog to Bring You this Special Recommendation

C'mon Hil! Why don't we do America a big favor? Let's jump together!