Oops! (An “O” Word) I’ve Jumped the Track!

Oops! I’ve jumped the track and must get back on! This blog, or whatever your particular cultural flavor prefers to call it, began as having the south or rather THE SOUTH as its focus, or things southern, and particularly those things of the Carolinas (thus the blog name). On occasion it would stray off course to a point of interest; a perfectly acceptable practice, as long as it wasn’t too far and made a hasty return to the main subject. However, I’m afraid that I’ve strayed perhaps a bit too far. And, therefore, having recognized such straying, as in more or less completely jumping the track, I now herewith and with all sincerity, and other such bull malarkey, promise to hastily get back on track. (Hah! we wiped the smile off that train engine!)

One more however, however. HOWEVER, from the get go, I have made no beans about being a dedicated opponent of the Clintons, or anyone kin to them, or even wishing they were kin to them, such as the Clintonistas of New York (Obvious imbeciles!) therefore, any and every reader of this blog may, from now, or actually before now, anticipate that there will always be at least one post appearing on the front page of this blog that is Clinton resistant, until there are no Clintons nor Clintonistas running for public office. There my be other political commentary also from time to time, but I do pledge to get back to the main thrust of this blog, focusing on things southern, and particularly things Carolina.

In fact, I just watched an old movie Sunday evening that reminded me of several major southern, Carolina in particular, facts, subjects, and cultural eccentricities that I should be discussing here. Or for those of you who hail from places unsouthern, perhaps for your edification, my disseminations shall be of useful or entertaining value. I know more than one story of a damnyankee whose life was spared as a direct result of their clever and timely remembrance of some minor southern trivia. You see, here beneath the Carolina moon, even trivia is no trivial matter, and a gentleman’s word is his honor, and... oh nevermind.

A few of those stories will appear here sooner or later. For now, I’ve babbled on enough for one day and a single post. Next post, will be back on track, and maybe with a different train. Yah know, I still don’t remember reading that book as a kid. Must have been after my time. Train named Thomas? Nah. Don’t remember’im.

Posted by Dread who never leapt a tall building, but once rode a powerful locomotive, and has since, never been the same.

alphabet justice: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Unpaid (a "U" Word) Political Commentary

This is for all the Hillacare supporters. This is not an endorsement of any political candidate. I happen to think that all politicians suck. Some of them are just dangerous while some of them are more entertaining than others. I consider Hillary to be on the dangerous side of the field and Fred to be on the entertaining side. Enjoy!

Posted by Dread who is still giggling.

alphabet justice: (doesn't seem to work with YOU TUBE but will return with the next post)

Letter - An "L" Word

I've not been up to posting lately, and September 11 came and went without a mention here from me (or any other post). So, today I catch up a bit, even though I'm not back up to speed. I'm re-posting a letter that I posted somewhere on one of my, then existing, web pages, just after the atrocity of September 11, 2001.

An Open Letter to the Would Be Terroists of the World

Dear Would Be Terrorist:

Last week you struck out at the United States of America. Through some unimaginable twisted perversion of your souls, you may have deemed your actions as having struck a mighty blow of oppression and terror upon the great satan. If that is the case, then you are as badly mistaken as you are psychologically twisted and spiritually perverted.

Your actions did not oppress and did not terrorize the people of the United States of America. The senseless murder of our people and destruction of a few of our buildings only managed to draw back the veil from the true face of our great nation. And now the world sees clearly that which it could only see dimly before.

The world sees a people bound together under the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. The world sees a nation where there is freedom for all, not because our leaders allow it, but because each and every individual is determined in their heart to be free, and to promote freedom for each other. It is literally impossible to ever truly oppress or terrorize such a people. And the world sees that more clearly now than ever before.

Now that the veil is lifted, the world sees that the great truths upon which our nation was founded are immortal and as vibrant today, as when our founding fathers first set them to written word. Had you studied our history, you would have seen in the very first official document of our nation, even as we were forming as a nation, that we pledged to the cause of freedom, "our lives and our fortunes, to each other."

Today pictures are televised around the world of our citizenry putting their lives on the line for each other, and giving freely of their worldly wealth, to aid and assist each other. The world does not see a greed driven satan as you postulate, but rather an unoppressed people, united for their common good, and the common good of all people.

While the smoke still rose from your cowardly deeds, our nation was committing publicly and privately to not only protecting our freedom, but also the freedom of all of the earth's inhabitants whose hearts cry out with each beat, "Live free or die free!" That is the level of our commitment to freedom. That is the face of freedom. That is the face you revealed when you lifted the veil. Your objective was not obtained, and your mission failed. Freedom lives. Freedom thrives. Freedom cries out from every American heart!

Your twisted madness lays as an open book for all sane people of the world to view. You have tried to oppress that which can not be oppressed. You have treid to terrorize those that do not recognize terror. You have set out to physically destroy that which is spiritual in nature. The futility of your purpose is self evident. The evidence of your complete insanity is only exceeded by the evidence of your spiritual perversion.

The holy trinity of failth, hope, and love is recognized by the religions of time. Faith manefests itself by that indwelling spirit, that portion of the divine that imparts life to us. Hope is the glimpse of eternal essence of divinity which is imparted to us by Jesus of Nazareth, and the wise of the ages. Love is the only manner by which we can conceptualize the grand design of the universe and it's Omnipotent Architect, and bind our own soul to wholeness.

The religions of time recognize divinity by many names. Jah, Providence, and God are but a few. But divinity has always been defined by it's essence. No, matter the language, in English, it translates to three simple words. "GOD IS LOVE." To claim that Love is manifested in acts of hate, or even in apathy, is the most complete perversion of religion imaginable to the human mind.

Would be terrorits, religious zealots that you dreamed to be, you have become that which you fear most. You have become beasts of burden to satan, slaves to evil, a mockery of divine creation. May The Omnipotent Creator have mercy on your soul. The evil that possesses you most certainly will not.

And, as you pass into that dark night, where death's angel will hold you in her cold grip, remember this fact. You neither oppressed nor terrorized me nor any other American. Your actions have strengthened our resolve to remain a free people, and have renewed our commitment to amplify the voice of freedom, so that it may be heard around the world. Our reliance on divine strength and love will bring us through this and any other tragedy.

And, now the world is listening with hungry ears for that ring of freedom's bell, looking with eager eyes upon the strength that freedom builds, and yearning with open hearts to lift up their souls and soar upon the warm breath of freedom's whisper. The light of freedom still burns brightly. "One nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.", will stand!

Sincerely

Dread
Common Citizen of and Uncommon Nation, The United States of America

alphabet justice: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

A Sundy Cruise (a "C" Word) with a Message

The Divine Miss N, the Albino HMS Monkey, and I went for a cruise Sunday afternoon to watch the hot air baloons launch near Anderson. It was quiet a sight, and we had a really good meal at Carson's. Cruising back, the monkey started hooting and having a fit. We pulled over to the side of the road, figuring she needed to make a pit stop. But upon letting her out of the car she promptly scampered up a nearby signpost and started pointing and waving. Miss N picked up on what the monkey was trying to point out right away, and jumped out to take this picture. It took me a bit longer, and even longer to coach the silly monkey to climb back down.

Finally, the promise of a Starbucks mocha frappachino, putting her pic here, and letting her borrow the digi camera convinced the monkey to come down. I have to give it to the little booger. She took a decent pic of these guinea fowl that were grazing grass seed heads along the side of the road. I wonder who they belong to. I hadn't seen any of these in years.

Posted by Dread for the Divine Miss N and the Albino HMS Monkey.

alphabet justice: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Picking and Grinning? (a "G" Word)

She's a pickin' but will she be a grinnin' come election day?

LET'S HOPE NOT!

Posted by Dread, who so far this election season, only has candidates to vote against.

alphabet justice: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Bridging the Past (a "P" Word) to the Future

This pic was taken on a recent Sunday afternoon outing by the Divine Miss N. It's the Poinsett Bridge that spans Little Gap Creek in northern Greenville County (SC). The bridge was commissioned by Joel Poinsett, who himself, could be the subject of a post. Yes, the Poinsettia flower has a connection, but not to the bridge, except for Joel Poinsett for whom it is named; the bridge, and the flower.

If that hasn't confused you enough, the bridge, which was completed in 1820, was along the road that once connected Charleston with the Blue Ridge Mountains. Today that road is pretty much abandoned and the bridge only connects to the other side of the creek, and the past. The road never really was paved anyway, so it really doesn't matter much I suppose. To give you some sense of its proportion, it may help to know that the opening of the Gothic arch is fourteen feet high.

It does seem strange today to have such an ornate bridge that only crosses a creek and hasn't a road with it to anywhere. Although the records are sketchy, it is presumed and agreed to by most Carolina historians that Robert Mills, the famous architect, designed the unique bridge. The bridge served its purpose and portaged progress across its stone bed, until progress left it behind. Now it serves as a monument to man’s ingenuity and as a remaining work of art; a reminder that both form and function should be present when we set out to rearrange God's creation.

I thought of this yesterday evening while boping down I-85, which is crossed by a mammoth bridge every few miles. We mostly build damn ugly bridges these days. They bridge to our future. The Poinsett bridge, bridges to our past. And, what does that say?

Posted by Dread who is still pondering all of this.

alphabet justice: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z