Okay, so you're in a rear stateroom of this ship, right? You can feel the list developing, and you can hear the groans of the structural members groaning under the weight of uncounted tons of water. But you're still warm and dry, and for a time, you can pretend that nothing is wrong, that the tilt of the floor is just a touch of vertigo...That surely you won't be allowed to sink, I mean you PAID good money for this stateroom, right?
And all the while, the frigid waters of the Atlantic swirl farther up the halls toward you.
BUt never mind that. You can hear the band playing, so things can't be THAT bad. And it's COLD up on that deck, in the middle of the night, and you just can't be bothered elbowing your way through the crowd, for the privilege of sitting in a cold open boat in the middle of the ocean. They'll come and get you if things really get that bad.
BUt eventually, you have to face The Truth...And the truth is, this ship isn't the Titanic, it's the ship of state. And this isn't a movie, it's a real disaster, and it's HERE, it's really happening, and you're still murmuring platitudes to yourself in your stateroom.
But that cold, cold water is still climbing up throught the stairways and passages, and your self-deception won't stop it. You may not actually HEAR the graoning of the steel beams, but there certain things will happen, and eventually you won't be able to pretend you don't see them.
Gradually, one by one, people will start signing off the board for good, as their cable/phone bills go unpaid, or are canceled in a desperate attempt at damage control. One day you'll log on, and the last post you'll see is the last post YOU made, a week earlier. Nothing out there but a dead carrier wave, and silence.
KNOW YE WELL THE SIGNS OF THE END TIMES!
Now, I have heard those who speak honeyed reassurances that, certainly, we will all be okay. Sure, they tell you, there's nothing to worry about. This is AMERICA (or Great Britain, etc), and we CANNOT fall! Look upon all of our great works! Well, Shelley had a thing or two to say about that:
I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read,
Which yet survive stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
.And on the pedestal these words appear:
'My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my works. Ye Mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
Yes, the Egyptian emire built many great works...you can still see the Pyramids today, 3500 years after they were built. But tell me this: can you see the Egyptian empire? Where is Cheops? Or Aton? Or their descendants? All dust and hieroglyphics. Eventually even they fell, it had to happen sometime.
To put it in the words of a middling-talented Brit:
The Romans built this place
They built a wall and a temple
In an edge of the empire garrison town
They lived and they died
They prayed to their gods
But their stone gods did not make a sound
And their empire crumbled
Until all that was left
Were these stones some workmen found.
Now, The Good Reverend isn't here just to bum you out. No, and he isn't here to offer suggestions, because he isn't even sure how to save himself. No, I am just here to tell you to get out of that stateroom fight for your goddamn life! And maybe, just MAYBE, get a lick in at ALL THE BASTARDS WHO TOOK AWAY ALL THE GOOD THINGS YOU HAD! GODDAMMIT!
Or kill me.
RAAARGH!
:cramstipated:
Lemme at 'em!
Also, :mittens:
Great imagery, and I love the use of poetry and lyrics here, Rog!
MITTENAGE!
Quote from: Jenne on January 16, 2009, 12:09:28 AM
Great imagery, and I love the use of poetry and lyrics here, Rog!
MITTENAGE!
Came from a ranting monologue from IRC. Kai asked me to redo it as a rant.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 16, 2009, 12:13:28 AM
Quote from: Jenne on January 16, 2009, 12:09:28 AM
Great imagery, and I love the use of poetry and lyrics here, Rog!
MITTENAGE!
Came from a ranting monologue from IRC. Kai asked me to redo it as a rant.
Go Kai! :D
One of these days I'll get back on IRC...*sigh*
:mittens: again Roger
Roger thats awesome, do you mind if I put some of these around my college?
Quote from: Faust on January 16, 2009, 12:32:29 AM
Roger thats awesome, do you mind if I put some of these around my college?
Sure. As always, I expect that my name is on it, though.
TGRR,
Has EARNED his way into Gitmo, and doesn't want some fucker stealing the credit.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 16, 2009, 01:01:04 AM
Quote from: Faust on January 16, 2009, 12:32:29 AM
Roger thats awesome, do you mind if I put some of these around my college?
Sure. As always, I expect that my name is on it, though.
TGRR,
Has EARNED his way into Gitmo, and doesn't want some fucker stealing the credit.
Better hurry: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama_guantanamo
Quote from: Cainad on January 16, 2009, 01:02:42 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 16, 2009, 01:01:04 AM
Quote from: Faust on January 16, 2009, 12:32:29 AM
Roger thats awesome, do you mind if I put some of these around my college?
Sure. As always, I expect that my name is on it, though.
TGRR,
Has EARNED his way into Gitmo, and doesn't want some fucker stealing the credit.
Better hurry: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama_guantanamo
Goddammit.
:jihaad:
DONT LEAVE ME ALONE IN THE INTERNETS :cry:
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 16, 2009, 01:01:04 AM
Quote from: Faust on January 16, 2009, 12:32:29 AM
Roger thats awesome, do you mind if I put some of these around my college?
Sure. As always, I expect that my name is on it, though.
TGRR,
Has EARNED his way into Gitmo, and doesn't want some fucker stealing the credit.
of course, and links to the site.
YESSSSSSSS :mittens::mittens::mittens::mittens::mittens:
Too big to fail!
QuoteGradually, one by one, people will start signing off the board for good, as their cable/phone bills go unpaid, or are canceled in a desperate attempt at damage control. One day you'll log on, and the last post you'll see is the last post YOU made, a week earlier. Nothing out there but a dead carrier wave, and silence.
One of the most chilling things I have ever heard.
Ironically enough, that was the last civil conversation Kai and I ever had. :asplode: