How lonely it is out here in deep space
So far away from the human race.
They sent me out so long ago
In search of a planet where we could go.
Our Earth had become too crowded to please,
All the land was covered and we spread to the seas.
Before long, those, too, were crowded with life,
So we looked to the stars for a place to ease strife.
A ship was prepared, shot into the skies
With hope for mankind, and seen by all eyes.
Farther I traveled into the unknown,
Faster than any before had been thrown.
Communications were lost, at some point in time,
But I must find somewhere with agreeable clime.
Another Galaxy gone by with no end in sight,
I must find an answer to my planet's plight.
I've been gone now, my instruments say,
For some ten years, two months and a day.
On my sensors the klaxon begins to announce
A surface compatible, down to the ounce.
I complete the readings, veer away to return,
Hoping against hope the findings won't spurn
The glimmer of hope for those who have none,
Or at least pose an option for some to condone.
The entire trip back, twice as long it will take;
I must make it back, for all mankind's sake.
30 years will have gone, much longer for them,
I'll send the happy news to hinder mayhem.
As soon as a signal on the airwaves comes through,
I'll tell them there's a way for us to renew.
I'm past the point I lost contact before,
But still no answer, even though I implore.
Into our system I finally arrive,
And familiar planets I can see float by.
Approaching coordinates where home should be,
And soon the truth becomes clear to me:
While I was away, fighting broke out,
Being won by whomever held the most clout.
I hang my head in sorrow and shame,
Knowing I am now alone in this game.
By John T. M. Herres (c) 2011
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Growing Pains
We all started out as children. From the moment we were born, outside influences began shaping who we were to be, how we were to act and react.
Though people come in so many sizes and shapes, beliefs and convictions, even prejudices, everyone starts out the same: defenseless, vulnerable and ignorant. The parents then start teaching, through words and actions, how they learned to live in the world.
So diverse are the teachings most of us have endured that we have gone through several belief systems trying to figure out which one holds the key to understanding, the “meaning of life”, as it were. There are as many interpretations as there are people. No matter what religion, if any, a group of people belong to, though they may have a base agreement on their beliefs, there are always minor differences.
As children, we cry when we experience pain, fear, indecision, or loneliness. How the adults react to those displays of emotion determines not only how the child will eventually display them, but also how that child will react to others who have been taught differently. The child who is told, “Stop acting like a baby!” will develop a much different attitude than the one who is told, “It’s OK to cry. Just let it all out.” As such, the child who is taught that only “babies” cry will persecute the ones who are told it is ok. In response to being derided by their peers, the child who does cry openly will eventually learn that society does not think it’s acceptable.
The child who sees their mother being chastised or beaten will assume that is the way of the world. If the child is beaten and berated, the lesson will be to do the same to any who are weaker. The despondent child may be further damaged by being ignored or pushed aside, often leading to addictions or even attempts of suicide. The sexually abused will in turn abuse either another or themselves.
So many people have made the comment that they would not raise their children the way they were brought up, yet too many of them seem to make either the same or worse mistakes. Along this same line, some even choose to disregard things they either felt or thought as children themselves and deny their children the right to experience certain things which would help them to be better adults.
For example, look at corporal punishment regulations held in the school systems. Many years ago, it was standard practice for the wayward child to be sent to the principal’s office to receive a paddle to the derrière. In today’s society, such acts are considered child abuse. The problem with this, in my opinion, is that many of the children know this, and will intentionally flaunt the knowledge before those who should be in control. One can barely use spankings in the privacy of their own homes for discipline, and even then have to worry about authorities taking the children away. Without the concern of punishment for wrong doings, many youngsters will repetitively cause trouble, knowing the worst that will happen is a “time out”.
There are solutions for many of the woes that plague society concerning the rearing of our children, but I feel none of the lawmakers in charge of those decisions will be open to researching them. I could offer my own thoughts on the subject, however, since I have no degrees or long term experience involving children, my opinions would be dismissed faster than I could make them. Therefore, until society realizes that the decline of things such as common courtesy, sympathy for fellows, even fear of consequences are directly related to the fact that people are no longer allowed to discipline their children, the future will continue to look as bleak as it does now.
Though people come in so many sizes and shapes, beliefs and convictions, even prejudices, everyone starts out the same: defenseless, vulnerable and ignorant. The parents then start teaching, through words and actions, how they learned to live in the world.
So diverse are the teachings most of us have endured that we have gone through several belief systems trying to figure out which one holds the key to understanding, the “meaning of life”, as it were. There are as many interpretations as there are people. No matter what religion, if any, a group of people belong to, though they may have a base agreement on their beliefs, there are always minor differences.
As children, we cry when we experience pain, fear, indecision, or loneliness. How the adults react to those displays of emotion determines not only how the child will eventually display them, but also how that child will react to others who have been taught differently. The child who is told, “Stop acting like a baby!” will develop a much different attitude than the one who is told, “It’s OK to cry. Just let it all out.” As such, the child who is taught that only “babies” cry will persecute the ones who are told it is ok. In response to being derided by their peers, the child who does cry openly will eventually learn that society does not think it’s acceptable.
The child who sees their mother being chastised or beaten will assume that is the way of the world. If the child is beaten and berated, the lesson will be to do the same to any who are weaker. The despondent child may be further damaged by being ignored or pushed aside, often leading to addictions or even attempts of suicide. The sexually abused will in turn abuse either another or themselves.
So many people have made the comment that they would not raise their children the way they were brought up, yet too many of them seem to make either the same or worse mistakes. Along this same line, some even choose to disregard things they either felt or thought as children themselves and deny their children the right to experience certain things which would help them to be better adults.
For example, look at corporal punishment regulations held in the school systems. Many years ago, it was standard practice for the wayward child to be sent to the principal’s office to receive a paddle to the derrière. In today’s society, such acts are considered child abuse. The problem with this, in my opinion, is that many of the children know this, and will intentionally flaunt the knowledge before those who should be in control. One can barely use spankings in the privacy of their own homes for discipline, and even then have to worry about authorities taking the children away. Without the concern of punishment for wrong doings, many youngsters will repetitively cause trouble, knowing the worst that will happen is a “time out”.
There are solutions for many of the woes that plague society concerning the rearing of our children, but I feel none of the lawmakers in charge of those decisions will be open to researching them. I could offer my own thoughts on the subject, however, since I have no degrees or long term experience involving children, my opinions would be dismissed faster than I could make them. Therefore, until society realizes that the decline of things such as common courtesy, sympathy for fellows, even fear of consequences are directly related to the fact that people are no longer allowed to discipline their children, the future will continue to look as bleak as it does now.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Hitting Bottom
There is an old, old saying that "When you hit bottom, there is only one way to go: Up" However, I challenge this idea! I know for a fact from long, hard experience, that there is another direction; sideways!
I have many times hit bottom, and before any upward movement happens, there is the veritable skimming along the bottom. Sure, there may be a little rise involved, but invariably, the virtual lead weight pulls me back down. Now, I freely admit, that now days, my bottom is not as far down as they were when I actively pursued a career in alcoholism, but they are bottoms nonetheless. Case in point: For the last four months or so, I have been on Worker's Comp, getting weekly checks from the Insurance Company while going to various doctors trying to get my back problem fixed. They recommended me for surgery, since the shot they gave me did not work for very long, but I needed to go to a Neurologist to make sure I did not have nerve damage. He said I did not need the surgery, and all the sudden I am being told to go back to work. I still have the problem, albeit not as severe as when it started, but I am still, in my opinion, susceptible to aggravating it and being right back where I started.
The problem with this is; I will go a week without income, because the insurance pays at the end of the week finished, and work holds the check for a week. I have not only bills due, but bills being taken directly out of my bank account. They gave me no fore warning that I would be sent back to work at this point in time, so I did not have an opportunity to arrange the bills so they would be taken care of.
I have also just started taking online college classes in an attempt to enhance my writing ability, hoping to be able to better arrange my writing to be marketable and salable. This is not a big problem because I can get the work done around my employment.
So, the fact remains, that once a person hits bottom, there IS somewhere to go other than up. There is often an undercurrent one can get caught in which just either drags one along the bottom or bounces one against it repeatedly.
I have no idea if anyone else will ever read this or not, but I am putting it out there just the same.
I have many times hit bottom, and before any upward movement happens, there is the veritable skimming along the bottom. Sure, there may be a little rise involved, but invariably, the virtual lead weight pulls me back down. Now, I freely admit, that now days, my bottom is not as far down as they were when I actively pursued a career in alcoholism, but they are bottoms nonetheless. Case in point: For the last four months or so, I have been on Worker's Comp, getting weekly checks from the Insurance Company while going to various doctors trying to get my back problem fixed. They recommended me for surgery, since the shot they gave me did not work for very long, but I needed to go to a Neurologist to make sure I did not have nerve damage. He said I did not need the surgery, and all the sudden I am being told to go back to work. I still have the problem, albeit not as severe as when it started, but I am still, in my opinion, susceptible to aggravating it and being right back where I started.
The problem with this is; I will go a week without income, because the insurance pays at the end of the week finished, and work holds the check for a week. I have not only bills due, but bills being taken directly out of my bank account. They gave me no fore warning that I would be sent back to work at this point in time, so I did not have an opportunity to arrange the bills so they would be taken care of.
I have also just started taking online college classes in an attempt to enhance my writing ability, hoping to be able to better arrange my writing to be marketable and salable. This is not a big problem because I can get the work done around my employment.
So, the fact remains, that once a person hits bottom, there IS somewhere to go other than up. There is often an undercurrent one can get caught in which just either drags one along the bottom or bounces one against it repeatedly.
I have no idea if anyone else will ever read this or not, but I am putting it out there just the same.
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