tsurashi shondo
12-22-2004, 04:43 PM
My dear old mum sent this out to most of the people on her mailing list today, (Irony as you will soon see.) she had a bee in her bonnet.
It made me think, so I thought I'd share her words here.
I'd love to hear your feedback
-------------------------------------------
Dec. 22
Friends and family:
When I read down the page to the poem that forms part of this message I received today (and which I have pasted into the bottom of this letter), I realized that I had read it before and that it contains true and worthy sentiments. But what dangerous dross and drivel we have to pass through before we reach the poem!
I'm responding today on this point because lately my mailbox has been full of similar sayings and verses. I've deleted the names of those who passed it along, to avoid embarrassing anyone. I'm sure every one of them intended only to share the important reminder not to neglect the ones we love, and who can find fault with that? It is not my intention to hurt anyone's feelings. Nevertheless, I feel I must say something about the warnings that precede the poem.
Am I the only one who sees the harm in perpetuating the superstitions attached to these fear-inducing meanderings? Generally when I receive this kind of mail, which insinuates or actually threatens bad luck or death if I don't clog up cyberspace by sending it to another five or 10 people and conversely promising me the moon if I obey, I just trash it. I don't blame any "bad luck" or anyone's death on my disposing of such mail.
We'll all die someday, but we haven't died yet. And if we did, what of it? Death is merely at the centre of a long life.
As the Welsh bard Taliesin sang, "I have been in many shapes ... There is nothing in which I have not been."
Some people seem to receive more than their share of so-called "bad-luck" in this life, but the spirit is free to choose what it will craft from the experiences. There will, of course, be days when one's spirit seems thinner than proverbial water and hope fails, but in general, rather than assigning our destiny to some mean-spirited and unpredictable wielder of fate, wouldn't we be healthier and better off if we cloaked ourselves in the warrior spirit?
From Nietzsche, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." I'm sure you've heard that before.
As you can see, one person who forwarded this message implied that he trusts his fate to his god, but he passed on the doom-filled warnings just the same. One wonders whether some of the fear embedded in the forwarded message tinges his own heart.
I would like to see the poem he sent carved into the hearts of a lot more people I know. But most people who receive this and similar admonishments (if they aren't annoyed) will only quickly pass it along to the next 10 people in their address book to discharge their obligation to the human race, rather than take the time ever to write or say what they mean; and contrary to the poem, they will continue to neglect to express themselves in any meaningful way to the ones who should matter most.
Do you ever wish, though, that more people passed along messages of true inspiration instead of moralizing pap? Wouldn't you rather they wrote original messages about standing in one's own power instead of sending regurgitated lines about living one's life in paranoid pseuodo-piety?
Just some thoughts for today from the poet of Témiscamingue in exile. What are your own thoughts on the matter?
Go ever in the Way of the Gods
And live their blessing. Have a joyous Yule,
And a prosperous New Year!
Joan Taillon, Alberta
-------- Original Message --------
_Subject: FW: poem
_
Sorry had to forward on to someone
> >I believe whatever God has in store for us will be for us.
> >The poem is very true, unfortunately.
>
> >Make sure you read the poem!
>
> >CASE 1: Kelly Sedey had one wish,
>
> >for her boyfriend of three years,
>
> >David Marsden, to propose to her.
>
> >Then one day when she was out
>
> >to lunch David proposed!
>
> >She accepted, but then had to leave
>
> >because she had a meeting in 20 min.
>
> >When she got to her office,
>
> >she noticed on her computer she had some e-mail's.
>
> >She checked it, the usual stuff
>
> >from her friends, but then she saw one
>
> >that she had never gotten before.
>
> >It was this poem. She simply deleted it
>
> >without even reading all of it.
>
> >BIG MISTAKE! Later that evening,
>
> >she received a phone call from the police
>
> >It was about DAVID! He had been in an accident
>
> >with an 18 wheeler. He didn't survive!
>
>
> >CASE 2: Take Katie Robinson She received this poem
>
> >and being the believer that she was
>
> >she sent it to a few of her friends but
>
> >didn't have enough e-mail addresses to send out
>
> >the full 10 that you must.
>
> >Three days later, Katie went to a masquerade ball.
>
> >Later that night when she left to get to her car,
>
> >she was killed in that spot by a
>
> >hit-and-run drunk driver.
>
> >
> >CASE 3: Richard S. Willis sent this poem out
>
> >within 45 minutes of reading it.
>
> >Not even 4 hours later walking along the street
>
> >to his new job interview with a really big company,
>
> >when he ran into Cynthia Bell,
>
> >his secret love for 5 years. Cynthia came up to him
>
>
>
> >and told him of her passionate crush on him
>
> >that she had had for 2 years.
>
> >Three days later, he proposed to her and they got married.
>
> >Cynthia and Richard are still married
>
> >with three children, happy as ever!
>
> >
>
> >This is the poem:
>
>
>
> >Around the corner I have a friend,
> >In this great city that has no end,
> >Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
> >And before I know it, a year is gone.
> >And I never see my old friends face,
> >For life is a swift and terrible race,
>
> >He knows I like him just as well,
>
> >As in the days when I rang his bell.
>
> >And he rang mine but we were younger then,
>
> >And now we are busy, tired men.
>
> >Tired of playing a foolish game,
>
> >Tired of trying to make a name.
> >"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
>
> >Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
>
> >But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
>
> >And distance between them grows and grows.
>
> >Around the corner, yet miles away,
>
> >"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."
>
> >And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
>
> >Around the corner, a vanished friend.
>
> >Remember to always say what you mean.
>
> >If you love someone, tell them.
>
> >Don't be afraid to express yourself.
>
> >Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you.
>
> >Because when you decide that it is the right time it might
>
> >be too late.
>
> >Seize the day. Never have regrets.
>
> >And most importantly, stay close to your friends
>
> >and family, for they have helped
>
> >make you the person that you are today.
>
>
>
> >You must send this on in 3 hours after reading the letter
>
> >to 10 other people.
>
> >If you do this, you will receive unbelievably good luck in love.
>
> >The person that you are most attracted to will soon return to you.
> >If you do not, bad luck will rear its ugly head at you.
>
> >THIS IS NOT A JOKE!
> >You have read the warnings, seen the cases,
>
> >and the consequences.
>
> >You MUST send this on or face dreadfully bad luck.
>
> >*NOTE*
>
> >the more people that you send this to, the better
>
> >luck you will have.
>
> >SMILE, even through your tears!!!!!
It made me think, so I thought I'd share her words here.
I'd love to hear your feedback
-------------------------------------------
Dec. 22
Friends and family:
When I read down the page to the poem that forms part of this message I received today (and which I have pasted into the bottom of this letter), I realized that I had read it before and that it contains true and worthy sentiments. But what dangerous dross and drivel we have to pass through before we reach the poem!
I'm responding today on this point because lately my mailbox has been full of similar sayings and verses. I've deleted the names of those who passed it along, to avoid embarrassing anyone. I'm sure every one of them intended only to share the important reminder not to neglect the ones we love, and who can find fault with that? It is not my intention to hurt anyone's feelings. Nevertheless, I feel I must say something about the warnings that precede the poem.
Am I the only one who sees the harm in perpetuating the superstitions attached to these fear-inducing meanderings? Generally when I receive this kind of mail, which insinuates or actually threatens bad luck or death if I don't clog up cyberspace by sending it to another five or 10 people and conversely promising me the moon if I obey, I just trash it. I don't blame any "bad luck" or anyone's death on my disposing of such mail.
We'll all die someday, but we haven't died yet. And if we did, what of it? Death is merely at the centre of a long life.
As the Welsh bard Taliesin sang, "I have been in many shapes ... There is nothing in which I have not been."
Some people seem to receive more than their share of so-called "bad-luck" in this life, but the spirit is free to choose what it will craft from the experiences. There will, of course, be days when one's spirit seems thinner than proverbial water and hope fails, but in general, rather than assigning our destiny to some mean-spirited and unpredictable wielder of fate, wouldn't we be healthier and better off if we cloaked ourselves in the warrior spirit?
From Nietzsche, "That which does not kill us makes us stronger." I'm sure you've heard that before.
As you can see, one person who forwarded this message implied that he trusts his fate to his god, but he passed on the doom-filled warnings just the same. One wonders whether some of the fear embedded in the forwarded message tinges his own heart.
I would like to see the poem he sent carved into the hearts of a lot more people I know. But most people who receive this and similar admonishments (if they aren't annoyed) will only quickly pass it along to the next 10 people in their address book to discharge their obligation to the human race, rather than take the time ever to write or say what they mean; and contrary to the poem, they will continue to neglect to express themselves in any meaningful way to the ones who should matter most.
Do you ever wish, though, that more people passed along messages of true inspiration instead of moralizing pap? Wouldn't you rather they wrote original messages about standing in one's own power instead of sending regurgitated lines about living one's life in paranoid pseuodo-piety?
Just some thoughts for today from the poet of Témiscamingue in exile. What are your own thoughts on the matter?
Go ever in the Way of the Gods
And live their blessing. Have a joyous Yule,
And a prosperous New Year!
Joan Taillon, Alberta
-------- Original Message --------
_Subject: FW: poem
_
Sorry had to forward on to someone
> >I believe whatever God has in store for us will be for us.
> >The poem is very true, unfortunately.
>
> >Make sure you read the poem!
>
> >CASE 1: Kelly Sedey had one wish,
>
> >for her boyfriend of three years,
>
> >David Marsden, to propose to her.
>
> >Then one day when she was out
>
> >to lunch David proposed!
>
> >She accepted, but then had to leave
>
> >because she had a meeting in 20 min.
>
> >When she got to her office,
>
> >she noticed on her computer she had some e-mail's.
>
> >She checked it, the usual stuff
>
> >from her friends, but then she saw one
>
> >that she had never gotten before.
>
> >It was this poem. She simply deleted it
>
> >without even reading all of it.
>
> >BIG MISTAKE! Later that evening,
>
> >she received a phone call from the police
>
> >It was about DAVID! He had been in an accident
>
> >with an 18 wheeler. He didn't survive!
>
>
> >CASE 2: Take Katie Robinson She received this poem
>
> >and being the believer that she was
>
> >she sent it to a few of her friends but
>
> >didn't have enough e-mail addresses to send out
>
> >the full 10 that you must.
>
> >Three days later, Katie went to a masquerade ball.
>
> >Later that night when she left to get to her car,
>
> >she was killed in that spot by a
>
> >hit-and-run drunk driver.
>
> >
> >CASE 3: Richard S. Willis sent this poem out
>
> >within 45 minutes of reading it.
>
> >Not even 4 hours later walking along the street
>
> >to his new job interview with a really big company,
>
> >when he ran into Cynthia Bell,
>
> >his secret love for 5 years. Cynthia came up to him
>
>
>
> >and told him of her passionate crush on him
>
> >that she had had for 2 years.
>
> >Three days later, he proposed to her and they got married.
>
> >Cynthia and Richard are still married
>
> >with three children, happy as ever!
>
> >
>
> >This is the poem:
>
>
>
> >Around the corner I have a friend,
> >In this great city that has no end,
> >Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
> >And before I know it, a year is gone.
> >And I never see my old friends face,
> >For life is a swift and terrible race,
>
> >He knows I like him just as well,
>
> >As in the days when I rang his bell.
>
> >And he rang mine but we were younger then,
>
> >And now we are busy, tired men.
>
> >Tired of playing a foolish game,
>
> >Tired of trying to make a name.
> >"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim
>
> >Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
>
> >But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
>
> >And distance between them grows and grows.
>
> >Around the corner, yet miles away,
>
> >"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."
>
> >And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
>
> >Around the corner, a vanished friend.
>
> >Remember to always say what you mean.
>
> >If you love someone, tell them.
>
> >Don't be afraid to express yourself.
>
> >Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you.
>
> >Because when you decide that it is the right time it might
>
> >be too late.
>
> >Seize the day. Never have regrets.
>
> >And most importantly, stay close to your friends
>
> >and family, for they have helped
>
> >make you the person that you are today.
>
>
>
> >You must send this on in 3 hours after reading the letter
>
> >to 10 other people.
>
> >If you do this, you will receive unbelievably good luck in love.
>
> >The person that you are most attracted to will soon return to you.
> >If you do not, bad luck will rear its ugly head at you.
>
> >THIS IS NOT A JOKE!
> >You have read the warnings, seen the cases,
>
> >and the consequences.
>
> >You MUST send this on or face dreadfully bad luck.
>
> >*NOTE*
>
> >the more people that you send this to, the better
>
> >luck you will have.
>
> >SMILE, even through your tears!!!!!