Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Armenian Genocide















Genocide
(by R.P.Edwards)

The spirit of genocide
Lingers still
With its lust for blood
And its tombs to fill
And all it needs
To work its will
Are minds that judge
And hands...that kill



 Genocide: the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group
(Merriam Webster) 


"The 1915 massacre of the Armenians by the Turks 
makes one of the blackest pages in all human history.
 It was the first large genocide, planned by German military talent and carried out by Turks."
(From 'A Brief History of Armenia' by Rev. Sarkis Papajian)





The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:
who can know it?
(Jeremiah 17:9)



It was the mid 1980's and I found myself in the San Joaquin valley in central California. Known for grapes and nuts this fertile real estate also grew a city; Fresno. It was here I became aware of "Armenians" and their story. 

I was attending Fresno State (CSUF) at the time and, as an elective, I took the Armenian History class. Sorry, I don't remember the professor's name (30 years ago) but he was passionate. You see, a great evil had been done to his ancestors--a literal attempt by the Ottoman Turks to murder them ALL--and, although the evidence is overwhelming, the sons of the perpetrators refuse to acknowledge it and, to add insult to injury, in order to satisfy the illusion of political expediency, even our current president will not use the "G" word.

Anyway, not long ago the one hundredth anniversary of the event came and went. There was some media play but, as is so often the case, the need for "new" quickly pushed aside the justice due to 1.5 million murdered Armenians and their "in need of closure" heritage. The story caught my ear, and I remembered a book.

I don't have many remnants of my college years, but this little blue paperback remains. I reread it. And oh, how the Armenians have suffered! Hounded, hunted, mistreated and murdered; their history is replete with examples of slaughter and slavery (interspersed with periods of peace and prosperity) culminating with the event that truly warrants the term...Genocide. On this wise, the following excerpt is from a speech given by someone who was a contemporary and without question understood its depths of depravity:

I have placed my death-head formation in readiness...with orders to them to send to death mercilessly and without compassion, men, women, and children of Polish derivation and language. Only thus shall we gain the living space which we need. Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?
(Adolf Hitler, Obersalzberg Speech, 1939)

 
I'll not belabor the point. If the reader wants to investigate the matter, there are many resources available. But, if you'll allow me; let me speak just a moment of the human condition. You see, murder is in our make-up. Without apology I believe in the God espoused by the Armenians (the first Christian nation). Indeed, Jesus said the devil was a murderer from the beginning (John 8) and for those who give audience to his whisperings it is only a short journey from self-exaltation to the dehumanizing of others. Justification for murder comes easily to us (if we're not careful). Cain murdered righteous Abel. The Turks murdered the Christian Armenians. The Nazis murdered the descendants of Abraham. And today ISIS and their ilk show their true allegiance. And, again without apology, it was not the Lord's Spirit that walked the halls of the United States Supreme Court when they decided that humans of a certain age...were not worthy of life.

Let me conclude by saying: to those of Armenian descent among us; thank you for your contributions to society. Thank you for your tenacity in holding to your heritage and faith. And although many refuse to acknowledge the plight of your ancestors, and your struggle to honor them; there is at least one more...who does.

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Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Of Rabbits and Republicans









The Youth
(by R.P.Edwards) 

The "Youth"
They have their good points
Vitality and verve
Passion and compassion
Unmitigated nerve
But often there is ignorance
A blindness in their sway
And choosing these to lead us
Then we'd surely rue the day



It was a Reese's Rabbit (not to be confused with a Rhesus monkey) and, as I peeled away it's outer layer--skinned it, so to speak--the darned thing just kept smiling.

The story: one of my offspring has a "thing" for Reese's peanut butter cups. It's a "go to" gift idea. A no-brainer. However...the proportion of chocolate to peanut butter must be exact. Too much chocolate (which NEVER happens in the normal sized cups) and the offering is rejected. Enter the Easter holiday. Yes, we put in the forefront the resurrection of the Christ, but the wife decided that some candy was in order, AND, a Reese's Rabbit seemed logical for this particular child. Alas, it had too much chocolate, and I, the compassionate fixer, offered to remove the offense (eating as I went, naturally). 

Now...to the poem. Watched a blurb concerning Presidential hopeful, Marco Rubio's thoughts as to gay-marriage and how the "youth" overwhelmingly support it. He sided with his faith. Good for him.

You know, I've spent not a little cyber-ink on the subject; giving my two bits as to how God didn't get it wrong. But...many, especially the young, bend their "believing" another way. 

Here's my point: I don't look to the young...for wisdom (especially if it struts across a university quad). There's a reason there are age requirements for office holders in the Constitution. And, since even I have worn the shoes of a know-it-all know-nothing, I give the "youth" vote little weight. Nothing personal, they just need a few more scars and whiskers. 

Now...back to the rabbit.

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Friday, April 10, 2015

Breakout time?








Breakout time?
(by R.P.Edwards)

Breakout time
It's not your skin
It's not the pimples 
On your chin
It's not pubescent
Fear and dread
It's Iran's ambition
Millions Dead




The Federal Investigator had the assurance that the Police Chief (though critically wounded) could answer a few questions before going into surgery to remove the shrapnel from his back and what was left of his right leg.

"Chief Chamberlain, can you hear me? Chief, chief (he leaned close to the blood-smeared left ear) "Sam, Sam, talk to me. Tell me what happened."

The middle-aged chief of police slowly turned his eyes to the voice and his pained expression eased just a bit as doctors and nurses scurried about trying to keep this small-town cop from being added to the list of the already two hundred dead from a madman's killing spree. "Agent Huck...so...so glad to see you."

"Sam, what happened?"

"It was Xerxes. That old guy who's been threatening for years to avenge his people. We've been keeping an eye on him. Watching what he bought; where he went. We thought he was all talk."

For a moment the officer's eyes glazed over, but information was essential! Crucial! The Fed shook his old friend as the gurney was nearly ready to go. "Sam! Sam! What happened!"

"Somehow he put together some bombs. Placed them by the police department, the mayor's house, the elementary school. Somehow he got an automatic weapon, body armor (looking directly now into the agent's eyes); honestly, we thought he had nothing; NOTHING! If we knew he had all that stuff we would have taken him in a long time ago..."

"Who stopped him, Sam? Who killed him?"

"He was going for our local synagogue. He hated the Jews. HATED THEM! When he started that way a perfectly placed round went through his skull."

"Who shot it, Sam? Who do I have to thank?"

"It was Bibi. He'd been warning us all along. Should have listened. Should...have...listened..."

Agent Huckabee watched as his old friend was quickly wheeled away. He turned and walked down the crowded hallway as Sirens blared, and helicopters hovered, and all around were the sounds of people screaming, and weeping, and pleading.  He exited the front door and pushed aside the media leeches. "Could have been prevented," he said to himself. And then, before closing the door of his armored SUV he reached down to wipe some of his friend's blood from his patent leathers. "Could have been prevented."

---------------

A little fantasy; a small scale prediction of what happens when you measure madmen by "breakout" predictions.  Imagine, knowing that your neighbor wants you dead and its only a matter of time before he has the means to do it. Your solution? Make sure he doesn't put his "kill you" weapon together too soon, even pushing it off to the far future so that it's your kids...he kills.  Absolutely nuts.

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Monday, April 6, 2015

Unrecognized Israel?!





Unrecognized?!
(by R.P.Edwards


Unrecognized?
Unrecognized?!
The millions of souls?!
The children of Abraham?!
The Nation?!
The Whole?!
The home of the prophets?!
The patriarchs place?!
Where David wrote Psalms?!
And the Cross showed God's grace?!
How crazy!
How stupid!
 How patently vile!
To deal with the devil!
Acquiesce with a smile!
Expecting the truth!
From the tellers of lies!
Who recognized fear...
When they looked in OUR* eyes



"The notion that we would condition Iran not getting nuclear weapons in a verifiable deal, on Iran recognizing Israel is really akin to saying that we won't sign a deal unless the nature of the Iranian regime completely transforms and that is, I think, a fundamental misjudgement."

President Obama
April 6, 2015



How about looking at it this way: since the Iranians are going to lie anyway, why not make them tell a whopper? Sure, they'd fume and fuss; they'd stomp their feet and rattle their scimitars; but, in a grand display of acquiescence...they'd finally agree and say Israel has a right to be. "Hooray!" say we and the western world. "Hooray!" say our allies and enemies far and near. And then, when the mullahs finish the bomb (secretly, of course) the Persian powers would attempt to use it on Zion. I say "attempt" because although WE don't think recognizing Israel is such a big deal (see the above quote), there IS a divine entity that will make sure ALL give her her due. A shame we didn't choose that position...in the first place.


Speaking of Israel:






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* This "OUR" began as a "your." But, since these individuals (one in particular) represent "us," I changed it...hesitantly. Understand, I don't like it and, I may change it back. But... this distaste is the flavor "we" voted for. And although that "we" didn't include me... it does because "we" is "me" when majority rules. Oh my...can you tell it's late?

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Church under fire







The Agenda
(by R.P.Edwards

Jesus in the crosshairs
Christians under fire
False religious hopefuls
Calling God a liar
Disputing with the doctrine
They choose a different way
Beginning in their sinning
By beginning
"Did God say?"


He (the serpent) said to the woman, "Did God really say...?"
(Genesis 3:1)



In the news; a major denomination joining apostate others by, in essence, saying that God...got it wrong. And, a feeding frenzy of sorts over legislation(s) that some fear will hinder the promotion and acceptance of the gay lifestyle (let's be honest).

Not much to add. The culture has taken a turn that the founders could not have, in their wildest dreams, imagined (again, let's be honest).

So, my somewhat lethargic advice: Christians, offer your services to all and share your faith...in love. And, since so much of our turmoil comes from a legislative court; how about the--still a majority of states--band together and do that "constitutional thing" whereby overreachers...are reined in. 



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