Clovis...Curious• Show poetry

These are the times that try men's souls.*" This simple quotation from Founding Father Thomas Paine's The Crisis not only describes the beginnings of the American Revolution, but also the life of Paine himself. Throughout most of his life, his writings inspired passion, but also brought him great criticism. He communicated the ideas of the Revolution to common farmers as easily as to intellectuals, creating prose that stirred the hearts of the fledgling United States. He had a grand vision for society: he was staunchly anti-slavery, and he was one of the first to advocate a world peace organization and social security for the poor and elderly. But his radical views on religion would destroy his success, and by the end of his life, only a handful of people attended his funeral. ...

By 1793, he was imprisoned in France for not endorsing the execution of Louis XVI. During his imprisonment, he wrote and distributed the first part of what was to become his most famous work at the time, the anti-church text, The Age of Reason (1794-96). He was freed in 1794 (narrowly escaping execution) thanks to the efforts of James Monroe, then U.S. Minister to France. Paine remained in France until 1802 when he returned to America on an invitation from Thomas Jefferson. Paine discovered that his contributions to the American Revolution had been all but eradicated due to his religious views. Derided by the public and abandoned by his friends, he died on June 8, 1809 at the age of 72 in New York City.

About this Website
This website is the outgrowth of the vision of Thomas Kindig. He created and maintains a website, leftjustified.com, devoted to examining the roots of constitutional government in the United States and around the world.

*The full first paragraph from "The Crisis":


"December 23, 1776
THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER" and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God."

To read the rest of the text, just click on this external link:

http://www.ushistory.org/PAINE/crisis/index.htm



For more information about Thomas Paine, the author of "Common Sense", "The Age of Reason", "The Rights of Man", as well as the Poem: "Liberty Tree", etc. just click on this external google link:

http://www.ushistory.org/PAINE/

For the text of Thomas Paines' pamphlet: "Common Sense", just click on this link:

http://www.ushistory.org/PAINE/commonsense/index.htm

For a printed source of Thomas Paines writings:

"The Selected Work of Thomas Paine"
including: Common Sense, Crises Papers, Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason, as well as
Citizen Tom Paine
by Howard Fast
A Modern Libray Giant, The Modern Library is published by Random House
Copyright 1943, 1945, by Howard Fast

No Library of Congress Catalog Number
No ISBN



Here's an excerpt from Thomas Paine's pamphlet - "Common Sense":

"This New World has been the asylum for persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. Hither have they fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster; and it is so far true of England that the same tyranny which drove the first emigrants from home pursues their descendents still...."

As quoted in: "The American Revolutionaries - A History In Their Own Words 1750-1800, pages 81 - 83
by Milton Meltzer, Copyright 1987 Milton Meltzer
Published by Harper Trophy A Division of Harper Collins Publishers
ISBN 0-06-446145-9

http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780064461450/American_Revolutionaries_The/index.aspx

For information on Milton Meltzer, just click on this external link:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Meltzer










Age of Reason Introduction
by Thomas Paine
TO MY FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

I PUT the following work under your protection. It contains my opinions upon Religion. You will do me the justice to remember, that I have always strenuously supported the Right of every Man to his own opinion, however different that opinion might be to mine. He who denies to another this right, makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it.

The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is Reason. I have never used any other, and I trust I never shall.

Your affectionate friend and fellow-citizen,

THOMAS PAINE

Luxembourg, 8th Pluviose, Second Year of the French Republic, one and indivisible.


January 27, O. S. 1794.

http://www.ushistory.org/paine/reason/index.htm


To read the text of Thomas Paine's "Age of Reason", just click on the above Google link.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes are found throughout the text. Simply click on the [NOTE] and a javascript window will open containing the footnote. If your browser is not javascript-enabled, the listing of footnotes can be found here.
BACK AGE OF REASON INDEX NEXT



There are several websites where one can find worthwhile quoatations on a variety of topics.
This is one I found recently:

http://www.wisdomquotes.com/

"The American people will not be deceived by anyone who attempts to suppress individual liberty under the pretense of patriotism."

Franklin D. Roosevelt, (FDR), 32nd President of the U.S.

from his Fireside chat on Party Primaries, Washington, D.C., June 24, 1938
As quoted in the book: "Nothing to Fear" - The Selected Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1932 - 1945, edited by Ben D. Zevin Preface by Harry L Hopkins
With a special introduction by Allan Nevins
Popular Library Edition, Published in September, 1961

Copyright 1946 by The World Publishing Company


Printed in the United States of America

No Library of Congress Catalog Number; and no ISBN

Related links:

Fireside Chat on Party Primaries: http://www.mhric.org/fdr/chat13.html

http://special.lib.umn.edu/rare/roosevelt.phtml#Books





For more information on Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), just click on this Google link:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CFranklin+Delano+Roosevelt%3E

ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP PROTECT ONE'S INDIVIDUAL CONSTITIONAL RIGHTS ARE:
(By the way, I am a card carrying member of 4 of these organizations, and I'll soon join the other one as well.)

1. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE:

http://www.naacp.org/

1a. http://www.naacp.org/about/history/

1b. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAACP

2009 NAACP Supporter

2. AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION:

Membership Number: 68649508
Member since 2009

http://www.aclu.org/

2a. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACLU

3. SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER:

http://www.splcenter.org/index.jsp

3a. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center

Member since 2005

4. AMENESTY INTERNATIONAL:

http://www.amnestyusa.org/about-us/page.do?id=1101195

4a. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amnesty_International


5. PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY:

http://site.pfaw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issues_religious_landing

5a. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_for_the_American_Way



Member since 2009

I am also a member of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
Membership number is: 067 315 170 0
I have been a member since 1999.

For more information about AARP, just click on these external links:

Wikikepedia Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AARP

AARP Reference:

http://www.aarp.org/?CMP=KNC-360I-GOOGLE-CPA&HBX_OU=50&HBX_PK=aarp.org

"If they give you ruled paper, write the other way." by Juan Ramon Jimenez

http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/J/JimenezJuanR/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Ram%C3%B3n_Jim%C3%A9nez



"A man who tries to carry a cat home by its tail will learn a lesson that can be learned in no other way"
-Mark Twain-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain

http://www.cmgww.com/historic/twain/

For more information about Mark Twain, just click on this Google link:

"If mankind minus one were of one opinion, then mankind is no more justified in silencing the one than the one - if he had the power - would be justified in silencing mankind."

John Stuart Mill, Born 1806 - died 1873

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stuart_Mill

For more information about John Stuart Mill, just click on this Google link:

http://www .google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CJohn+Stuart+Mill%3E

And here is an exerpt, from one of the sources from above link:

(Here is the exact URL, to click on for the following: http://www.victorianweb.org/philosophy/mill/liberty.html

On Liberty (1859), of the most important documents of political liberalism, appeared in the same year that Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was published. On Liberty is a rational justification of the freedom of the individual in opposition to the claims of the state to impose unlimited control and is thus a defence of the rights of the individual against the state. This work contained Mill's principle that only self-protection can justify either the state's tampering with the liberty of the individual or any personal interference with another's freedom -- particularly with respect to freedom of thought and discussion.

The only part of conduct of any one, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part, which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute. Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.
In this essay Mill also warns of a second danger to liberty, which democracies are prone to, namely, the tyranny of the majority. In a representative democracy, if you can control the majority, then you can control everyone.



"It is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong."

Jeremy Bentham
http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/bios/Bentham.html

For more information on Jeremy Bentham, just click on this Google link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Bentham

"I have passes manye landes and manye yles and countrees, and cherched manye fulle straunge places, and have ben in manye a fulle gode honourable companye. Now i am comen home to reste. And thus recordynge the tyme passes. I have fulfilled these thynges and putte hem wrytes in this boke, as it woulde come into my mynde."

I first found the above quote in this book, and just remembered to add this information:

OUTRE-MER A Pilgrimage Beyond the Sea, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.
PORTLAND EDITION
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
THE RIVERSIDE PRESS, CAMBRIDGE
1893

For more information on the above title, just click on this Wikepedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outre-Mer

For more information on the poet/writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, just click on this external link:

http://www.poemofquotes.com/henrywadsworthlongfellow/

For the text of the above book, just click on this external link:

http://books.google.com/books?id=KQ81AAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22outre+mer%22+longfellow#v=onepage&q=&f=false



quote by Sir John Maundeville

For more information on Sir John Maundeville (Mandeville), click on the following external link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Mandeville

I am not sure of my accuracy, however, I believe the above quote in modern English, would read something like this:

"I have passed many lands and many isles, and countries, and cherished many full strange places, and have been in many a full good honorable company. Now I have come home to rest. And thus recording the time passed, I have fulfilled these things and put them in writes (notes) in this book, as it would come into my mind."

"MY SOUL IS MY COUNSEL and has taught me to give ear to the voices which are created neither by tongues nor uttered by throats.
"Before my soul became my counsel, I was dull, and weak of hearing, reflecting only upon the tumult and the cry. But, now, I can listen to silence with serenity and can hear in the silence the hymns of ages chanting exaltation to the sky and revealing the secrets of eternity."

By: KAHLIL GIBRAN, From 'Mirrors of the Soul, facing title page; Translated by Joseph Sheban Philosophical Library, New York Copyright 1965, Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 65-10658

http://leb.net/gibran/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khalil_Gibran


Khalil Gibran (full name Gibran Khalil Gibran bin Mikhael bin Saâd, Arabic: جبران خليل جبران بن ميخائيل بن سعد, Syriac: ܟ݂ܠܝܠ ܔܒܪܢ (January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931) was a Lebanese American artist, poet and writer. He was born in Lebanon (at the time the Mount Lebanon Province of the Ottoman Empire) and spent most of his life in the United States. He is the third bestselling poet in history after Shakespeare and Lao Tse. [1]

For more information on Kahlil Gibran, just click on this Google link:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CKahlil+Gibran%3E

The following are sayings about poetry, by Kahlil Gibran:

"If I were to choose between the power of writing a poem and the ecstasy of a poem unwritten, I would choose the ecstasy.
It is better poetry.
But you and all my neighbors agree that I always choose badly."

"Poetry is not an opinion expressed. It is a song that rises from a bleeding wound or a smiling mouth."

"Words are timeless. You should utter them or write them with a knowledge of their timeliness."

"A poet is a dethroned king sitting among the ashes of his palace trying to fashion an image out of the ashes."

"Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary."

"In vain shall a poet seek the mother of the songs of his heart."

"Once I said to a poet, "We shall not know your worth until you die."

And he answered saying, "Yes, death is always the revealer. And if indeed you would know my worth it is that I have more in my heart than upon my tongue, and more in my desire than in my hand."

"If you sing of beauty though alone in the heart of the desert you will have an audience."

"Poetry is wisdom that enchants the heart.
Wisdom is poetry that sings in the mind.
If we could enchant man's heart and the same time sing in his mind,
Then in truth he would live in the shadow of
God."

"Thinking is always the stumbling stone to poetry."

Sayings are taken from pages 21 - 24, in the book: "Sand and Foam A Book of Aphorisms", by Kahlil Gibran
published 1970 by Alfred A Knopf, New York
Copyright, 1926, by Kahlil Gibran
Renewal copyright 1954 by Administrators C. T. A. of Kahlil Gibran Estate and Mary G Gibran

Published October, 1926
Reprinted Twenty-Six Times
Twenty-Eighth Printing, November 1970
This is a Borzoi Book Published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Mfg in the USA The seven illustrations in this volume are reproduced from original drawings by the author.

For the same book on the Internet, just click on this Google Link:

http://leb.net/gibran/

The following quotes about poetry are by Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 - 43 BC), a philosopher of the Roman Empire.
These quotes (I'll be adding them gradually.) are taken from this book:
Cicero - Selected Political Speeches (Penguin Classics) Translated with an Introduction by: Michael Grant
Copyright Michael Grant Publications Ltd, 1969, 1973
Bibliography copy Michael Grant Publications ltd, 1989
All rights reserved

Printed in England by Clays ltd, St Ives pic
Set in Monotype Bembo

Except in thje United States of America, this book is sold subject to the conditions that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise,
be lent, re-sold, hired-out, or otherwise circulated without the publishers, prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similiar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

ISBN: 0-14-044214-6 91201

http://ppi-pwf.texterity.com/ppi/legal2006/?pg=15

http://www.antiqbook.co.uk/boox/goddin/015398.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicero

http://www.librarything.com/author/ciceromarcustullius

The quotes will be taken from Chapter 3:
ISBN: 0-14-044214-6 91201

"In Defence of The Poet Aulus Licinius Archias"

page 156

{'... Indeed I would go further, and express the view that the number of virtuous and admirable men produced by character without learning exceeds those who are the products of learning without character. Nevertheless I do also maintain that, when noble and elvated natural gifts are supplemented and shaped by the influence of theoretical knowledge, the result is then something truly remarkable and unique.' ...

..."And yet let us leave aside for a moment any practical advantage that literary studies may bring. For even if their aim were pure enjoyment and nothing else, you would still, I am sure feel obliged to agree that no other activity of the mind could possibly have such a broadening and enlightning effect. For there is no other occupation upon earth which is so appropriate to every time and every age
and every place. Reading stimulates the young and diverts the old, increases one's satisfaction when things are going well, and when they are going badly provides refuge and solace. It is a delight in the home; it can be fitted in with public life; throughout the night, on journeys, in the country, it is a companion which never lets me down. ...}

pages 157 - 158

{...We have it on eminent and learned authority that, whereas other arts need to be based upon study and rules and principles,
poets depend entirely on their own inborn gifts and are stimulated by some internal force, a sort of divine spark, within the depths of their own souls. Our great Ennius (11) was therefore right to call poets holy, because they seem to bring to us some special gift and endowment which the gods have accorded them as a passport for this world. Even the most barbarous of races has never treated the name of poet with disrespect. How imperative therefore it is that you yourselves, with all your noble culture, should regard it as holy indeed! The very rocks and deserts echo the poet's song. Many is the time when ferocious beasts have been enchanted and arrested in their tracks as these strains come to their ears. Shall we, then, who have been nurtured on everything that is fine, remain unmoved at a poet's voice? ...}

(11) See Appendixes and Index of Personal Names, page 333 of this volumne: ISBN 0-14-044214-6 91201

Ciciro Selected Political Speeches (Penguin Classics)




http://www.poets.org/

http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/1

http://www.poetswest.com/

Click on the above three links for very intriguing sites about poetry!






Here's a speech from a favorite play: "The Lady's Not For Burning", by Christopher Fry

405 9780822214311

{THOMAS. --------------------------------------------Guility
Of mankind. I have perpetrated human nature.
My father and mother were accessaries before the fact,
But there'll be no accessaries after the fact,
By my virility there won't! Just see me
As I am, me like a perambulating
Vegetable, patched with inconsequential
Hair, looking out of two small jellies for the means
Of life, balanced on folding bones, my sex
No beauty but a blemish to be hidden
Behind judicious rags, and lunacies which never
Touch the accommodating artichoke
Or the seraphic strawberry beaming in its bed:
I defend myself against pain and death by pain
And death, and make the world go round, they tell me,
By one of my less lethal appetites:
Half this grotesque life I spend in a state
Of slow decomposition, using
The name of unconsidered God as a pedestal
On which I stand and bray that I'm best
Of beasts, until under some patient
Moon or other I fall to pieces, like
A cake of dung. Is there a slut would hold
This in her arms and put her lips against it?} (p62)

And one more line from Thomas:

{"Importunate life.
It should have something better to do
Than to hang about at a chronic street-corner
In dirty weather and worse company.} (p64)

One line (in Latin) from Tappercoom:

{"The woman has confessed. SPARGERE AURAS
PER VULGUM AMBIGUAS. The town can go to bed"} (p63)

To the best of my knowledge the Latin phrase means (something like this):

{"The spinning of golden threads through vulgar ambiguities."}

The Lady's Not For Burning
by Christopher Fry

Dramatists Play Service
405 9780822214311
Established by Members of the
Dramatists Guild
Of the Authors League of America
for the
Handling of the Acting Rights of Members Plays
and
The encouragement of the American Theatre

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Fry

http://books.google.com/books?id=MimwXn5EKQAC&dq=Lady's+Not+for+Burning+-+play+-+Christopher+Fry&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=sUicSceiOJKWsQO3-ci0Ag&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPP1,M1















Related Link: Ottoman Empire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire

For more information on the Ottoman Empire, just click on this Google link:


http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3COttoman+Empire%3E

for copies of the classical poetry listed, just click on the appropriate URL:

1. Around the Corner by Charles Hansen Towne

http://www.yuni.com/library/docs/354.html

2. It Couldn't Be Done by Edgar A Guest

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/graduation/poems-rhymes/it-couldnt-be-done.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Guest

3. They First Came... (a poem regarding the Holocaust)


Poem (1976 version)

Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Kommunist.
Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.

Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert;
ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.

Als sie die Juden holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Jude.

Als sie mich holten,
gab es keinen mehr, der protestieren konnte.

Original Translation:


When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.
When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I was not a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust

For more information on the Holocaust, just click on these Google links:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CHolocaust%3E

http://www.leaderu.com/marco/special/spc16.html

4. Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiderata

http://www.fleurdelis.com/desidera.htm

http://www.poetseers.org/the_great_poets/misc/desid

5. To A Waterfowl by William Cullen Bryant

http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Bryant/waterfowl.html

6. A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poet.html?id=81397

7. Crossing the Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson

http://charon.sfsu.edu/TENNYSON/tennyson.html

8. The Fool's Prayer by Edward R. Sill

http://www.poetry-archive.com/s/the_fools_prayer.html

9. The Eternal Goodness by John Greenleaf Whittier

http://wwwl.kimopress.com/whittier.htm

http://www.all-creatures.org/poetry/theeternalgoodness.html

9b. See also: p 318, Whittier's Complete Poetical Works, with Illustrations, published by Houghton, Mifflin and Company, Boston and New York, The Riverside Press, Cambridge copyright 1892 by George F Bagley and George W Cate, Executors and Trustees.

9c. http://books.google.com/books?id=lum6KteJk0YC&dq=John+Greenleaf+Whittier&printsec=frontcover&source=an&hl=en&ei=p4YTSq_bGpuctgP7hpTkDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#PPP13,M1

Publishers' Note.

{The first attempt at a complete collection of Mr Whittier's poetical writings was made in 1857. During the next thirty years additional small volumes were issued from time to time, and in 1888 the author supervised the preparation of a collective edition of his works, both poetry and prose, including everything written previous to that time, which he wished to preserve. During the remaining years of his life he continued to send out poems occasionally, and after his death, in 1892, these were gathered under the title, "At Sundown".
The present Household Edition contains all the poems that were preserved in the Riverside Edition of 1888, together with the pieces included in "At Sundown," and a few that were collected still later and first used by Mr S. T. Picked in the authorized "Life and Letters of John Greenleaf Whittier."}






10. Yellow Triangle by Christy Moore

http://www.lyricskeeper.com/christy_moore-lyrics/224371-yellow_triangle-lyrics.htm

Yellow Triangle lyrics

Artist - Christy Moore
Album - Graffiti Tongue
Lyrics - Yellow Triangle

The black triangle
The pink triangle
The green triangle
The red triangle
The blue triangle
The black triangle

And they wore the yellow triangle

When first they came for the criminals I did not speak
Then they began to take the jews
When they fetched the people who were member s of trades unions
I did not speak

Then they took the bible students
Round they took the homosexuals
Then they gathered up the students and the gypsies

I did not speak
I did not speak


Eventually they came for me there was no one left to speak

The black triangle
The pink triangle
The green triangle
The red triangle
The blue triangle
The black triangle

And they wore the yellow triangle
And they wore the yellow triangle
And they wore the yellow triangle
And they wore the yellow triangle








http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7y-9FqLluQ

11. Charters of Freedom, is a web site where one can find legible copies of the United States' "Declaration of Independence"; the United States Constitution, and the first 10 Admendments to the United States Constitution, which for U.S. Citizens, and others, is known as the "Bill of Rights".

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/

For more information about the United States Constitution and specifically, our Bill of Rights, just
clik on this Google Reference:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CBill+of+Rights%3E

11a. For information on The Thirteen Articles of Confederation, just click on this link:

http://www.constitutionfacts.com/index.cfm?section=articles&page=intro.cfm

12. "The Salutation of the Dawn, a poem from the ancient Sanskrit Language.

http://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_deities_misc/salutedawn.html



A½ B:av:y: s:Øedn:ö!
Look to this Day!
j:iv:B:Üt:H kal:H O\:H . )aN:sy: )aN:H .
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
Aesm:n:Î sv:lp:kal:ð s:ty:m:y:ð t:v: s:t:H s:ty:ö et:Ået:
In its brief course lie all the
Verities and Realities of your Existence;
ev:kas:an:ndðn:
The Bliss of Growth,
km:üeÂ:y:a
The Glory of Action,
s::òndy:üS::ðB:y:a .
The Splendor of Beauty;
Êst:Ø svn:H .
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
Ã:st:Ø A:B:as:H .
And Tomorrow is only a Vision;
km:ükÙS:l:t:y:a A:c:ert:ð A½
But Today well lived makes every:Î
g:t:edn:aen: A:n:ndsvn:m:y:aen: B:v:ent: .
Yesterday a Dream of Happiness, and every:Î
B:aev:edn:aen: A:S:a)B:y:a jv:l:ent: .
Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
At:H s:Øedn:ö A½ s:my:kÏ B:av:y:!
Look well therefore to this Day!
O\:a u\:aeB:v:ndn:a!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn.


http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=Salutation+of+the+Dawn+%2D+Sanskrit

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=Salutation+of+the+Dawn+%2D+Sanskrit

One of the most unique Bibles, that I have ever read is: "The Jefferson Bible - The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth"
by Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States, (1743-1826).

Published by Beacon Press - Unitarian Universalist Assoc. of Congregations.
Copyright 1989, All rights reserved, printed in the USA
International Standard Book Number (ISBN): 0-8070-7714-3

Google Link:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CThe+Jefferson+Bible+%2D+Thomas+Jefferson%3E

For more information about the life and writings of Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States,
Just click on this Google Link:


http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3C+Thomas+Jefferson%3E


Another unique Biblical Translation is the following:

The Holy Bible

From Ancient Eastern Manuscripts
Containing the Old and New Testaments Translated from the
Peshitta, The Authorized Bible of the Church of the East

By George M Lamsa

A. J. Holman Company
Philadelphia

Copyright 1957 A. J. Holman Company
COPYRIGHT 1933, 1939 and 1940
By A J Holman Company

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED UNDER INTERNATIONAL AND
PAN-AMERICAN COPYRIGHT CONVENTIONS
PUBLISHED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE
UNITED STATES AND CANADA

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOG NUMBER; 57-12183

NINTH EDITION

(No ISBN Number)

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

For additional information on this translation, just click on these external links:


http://www.aramaicpeshitta.com/AramaicNTtools/dr_george_lamsa_bible.htm



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamsa_Bible




Liberty Tree
by Thomas Paine


IN a chariot of light from the regions of day,

The Goddess of Liberty came;

Ten thousand celestials directed the way,

And hither conducted the dame.

A fair budding branch from the gardens above,

Where millions with millions agree,

She brought in her hand as a pledge of her love,

And the plant she named Liberty Tree.

The celestial exotic struck deep in the ground,

Like a native it flourished and bore;

The fame of its fruit drew the nations around,

To seek out this peaceable shore.

Unmindful of names or distinctions they came,

For freemen like brothers agree;

With one spirit endued, they one friendship pursued,

And their temple was Liberty Tree.

Beneath this fair tree, like the patriarchs of old,

Their bread in contentment they ate

Unvexed with the troubles of silver and gold,

The cares of the grand and the great.

With timber and tar they Old England supplied,

And supported her power on the sea;

Her battles they fought, without getting a groat,

For the honor of Liberty Tree.

But hear, O ye swains, 'tis a tale most profane,

How all the tyrannical powers,

Kings, Commons and Lords, are uniting amain,

To cut down this guardian of ours;

From the east to the west blow the trumpet to arms,

Through the land let the sound of it flee,

Let the far and the near, all unite with a cheer,

In defence of our Liberty Tree.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Liberty_Tree"

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Liberty_Tree

For more information on Thomas Paine, just click on this Google Link:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CThomas+Paine%3E


For information on the Sons of Liberty, click on this link:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CSons+of+Liberty%3E

For information on the historic Boston Tea Party, click on this link:

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/teaparty.htm

For more information on the Boston Tea Party, just click on this Google link:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3CBoston+Tea+Party%3E


The following poem is one I value, because it reflects my ecumenical spiritual beliefs (which also include non-christian spiritual teachings):

MY CHURCH



My church has but one temple,
Wide as the world is wide,
Set with a million stars,
Where a million hearts abide.

My church has no creed to bar
A single brother man
But says, "come thou and worship"
To every one who can.

My church has no roof; no walls,
Nor floors save the beautiful sod-
For fear, I would seem to limit
The love of the illimitable God.

Author Unknown

members.tripod.com/do_you_believe/inspire/church

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=%3Cmy+church+%2D+poem%3E

For information on Earth Mother Religions, just click on this (external) Google Link:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWO,RNWO:2008-24,RNWO:en&q=Earth+Mother+Religion



Cher Ami
by Harry Webb Farrington



Cher Ami, how do you do!
Listen, let me talk to you;
I'll not hurt you, don't you see?
Come a little close to me.

Little scrawny blue and white
Messenger for men who fight,
Tell me of the deep, red scar,
There, just where no feathers are.

What about your poor left leg?
Tell me, Cher Ami, I beg.
Boys and girls are at a loss,
How you won that Silver Cross.


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

"The finest fun that came to me
Was when I went with Whittlesey;
We marched so fast, so far ahead!
'We all are lost,' the keeper said;

'Mon Cher Ami--that's my dear friend--
You are the one we'll have to send;
The whole battalion now is lost,
And you must win at any cost.'

So with the message tied on tight;
I flew up straight with all my might,
Before I got up high enough,
Those watchfull guns began to puff.

Machine-gun bullets came like rain,
You'd think I was an aeroplane;
And when I started to the rear,
My! the shot was coming near!

But on I flew, straight as a bee;
The wind could not catch up with me,
Until I dropped out of the air,
Into our own men's camp, so there!"


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

But, Cher Ami, upon my word,
You modest, modest little bird;
Now don't you know that you forgot?
Tell how your breast and leg were shot.


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

"Oh, yes, the day we crossed the Meuse,
I flew to Rampont with the news;
Again the bullets came like hail,
I thought for sure that I should fail.

The bullets buzzed by like a bee,
So close, it almost frightened me;
One struck the feathers of this sail,
Another went right through my tail.

But when I got back to the rear,
I found they hit me, here and here;
But that is nothing, never mind;
Old Poilu, there is nearly blind.

I only care for what they said,
For when they saw the way I bled,
And found in front a swollen lump,
The message hanging from this stump;

The French and Mine said, 'Tres bien,'
Or 'Very good'--American.
'Mon Cher Ami, you brought good news;
Our Army's gone across the Meuse!

You surely had a lucky call!
And so I'm glad. I guess that's all.
I'll sit, so pardon me, I beg;
It's hard a-standing on one leg!"



"Cher Ami" and Poems From France
Rough & Brown Press, 1920

http://www.homeofheroes.com/wings/part1/3b_cherami.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cher_Ami


http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3870520&page=1