My old Dad used to reprove me (gently enough I might add) for being "nihilistic". He was devoutly religious, a Methodist minister no less, and my rejection of religious belief must surely have upset him, though I found his accusation strange. It was certainly unfounded, for Nihilists broadly believe that morality is meaningless, knowledge is worthless, life is pointless and I strongly disagree on all three counts. (By the way, you might read Turgenev's novel 'Fathers and Sons' for background.)And while I reject the rigidly literal and organisational aspects of most religious belief systems, I don't necessarily dismiss the moral precepts. There are a lot of sound ideas in Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism in particular that I think I've incorporated into my personal belief system over the years.
Saṃsāra, the karmic wheel
However, I promised you brevity, so suffice to say I believe we are all wanderers through our life on Earth, searching for fulfilment and happiness, and if we can be caring and compassionate towards each other and our planetary home as we go on our way, the better it will be for everyone.I'll leave you with my latest poem. I woke up this morning with the concept for it rolling around in the brainbox. I'm not sure quite why, except maybe it was triggered by Anne's blog earlier in the week about Belief In The Armed Services, coupled with the fact that I'm currently reading an excellent thriller by Anthony Price, 'Other Paths To Glory', about something that happened during the battle of the Somme in 1916. By the way, Price's novel was shortlisted for the Dagger of Daggers Award for the best crime novel of the last fifty years. Anyway, here it is, a rather curious creation - and possibly not a lot to do with belief ! I hope you'll enjoy it regardless.
Whose Army Is It Anyway?Bear with me, citizens.I woke up puzzling this conundrumthough don't ask me me to explain whyor how my brain works.What choice have I but to believein its mysterious ways?
We have a Royal Navy founded in 1546by charter of the eighth King Henry.That was after the loss of his Mary Roseand all who sank in her.
It's known as the Senior Service.I remember the cigarette brandfrom my youth, unfiltered and so strongour brains dizzied to the pointof nearly passing out when we tried themjust because they were James Bond'ssophisticated smoke of choice.
We have a Royal Air Force founded in 1918by charter of the fifth King George.It's the second oldest in the world,a month younger than that of Finland.
Its motto is Per Ardua ad Astra -through adversity to the stars - though I thought when studying Latinthat Per Atmosphaera ad Astra would literally have made more sense.
And we were mad for planes as kids,spotted them at Heathrow,assembled Airfix kits of the RAF's finestand got a bit brain dizzy from the glue.I even painted the ceiling sky blueand pinned the models dangling downas if they flew.
But here's the thing. If our fighting forcesare Royal by air and sea, why isn't the army too?
If you know the reason, please advise. And come on England!Thanks for reading, S ;-) Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook