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Simon_Gates
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Birthday: 12/24/1935
Gender: Male
Interests: I enjoy sharing what I know and giving hope to those who may need it. The look on their faces when I help them always makes my heart swell. I also love to write, and will often view things in ways most people wouldn't suspect to be posible. I have a great afinity with the arts and never hesitate to provide others with praise when their work impreses me in some way. I have alot to say, and will likely never find time to share all that I know. For what it's worth though, I'm glad your here.
Expertise: Writing, philosophy, sociology, and other various fields of humanistic and metaphisical value, as well as extensive knowledge in many other areas of study to numerous to mention. I also have a deep love for the outdoors, and find myslef most intouch with myself, and capable of action when unconfined from my usual cage consisting of four blank walls.
Message: message me
Member Since:
6/6/2005
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| Roots
It’s been a long time since I set foot in the confines of the old pine
wood that once meant so much to me. When I was younger I could remember
days gone by when the mold that hung heavy on the pines made me sick,
unable to breathe. Now I am older and stronger. I can hardily even
recall struggling while around the presence of the pines, let alone
truly suffering under the needles of one of the evergreens.
I
am too old now to remember the feeling of being young, of being without
pain or fear. Now these things seem to be all that I can feel; that and
the creeping feeling that there is some end to this. When I was younger
these trees seemed to be immortal and everlasting. They stood as
giants, creations of unimaginable grandeur and strength. Once I was the
same way.
Something catches my eye as I look down at my
feet, the light that filters through the trees illuminating a
reflective object hidden in the undergrowth. I pick it up and inspect
it. The gold doesn't seem to have tarnished at all with time. It’s
amazing what is left behind after twenty years. The diamond that sits
in the middle of the fixture still shimmers though the dirt has dulled
its luminescence. My wife loved this ring. I remember how much she was
distraught when she lost it. The loss of a life and the loss of a ring
hardly seem to be similar. I let the thought slip from my mind.
I put it in my pocket; feel its weight against my leg. With trembling
lips I hold back my tears less the trees be witness to weakness. I want
them to believe that I am still that little immortal child scampering
through the woods, making myself sick. In a lot of ways, I wish I was
too. I start up again, walking carefully, navigating my way through the
sticks and the branches.
Suddenly I come into a clearing.
My heart sinks as I contemplate what I see. For as far as the eye can
see, naked stumps stand where trees of green once stood. Trees immortal
and everlasting no longer. Just like me. | | |
| Story 1 "Daniel, dont look at me like that," Sarah said, finally giving into desperation. She knew he wasnt looking at her but she was willing to do anything if it meant he would speak to her.
Daniel looked away from the coffee grounds that had been captivating his attention.
"I wasnt looking at you," he said in an angry voice.
They sat in silence, drinking coffee in the corner shop/cafe near their home in Auburn Maine. They were married only the month before and already they couldnt stand the sight of each other.
All she wanted was for him to look at her and for all attempts and purposes always failed to do so despite her accusations.
He looked at a couple sitting across from them.
"What happened," he thought.
He knew what happened. They had been married to soon, and for the wrong reasons. They had met only six-months before and both had felt that if this wasnt the person they were meant to be with then they would be willing to pay for it for the rest of their lives. The feeling was no longer mutual, and quickly Daniel was making it clear that he no longer wished for her presence.
Sarah was hopeless without him. She longed for contact, and wished that for just once he would listen to her instead of making promises. He always had an excuse and no use of words would ever convince her that any of them were true. Despite her torment she was content with the fact that she was now married to him, which meant that he was hers from now on. At least that is what she hoped.
He knew the reason why they had gotten married. He knew under normal circumstances he would never see other people. But lately he was having trouble with that commitment. These were far from normal conditions, and it was becoming progressively clearer that he was afforded little option. He couldnt continue to live this way with this person. He was unhappy, perhaps even miserable and he was tired of playing these games with her.
He remembered when they had been happy. The first six months were magical, and seemed to be some of the best of his life. There was no reason to doubt that he loved her and that they were meant to be together. Marriage changed all that. The fun stopped suddenly and became serious. He soon became aware of the emptiness he felt inside even when he was with her.
She too had become aware of the distance between them, and it was making her more and more desperate.
"You really shouldn't look at me like that," she said fearfully, almost with a hint of panic. "It makes me nervous."
"Well maybe I wouldnt look at you like that if you would stop saying stupid things," he said in a fury.
He looked down at his now cold cappuccino. He had finally given in, given in to her pestering. He had played her game and was now wondering how he could face the now smiling face across the table. | | |
| FreedomAnother word for freedom is liberty. By definition a person who has liberty is afforded the right and power to, “act, believe, or express ones self in the manner of ones choosing," while being held accountable for ones actions. Our government long ago removed the people of this country their greatest freedom. This freedom was afforded to us by the constitution of which the government is sworn to uphold. The greatest freedom is liberty. Since then our government has become a monster with an insatiable apatite for more. More of that which we cannot afford to give away. Not money or time or even family. In fact our government gives a select few more of all of these things. There is one more thing that they ask from us, and it is the one thing that we cannot afford to give away. Our liberty.
The freedom to hold our government accountable. The freedom to be a Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, ext. and not be judged for expressing your beliefs openly. The right to dismantle the government if they cease to do what they are supposed to do, what they are afforded to do. The powers that are granted to the government by the constitution are severely limited, and very much dependent on the consent of the people. But as of late people have stopped talking. They have allowed the rich to make decisions for them. They allow people who have no idea what it means to be poor. People who have no idea how it damages a person to have to give up eating for a couple days in order to pay the rent. These are the people we choose to represent us.
What is worse, we expect these persons to be fare and just, but when they are not we let them off the hook. We cannot forgive an adulterer, but a murderer is redeemable. What happened to your voice America? What happened to your control? I will tell you what happened. You gave it away to these "little piggies" who "justify those that died by wearing the badge." I look around me and am disgusted by the corruption. I look even closer and am disturbed at the lack of restraint. I look at those responsible and am scared that they will never speak out against it. For if you really want to see who is responsible "you need only look in the mirror."
Some of you may laugh at this. Some of you may curse my very existence. Some of you may agree. Some of you will even accuse me of being a terrorist, a communist, your enemy. I admit I am a terrorist of sorts. To those in power I am the true terrorist. I am a person with a voice who is unwilling to give up what is not mine to give away. To all of you I am the friend you may never meet. Given the chance I would give my life if it meant the end to this tyranny, an end to the oppression.
"If you see what I see then you know that there is something terribly wrong with this country." I look at a flag soaked in blood, innocent blood. Not the blood of terrorists, or communists, or even Nazis. No, I see the blood of countless children. Children with families who cared about them and will never have them back. All are gone for a little more money, a larger slice of the pie. And it is the American people who allow this to happen. We worship celebrities, the epitome of greed in popular culture. What happened to the working class heroes? What happened to spirit that our founding fathers had in them when they fought for the freedom of all?
It is still here, in the hearts of the few, in the hearts of our children. In my heart the idea of freedom still exists. In my heart still courses the blood of my fore fathers. I am not alone. The Revolutionary war was fought by 1% of the total population. I am willing to fight. The true question is are you? | | |
| The Dead LilyYou watch the dead water lily
as it floats along the surface of the water.
As it bobs up and down it creates ripples
that grow and grow, crashing into the coast.
You kneel down and pluck it out of the water
gently, carefully with your hands.
Its stem has been snapped at the source.
You stare at its fragile petals
scorched by the sun.
Slowly you lay the dead flower back in
The water
and watch as it slowly drifts down steam.
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| We are not animals. I am open to debate this, but before you do please read what I have to say.
There are many distinctions between humans and animals that should be pointed out. For years our schools have taught that we are all mammals and are therefore animals. This type of reasoning is nonsense and here is why.
Though we may all contain characteristics similar to mammals, there are key differences in how we behave and how we think that differentiates humans from animals. First of all, Humans can make art. In order to clarify what I mean by this I will define what art means to me. Art in its simplest form is any activity or result of activity that is not caused by the two basic animalistic desires: Survival and Reproduction. Now it is true that animals will paint, like eliphants, but these animals are paid literally in peanuts whilst we as humans will create art for what seems to be no reason at all.
While on the subject of survival and reproduction I would also like to point out that humans are the only animal that will kill itself under natural conditions and the only animal that if presented with a suitable mate can deny the urge to reproduce. In other words, humans can deny the survival and reproductive instinct. Please make the distinction between being picky (reproductively speaking) and denying it completely. Like Monks. Also please realize that when Lemmings, otherwise known as those cute northern creatures that will fallow the group where ever it may go, often to its death, is a very dumb animal and thus even in that sense should not be compared in behavior in humans. Also most humans do not kill themselves in the wisdom of "fallowing suite." They do it for many reasons, but never is the main reason "because they did it." Ever since we were younger we have been bombarded with a host of sayings not the least of which is "If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?" It is highly improbable that anyone of any true mental stability and soundness will not take this advice to heart.
I will not say that because humans kill each other they are not animals because animals do engage in warfare and Gorillas have been documented slaughtering other packs of Gorillas. Though humans will kill each other without reasons, it has been shown that animals will do the same thing when in captivity. Humans who commit murder are under unusual conditions and thus must be disregarded in this argument. Humans who fight in wars generally are fighting for their very lives so this still falls under behavior displayed in animals under natural conditions. It all boils down into the ability to choose. Animals cannot choose and thus are subject to the whims of "outrageos fortune." We as HUMANS have the ability to choose. We can choose to accept life or extinguish it, to mate or not. And when we deny the constant desire try and survive and reproduce, we also produce art. These are common human traits that are not found in the animal world.
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