Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Albatross -metaphor-



"Anger so clouds the mind, that it cannot perceive the truth." Cato the Elder







For my  Sepia Saturday post this week, I offer prayers and well wishes to those suffering in Paris today.  I extend the same thoughts to those caught within the angry, senseless web of evil within and across America as well as all other parts of the world, inflicted by evil doers.






"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." - Pablo Picasso



"Those who are serious in ridiculous matters will be ridiculous in serious matters." - Cato the Elder




Is it our fate because our world is becoming (as they say) too politically, or too morally correct, wreaking havoc everywhere, and in it's wake it's breeding an albatross upon our daily lives?


Has indeed, all the world become a stage?



Ah! Well a day! What evil looks
Had I from old and young!
Instead of the cross the albatross
About my neck was hung-

"A man may devote himself to death and destruction to save a nation;but no nation will devote itself to death and destruction to save mankind." 
Samuel Taylor Coleridge


Although in retrospect, don't spineless murderers ravaging such reckless brutal acts of murder, have other notions in mind?



Satire, especially in the media has always been a major force within our lives.




General Swallow all-o Feasting on a French-Fricassee. Details here.


The Saturday Evening Post on Dec. 24 - Dec. 31 1960 ran this article, "How to speak French without saying a word" by Stewart Alsop.  Below is one of the eleven photos they printed.



I found the article humorous, and oddly enough I have witnessed the very same hand and facial gestures right here in America and not one of them were from France.  But I can imagine that when this was printed and perhaps even today, someone might be offended, but surely would never strike out against the publication by any means.











"Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom." - Samuel Taylor Coleridge



"The courage of life is often
a less dramatic spectacle
than the courage of a final 
moment; but it is no less a 
magnificent mixture of
triumph and tragedy."

John F. Kennedy
Profiles in Courage 1956


Closing thoughts-

Strangely enough, this very odd photo





posted as our Sepia Saturday theme this week may have guided my direction- a wee bit, for this post more than I thought in the beginning.



9 comments:

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Kilgore says, "Hey."

Little Nell said...

A nice selection of quotes and images Karen. The Times newspaper has an excellent (political/satirical) cartoonist who produces wonderfully clever images most days. As you say, they’ve always been a major force .

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Great post, Karen.

"Don't fear the cheeper!"
~

Postcardy said...

It seems like the terrorists could make their point better by creating some satire themselves. Instead they promote more animosity toward Muslims.

La Nightingail said...

When every person on this earth can respect and tolerate ideas and beliefs different from their own, we shall have peace. Until then, God help us!

Wendy said...

Love the Cato quotes!

A very timely and thought-provoking post, Karen. Well-done.

Susan said...

Interesting post, Karen!

Barbara Rogers said...

I need to learn the sources of the political satire in Mother Goose stories.

Mike Brubaker said...

This was a very appropriate post for this week and your quotes and images fit neatly together. It made me look up some myself and the one I liked best comes from the late great Texas political writer, Molly Ivins:
"Satire is traditionally the weapon of the powerless against the powerful."
There seems to be no end to horrific acts of murder in our supposedly civilized age. The attacks against journalists and pundits of all persuasions are made by people blinded by hatred and fanaticism.