Hold me close once more, That Death’s embrace may not catch me too soon Once more, That crimson sunset and dying daylight may find us yet again
One more running shot to take the edge One more steel-edged strike to feel the pain One more searing blast to taste the flames
Call for sun, call for wind, That our hearts and sails may always be full Call for drinks, call for blessings, That we may not face a fiery end
One more blinded jump to feel the rush One more toast to good times One more desperate breath ‘fore we plunge into void
Feel the pain and know that you live Let not the cloak of death overtake you
Feel the edge of polished steel And let the enemy know your wrath
Feel the rush of wind ‘neath your wings
That you may not forget the breath you draw, Feel the dazzling flash of blazing sunlight,
That you may know the infinite expanse of earth and sea and sky and space
One more smile of brilliance to seal our friendship One more lover’s embrace to see us off One more kiss for luck and we’re on our way
Run for the sunrise, Drink to the sunset, Here’s to the night that births the sun!
Here’s to all who have truly lived! That they may feel the blood of life thundering through their veins, The winds of fortune, and the exalted rays of golden Sun on their faces
Just once more…
**Work from late last night, which I'll probably let sit for a few days before revising
Wow, I meant to update 3 days ago, but lately, I haven’t had time to do anything, including eat and sleep :roll:.It’s sad really.But here’s a run-down:Wednesday, I went with Doyle, Shane, Tara, Jenn, and Kati to see “Without a Paddle.”That movie was freaking hilarious, and yet philosophically meaningful at the same time.It was a very satisfying way to end the summer.
First day of school was kind of retarded because they sent us to all periods instead of going even-odd like they were supposed to.But I can’t exactly complain, considering I’m a student and no one listens to the students, even though we are now SENIORS.Oh well.Second day was just a normal odd day, which surprisingly, I enjoyed, despite the fact that I have Gibby twice in the same day.After that, we packed up, prepped the buses and rolled on down to Buchannon for the away game against BUHS.By the way, we 0WN3D them to the entirety.The football team smashed them 42-0 and our band kicked the snot out of their band with a better program and better players.The bus ride down was kinda painful considering I had to deal with Christine bugging me about every little thing, but I made it out alive.The bus ride back was better, I talked with Jenn the whole time and didn’t let Christine bug me again, so in the end it worked out all right.
As for today, I spent the better part of it sleeping, so there’s really not much to say.
The first thing everyone thinks of is a massive amount of work, hot muggy weather, and drill instructors from hell. In a sense that was correct, but they missed out on the little things that not many people catch. Matress surfing, hanging out on the front porch and just talking with friends at 1:00 in the morning, duct taping someone to their bed and then beating them with a pillow, playing with the tapioca pudding in the dining hall, marching in the rain, running sectionals with Mr. Goff, goofing off with my fellow section leaders, and the list goes on.
Everyone wants me to describe senior vespers, but it just doesn't work. It's not something to be described, but something to be experienced. If I described it in words, it would be corny, sappy, and stupid, but in experience, it has substance and spirit. Everyone seemed to be able to connect better that night, no longer were there vendettas and enemies, only brothers and sisters, lovers and friends. A lot of things wen through my head that night, and I think some of them, I'll never quite get sorted out, but whatever it was, it felt good.
But now it feels so strange to be back. Saturday morning I woke up in my own bed in my own room with no drummers banging their drums on the porch, no Ben and Chris jabbering on, no Joe cracking random jokes, and no duct tape on my sleeping bag. I felt almost lonely that morning, knowing that it was the last time I'd be at camp with my friends, sharing communal living space and just goofing off and having a good time.
It feels good to move on, but in a way it was kind of sad. Some of the happiest memories of my life came from camp. I don't think any of us will ever really forget it.
Epilogue -Dissolution of Glory and Honor -The evolution of modern warfare -Consequences of change
World War I can be considered the last major armed conflict where honor was what was truly at stake. No longer do men fight and die on the plains of battle for love of God and country, but now for hatred of an enemy unknown. No longer is it for glory and honor, but for wealth, fame, and power.
What has happened to the sense of honor that was once universal? In the Great War, Germany fought to preserve Kultur, their mission; their honor. France fought to redeem herself for the losses of Alsace and Lorraine and the massive defeat at Sedan in the previous war, their redemption; their honor. Belgium fought to keep her neutrality, their right; their honor. Finally, Britain fought because it was “the right thing to do,” their duty; their honor.
What can we say about this? The wars we fight now are done with mobile armor and flying bombs, not with men and horses and cannon. We fight now with fuel, bullets, and electricity, not with blood and sweat and iron. The face of modern war has changed, and perhaps not for the better. In those days, war was far more personal, more meaningful. We fought for a cause, not a tangible one that could perish, but an ideal that was immortal, one that countless men sacrificed their lives for. What is war now? It is dominance, superiority, death. No longer do we fight for allegiance, for identity. The glory that we now seek is far different from the glory of the battlefields long past. Theirs was for the honor of country; ours is for the honor of self.
Thus is the plight of those who fight for hatred and not love, dominance and not freedom, death and not life. Thus the hammer of those that have evolved and not learned has fallen. Thus falls the way of modern warfare.
**It's a mini-essay I wrote as the final entry for my Seitz assignment. I figure this will make up for the BS I put into the rest of it...:P I hope :shock:
