“The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.” – Thomas Jefferson (1790)
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First Principles: The Republican Is the Only Form of Government Which Is Not Eternally At Open Or Secret War With the Rights of Mankind
Posted in First Principles
Tagged Eternal, First Principles, Form, Government, Mankind, Open, Republican, Rights, Secret, Thomas Jefferson, War
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Reflections on Dorian Gray V: Immortality Revealed
Reflections on Dorian Gray V: Immortality Revealed
by Michael Doyle
Art imitates life as life imitates art
Masquerading in the wantonness of the heart
It's a fearful discovery of the monster within
That while we don't understand, causes us to sin
Acting in the the brazen ways of lechery
When our best promises are betrayed by treachery
Even where it is never at all truly intended
By all of the temptations that are befriended
Maybe it can be blamed on the medication
Because surely it is not by premeditation
That we like Dorian slip down the slippery slope
To a place of darkness that knows not hope
Dance then the enchanting dance of wickedness
Embracing as we do depravity's dull sickness
The tell tale signs grow too strong to ignore
It's become an addiction and something more
To the enthralled, evil has become beautiful
Transformed from its ugliness into something wonderful
To look our monsters directly into the eye
Is to that from a painting, Dorian cannot die
The eyes of impurity may have lost the stars
But this is the way of a life lived without scars
Imagine a life lived on every whim and impulse
And soon enough this leads to its own repulse
The world can see its idols shine and gleam
But the dream of a god is released in his scream
Taking even the lives who did dare to try to love
Given as sacrifice to he who fell from above
The artist who has dared to quietly raise his doubt
Now lies naked on the floor and bleeding out
Subject to Dorian's fatalistic approach to duality
His life is given as a gift for Dorian's immortality
(c) October 21, 2021 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
Posted in Poetry and Poems
Tagged Above, Addiction, Art, Artist, Beautiful, Best Promises, Blame, Dance, Dare, Darkness, Depravity, Die, Discovery, Dorian Gray, Doubt, Dream, Duality, Enthralled, Evil, Eye, Eyes, Fatal, Fell, Gift, God, Heart, Hope, Idols, Ignore, Imagine, Immortality, Impulse, Impurity, Intended, Lechery, Life, Lost, Masquerade, Medication, Monster, Monsters, More, Naked, Painting, Poetry and Poems, Premeditation, Reflections, Repulse, Sacrifice, Scars, Scream, Sin, Slippery Slope, Stars, Tell Tale Signs, Temptation, The World, Transform, Treachery, Ugliness, Understand, Wantonness, Whim, Wickedness, Wonderful
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Thought For the Day: Colin’s Legacy…Is the People Who He Helped…Devote Their Lives To Forming A More Perfect Union
“[Colin] Colin was a man of integrity. He was deeply principled, shaped by bedrock beliefs that guided him throughout his life. … Colin loved soldiers and always held them to the highest standards. Yet he also took time to understand their struggles — personal and professional — and to comfort them when they suffered. The U.S. military was his second family, and he cherished the opportunities that it had given him and many others. … Colin believed that his life and all that he achieved were an affirmation of America’s possibilities. … Colin’s legacy more than anything else is the people who he helped; the people he inspired; and the people who he encouraged to — as he did — devote their lives to forming a more perfect union.” – former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Posted in Thought For the Day
Tagged Achieve, Affirmation, America's Possibilities, Bedrock Beliefs, Colin Powell, Comfort, Condoleeza Rice, Deeply Principled, Devote, Encourage, Form, Help, Highest Standards, Inspire, Integrity, Legacy, Life, Lives, More Perfect Union, Opportunities, Personal and Professional, Struggle, Thought For the Day, U.S. Military
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First Principles: There Is But One Straight Course, and That Is To Seek the Truth and Pursue It Steadily
“There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily.” – George Washington (1795)
Posted in First Principles
Tagged First Principles, George Washington, One, Pursue, Seek, Steady, Straight Course, Truth
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In the Example of the Okapi
In the Example of the Okapi
by Michael Doyle
Unique in our awesomeness
We are known by our awkwardness
It's not to be living in arrogance
But to live God's thumbprint in confidence
Stewarding the space between our ears
Living to our best in all of our years
Refusing the ego of edging God out
But being aware enough to live beyond doubt
Searching hearts for and in need of redemption
Our brokenness approached in contemplation
To find our paths toward the good
As each of us knows that we should
Love of self for self's sake
Is a habit that is hard to shake
Until we grow into our maturity
Loving God for God in our blessed surety
Until we love God enough to love in positivity
Relinquishing the tight chains of insecurity
The thumbprint of Heaven speaks our life
And moves us to that peace beyond our strife
(c) October 20, 2021 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
Posted in Poetry and Poems
Tagged Arrogance, Aware, Awesomeness, Brokenness, Chains, Confidence, Contemplation, Doubt, Ears, Edge, Ego, Example, God, God's Thumbprint, Good, Habit, Heaven, Insecurity, Life, Living, Love of Self, Maturity, Okapi, Paths, Peace, Poetry and Poems, Positivity, Redemption, Sake, Searching Hearts, Shake, Space, Steward, Strife, Surety, Thumbprint, Years
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Thought For the Day: Language Is Not An Abstract Construction of the Learned, Or of Dictionary Makers, But Is Something Arising Out of…Long Generations of Humanity
“Language is not an abstract construction of the learned, or of dictionary makers, but is something arising out of the work, needs, ties, joys, affections, tastes, of long generations of humanity, and has its bases broad and low, close to the ground.” – Noah Webster, lexicographer (1758-1843)
Posted in Thought For the Day
Tagged Abstract Construction, Affections, Arise, Bases, Dictionary Makers, Ground, Humanity, Joys, Language, Learned, Long Generations, Needs, Noah Webster, Tastes, Thought For the Day, Ties, Work
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First Principles: The Freedom and Happiness of Man…(Are) the Sole Objects of All Legitimate Government
“The freedom and happiness of man…[are] the sole objects of all legitimate government.” –Thomas Jefferson, letter to Thaddeus Kosciusko, 1810
Posted in First Principles
Tagged Equal Rights, First Principles, Freedom, Government, Happiness, Individual, Legitimate Objects, Only, Thomas Jefferson
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Set Apart
Set Apart
by Michael Doyle
As a church, we're set apart
By God, stirred in our hearts
Living life by past precedent
We do our best to live reverent
Bestowed in the Lord's good favor
It's a life we're meant to savor
Fearfully and wonderfully made
There is no cause to be afraid
The blessings had out number grains of sand
By the strength of God's good guiding hand
The belief grown knows its credibility
In a peace that surpasses our ability
Slaying the wicked with words of prayer
Peeling back life's onion, layer by layer
Lips speak of wrongs and of praise
With the hands of surrender that we raise
Staring humbly in our adoration
Reverence for God in His creation
Brings us to our sense of adequacy
Knowing to be chosen is not our fallacy
(c) October 19, 2021 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
Thought For the Day: Irreverence Is the Champion of Liberty and Its Only Sure Defense
“Irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense.” – Mark Twain (1835-1910)
Posted in Thought For the Day
Tagged Champion, Irreverence, Liberty, Mark Twain, Only, Sure Defense, Thought For the Day
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First Principles: The Greatest Good We Can Do Our Country Is To Heal Its Party Divisions and Make Them One People
“The greatest good we can do our country is to heal its party divisions and make them one people.” -Thomas Jefferson (1801)
Posted in First Principles
Tagged First Principles, Greatest Good, Heal, One People, Our Country, Party Divisions, Thomas Jefferson, We
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