Suffering

If none suffered, none would grow up.

Poetic Justice

Poetic justice is just another term for vengeance.

Walking on Water

Walking on water is easy until the first step off the boat.

What is an American?

The United States of America is a nation founded on ideals. For liberty, thirteen colonies mostly populated by immigrants rebelled against Great Britain, the empire on whom the sun never sets. After their unprecedented victory, they parlayed their victory into a republic the likes of which the world had never known. The United States became a beacon of freedom and has attracted immigrants from across the globe ever since. These people gave up everything they had for their new country and its ideals of liberty and opportunity. In doing so, they became Americans themselves.

It is only fitting, then, that the term “American” is a manifestation of these same ideals. Americans are not born; they are made. A person is not an American because of his color, creed, or citizenship, but because of his dedication to his country and the ideals that made it great. The traits of an American are threefold: he considers the United States his home, he serves his country when called upon, and he is dedicated to the values that this nation is founded upon.

“Home is where the heart is.” This proverb holds true not just for houses and apartments, but also for nations. A man’s home country is not a matter of current residence, but of loyalty, attachment, and love for the nation he holds dear. A man may reside in a country for decades yet still consider another nation his true home. It matters not whether an American was born in America or currently resides there; the difference is in his devotion to the nation itself.

Love of country means little, however, if one is not willing to devote oneself to the country’s benefit. An American must devote himself to serve his country whenever he is called upon. By working to defend or improve his country, an American brings benefit to his fellow Americans and to himself.

Yet, even if one considers America his home and does what the country asks him to do, he is not a perfect American. Above even the land and his service to it, an American devotes himself to the ideals that made his country great. An American values his freedom and fights to ensure it. Of the three traits of an American, this third is the greatest of all. If a man refuses to do some service to his country because it violates his rights, he is as good an American as all others, and perhaps a better one. Leaders may corrupt, but God-given truth is incorruptible. An American is dedicated to ensuring the freedom and justice available in his country, be it on the battlefield, in the courtroom, or the silence of his own home.

America is a nation built on liberty and justice for all. America is a place, but it is also an idea, and one that is held dear by all who consider the United States their home. An American loves and serves his country, the United States of America.

O! Love!

Love is frustrating. Uh huh.At least we still have inane Internet quizzes to help us understand it.

	rooks
probability that rooks has masturbated today:	78%
rooks‘s lucky number is:	30
rooks is most like the color #309638:
username:

by James

The first of many laments that I don’t write enough

I love music and I love running, but I feel like they’re getting in the way of what I really want to do. Yet even when I’m not doing them, I find ways to get around my true calling. This year it’ll be different, though. This year I’m going to get back to what I really want to be. Let the games begin.

Quotation Books

Books of quotations remind me of candy bars: much style, little substance. Reading a great quote from a book still isn’t the same as reading the book itself.

Theory of CD Arrangement

Lots of artists put their hit songs at the beginning of the CD. It’s a nice, quick-hit, single type of formula that appears most often with bands trying to establish a new sound, be they one-hit wonders or old bands experimenting with new sounds (U2, Dave Matthews Band). The rest of the bands, for some reason, tend to slot their hit song in the #3 slot. I guess it’s because we like threes in our lives. Three Tenors, Three Kings, Holy Trinity..three simply works. Peter didn’t deny Christ once, he denied him three times; put groups of three into a story and it simply works. I suppose the musician types had to catch on eventually.

Idols, illness, little things, trust vs. livejournal

We all have our idols.

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I haven’t been sick in half a year. I feel very lucky.

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Sure, it’s only a little thing, but the little things pile up. That’s the kind of thing you have to learn for yourself, though.

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Couldn’t help noticing that it’s possible to backdate entries – that is, make a post today and label it two weeks back. This is a useful feature, to be certain, but it’s open for tampering. Then again, everything is. Life is a matter of trust.

Best Personal Ad Ever

“16M looking for stunningly beautiful and intelligent 18-25F for sex and help with homework. Celebrities preferred.”