FROM Letters From The Earth February 2, 2010
Mark Twain

By the time I finished this read I was asking myself a lot of questions. I enjoyed reading this because it makes me wonder why we do the things to get to Heaven. Twain makes many points about the way we, the human race, act and feel towards something that we are supposed to be working so hard to get to. It is intriguing to me that he is coming from the view points of the Archangels and Gods.

“The Law of Nature” I find to be very interesting that Satan asks God why the animals are not responsible for the ‘murders’ that they commit. God tells him that it doesn’t make sense for them to be responsible when that’s all these animals know. It’s their “Law of Nature” and they have to follow this. Then God states that EVERY man will have certain characteristics, and depending on how they react with these characteristics will determine if they are ‘good men’ or ‘bad men’. But, if we all carry these traits and it’s our “Law of Nature” or “Law of God” to follow it, how can we be accountable for our actions?

I had to laugh just a little bit when I was reading about people who go to church. I’m not judging but he makes a great point, in my opinion.
“To forty-nine men in fifty the Sabbath Day is a dreary, dreary bore.
Of all the men in church on a Sunday, two-thirds are tied when the service is over, and the rest before it is finished.
The gladdest moment for all of them is when the preacher uplifts his hands for the benediction “ (page 311, 3rd paragraph).

Another thing that sticks out in my mind is when Satan is talking about God being jealous.(page 316) I never thought of Him as being looked at in this light. Then Satan states that he is misrepresenting Him. He tells us that God only wants us to obey one of the commandments, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” I thought to myself, on the other hand, another commandment is, “Thou shalt not covet...”. Covet is wanting what someone else has, so wouldn’t this include God?

The main question that is being asked in this read we should answer to ourselves if our belief is that there is a God, Heaven, and a Hell. If we aren’t willing to do these things here on earth now, what makes us think we will like heaven? Are we really human beings without a mind and can’t think for ourselves? This is what is being suggested to us.

“Song of Myself”

“Song of Myself”
Walt Whitman

I am fascinated and intrigued with the wide variety of issues that the author is dealing with through out all of the different sections in this poem. I did not want to stop reading what his next thoughts were going to be.
I found several sections that I really like. Here are a couple of the sections that I think relate to me.

Section 2; line 34
“You shall no longer take things second or third hand, nor look through the eyes of the dead, not feed on the spectres in books,
You shall not look through my eyes either, not take things from me,
You shall listen to all sides and filter them out for your self.”

I love this because it is telling us to get out, get involved, think, and know things for ourselves. Do not be that person who does something only because others are saying it is what we should do. I have said something similar to this to people when it comes time to vote. Know who and what you are voting for. I think the author is trying to make the point that it is important for each of us to make sure you are doing what we believe in, not what others may tell us to believe in. Be Educated! When we educate ourselves by researching and finding out information we are becoming strong individuals and creating values.

Section 4; line 71
“The sickness of one of my folks or of myself, or ill-doing or loss or lack of money, or depressions or exaltations,
Battles the horrors of fratricidal war, the fever of doubtful news, the fitful events;
These come to me days and nights and go from me again.
But they are not the Me myself.”
It goes on to say (line 78)
“Looking with side-curved head curious what will come next,”

When I read this part of the poem I could not help but stop and wonder if this is how people in our nation are feeling right now with the uncertainly of our economy. With all the job losses or ‘lack of money’, which in turn causes ‘depressions’ among many, there are several of us ‘Curious what will come next’.

I also really enjoyed reading sections 32 and 44. If you are interested look them up.

On That Day

On that day I was excited yet nervous at the same time. Awaiting for the best gift to be given to me. When she arrived she was beautiful. Her skin so soft, dark hair, and her perfect charcoal eyes staring up at me. Finally, I was mom.