Oct
04
Let’s have a ‘Fame Week’ at The Napkin Dad Daily, shall we? I want to go through history and see how the perception has changed. First up, Socrates.
Not much has changed since Socrates lent this quote to history. Back in the day, the mythic stories were all about the Greek military heroes. Epic battles for the love of a woman, the pleasure of the Gods and the admiration of the people combined with the need for land, food, slaves, power, and glory to make for military sagas on land and sea, with the resulting fame for the men who prevailed, or in some cases died valiantly in the pursuit.
But the truth is no different than it is today. Military fame is founded on ‘heroic’ deeds, but war is a terrible and wasteful way to find glory. Any man or woman in combat will come back and tell you, it is anything but glory they are going through. But nonetheless, heroic deeds that sometimes demand their life are found throughout military history, on good and bad sides of the battle.
Let’s see through the week how the perception of fame over the centuries has been amended and expanded.
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by Socrates, 469-399 BCE, Greek Athenian Philosopher
Mar
23
>
I know a lot of people who say politicians are all crooks, the system corrupts them even if they start out with good intentions. They think they are different than the rest of us. They have sold out, they are open to the highest bidder, they have no conscience of their own. They are all controlled by special interests, etc.
For the most part I don’t believe this to be the case. I think they are driven by the same things most anyone else is driven by:
Self-preservation
Gathering some degree of wealth and security
Having people like them
Having a good reputation
Wanting to do something good in the world
Not wanting to be misunderstood
Wanting to be given credit for hard work
Within those desires people make all sorts of choices. Some are governed by fear of losing an election, fear of losing power. Others are governed by gaining security and wealth more than other elements on that list. Depending on their ethics and courage to withstand pressure, they may or may not be open to being corrupted. They might even search it out. But honestly I do not think most politicians are like that. They are just like you and me, they fear dying, whether in their political career or their life. Sometimes they mistake one for the other.
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Qoute by Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Prime Minister 1940-1945, 1951-1955
Jan
22
>
Day 4 in the feminism series.
This isn’t about cliche feminism, it’s about facing reality and oneself, no matter your gender. It’s about real feminism, the feminism of equality and differences co-existing in an atmosphere of forgiveness, understanding, admitting wrong, working sincerely for equality, examining self & society and taking responsibility for your part.
Those things are the signs of victory for both sides.
And enjoying each other, don’t forget that!
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by Henry Kissinger (I know, really? Yes, really), 1923-not dead yet, German born American Diplomat
May
24
>
I am currently reading a Turkish book (English translation) ‘The Long
White Cloud’ sent to me by a flickr and blog friend, Senay, from Istanbul.
It is the story of the Battle of Gallipoli, where 130,000 young men died.
It has many letters from the two main soldiers on either side of the
conflict. They are filled with small remembrances of home, anecdotes of
the front, admiration for their fellow soldiers and respect for their
enemy. there is more anger at the incompetence of their own leaders than
hatred for the enemy.
How similar are the millions of letters sent home over the centuries from
soldiers. They don’t talk about wanting to kill. They talk about appreciation
for the love of their family, the love of their community. They want life to
be normal again. The romance is a myth, the glory disappears as their friends
die and they are left with a terrible mission. They must kill people. A lot of people.
Remembering who died is important. Remembering what it is we made them do
in our name is important. We are making them kill people. Even if it is a valid war,
we always must remember we are asking our children to kill people, and often
not the right people.
……………………………………………………………
If you have a book that you think would help me understand
your country, I would love to hear about it. I would need an
English translation of course, but if you email me the title and
author I will try to find it.
marty@martycoleman.com
May
23
>
Call it an paradox, an oxymoron, or just a complete absurdity. Whatever
you call it warfare is not civilized.
It’s Memorial Day weekend here in the USA and I have deep admiration
and humility when I consider the living, heart beating souls who found
they had to fight for their lives and ended up perishing in that fight. I
have equally great feelings for those who fought and returned damaged
and changed. I am sorry that had to happen to you. I hope you find
the positive out of such a terrible negative. I hope your family can as well.
That is the better paradox to consider. Is it possible to find the good in
the brain damage? Is it possible to find value in the lost leg? Is it possible
your calling in life was found when your spine was severed? I don’t know.
But I do know that paradox happens everyday in life. The person stuck sick
in bed for months watching movies realizes that is her greatest desire and goes to
Hollywood to fulfill it. The man who lost his hearing only to find he now leads
a great university because of how hard he worked to overcome that deafness.
A memorial is something of substance that reminds us of something great.
Humans are made of the best substance.
