Noble House

Charlie Chaplin's words from "The Great Dictator"

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 05:44:12 GMT

"I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor - that's not my business - I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that.

We all want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful.

But we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls - has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.

We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say "Do not despair".

The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die [now] liberty will never perish...

Soldiers - don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you - who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder.

Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate - only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers - don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty.

In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written " the kingdom of God is within man " - not one man, nor a group of men - but in all men - in you, the people.

You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.

Soldiers - in the name of democracy, let us all unite!"

Lost

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 18:23:46 GMT

Have you ever worn anything for so long it almost becomes a part of you? For some it's an old baseball cap, or a necklace, or even a pair of earrings. It's been with you through the best and worst of times, you'd never phathom showering without it (unless you chose the baseball cap, but hey if that's your thing...) and for some reason it just completes you in an odd way. Just before you leave the house you put it on as though the gesture itself was the only thing that could open the front door.

Now I ask: Have you ever forgotten or lost this item? Something just kinda changes about you, and you really can't explain it. At first you feel naked and misplaced yourself, but as time goes by you just sort of accept the loss, but always remember. You might even replace your old friend with something new, but it'll never feel the same, and you know if by chance you find your prized item, even years later, it's going on without question. A part of your life that you don't really need to survive, but has a way of making you feel whole.

Well, that's the best way I can explain her.

The Return

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:53:47 GMT

The saddest scenario of life in my opinion, is never being able to live it the way you'd like. Filled with regret is the man who looks back on the past only to realize he stares into a clearer reflection of the present. It's funny how no matter how difficult life seems, if you wait five years, that past moment doesn't seem so bad in comparison. As you get older, we all know that you're faced with greater responsibilities, and for some reason shit tends to hit the fan a little more frequently than you'd like. Unfortunately it seems that many in society allow this harsh reality to stunt their growth, and leave themselves to live life in repetition. Someone once told me, "There are those who make things happen, those who wait for things to happen, and those who wonder 'what the hell happened?'". Fortunately, I've broken out of the habit of waiting, but staying the course of progression is no easy task. My only aide is a genuine belief that I was meant for greater things. Naturally, I have no idea what those things include, but I'll get there in time.

My point isn't for everyone to quit their office jobs and move to the country. (That crap only happens in the movies) What I will suggest is to do something different once in a while just to keep life interesting. You don't have to fly to some remote location. Just do something small and out of the ordinary to break the routine. If you do enough of the little things, you tend to find life a little easier, and maybe, just maybe, you'll find yourself living it the way you always wanted.

Genesis II

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:27:16 GMT

The silence of this journal has gone on for too long. I'd like to blame the lack of updates on some great time-consuming project, but that's just not the case. The truth is it's been impossible for me to gather my thoughts into a complete entry until now. I suppose the many changes and events that made up this passed summer came too fast for me to reflect on individually. However, the darkness has gone and the time for resurrection is now.

As I've said, many changes have taken place since the last time I wrote. You guys can chime in with your opinions, but I noticed the wheels of change moving right around the time Roger left. The almost daily gatherings at his apartment faded with his departure, leaving only a group of people lost for what to do next. It seems that around that time responsibility came knocking, and for a good span of time we all separated from each other in some form. Oddly enough, it proved to be a needed separation — allowing each of us to grow as individuals in our own way.

I’ve noticed the results of this growth in all of us, and have come to realize who my friends are on a much deeper level. As a result, friendships are stronger, while some have weakened, and I find that sadly I’ve outgrown a good amount of people I once associated with and looked up to.

For the first time I find myself completely in control of my life. It wasn’t easy but I graduated high school, found a job, and made it into college finally. Though I have only a handful of friends, the respect and loyalty they have greatly compensates for their size in number. Above all, I’ve found a young lady who definitely brings out the person I’ve always wanted to be. For that, and her many unique qualities I’ve grown to love and admire, I’m forever grateful.

So it seems that the turbulent waters of the last few months were not as damaging as originally thought. However, I do look forward to a clear sky above, and the new path that lies ahead for me. Until next time, take it easy…

Tick-Friggin-Tock

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:15:00 GMT

Happy Saturday everyone. You don't really get anything, but hey, cheer the hell up.

Not a whole lot going on today really. My brother stopped by earlier this morning to show off his newly damaged car. He just fixed the damn thing 2 or 3 weeks ago, but I suppose having things go well for him just isn't in the cards. It's almost like he's getting answers from a depressed Magic 8 ball. On the positive side, he wasn't hurt in this accident, and this time the damage wasn't as extensive. I say he's got a few hundred dollars worth, but that's really nothing compared to the three grand he paid to fix it the first time. Once he's got that taken care of, he plans on selling it for 4,500. So if you know anyone interested in buying a 97' Cougar, let me know.

After he left, I pretty much had nothing better to do than observe my dad watching a baseball game. It's pretty funny to see how he moves his entire body in hopes that it will affect the distance of the ball. One day he'll jump out of the window and the Marlins will make a homerun.

I have to take care of a few things, so this will be it for today. Take it easy...

Martha Stewart + Cuban Pete = My Dad

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:11:49 GMT

I'm not quite sure how my dad does it, but it seems he can take food that is worthy of being thrown away, and turns it into a legitimate meal. Yesterday he combined beans from 3 days ago, and rice from 2 days ago, into "Arroz con Frijoles." Maybe this is just a big thing to me because I don't eat anything over a day old. I just think it's funny how he says, "Taste better today than Monday." I think since he lived around the time of The Depression, he's not too crazy about throwing away food, so he waves his Cuban wand and turns crap into good tasting crap. He gets credit for keeping me from starving when I get home from school though.

That's all I really have to say for today my friends. Take it easy...