Angels, Too, Must Come in 3's

Many of the blogs and other Internet sources I read are news related and there are three stories flooding most of what I have been seeing. The Atlanta courthouse murders, Terry Schiavo and now the sad news regarding Jessica Lunsford. Frankly, I haven't been interested in turning any one of them into blog fodder.

I did research last night on Julie Ann Brandau, the court reporter killed in the Atlanta incident, thinking I may do an essay on one of the victims. She seemed the most compelling. After completing the research, I dropped the idea. Obviously, the entire incident was a tragic affair - you'll find it even more so if you read about Ms. Brandau. She appears to have been a wonderful woman - figuratively, an angel, if you will. But you won't read more on her here and certainly not tonight.

The Schiavo issue has me puzzled some as I believe I know what I'd want given her position; obviously, I'm not and I am uncomfortable assuming that kind of moral authority over anyone. That isn't meant to criticize anyone for covering the story, as it appears she may well need looking out for - I pray someone looks over her well whenever she finally does get to heaven. I'm not interested in saying more about her case, other than that I now find the legal issues and precedents extremely compelling for all of our sakes.

As surprised as I have been by it, I find our President yet once again speaking well for me when, to paraphrase, he says if we must err, let it be on the side of life. That isn't a knock on his speaking capabilities; its a reminder of how infrequently I have heard any politican state a position simply, eloquently, and with a mindset so like my own. I find myself once again really liking this guy, though I am usually loathe to fawn over any politican too much. If my instincts are correct, I hope history is kind to this man for the trials he has endured, the support and strength he has provided, and the course, however challenging, he has charted for us as a nation.

Yet, today, my heart once more grew heavier as I heard the news of a third angel, now sure to even more occupy the press, and more importantly, the hearts and thoughts of America - Jessica Lunsford. While not a zealous Christian, or overly religous person of any stripe - I'm an inactive Methodist, a group that sings a lot in church, doesn't kneel very well, or get overly excited about much, including our religion - all I'm really left with is My God, ... my dear God, how is it that such things can come to pass? Unfortunately, we know they can.

The only truly rewarding reading I have found out and about today is from Eugene Volokh - here, here and here.

Something the Iranian Government and I Agree on:

I particularly like the involvement of the victims' relatives in the killing of the monster; I think that if he'd killed one of my relatives, I would have wanted to play a role in killing him. Also, though for many instances I would prefer less painful forms of execution, I am especially pleased that the killing — and, yes, I am happy to call it a killing, a perfectly proper term for a perfectly proper act — was a slow throttling, and was preceded by a flogging. The one thing that troubles me (besides the fact that the murderer could only be killed once) is that the accomplice was sentenced to only 15 years in prison, but perhaps there's a good explanation.

I am being perfectly serious, by the way. I like civilization, but some forms of savagery deserve to be met not just with cold, bloodless justice but with the deliberate infliction of pain, with cruel vengeance rather than with supposed humaneness or squeamishness. I think it slights the burning injustice of the murders, and the pain of the families, to react in any other way.

And, yes, I know this aligns me in this instance with the Iranian government — but even a stopped clock is right twice a day, and in this instance the Iranians are quite correct.

At end, and this posting needs an ending, soon; I am left angry ... somewhat confused, and ofcourse, terribly sad. My thoughts tonight rest with three angels now thrown into public view, one case only more sad than the other for the thinking on it. And not wanting to pray too publically, as I have always appreciated the Bible passage that pronouces it a hypocrisy, I am left to do what is left for a medium-cool Methodist like me - I sing. I posted so you can listen and sing, too - if you want. And three songs at that - Amazing Grace, The Battle Hymm of the Republic and Knockin' on Heaven's Door. One most appropriate, the second having been in my head all week and fueling a sense of strength in the face of great sadness, the third, for Jessica - now an angel, for sure. God bless us and our angels. Good night.

Amazing Grace (sung by Faith Hill)

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
                  John Newton  1725-1807 (stanza 6 Anon)

The Battle Hymm of the Republic (4th link down sung by Odetta)

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;
His truth is marching on!

[chorus]
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps.
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;
His day is marching on!

[chorus]

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel;
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel,
Since God is marching on."

[chorus]

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat;
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on!

[chorus]

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me;
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.

Knockin' on Heaven's Door (sung by Bob Dylan - 10th link down)

Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

This post also available at the Blogger News Network.

Comments

[chrys]

Well written and there are truly three angels hopefully already fully blessed.

[Fausta]

Truly a beautiful post, Dan. G-d bless.

[Mr. Snitch!]

When Jack Kevorkian was performing assisted suicides, the media found it far easier (and more profitable) to ridicule and villify him than to thoughtfully examine the issues his activities raised. As a result, no one will stand up and risk being 'Kevorkianized' by saving Terry Schiavo from a terrible death. How ironic that this tragedy makes the news around the same time that "Million Dollar Baby" wins a best-picture Oscar.

[Mr. Snitch!]

Second comment update here today. I needed to add (but got cut off by a tech glicth) that Terry Schiavo didn't necessarily 'need' to die or want to. (Kevorkian's clients did need or want to.) But if a judge is going to order what amounts to a death sentence, where's the compassion that would at least make it quick? Surely there are cases where quick, compassionate and painless euthanasia is called for, and surely if the state is putting this woman to death, this is one such case. We do better by animals and criminals, and all because the law gave this judge no other options. Unlike some posts on this issue, I have compassion for the judge here as well. He will never, ever escape the consequences of this decision - in which we all, we should remember, played a small part. This will not be the last case that ends in a similarly tragic manner, until we find the courage to make some changes in how these matters are handled. We owe that much, at least, to Terry Schiavo.

[Mr. Snitch!]

Second comment update here today. I needed to add (but got cut off by a tech glicth) that Terry Schiavo didn't necessarily 'need' to die or want to. (Kevorkian's clients did need or want to.) But if a judge is going to order what amounts to a death sentence, where's the compassion that would at least make it quick? Surely there are cases where quick, compassionate and painless euthanasia is called for, and surely if the state is putting this woman to death, this is one such case. We do better by animals and criminals, and all because the law gave this judge no other options. Unlike some posts on this issue, I have compassion for the judge here as well. He will never, ever escape the consequences of this decision - in which we all, we should remember, played a small part. This will not be the last case that ends in a similarly tragic manner, until we find the courage to make some changes in how these matters are handled. We owe that much, at least, to Terry Schiavo.