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 Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 11:59 am
  Hello and welcome to I.S. I am your host Startica. This is a place where everyone's most sacred writtings can be read. Take heed for what was once past may come to pass again.  1. This is not a closed thread however anything posted must have the authors name at the bottom.
2. Follow Gaian rules any distasteful posts will be deleted.
3. This is for stories, poetry, feeling ect. only no bumpin or flaming however oppionions on posted material are welcomed.
4. Please don't stretch the page. If you want to respond to a post just put the author and the name of the poem, story, ect.
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:03 pm
Zerschlagener Alptraum
Appearances can be deceiving; there are many things that others hide. A part of their life that remains hidden from the world, yet in plain sight. People go about their everyday lives with a secret, some sort of information that plagues thier existence. This is the story of my secret, the part of my life that has great meaning yet hardly anyone knows about. This is the story of how I came to be the way I am and of how people came to treat me as a glass princess. During the fall of 1993 does our story take place. The Sega Genesis console, which was the most advanced of its time, was set to come out in stores in a matter of weeks. I, a young girl of 12, was visiting my grandparents when it hit. I got this uneasy feeling in my body and I became lightheaded. I went to talk with my grandmother, who was cooking; she suggested that I lay down since I looked a bit pale. I laid down for a while then got up for dinner. That’s when I noticed I wasn’t that hungry, but I ate anyway. The next morning when I awoke my grandmother asked me what I would like for breakfast. I got nauseous at the thought of food so I decided to skip breakfast and went off to school. It wasn’t much later that I was lying in the nurse’s office calling my mother. Naturally when my mother came for me, I took refuge at my grandparent’s home. A few days went by during which time I laid in the artificial darkness I had made for myself in which I neither ate nor spoke. I could not eat and I would vomit at the mere scent of food. I distinctly remember at one point sitting up as my mother brought me a small bowl of applesauce. I remember looking at the curtains and the sunlight was so that it led me to believe the time of day to be dusk. As I looked at my mother I vaguely, caught the smell of something heavenly, which allowed me to mumble, “What’s grandmother making for dinner?” My mother spoke softly to me and her replay was, “Your favorite, baked chicken.” I managed a smile as my mother held up a spoonful of applesauce. However as it was placed in my mouth I began to gag. I reluctantly swallowed, and then I sent my mother on her way as I lay down. My memory fails me at this point but I somehow manage to be lying on my grandmother’s white floral couch in the living room. I vaguely remember my grandmother and mother speaking to me although I don’t know what about and the presence of my grandfather and my brother were not known to me. I am unable to stand and so my mother is forced to hold me up in order to take me to the doctor. I was taken to my pediatrician, Dr. O’Keefe, who is now deceased. I vaguely remember this time spent at the doctor’s office. Dr. O’Keefe knew the moment he saw me that I was gravely ill. My nurse, Olga, took my blood from four of my fingertips. I remember the pain as she pricked my fingers. My fingers turned an awful shade of purple and I felt faint. I was sent to Children’s Hospital immediately. This was my first time in the hospital that I actually know where I was and why I was there. A doctor came in with a nurse and explained that I had to stay in the hospital for a while until they could figure out what was wrong with me and make me better. Now let’s take a step back. As I said before, my memory was hazy at this point, however after talking with my mother and brother I have come upon some extra information. You see, not only did this one-week change my life, it changed the life of my mother and brother as well. I remember as I grew up my mother saying that no one was her favorite and that she loved us both equally and treated us the same. My brother said he was there the whole time I was sick and he remembers me falling asleep on my Aunt’s couch. At that point, he knew there was something wrong with me. It never occurred to me until now why my brother stopped having birthday celebrations. All of what I say next comes from my mother’s memory. The weekend of my brother’s birthday my mother, brother, grandmother, soon to be stepfather and I were celebrating my brother’s birthday at my stepfather’s house. This was the weekend after the week of school I had missed. My grandmother was sitting on the couch and I was lying down with my head in her lap. As my grandmother stroked my head, my mother approached us quite angry at my lack of attendance in school. She looked down at me in anger and said “There had better be something seriously wrong with you or you are going to get it.” My grandmother looked at her with an expression that said how could you say such a thing, but my grandmother did not say a word as my mother stormed off to make my brother’s day a joyful one. My mother at this point of her recollection began to cry. The next day was Monday and my mother took me to the doctor. Again I find out information from my mother that I had no remembrance of. She said that on the day that I was admitted to the hospital that the doctor took her out of the room to talk to her and they said I was very lucky. The doctor asked her how come she didn’t bring me in earlier? Didn’t she notice that I was sick? He told her that if she would have waited one more day, that I would have been dead. Of course I knew nothing of this and no one told me. My mother then said that she wished her mother would have slapped her for saying such a thing to me. How could I say that? It’s all my fault I condemned you. GOD is punishing me for being cruel to you. My mother had completely lost me at this point. She said because of her words on that day that GOD made me ill to punish her. My mother then looked at me and said I will never forgive myself for what I said to you. I remember the next day my mother, aunts, uncles and my grandparents came to see me. I lay in my hospital bed full of tubes staring at the many faces around me. It wasn’t more than five minutes before everyone began to cry. I had never seen my uncles or grandfather cry before. All of them started sobbing uncontrollably because they knew the truth and they had to leave. I was left alone with my mother. As I gazed at my mother’s watery eyed, tear stained face I asked her why did everyone start to cry? My mother now with tears streaming down her face said because I was sick but for me not to worry because I was going to get better and that I should sleep now. What happened in the hospital after that was a blur of tests and doctors. It’s amazing how one Sunday and one Monday can change a whole lifetime. From that point on everyone treated my like I was glass. No one fought with me or made me unhappy. My mother kept a close eye on me and my brother became my protector. I asked my brother why he decided to protect me instead of abuse me like he used to? He looked at me with such a love in his eyes that I had never seen before. He then said, “Because you are my little sister, my only sister. I almost lost you once and it nearly killed me. It was the worst feeling in the world and I never want to feel it again. I love you and nothing will ever come between us I promise.” I stood there astonished at his answer as he walked away. I then asked my mother why she was always around me? I told her when I was younger she was never around me this much because of her work and I remember staying with my grandmother most of the time. She replied “Because I didn’t know when you were sick, even though it was my fault. I won’t ever let that happen again.” Everyone in my family to this day treats me like I am better than they are. I get the best without asking. My birthday is practically a holiday because my family takes time off to celebrate it. I doubt anyone even knows how old my brother is. I noticed from the time I was fifteen that I was the only person besides my mother and grandparents that gave my brother a card or even told him happy birthday. It also crossed my mind how every Christmas I have the most presents under tree and how I receive multiple presents from the same family. I asked my brother how come he doesn’t have parties anymore and he said he just doesn’t that’s all. After talking with my mother we concluded that my brother must have some psychological issues dating back to the weekend I was gravely ill. I have yet to ask him of such a thing is true. On occasion my family and my mother will openly admit that I am their favorite. I find my aunts and uncles treat me better than their own children. I have come to the conclusion that life isn’t just. No one said life was fair but who said it had to be so unfair? For a child to fight for her own life or for someone to be completely discarded because of technicalities, is not just. Don’t get me wrong. I love the injustice to my brother on my part because I get all the perks, but I can’t help but to feel bad for him. I thought my cousins and my brother would be jealous of me, but they are treating me like their parents do. When you think about it, because of one injustice, there are multiple. There is no justice in the world no matter what anyone says. There will never be equality, only the illusion of justice and equality. ~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:04 pm
Destiny in Life and Lifelessness
In the shadows casted by Cupid's death arrow do I stand. I find myself waiting these days. Just here waiting. Waiting for the phone to ring..waiting for a letter...just waiting. Yet the phone never rings..the mail doesn't come and yet I still wait. What am I waiting for? What am I truly waiting for. I often wonder about my role..my very existence in this place. I have come to the conclusion that my role is somewhat important no matter how much I despise it or wish to cast it aside. Therefor I will just wait until my role has been fullfilled.
I was born fair yet fair you not. For treated as the fair I am not. One moment hearing a pledge of undying love and yet the other shuned. Perhaps it would be best if I were left as a marter. For once I gazed the world through the bright eyes of Hermia yet now I see through the washed eyes of Helenor. "Oh spite...oh hell!" Where is it written such in the book of fate that I must endure such spite? Dear Helenor who's tear stained face did but speak the truth. "Your wrongs do set a scandel on my sex" "We should be wooed and were not made to woo" Yet for her the fairies did do her justice however, in our world of injustice I will stay and wait.
Alone...why am I so alone? I stand in a crowded room and yet I am more alone than you could possibly imagine. I look for favor in his eyes and I find it for a short time...then his intrest is lost in me and I am alone once more. For the raven who's wings are painted black as night does devour my shredded heart. Unto the raven I do speak take it. For what use have I for this abomination known as a heart? To love? Only for what? To be driven back and away as a dog or a cur hated for what it is? I plead with you..no beg this I desire not so give me not such pain and anguish as thou hast, simply take from me all feelings whilst I sleep so I know not of the dreams which might of enamored my soul in the dream state in which I lay. Instead I would rather have nothing for with nothing comes nothing...no pain, no heartache, no salty tears that sting the wounds of my tender heart. So I leave my request unto you to taunt me no further but to leave me to my ruin in peace. ~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:06 pm
Mirror
In the glass you will look a mirror image to betook,
Beautiful mocha colored skin, long wavy hair black as night.
Does it show what lies within, in the mirror's mystical land?
It follows by your sight, you hold your breath and clench your hand,
As you step through the glass, it reflects your past.
As you look and wonder around , you realize this is familiar ground.
The people and places you thought you lost when you changed your life,
All the fun times, the pain and strife.
Your family, friends and loved ones lost, the reason you changed and the cost.
You remember walking on the sand, Mother, brother and yourself hand in hand,
You start to cry as you leave this Magical Mystical Wonderland~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:17 pm
Money and Mayhem
Drugs are a big part of life. Many people have been involved in drugs and as a result many people have been hurt. How can such a simple thing created by man rule humanity? The people are to blame. We as a society allow drugs to overtake us and rule our existence. I am not suggesting that every person on your block get a bat and beat down the nearest drug dealer. The time for that has passed; it is much to late for such simple actions such as those. In our evolved society of violent movies and drug-addicted teens giving birth to drug addicted babies we simply gawk a bit and shake our heads then move on. How do we expect justice to be done when we set the standard for justice to that of nearly nonexistent? With the properness of the 50’s holding a tight grip on young people it was only natural for them to have an outburst in the 60’s and 70’s. With such an outburst it led to even more shamefulness known as the 80’ and 90’s. Every singer and movie star either had done or was doing some sort of drug at the time of his or her fame and made it seem to be nostalgic. The people then of course made many ooos and aaahhs and followed in their idols’ footsteps. It was almost as if it was planned. The math is quite simple. Take one super popular star dealing or doing drugs add hundreds of thousands of fans and you get multiple drug users. You don’t even need to add water.
Now then we can’t blame everything on the stars, after all they are just victims also aren’t they? I would like to think that most of them are just victims. We as a society just stand around while some super star pumps needles in his arm, and probably the arm of a groupie, and we watch it on the television like some after school special. Since when did doing drugs become such a cinematic event? I really would like to know. I find it distasteful and somewhat annoying watching someone slowly kill themselves with meaningless drugs in the name of depression or some other crap that they know nothing about. If you treat a person like a baby then they shall act like a baby. Therefore if a person does something wrong and you put them in center stage like it was some sort of entertainment then they will act accordingly. No one wants to see their star performer loose his place in the sun, however if some other poor fool trips up then no one really cares and after all we need to put someone in jail to please the tax payers. I know I fee much safer knowing some pot smoking kid is in jail and that my children are watching a serious drug addict on television and admiring his every move. Who ever said money doesn’t matter was obviously living in fantasyland. Money does matter. Money is the root of all evil and we are the bearers. Money can solve any problem and we the people both rich and poor allow it to be so. Let’s take the case of the most popular drug user on the block for example. Robert Downey Jr. is a multiple drug offender and yet he is in his little Hollywood land oblivious to the laws we mere mortals must follow. I love the way In the News places such a tender tone in injustice done to thousands of other drug offenders and simply states the facts that “Under the terms of California’s landmark Proposition 36, Robert Downey Jr. will not be going to prison for his drug addiction, a court ruled today. The actor, who entered a plea of “no contest” to cocaine possession charges, was instead sentenced to one year of residential drug treatment.” Well now I feel much better that he is getting treatment. After all he is just a poor lost soul who didn’t know right from wrong and he needed a little help. Then again maybe he knows how to work the system and make his money fix his mayhem. Let us further review what happens when someone’s rich little boy screams help me for the hundredth time.
Leave it to a woman to speak the unspeakable. In Drug Sense weekly Szalavitz put it quite accurately when she said “Like Darryl Strawberry before him, actor Robert Downey, Jr. is testing the limits of America's tolerance for relapse to addiction. But this time- and in the aftermath of the success of a ballot initiative to give addicts several chances at treatment before jail sentences can be invoked in California-tolerance may be beginning to trump moralizing, and may well signal a readiness for a real debate on drug policy.” It appears Mr. Downey was not the first to play this drug game with the California justice system. It seems Mr. Downey had a roll model. Again another moneyman plays with fire and does not get burned. No one wants to see some super star loose his space in the lime light because of a few simple mistakes and that is just what these so called super stars count on. If you let one go why not let them all go as long as they have an adequate amount of money and are able to influence a mass amount of children at one time? Michelle Malkin put it best when he said, “Actor Robert Downey Jr. is California's glassy-eyed poster boy for the failed war on drugs. After numerous arrests dating back to 1996 and several fruitless attempts by the courts to rehabilitate him, Mr. Downey served a year in state prison.... ... Law enforcement officials may think it's good social policy to make an example of the actor's weaknesses. However, Mr. Downey's case simply underscores that the drug war is a costly and selective form of government paternalism that has done far more harm than good.” I agree with Malkin that more harm has been done than good. All we want to see is some well known person have a big problem and commit some sort of crime so we can watch it on E!. No one actually expects that person to go to jail all we expect is to see them get a slap on their wrist so we can complain and in some way admire them for their lack of effort in being civilized and giving a good show at the mere price of a few thousand dollars. Aronson Barton brings up a good point when he says, “Courtesy of the movie Traffic and Downey's recent arrest, we are in the midst of a new debate about drugs. This one is serious, focusing on how we should strike the balance between punishing addicts and trying to rehabilitate them. But Robert Downey, Jr. is not part of that debate. The actor has had more opportunities for treatment than most criminals ever get. Instead, Downey is part of a different debate, one we need to have no matter how much money is redirected from jail cells to treatment centers: what should the law do when treatment fails?” The law does nothing when treatment fails after all what do they care as long as their department still has funding to run some corrupt system based on the idea of power that the people have given them. When you allow a person to abuse not only the law but also the ethics of humanity then they become accustomed to it. When people flock to televisions to see who has screwed up this week how can we expect justice to be done. Does anyone even know what justice means anymore?
Work Cited
Aronson, Barton. “The case of Robert Downey Jr.” FindLaw’s Writ-Aronson. 23 March 2001. 29 Nov.
2001 < http://writ.news.findlaw.com/aronson/20010323.html>.
Malkin Michelle. “Downey and the drug war.” Drug Sense Weekly. 3 Dec. 2001 29 Nov. 2001
< http://www.drugsense.org/dsw/2000/ds00.n177.html#art2>.
Newman, Tony. “In the news.” The Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy Foundation. 16 July 2001. 29 Nov.
2001 < http://www.drugpolicy.org/lindesmith/news/pr-july16-01c.html >.
Szalavitz, Maia. “Downer-But is this Robert Downey Jr. changing the way the media looks at drug
addiction.” Drug Sense Weekly. 1 Dec. 2001. 29 Nov. 2001 . ~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:24 pm
Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice, Is There Such A Thing?
Criminal Justice is supposed to be just that. However can those two words go together without contradicting one another? It has been said for many years that the courts have been lenient to the race known as white and more stern on other races. It has also been said that justice is blind. Due to past police and court actions, it has been proven that others were favored in court. After the so-called rebirth of the court system, many people have abused this new way of justice. Race is no longer an important issue compared to the wealth accumulated by the criminal. We have seen, in more cases than one, that if the person who commits a crime no matter how small or large will walk away with a decision based on that person’s bank account. There is no justice where there is a criminal of a well known background involved due to the fact that justice is indeed blind but the people who enforce it are not. ~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:26 pm
Justice In All It's Glory
The biased justice system has changed from, a black and white to a rich and poor scenario. We have often seen in the past the courts version of justice to the many different races of our country. However, living in the modern age as we do, our courts no longer hold any bias to race. Instead the courts hold bias for wealth and whether the criminal has it or not.
A Prime example of our honored courts is that of Mr. Robert Downey Jr. This man is well known not only as an actor but also as the son of a great man Robert Downey Sr. Robert Downey Jr. has in his past stumbled into some mishaps during his young life as an actor. He was stopped for a speeding ticket in the year of 1996 and, like any other officer of the law this, officer searched his car. In Mr. Downey Jr.’s car cocaine, heroin and a pistol were found. His probation was revoked and he was sentenced to six months in jail. He was then released in March after serving 114 days and then was left to complete 100 hours of community service. This was his first offence and he has had numerous other ones since that year.
Another man, who shall remain nameless, also made some wrong decisions in his life. This young man was apprehended for possession of small amounts of marijuana and cocaine. He was taken to a county prison for holding until his trial date. It has been almost a year since his apprehension. This man has been through three county prisons without bail and has not had a sentence as of yet. This was also his first offense.
I ask you is this justice? A man who had not only possession of drugs but also a firearm walks out of prison and continues to abuse the public law. He is always given a second chance at life and appears in many movies and television shows that deal with the law. Then there is another man with possession of drugs who is denied bail and the right to see his family, a man who has served a year of his life behind bars without so much as a sentence. Is this justice or is this a popularity contest? The fact remains that one man was given more chances at life probably because of his name or his accumulated wealth, something we the people do not fully know, while another man is denied everything because he is not known to anyone and has nothing but his life.
~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:27 pm
Operation Final Justice
Justice is a tricky word and many people like to think they fully understand the meaning of it. Justice may mean one thing to one person and something else to a different person. Many people have the concept of justice. However, even the dictionary’s description of justice was based upon what either one person or a small group of people decided justice should be. “The Pledge of Allegiance”, which was created so many years ago, meant something to the people who recited it. Today the Pledge is nothing more than some sort of entertainment. According to John Bear “ The Pledge was published in the September 8th issue of The Youth’s Companion, the leading magazine and the Reader’s Digest of its day. Its owner and editor, Daniel Ford, had hired Francis in 1891 as his assistant when Francis was pressured into leaving his Baptist church in Boston because of his socialist sermons. As a member of his congregation, Ford had enjoyed Francis’s sermons. Ford later founded the liberal and often controversial Ford Hall Forum, Located in downtown Boston”(1). A man practically kicked out of church for being a socialist. How barbaric can we get? I can certainly see why he needed some sort of comfort in his mind. Baer goes on to write: “His original Pledge read as follows: ‘I pledge allegiance to my Flag and (to*) the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’ He considered placing the word, ‘equality,’ in his pledge, but knew that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans. {* ‘to’ added in October, 1982}” (1) The Pledge meant something to this man who wrote it and he wanted to create equality but was stopped by the men in charge, namely the white males, who like to hold power. Baer brings up some interesting questions when he writes, “The true reason for allegiance to the Flag is the ‘republic for which it stands.’…And what does that vast thing, the Republic mean? It is the concise political word for the nation-the One Nation which the Civil War was fought to prove. To make that One Nation idea clear, we must specify that it is indivisible, as Webster and Lincoln used to repeat in their great speeches. And its future?”(2). Yes, what does “The Republic” mean? Back when the Pledge was written, it meant equality to white men. Egolf likes to pick apart the Pledge and he does it quite well when he comments “ ‘I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands…’Take out the flag part, and you get, ‘ I pledge allegiance to the Republic.’ Almost sounds the oath you would expect to give to the French Foreign Legion. What does it mean to pledge allegiance? You ally yourself with the Federal Government. When Congress passes a bill, you stand by it, you support it one hundred percent. You fight for them, you make the Gub’mint aware of people who are not following the law, people who are trying to to be subversive and change things. People like me”(1) Eric Egolf renounced the Pledge of Allegiance and suggests that we all do the same. It is quite obvious the Pledge is less meaningful today then when it was written. John E. Appleseed gives a heartfelt welcome in “America--We are of Many Global Origins” to everyone when he said: “Citizens and residents of the USA who are true to universal truths that are the foundation of our country, truths which are clearly worded in our Constitution’s Bill of Right, cannot help but take pride in our country’s myriad unique cultures; especially when people feel safe and there is respect and acceptance among us. For all of our diversity we are nonetheless cohesive. We are united on concerns of common good for others who are true to American Ideal of Freedom and Responsible Citizenship, and for the security of the country. All such good people, regardless of the differences that ultimately work to bind Americans together, making this country’s plurality uniquely special, are learning to celebrate one another’s participation in safeguarding the United States of America”(1). Well isn’t that just nice? Appleseed is addressing the citizens and the residents of the United States and that includes terrorists. Appleseed is later quoted saying, “And please know this, those here in the U.S. who threaten and attack any of our complement of citizens and residents who are cut from the same immoral fabric as terrorists anywhere. Be assured that the global war against terrorism is and must be as much against our own terrorists as it is Osama Bin Laden and others like him who plot to eliminate freedom-loving peoples”(2) I honestly have no idea what Appleseed is trying to say. First Appleseed gives everyone a warm welcome then says that terrorists are bad and people who hurt other citizens or their residents of the United States who are cut from the same fabric as terrorists. Which fabric is that? Am I supposed to just welcome anyone including terrorists just because they reside here? And what is all this talk about freedom-loving people? Freedom-loving people...who are they, the hippies? Freedom-loving people from other countries are the reason why the United States got its a** kicked on September 11, 2001.
Again Baer brings up some interesting points when he says: “How did this Pledge of Allegiance to a flag replace the US Constitution and Bill of rights in the affections of many Americans? Among the nations in the world, only the USA and the Philippines, imitating the USA, have a pledge to their flag. Who institutionalized the Pledge as the cornerstone of American patriotic programs and indoctrinations in the public and parochial schools?”(1) Baer said: “The original Pledge was recited while giving a stiff, uplifted right-hand salute, criticized and discontinues during WWII. The words ‘my flag’ were changed to ‘the flag of the United States of America’ because it was feared that the children of immigrants might confuse ‘my flag’ for the flag of their homeland. The phrase ‘Under God,’ was added by Congress and President Eisenhower in 1954 at the urging of the Knights of Columbus”(2). When the pledge was created it meant to serve a purpose for the rights of the individual citizens, or shall I say the individual white male citizens of the United States of America. When it was changed so that immigrants would clearly pledge allegiance to our flag, it became a source for treason.
Not even American children fully understood the meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance if at all. Baer later says: “Allegiance has become a major centerpiece in American patriotism programs. A pledge or loyalty oath for children was not built around the Declaration of Independence—“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” Or the Gettysburg address—“a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal…””(3) Not all men are created equal, let alone women. We allow ourselves and our children to recite the Pledge because it is tradition, not because we believe in justice for all. I believe Appleseed is mistaken when he writes “the enriched Pledge of Allegiance (Citizenship) addresses the meaning of our Flag in such a way that each child and adult who recites the words cannot help but learn and hopefully come to cherish what our country represents as a nation based upon the Bill of Rights and Constitution.” The pledge was not made based on the Bill of Rights it was made to help out some poor white man who got booted out of church for being a socialist. The pledge had great meaning when it was created and even more meaning when it was revised. However, now it is not so meaningful. “The Essayist” gives a good example of what I am talking about when he writes: “A national suspicion developed over the idea of domestic Communism and it was egged on by this fascist’s sensation—but baseless—attacks. One consequence of this paranoia was requiring loyalty oaths as a condition of employment for certain jobs—including education. Most of these oaths included whatever a local administrator decided should be required of a good American Citizen”(1). I thought that being an American citizen gave a person the right to choose what they wanted and the freedom of speech. The last time I checked, Freedom of Speech meant I could say something I wanted to and also that I could choose not to say anything at all. “The Essayist” later tells the story of a citizen of the United States: “Flip the calendar ahead several decades to April 1, 1998. Near San Diego, high school sophomore Mary Kait Durkee thought about what the American Pledge of Allegiance means, and decided to forgo reciting it with the rest of her history class. In her opinion, the U.S. government is corrupt and does not deserver her loyalty. She also does not believe in ‘one nation under God’ since she is an Atheist”(2) Now then, isn’t that her right as a citizen to pledge her allegiance or rather, not pledge allegiance, to a flag? I would like to think so. And yet people like her are being put in the same category as terrorists. Is that justice? I think not.
Ran-Chan brings up an interesting theory when he says: “ A man in his power who has power but hardly has loyalty and a country going into shambles, if he is the kind of man who uses his power to benefit himself what would he do? We know power corrupts and people who have power believe themselves to be above the law. Take a look at former President Bill Clinton. He is in the White House getting his groove on and nothing happens to him. If President Bush wanted to eliminate terrorists to make himself look good and further strengthen the stronghold of the United States embassy on the world to make him look good with a disaster like the one that occurred on September 11 of 2001. Saotme goes on to say: “This major tragedy put America, which was falling apart, back together under him. He leads us through this, he attacks terrorists, he brings unity and good throughout the United States and he is the hero. Bush is the one who led us through September 11 and he comes out on top. The Pledge was important when it was created because people actually cared about America, not like today. Without September 11 would flags be everywhere? Would we be so patriotic to our heritage? Would we be so into the Constitution? Usually only a handful of people would be so patriotic not the whole nation. The Pledge of Allegiance is an oath to America who support a select majority and that is what the republic the government and the democracy is based upon.” The select majority is the people who run this country, that is who the Constitution and what the Pledge of Allegiance was written for. When it was written, it wasn’t written for women or African Americans. It was basically written for white males. It presents the illusion of bringing a country together, but it just serves a select majority like today. The Republic, government, and democracy were why it was written.
A democracy is “by the people, for the people.” We select representatives but those representatives are taking all our money and they’re only serving themselves. If a senator or congressman from any state takes home $200,000 a year, they’re going to take home that $200,00 every year until they die, while we struggle with social security. A prime example is that of a man who has recently been in the news. He was wrongfully convicted of murder he did not commit because of corrupt policemen who had evidence that wasn’t permitted because it proved his innocence. There were several witnesses that testified he was somewhere else when the murder occurred. He spent 9 years in prison and finally, after a certain task force retried many cases to see if they were legitimate or not, and he was acquitted. However, he faces another threat to his freedom. It appears he is going to be put back in jail for not paying child support for the last 9 years due to the so-called justice in America. There is no justice. Justice is an illusion.
Work Cited
Appleseed, John E. “Does the Pledge of Allegiance remain true to it’s purpose.” Flagship
Earth Foundation. 26 Oct. 2001.30 Nov. 2001
http://pledge-of-allegiance.net/pledge-of- allegiance_nurturing.html.
Appleseed, John E. “Americans--We are of many Global Origins.” Flagship Earth Foundation. 26 Oct. 2001.30 Nov. 2001
http://pledge-of-allegiance.net/pledge-of- allegiance_americans.html.
Baer, John W. “A Short History.” The Pledge of Allegiance. 1992. 30 Nov. 2001
http://www.vineyard/history/pledge.html.
Baer, John W. “The Strange Origin of the Pledge of Allegiance.” Propaganda Review.
1990. 30 Nov. 2001 http://www.cwu.edu/~millerj/jack/flag.html.
Egolf, Eric J. “My renouncing of the Pledge of Allegiance (and yours too).” Prolefeed.
1998. 30 Nov. 2001 http://www.prolefeed.com/soapbox/pledge.html.
Essayist. “What America is Not About.” What America is not About. 6 June 1998. 30
Nov. 2001 http://unquietmind.com/loyalty.html.
Ramirez, Paul AKA Ran-Chan. “Bush’s Conspiracy Theory.” Conspiracy Theory. 2 Dec. 2001. 2 Dec. 2001 ~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:29 pm
Unseen Criminal
There are many different criminals we see in everyday life. We view the convicted criminal, the criminal that escaped the law, wealthy and poor criminals. However, there is one criminal that almost every person knows about, complains about and does nothing about. These are the unseen criminals that we see daily and disregard them in order not to interfere with our own preset lives. Such criminals exist because we allow them to. These people commit their crime with ease knowing that the chances of their discovery are minimal. The people I am talking about are those who commit Welfare Fraud. People who commit welfare fraud make it difficult for the people who truly need it. In all cases it is the system that is to blame. The system that establishes who meets the requirements of welfare is outdated and should be revised to fit today’s lifestyle and needs. I tested the system and through personal experience I found that the requirements for the system were unjust and far too easy to manipulate. Any person over the age of eighteen can apply for welfare. You simply fill out a form and give information about yourself, your financial and household background. This information is entirely too easy to manipulate. Many people not only lie but also produce false documents to back their story. The caseworkers simply take their word and do no further study. The people in charge of determining who is eligible have become so lazy and overwhelmed with requests that they simply do not care anymore. The simple standards that a person must meet are as follows: if you have a child (something I like to refer to as the “child clause”) under the age of eighteen or if you are pregnant you automatically get assistance no matter what your financial status. Through luck, I was able to get an interview with a caseworker. She stated that if I was pregnant or had a child I would be eligible. If I did not approve of her decision, I could take it to court. Then she pointed out a book of rules and regulations that I could take if I wanted to read them. Also through luck I talked with a family that is currently receiving welfare. This family consists of a husband, a wife and a small two-year-old child. The father has a good steady job, drives a 2000 model car and the family lives in a two-story home. I wondered how this family was able to receive help and when I asked the mother she simply replied “ I have a child and I do not work so they gave it to me. It was easier than I thought.” Such a remark made me wonder about other families gaining help through this sort of technicality and the families who are not. There are many simple and easy ways to improve the system. If the caseworkers would pay attention and read more into a case, there would not be as much fraud as there is. A simple phone call or letter could quickly determine the honesty of a person’s information. Allowing someone to be on welfare simply because they have a child is not only unjust, it is ethnically wrong. There are many people, men and women alike, who have no children but are in need of medical help, which can only be supplied through welfare. Due to the fact that a person must be at least sixty-five to even be considered for Medicare, many are denied. The system should be revised to fit almost every aspect of potential necessity. There are many scenarios in which a person may need assistance. A very good example would be that of a young girl no older that twenty, who has no children and who is not pregnant, that has a chronic illness that forces her to constantly be put in hospitals, take medication and have blood tests every week. This girl can scarcely afford to live due to the fact that every single cent she has must be used to pay for medication so she can live until the next day. She is denied Medicaid assistance even though she truthfully filled out the forms and has no way to support herself. Now I ask you is such a thing considered justice?
The Board of Human Services is taking some steps to stop current fraud. According to the Office of the Inspector General they are “Examining people or businesses suspected of illegally using DHS resources or services, actively seeking prosecution of flagrant violators, returning money to the state treasury from the restitution of fraudulently obtained benefits and establishing non-fraud agencies error claims.” As the saying goes “To little to late.” The DHS should have thought about this many years ago instead of just now trying to clean up its mess. The DHS should consider issuing a limited amount of time a person maybe on welfare for every state as they have done in some states already. By doing so, it will encourage people to get a job and help others who need assistance while lowering the rate of fraud. Case workers should be allowed to visit the assisted at anytime to follow up on their case and check their financial background information. Allowing case workers to do so would be an effective way to prove if some sort of fraud is taking place or to prove if a person is truly in need of assistance and not taking advantage of the “child clause.” A few simple actions and a little effort could make a world of difference. One would wonder why such things were not done sooner. There is a perfectly good explanation for not correcting such mistakes in the system. A person would wonder if perhaps there is not enough funding to provide the equipment needed to perform such corrections or if the DHS is under staffed to allow the few workers they have to be spending an extended amount of time on one case. The simple explanation is that no one wants to bother to do anything that will disrupt his or her everyday lives. People would rather live with such corruption and complain about it than to dirty their hands trying to fix the system especially since those people who fix the system will never use it. Why should someone fix someone else’s problems if it does not benefit the person who fixes the problem? That is the question that a person would ask you if you asked them why did they not try to fix this system. Perhaps the person would turn to you and ask you the very same question. Then at that point when you are asked “Why don’t you do something to fix the system?” what will your answer be? With such narrow-mindedness of the human race today, people would rather go about their own business than to care about the wrongs that are being inflicted to some poor, insignificant person that they will probably never see and could care less about. That is simply the way the human population is. After all isn’t the population of the world focused on themselves with a “Think about number one” state of mind? Some people are trying to make a difference however, not enough people care to actually make one. ~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:31 pm
The Girl With The Golden Power
(Chapter One) *Mother Dearest*
A swift wind blew on the planet of Noben, rolling the leaves around in the grass, and distorting the look of things. The sun, in which was called Brextox, shone brightly in the high noon sky, lighting and shadowing things as they stood. There was much activity going on within that planet that day. Much chaos. People scattered along the golden roads. Trexs, known to us as cars, crashed killing civilians; screams were heard; fires burned; and much more went on.
The small girl stood, holding a blade in which was far to long for her 4 foot body. She griped its shaft, her palms sweating as she did so, a grim look across her face. A strong gust of wind blew through the planet again, and this time it blew threw her light blue hair. It was shoulder length, and dead straight. As it made its way snaking across her face, she shrugged her shoulder up brushing it away. Her deep green eyes turned a horrid shade of gray. "Arisusa!" A deep male voice called. With this the young girl, who could be no more than 7, looked to her left. She spotted the man, who was her father. "Oberon," She mimicked using his name, instead of a fatherly title, " What have I done wrong now?" He stepped a bit towards her now, only 20 feet off if that. In a calm voice he said, "Put the sword down." She stood, starring simply at him for a moment. Her eyes flashed red, and she replied, "No, Oberon. I plan on using it on Mother." Arisusa turned her gaze to the woman, who had her back pressed against the wall, her hands pinned to it as well. There was a look of horror across her face. "Put the sword down," her father said again, taking another 3 steps towards her. "No." "Put it down." A flash of electricity ran up through the double split blade and sputtered off the end. It appeared like flames. With this a grin appeared across Arisusa's face. Her red eyes twinkled, ever so bright, as the sun flashed its luminous light once again. "It’s getting charged though Oberon! I can't waist a good charge! I really can't!" Now seeing the danger of his daughter with a large electrified sword he took another step forward, ready to summon his own powers up. "Ah, Oberon. Angry, aren't we? Why don't you go on ahead and conjure up your strongest spell?" He looked a bit shocked. Her psychic powers were amazing.
Looking to his wife, he saw the pained look on her beautiful face. Her white hair was strewn across her face and all around her shoulders. Then as he turned his head back towards his daughter he spotted her charging at him full speed. His eyes grew large, lips slightly parted. Then suddenly, before he could move, Arisusa dropped her sword, and connected a fist straight with his stomach. Oberon was doubled over gasping for air. "Stronger than you thought, eh, Oberon?" Arisusa questioned. He fell to his knees, placing his hands on the ground. Arisusa proceeded in picking her sword back up and turning to her mother. Although everything that was going on today, Noben was an absolutely gorgeous planet. The rivers and oceans clear and clean, the plants lush, green in healthy chlorophyll, the soil was perfectly fertile, rich with clay, and filled with nutrients. The trees grew tall, the wind blew cool, the sky pure blue, and the clouds bright white. The roads seemed to be paved in gold, their long winding paths leading to infinite places. It was the ideal dream planet, for any living being. There is only one planet truly similar to Noben. That planet is the third planet from the sun, in the Milky Way. It is called Earth. Normal humans lived among Earth.
Noben was also magical planet. The third planet from the sun in the galaxy of Hudon. There were 16 planets in this string, along the vast galaxy. Not only did Gods and Goddesses live among this planet, but many people with special powers did also. These people were regular, what you would think of as humans. They eat, drink, sleep, and perform in normal human activities, just as you would. These beings are call Nobenakiens, but the only true differences between them and the humans are a code of alien DNA implanted within their systems. This genetic code allows them to perform in such things, like that of becoming invisible, flying, casting energy forces, psychic abilities, and what seems like so much more. The date was January 1st, 2082. Everything was about to change. Arisusa, the Princess of the planet, had gone about on a killing spree. She had killed 4 innocent civilians, destroyed a building, killing more; She had used psychic abilities to crash 3 cars. Now she had turned on her mother. They stood up top the highest sanctuary in all of Noben. The one that was used to praise Arthina, Oberon, and Arisusa. It had walls of silver and floors of gold, engraved within were pictures of the happy family's past and future. Perhaps the future had been misread, for pictures of Arisusa as a wizened young lady were on one side, with her mother Arthina happily standing behind her.
Arisusa, still looking at her mother, slashed the sword in a threateningly manner. The smirk once more curled her lips and her eyes flashed yellow. Her eyelids blinked shut, and when they opened once more, the round pupils were blood red. "Arthina, you shall learn. You never treat a Goddess like a slave!" Oberon lay, gasping for breath, steps away. "No, Arisusa," he snarled, pushing all the air from his lungs, " You.. Cannot kill her." She smiled again, looking to her father, " Oh Daddy! I can't? Why not! Isn't there not a rule in our guide by the sages that speaks! Page 4057, paragraph 8, line 1 to 4! I quote! ' Thou Gods and Goddesses before us. The holy shall never die. On only one case shall death come. If thy blood is shed by one of their own, they may die.' Oh dear, Daddy! I guess you were wrong!" Oberon looked up, his long ringlet of white hair blowing in the wind. He stood, panting heavily and holding his chest. Arisusa thrashed the sword once more, fingering the rope at the end. "Put it down! NOW!" He screamed. But this only made Arisusa more confident she could do it. She could kill her own mother. Her own flesh and blood. Making a fist around the rope, she dropped the sword so that it dangled at her side. Then, as if it was easy, she swung it up over her head, round and round. It spun so fast it looked like the blades of a helicopter speeding off. You could barely the sword at this point. It was almost as impossible to see. Finally, her eyes so blood red you'd swear they were bleeding, she let go of the rope. Such force was in the thrust she gave it, that it flew so hard and so fast toward her mother, she would not have time to move if she had known to five seconds before hand. It thrust through Arthina's chest, her warm red blood pouring out onto the double blade and all out onto the golden floors. It sputtered from her chest, covering a great area of the floor and walls. As if she controlled it, Arisusa began laughing, with an evil tone, and the electric current burst out of the sword with such violence, that Arthina was nothing more than a few hundred pieces laying about the sanctuary. Oberon let out a horrid cry as he passed out, hitting his head hard onto the floor. Though the hit would have killed a normal person, as Arisusa had said, a God or Goddess can only die when they are killed by another. Arthina was dead. Now, Arisusa had the time to look around to the open side of the walls. There she saw about a hundred or even more of the village people staring. Some were vomiting violently, others were turned away holding their breath. Some were running as fast as they could, down to the village most just stared at her.
Arisusa dropped to her knees. Her eyes faded to a sad shade of royal blue and they closed, tears slipping from the thin slits. These hot tears she blinked away furiously, wiping her face with her arm. As she put her hand back down, it came upon a hot wet something. Her eyes whipped open to find her mothers hand, a wedding band slipped onto her ring finger. Arisusa's eyes widened, and she angrily ripped the band from her hand, pocketing it. Oberon was slowly awakening now. His gray eyes fluttered open and then shut again. His front was covered in blood. Mustering his strength, he sat up and looked at Arisusa. He was in a mixed blaze then of sickness, hatred, and shock. This was complete with disbelief that his wife was dead. "Arisusa," he choked, " Your days here are over. That ship we have is yours. You are gone..." Finally his voice trailed off and he looked at her, tears flooding his eyes and dampening the dried blood on his chest.
Arisusa left to her shrine. Both the walls and floor were made of a smooth, pearly colored marble. Her sword was sheathed at her hip, dragging along the floor. Coughing hard she picked up a few things. A book, with a damp and musty gray cover; a knife; and a small bag, which was dark so that you could not see its contents. She set these on the floor and ran off into a small room, grabbing a dome shaped ball. She opened it and walked to where she had left her things, picking them up slowly and dropping them over top the dome. They shrunk and fit in neatly. This she closed, and pocketed. With that she step from the shrine, ready to departure in Ship M 1908.
* * *
Arisusa was only seven years old. She had big eyes, which turned different shades of color throughout the day as her mood changed. Her hair was a mid back length, cascading as if silk, neatly over the creases in the fabric of her elaborate costume. It was a bright shade of baby blue, streaked with a more dark blue throughout. She was pretty, but there was something wrong with her. Something is horribly wrong. You see, Arisusa possessed the most powerful force that ever existed in the universe, more powerful than a million nuclear explosions, more powerful than anyone.
For she... Was the girl with the Gold Power.... ~Alyssa~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:34 pm
Origins
Startica left the counsel room, she still couldn't believe what she had just heard and who had just said it. She picked up her sword which was lying on a table next to the door. This morning she was Princess Blue Startica sworn to protect her people and fight off the evil that had corrupted half her world. That was no more than an hour ago, but this is now. Now she is more, so much more. Star begins to descend the staircase. Her nightmares are now a reality. In her mind it's what she despisses, what she loathes, what she fears. However in her heart it has filled a space. It's the truth. Now the question is what does she intend to do about it? Rage,anger and hatred fill her mind as she pauses at the end of the staircase and thinks now everything makes sense. Why only half of her world is ruined, why in her dream Dark Star doesn't kill her why she can not kill him. All those times she blocked his attacks perfectly, why their magic never hurt eachother, how he always knew whyere she would be. All the dreams about both of them sitting in the meadow conversing. It was as if they knew what eachother was thinking, as if they were linked somehow connected to one another. She put her sword on. Then she understood that they were connected through a psychic repore that was established by both of them when they were children. Then she wondered if he knew, if he had the same dreams. But her biggest question was, does he even care? Well that doesn't matter now all that matters is that he's evil and destroying her world. After all just because she can't kill him doesn't mean she can't stop him. As she walks through the castle doors and then through the castle gates she thinks back to what Sycorien has just told her. How when she was a small child and evil sorcerer kidnapped Starfire, taught him everything he knew, made him evil and changed his name to Dark Star.Then one day Star was walking in the woods when Dark Star attacked her and tried to kill her by casting a deadly magic spell but something happend and the spell seperated Stars evil and good sides into two people. Dark Star took the evil Star, trained her and transformed her into Black Star. Now Black Star is dead killed by her good half. Now Blue Startica feels that a piece of her is gone forever, but she doesn't miss it....she doesn't even care. To her she has simply killed the evil within herself. Now she hopes she can do thae same for Dark Star and change him back to Starfire. She mounts her horse "Star Dust". She looks behind her at the castle while thinking to herself. Thank you for telling me Sycorien. I know it was hard for you to do. Now I must do something that is equally hard. I must confront Dark Star. She sighs heavily. Well brother here I come. ~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:36 pm
A Prophecy Foretold
Washu A pops up:: “Well Washu” ::Washu B pops up:: “It appears the prophecy was true.” ::Washu sighs:: “Yes apparently my dragon friend was telling the truth all those thousands of years ago. ::Washu thinks back to the time when she first encountered the dragon.:: That was the day Washu had lost everything. The day she decided to consume her life with science. In a time long since dead…..::Washu falls to her knees and curses the human race:: At that moment a Golden Dragon appears to her to comfort the Goddess. As the dragon look upon Washu he begins to speak. “My dear Goddess do not burden yourself with those petty mortals. They know nothing of your true power and carry no respect for the Gods. I have been sent from your fellow Gods as a sign. Many thousands of years from now I shall appear to you once more except my golden color shall be crimson as that of human blood. At that time The Great Crimson Dragon War shall come. The humans as well as many others shall die as a sacrifice to the Gods for their disrespect.” ::Washu nods:: “Indeed I shall shed their blood to pay tribute to my fellow Gods” ::He pulls out one of his golden scales and it transforms into a pen. He hands it to Washu:: “Take this my Goddess and write. Write The Great Book of Ages. It shall inform you of my arrival and shall prove useful to you for your little games.” ::She touches the dragon:: “ Tell my brothers that I shall return to them in tree days time when I have completed the writing of the book to confirm my war plans.” ::He nods and flies away to inform his masters.:: ::Washu looks down at her pen and grins wickedly:: “They will all pay…”
“Washu……..excuse me Great Washu” ::Washu blinks as she hears he name being called”” ::The puppets hand her The Book of Ages:: “Well A and B soon we will see the Crimson Dragon and my revenge shall be felt by all” ::The Puppets disappear:: ::She looks at the book:: “All those selfish, pitiful mortals….I shall show them the power of a Goddess and everyone will tremble at the presence of the Gods once again. Soon the time will come when the strong destroy the weak instead of the weak destroying the strong. I will not let history repeat itself. The weak shall not destroy my life again. The morals I once had are no longer and the standards have changed. Life itself will begin anew and then I shall take my place with my brothers once again.” ~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:38 pm
Crimson Dragon War
As I lay asleep my dreams are filled with images of the future. I am standing on one side of a vast field and my army behind me. As I look around I see two other Leaders and their army’s behind them. We three command the troops to commence fighting. And as I watch the battlefield a wave of blood covers this once green land and leaves me stained with the flesh of my kinsmen and of others. When I awake I consult the Great Book of Ages. This one book that tells not only past and present but also the future of all as well. When I opened the book it’s white pages with blue writing transforms into blood stained pages and gold writing. The first page is that of a Red Dragon. As I read on I learn the fate of many. The Book reads that at this time of turmoil The Great Crimson Dragon War shall be upon us. It will begin with blood and end with blood. The weak shall fall, a clan divided cannot stand, clans shall collapse, and three Leaders shall remain. Many will die and the rest shall flock to that of their preferred leader and seek refuge. Fate demands the blood of a certain person and when that blood is shed the War shall begin. The time is set the targets are known and the Generals have been chosen. The children shall survive the war only to follow their parent’s enemies as that of a loyal servant. Choose your allies well for your friends may not be your friends much longer. Make a decision on who to stand with for when the War comes all will be known. Blood is thicker than water, water is life and life is death. As I close The Book of Ages I make my decision. I will stand by my clan and my blood. All who oppose me will surely perish.
I have an uneasy feeling. The pain begins to swell within me. I lay down and close my eyes. The instant my vision is clouded by darkness and new visions rush through my mind’s eye. Once again I am in the field as the battle begins, however something is different something has changed. As the battle rages on I notice some of the soldiers have changed. I scan the battlefield to search for the missing fighters from my last vision. They are nowhere to be found. A flash and the vision is gone just as quickly as it came. That very moment I take The Book of Ages into my hands. I open the book and the first page is as before with a Red Dragon and the pages are still blood red with golden ink. However as I read the beginning has changed. The war shall commence the same as previously written with the exception of these three things. The chosen one's blood is no longer demanded by fate to begin the war, instead of her name another’s is substituted. There are some new faces added to the battle scene. The last thing is that a dark shadow shall arise in search of someone. Naturally the first thing that comes to mind is that someone has altered the future. This is the reason the book has changed and I had a new vision. Now the question is who. I ponder this as I close the book. ::smiles:: I have a pretty good idea who it is. But why is what I want to know and if I should change the future back to it’s original state? ::gives a slightly evil grin:: There is only one way to find out! ~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:40 pm
Visualization of Reality
Washu's Lab exactly one year earlier. Cold and dark void of any feeling is the place we have come to know as Little Washu’s Laboratory. This place infested with test tubes and chemicals, ideas turned into reality scattered among the many files of true existence. Creatures of all kinds survive in tanks immersed with scientific ingenuity. And in a small yet surreal corner is the Creator, the Genius, and the Goddess Washu. As Washu sits on her pillow she thinks to herself: “Why do I invent things? I know how I invent them. I invent by first dreaming of something that I think should be. Then by using my genius, skill and technology I invent things. But why? No one except for myself ever uses my inventions if they ever get used at all. There is no use for inventing creations such as my power glove, interdimensional transport, the Soja or the transmographyer. Those things were created simply out of selfishness. The abuse of my talent to please others. I remember the younger years of my life when my creations were of some significance. Now, and now they waste away in this pathetic world. I have taken my study of Tenchi as far as I can. I know everything about him and the Jurai Power. Nothing is of any interest to me any more.” “Perhaps if I were to rule this universe as well as others I could fashion them into the kind of place where science is of some consequence and not merely the waste of talent like mine. I could do such a thing by myself. It would be rather tasking, however to have certain individuals trying to extinguish my goals. If I were to persuade them to join me then that will save me a great deal of trouble and they could quite possibly be of some use to me as well. Ah but the Princess will be particularly hard to convince to fight on my behalf. She would most likely oppose me, however if I can capture her interest she may prove to be usefull. I will have to keep an eye on her nonetheless.” “I will convince the Prince by promising him what he wants the most.......a normal life. I will simply tell him that when my plan is complete then and only then will his life be that of a normal human. I must be careful not to let him suspect my true goal. I will tell not only him but his love and the others as well that I simply want to govern the world to make it a safer place for science as well as for people of all kinds. I must never allow them to know that I truly wish to rule this universe as well as all others. For if they new that then they would truly try to stop me. Once I have the Prince the others will come willingly. And if I have his love, the Princess will come to challenge her in power. Sometimes I think it is too easy to manipulate people. DarkStar.......DarkStar is the key to what lies ahead.” Washu materializes a picture of Startica. She looks at it as she says, "Soon....very soon Startica our paths will cross once again." ~Startica~
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:42 pm
A Forseen Destiny
The time: exactly eighteen and a half years earlier to this day. The place: somewhere in mid space. As we focus our sights on a specific being, who is traveling back to her home, we notice she is in an intense concentration. Now let us be silent as we enter the world of Washu once again. Washu sits on her favorite pillow typing away on her laptop thinking of her latest experiment. Her goddess robes are adorned with the spectacular, which could only be achieved by a genius like her self. She is returning from a planet, which its inhabitants were that which contained humans of a sort. She went there to do a further study on the race and it's interaction with other races. As her ship races home she stops typing and is converted from her concentration to a planet. Washu gets up from her seat and steps away from the laptop. She glances out a window then gives a command to the computer to summon a visual and all the data for that planet. Visualization appears on the screen however, there is no known information on the planet. Intrigued by this she sets a course to land on the planet. The ship changes course and begins to enter the planets atmosphere. Soon the ship has landed on the planet.
Washu steps out of the ship and is engulfed by the beauty of this planet. Lush vegetation and extreme serenity are the second things she notices. The first thing was that which beckoned her to come. Now that feeling has become stronger. She starts to explore this planet and finds a mix of different races, which seem to live in harmony with each other in a single place. There was also the presence of evil however this did not worry her at the time. She was interested in her feeling. After a few days of study she noticed a woman who went wondering alone. Washu followed this woman. Washu decided to speak to her. As she approached the woman this woman spoke the unmistakable ancient Koi language that was past from one heir to the other in the Koiyen Royal Family. Washu spoke to her in the same language and learned a great deal of the planet and it's inhabitants. She also learned that the feeling she was having was coming from the unborn child in the woman’s womb. Fascinated by this Washu asked the woman if she would consent to a few simple experiments to discover the power, which this child, who in fact were two...yes two seperate embodiments, would grow to know. The woman agreed. Washu took a DNA sample of the woman and a few tissue samples. Washu stayed on the planet for some time doing more research on the people there, the vegetations, the planets minerals and had become a trusted allie. Soon the twins were born, a boy and a girl. When Washu asked the woman what she was going to name her children she simply replied” Startica...the Goddess of the Stars and Starfire the God of Light.”
Washu extracted a DNA sample from the children and impute it into her files. She turned to the young mother and said, “It's time for me to go”. The woman pleaded for Washu to stay however Washu could not. She handed the young woman a silver necklace that had a star pendent and in the center of the pendent was a small vile. “Take this vile when you are seriously injured and it will encase you in a protective armor of my own making and will start to heal you immediately. I will then know of your trouble and shall come to help you. Now I must leave this place.” As Washu said her farewells she boarded her ship and left for the unknown. A couple of months went by then a year and all of a sudden Washu knew that she had to return to the planet. She stocked her ship and gathered her tools and weapons. Then she left for the planet she had almost forgotten. She set the coordinates for the planet however when she arrived there was nothing there but a few meteors. In confusion of the lost planet she picked up a reading on another ship that was leaving the area. Washu did a search on the ship and it's pilot and set the console to record it's data. She was about to pursue it when she realized that the pendent was still calling her. Once she focused on the exact place of the pendent she went to retrieve it. She recognized the protective armor however, she was unsure of it seeing how the armor was small. Thinking that part of the armor had been destroyed she hurried to it. Remembering that the armor will take the shape of whatever or whoever wore the pendent she realized that it was not her friend in the armor. Once Washu retrieved the armor she disabled it to find the children. She removed the pendent which was wrapped in both hands of the children. Knowing the aura of the children she did a quick scan and discovered the children to be Startica and Starfire, the children of her friend. Knowing that she could not care for a children she recuperated then then engraved a bracelet for each of then with their names on it and placed it on their left wrist. Having done this she placed the small child in a shuttle and released them on a nearby planet. Washu waited for someone to find the children. Then Washu left for her lab.
As the years went by Washu frequently visited the planet in order to see how the twins were doing. She on occasion approached them in order to teach them of her ways and science. Starfire often refused her knowledge and ignored her, as he was more interested in his fighting skills and developing them. Washu was displeased with the results. Thinking of her friend and then now viewing how her son had grown enraged her. On a routine visit to the planet a certain person appeared. Washu recognized him somehow but didn't know for what reason exactly. Washu did a quick check and discovered the person to be a loyal follower of the Grey Witch. Washu watched as he began to ravage the planet and she was enjoying it. Then she looked upon as the young Starfire foolishly challenged him to battle. Delighted by this challenge he accepted and they began to fight. Washu hoping that Starfire would die due the shame he had brought to her by being a poor fighter lacking in any intellectual or scientific skills and being nothing more than a foolish child with a great power. As the battle went on the evil sorcerer defeated Starfire however, he implanted an evil spell withing the boy knowing how it would grow with his hate and his anger and selfishness of life. Washu approached Starfire and looked at him in disgust. “How could you have been of that which was greatness? I cannot believe that this is what I saved that this is what I used my science on to protect. I had such great hope for you and this is what you have become. Such a waste of power. How could the eternals bestow such a power to such a pitiful boy? Now realize the error of your ways and view the death of all those around you.” As she leaves she turns around and looks at him again. “Always remember this day and what transcended here. I was there in your past, I am here in your present and I will be there in your future. This is your destiny and I control it. Never forget that.” ~Startica~
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