Zach Uram's Blog

“On Man’s Quest for Truth”

knowledge
an ephemeral thing
thought
a broken vessel
who shall rise
from their waking dream
what tenuous bonds
hold us tight
the familiar masks
a richer truth
a reality hidden
revealed to some
who submit
to the Creator
a terrifying journey
madness?
the unknown
most retreat
full of fear
clinging to a structure
laid down
by blind watchmakers
never illuminating the core
on faith step out
plunge into the void
a dark abyss
beyond time and space
beyond reason
behold the One
connections infinite
topological unity
beneath man’s dim view
shines a light
brighter than imagination
raging hot
pure energy
pure mind
through the Spirit
one can break
the veil
supreme ignorance
of arrogant man
a part taken as the whole
self-delusion
the altar of science exalted
a false security
a failed ontology
the edifice of fools
a broken epistemology
cloaked in robes of learning
an incomplete cosmology
never gaining truth
but for those few
who wish to see
come
seek in Him the key
unlock the cosmic rhyme
discover your true nature
and be free finally

— Zachary Uram (c) 2011

This movie is hilarious! Best part:

dude: Oh my God! Shit!
woman: Oh my God!
dude: Noooooooo! Noooooooooo!
woman: Oh mai Gawwd!

The silent holocaust, the forgotten holocaust of abortion rages on in America. All those tens of millions of women and the doctors, nurses and anyone else connected with abortion will have to answer to God for their great evil and the ocean of blood they’ve created! Lord may they turn from their great iniquity, repent and come to salvation. Protect the innocent babes Oh Lord we ask you! AMEN!

I agree. Muslims DO NOT WANT to integrate into the societal milieu and cultural norms. They want to have their own separate universe where retrograde sharia law is enforced, where women are second class citizens, where preachers are free to spread hatred and calls for outright violence against non-Muslims, where non-Muslims are told they are not welcome to live, etc. Multiculturalism and giving refuge to tens of millions of Muslims was the biggest mistake Europe has made since the World Wars in my view. Sarkozy, Cameron, Merkel and other leaders are realizing this now, but it’s too late. Unless drastic change happens the problem will only get worse.

We live in a very greedy world. Companies will exploit and even defraud consumers and their own shareholders for more profit. Huge agro companies like Monsanto have largely put the family farms (small and medium) out of business! They have no qualms about using nasty pesticides or hiring illegal aliens, anything to squeeze out more profit! We need morally restrained capitalism, absolute capitalism will lead to despotism. Look at the increasing gulf between the richest and poorest in this country, it is accelerating just as in China!

This film is a true masterpiece. I easily place it within my top 100 films of all time. The story is very human, and while some reviewers think this picture is a critique of faith, particularly the Catholic Church, I do not agree. Yes colonialism had its problems and was a flawed vehicle for the Gospel, but the Indians came to beautiful faith genuinely. Also the priests had an abiding love for these Indians as people, not as mere numbers to add to their scrolls. Real faith is not something which can be forced. And in the end of the movie the Indians and priests give one of the most compelling and loving scenes of martyrdom I have ever witnessed on film. Yes it is sad how they are cut down, but they gain far more than they lose, and in doing so show that true faith cannot be destroyed. I should state that I’m a Protestant, but I have known priests, and the character Jeremy Irons plays reminds me of several dear priests I’ve encountered. DeNiro gave probably the best performance of his career in this film, the only other contender would be “Deer Hunter”. The scene when they reach the top of the mountain and the Indian cuts off the dead weight of the armor (symbolic of the guilt and anguish he’d be carrying over his brother’s death) and DeNiro breaks down and expresses sorrow and finally joy it is truly sublime! Ennio Morricone’s music beautifully complements the film (both in pacing and detail) and shows his preeminence amongst film composers! I should also comment on the film’s lush cinematography. No wonder it won an Oscar for it. You are transported into the heart of the jungle. I recommend this film in the strongest possible terms. Please see it and you will not regret the time spent!

Last night i tweeted ,”The Middle East wants freedom, freedom to be oppressed by Islamic theocrats!” Sad, but so true. Western style freedom and pluralistic democracy doesn’t work in Islam, even if you look at the most socially advanced Muslim countries like Indonesia, Egypt and Turkey you still have absolutely shameful treatment of non-Muslim minorities, especially oppression of Christians. And you have strong Islamic terrorist networks there. The type of freedoms and values we embrace will only be accepted in Islamic world once Islam goes through a major structural reformation and unequivocally purges itself of violence and intolerance as legitimate forms of expression. Remember that democracy can be a tyranny. I wonder what these groups gushing over the recent events in Egypt will say if the Muslim Brotherhood has a significant presence in the new government and the Islamists make inroads and enact more of sharia law over time.

“ode to bany’s blog post on a squirrel”

a solitary squirrel
huddled,
in nature’s warm embrace
a whithered oak
outside,
rage bitter winds
snow gently blankets
the hard ground
a primal impetus
to survive
to live another season
yes we shall

– Zachary Uram (c) 2011