Category Archives: Statement

These poems are somewhat of a factual type of poem with hopefully a message that is direct

Insane World 2016-02

Posted in Contemplation, Poems, Statement by

The horrible things that are happening here in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world by people doing crazy things, for whatever reasons, brought me to the point of asking a child’s question of WHY!!!!

 

Insane World 2016-02

What is the reason for the insanity today,

the genocide of people

against their own?

 

Does it go back to a clannish or tribal

day of time and life

The mystic mood, decreeing

action, distant drum telling

the way, but not the why.

 

More than macho, more than religion

more than a full moon, it has to be!

Why  is for children to ask, in their

innocence of life.

 

Nations, cities, groups, and

such, all bent on self-destruction

of one another to each other

A pity, a waste, a total

Inexcusable happening, but

is life, as we know it.

 

I ask WHY, like an innocent child

of the world? Can you

help me with an answer

that makes sense?

Den Betts

Grateful 2016-04

Posted in Poems, Statement by

How many things can you think of in the sense of being grateful for having them or experiencing them? How many things do we take for granted and should not have done so? Being grateful is, to a degree, being thankful also, at the same time. To live life at its fullest, and appreciate it at the same time can be hard to express, but I look in the mirror and I am Grateful for so many, many, many things…………

Grateful  2016-04

To be able to smell the flowers

see the trees, watch the birds fly,

and hear the honey bees buzz by

To attain the age of seventy, whereas

others dear have not; still be able

to walk and not have gone to pot

To have gone white water rafting

seen the Mammoth Cave, have fun at

Disneyworld and go to the Grand Canyon

and just stand and rave

To be called an ex-jarhead vet

and to have been an auxi-cop too,

and President of ASHRAE, plus have

sat on church council as President too,

plus have owned a thing called a ferret as a pet

To believe in  the God. as one to follow

and a family I’m proud of – a gem;

To be grateful for the things I have

and thankful that I have them.

Den Betts

Guns 2016-03

Posted in Poems, Statement by

I watched TV today, and listened to the President who, with tears running down his cheek, spoke about what he will do to help, in a small way, to lessen the killings that occur in our country today.          His plan will NOT stop the insane killings, but may help to save lives, in a way. The politicians who decry his efforts are owned by those that are against any common sense answer, and that is more than a shame.

          Guns 2016-03

How many times must we hear the words,

“Its not guns that kill, killers kill!”

How many times on the TV news,

Must we see the tears on a mothers cheek.

A child gunned down on a residential street,

Or a massacre in a family restaurant.

Do the lawmakers need additional vile lessons,

Of man’s inhumanity toward each other?

Or do the PAC’s or the NRA or others,

Control them that much, to stay in office.

The killing semi-automatics are not needed

By any populace of this country today.

While the gun powers outgun the police,

As the apathetic  citizens read or watch.

“Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have guns”

Is hype that is compared to only one thing, bull

“A rigid enforced law that guarantees prison, forever,

With no parole, if a weapon is used, might work.

But a bleeding heart society might feel sorry for him,

And his “time” will be lessened for more killing.

What is the answer; whatever it may be

Is much better than the way it is today.

Den Betts

Blackicide 2015-144

Posted in Poems, Statement by

“I wrote this a while ago and it still applies today to a degree.  If not “as much” in the U.S. it is, at least, more so across the world in the land of clannish fighting such as in Sudan at Darfur, in Africa, where some tribes eradicate each other for whatever reason.

 

Perhaps it is due to many reasons that the killings occur.

In the U.S. it could be poverty, unemployment, social injustices, or other such things,  that causes the discord enough for one race to go against itself. I am not smart enough and doubt if others can really pinpoint the exact reason for this killing of selves”

 

I hear the “today” phrase in the U.S.,, “Black Lives Matter” and could not agree more, but in actuality, “All Lives Matter” is a better refrain………… I apologize to those of color that this may offend, but it is what I believe…….

Blackicide  2015-144

An eradication of an ebony race,

so many times, by the race itself.

What pride in life or in blackness is there,

when — there exists a killing action with lame excuses.

 

The  “colors” and “turf” and/or no reason at all

perhaps a tribal instinct of needs and beliefs.

Is the reason poverty and ignorance or genetics

or maybe the mindset of customs not understood.

 

A “drive by” shooting for no reason at all,

Leaving death behind as a reminder of being.

Also,  giving grief to the mother of the child killed,

A remembrance to keep in the heart forever.

 

The creation of death, the dark side of horror,

of man against man, affecting all genders and ages.

Do hormonal, “triggers” create the beast, or is it just

the lack of conscience without a care of consequence.

 

Aggressive acts of violence, an obsession to some,

to many times, a rage without reason, towards selves.

Beating disease, famine, and pestilence, the grim-reaper

reigns supreme for a race self-claimed as a proud one.

 

Where for,  is the pride in the blackicide?

 

Den Betts

I have tried to find the word “Blackacide” somewhere on the Internet, but only found one reference, by a black lady named Stella Foster, on her blog “Stella in the City”  at WordPress.. I do know that the term would be proper for the killings that occur on a regular basis by those of the same race, that happen to be black. When a white kills another white it is NOT called “Whiteacide” but instead the term homicide is used by the legal people for ALL killings of another human, including blacks against blacks

Black and Whites 2015-142

Posted in Poems, Statement by

There is so much in the news about the horrors of life with those of color and the actions that affect those living today. What was, in the past is somewhat still here today and the problems with races that do not understand each other. Take away the color element and they/we are the same — period.

There is no differences of the soul, the mind, or the body itself, we are all humans; existing in a world of turmoil that is self-taught and continued by each of us, toward each of us. I would think that other races can be included herein, but am sticking with what I got…….

Black and White   2015-142

Black and White opposites

Extremes in color

Not red, not yellow

Not in between

A degree of bright

And one of darkness

Two cultures with differences

Both with pride

Not knowing the other

Nor trusting either

So far apart

Opposites – each/some uncaring

Both so wrong

Or not knowing

Color is a covering

Not the Soul…….

 

Den Betts

Drug War Won? 2015-136

DesertTo even mention “drug war” is acknowledging the past when we had a drug czar to oversee the so called war on drugs. Today, Meth labs abound, with different concocted drugs than ever before, and now marijuana being sold in stores in certain states. It is a different world now, and the war is not being fought, it is being lost to greed, power and the quest for so called happiness. The heroin epidemic that is raging now is horrible and getting worse. What is the answer; I do not know.

 

Drug War Won? 2015-136                  

 

His breathing continued in gasps with wheezing,

He realized he would have what he needed soon.

Earlier, a quick grab at an old ladies purse, flight,

Then an exchange behind a dumpster in an alley.

 

A cigarette dangled from lips, cracked and swollen,

Two sunken eyes, red rimmed and veined, searched.

The burning gut sensation, beckoning him to hurry,

Ah, behind the office building, good enough.

 

Hurry, his body pleaded, the craving screamed,

Alone, now, prepare, yes, Ohhh, so good.

A stupor, a glazed look as he settled in a heap,

Once again, the feeling of forgetfulness.

 

A bureaucrat sat in front of desk so clean,

Thinking the war on drugs was being won.

Not knowing the anguish below his very window,

Or taking heed of the reasons for the need.

 

Is reality so much a chore to live in a daily way,

Where a false set of hope is in a vial or pill

Which becomes a better way to deal with life

In a way that promises nothing

 

The cost for this artificial crutch is immense

That goes way beyond the monetary,

And affects so many besides oneself,

Bringing on a bitterness of life.

 

What IS the answer for this additive scourge

Which permeates life in the fullest?

When will it end, if there is an end

To life in a different way than now?

 

Den Betts

I am a Christian 2015-134

Posted in Statement by

                                         I am a Christian 2015-134

This is inspired by the atrocity in Oregon where the individual asked people about their religion before shooting them.

I am a Christian and not ashamed to say so. I cannot say I am “proud” of saying this, but I am happy that I am one and have to be thankful for being one.

What is a Christian? Like I said, I believe I am one and try to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, so, therefore, I believe I can say I am one.

I do not care if others are or are not Christians or feel they are but are not in reality. That is not for me to judge if they are so or not.

I will continue to expound on Christianity and what it means to me. What it means to others is their thinking and not mine.

I feel that following a God-man named Jesus is what I want to do. It means much to me and I tell others what I believe so they know how I feel, that’s all.

How others lead their lives is up to them, I cannot control what others do and only have control somewhat, on what I do.

What I do is not always the Christian way of doing things and that does bother me and affects my actions to a degree.

Living a life of a Christian is complex, sort of.  It involves following the teachings of Jesus of long ago and that is sometimes that is not easy at times. Many of His teachings are shown in the New Testament in the Gospels and that is what I would like to follow.

I said like. This means I do not always do so, as I stated before.

I would think many people say they are Christian, but are not really sure what it entails; just a thought.

I am involved in a mainstream religion, a Lutheran one, and find this religion is one that I can accept, even though the modern hierarchy has put out statements and messages of their beliefs that I do not completely agree with in concept. The founder, Martin Luther, had his reasons in his day for breaking away from the Catholic church, but that is a different account I will not go into right now.

I believe most religions somewhat try to control the thinking of their believers and that affects the way things are done by those religious believers.

In the past and even now, religion has been, somewhat, blamed for many deaths and destruction in mankind, as a general statement, but that fact is not something that determines a belief or not. I do not apologize about what happened 900 years or so ago during the Crusades, for instance. I did not cause them and was not part of those terrible happenings of then. I am a Christian today, trying to live the life that Jesus Christ of then, would want me to do now, today. Simple as that………

Therefore, many blame religion or a particular religion as the reason for things they feel are responsible for something, whereas many times it is the person of that religion that is at full fault for an action. This would apply to then, whenever that was, and now, today……….

I would believe that it is hard to convince someone that there is a God or even, was a Jesus Christ, whereas that person truly believes there is not one or ever was a God human names Jesus.

I also believe that it is impossible to PROVE there is a God, just as it is impossible to prove that there is not.

I am a Christian because of Jesus Christ, who was a man of peace and love. Christianity in its absolute form, is the same way, about peace and love. It is not based on things that some other religions adhere to, which shall not be named.

If any others reading this are NOT Christians, I am fine with that. So be it. Whatever floats your boat is good and I am happy for you. We just differ in our beliefs and that is OK. Again, so be it..

May Peace be with you.

Den Betts

Quotes Blaise Pascal #1 2015-133

Posted in Quotes, Statement by

Quotes   Blaise Pascal #1 2015-133 

“Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction”

“There are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think they are righteous.”                   Blaise Pascal 

How true, how true. Religion is a way of life for some and a way that is not of life. I say this because of the unmentionable young man in Oregon that killed people, apparently after asking them if they were religious.

I don’t think it mattered, what religion they were, just people that believed. How sad and terrible. I don’t know if the shooter was religious or not, but it does not matter either, he was a person doing evil things.      Den Betts

GLORB 2015-86

Posted in Contemplation, Poems, Statement by

From: TheBettsDen.com

When I first revisited this, I first thought it was going to be a humorous one that I wrote, but soon found otherwise. Will we, as inhabitants of this large planet Earth, let things go this route, or continue to disregard the subtle signs of man’s ignoring what we are doing to the domain we live in? OK, the name is sort of weird, I admit…….

GLORB  2015-86 

Such, may be the bones withering to yellow dust

With seagulls flying by with reddened eyes

The smokestack spews forth sulfurous spume

As fish look for something no longer there

 

An oozy quagmire bubbles and ferments – almost alive

Created by the one most vulnerable by its presence – man!

The lonely toad belches forth a rumble of noise

Hearing instead only an echo of itself – puzzled

 

So big a world, so gigantic – never fear it was said

A lie, a misconception found out too late

Such may be the bones of all some day

Turning to dust in the eerie somber light

 

GLORB to GLORB and dust to dust!!!!!

Den Betts

Speaking for Christians 2015-73

Posted in Poems, Statement by

Speaking for Christians    2015-73

I cannot do so! I cannot speak for other Christians that I have not talked to, read about, or otherwise been in touch with about a subject.

I resent, therefore, the posts, the news articles, and all the rest of published or otherwise stated sayings about Christians and what they believe in about a subject.

How do the far right or left know what I think or believe?  How do they comprehend what God thinks and what gives them the right to be the spokesperson concerning Christians in general or the whole?

Pick a subject! I don’t care if it is about homosexuality, abortion, marriage or lack of, executions, or any of the other hot topics that we hear about daily, it seems.

Bill O’Reilly, the Pope, and The President of the United States, are examples of people that do NOT have a secret connection, or IN with God to say they KNOW what He thinks or believes.  Yes, I included the Pope. He is human, not a God, and does NOT have confirmed knowledge of what God decrees.

OK, there is Scripture according to the Christian Bible as a guide. It, the Bible, in my mind, is not Inerrant or has a freedom or lack of error.  I DO believe it is God inspired, but in fact, was put together by men that are NOT infallible. I encourage anyone to read about the history of the Bible and actually find out how it became what it is today. Those people might find out some facts that are startling to contemplate.

More about the subject of speaking to Christians

There are items that come up on the news at night that really tick me off. The newscaster goes on and on about a subject that he is reporting and the slant is, he or she is reporting as facts that the person he is talking to knows all and is the expert and speaks for ALL Christians. At least, that is what it sounds like.

I am a Christian, but it doesn’t mean I am against ALL abortions, or hate gay people, or think a vile SOB that killed someone needs to be put to death.  All Christians have minds of their own and there is NOBODY that can speak for all of us.

It would be better if the person reporting would say explicitly that the person being interviewed is from the such and such group, which believes in the subject being reported on, to clarify it. The Westboro Baptist non- church is not my spokesperson on anything for instance.

Same sex marriages are becoming a way of the land in the United States, and for groups to be against this, is their opinion and not the opinion of God or me, simple as that. Many times the Bible is cited as an example of their thoughts. The interpretations of the Scriptures are again their own.  Also, something that was put together by men, very long ago does not make it so today. The canons of the Bible took some time (in the 4th Century), but what parts were left out and was it  a good thing to do so, or was it done as an opinion of those making the canons and what they thought it should be  then. I have researched this and can find no authority of how the canons came to be, other than some facts of when and where they were compiled,  but noting in detail as to the rules on how they were applied at the time.

What also gets me is the way those that state they are Christian and use the word in conjunction with something they believe in but,  really do not live the life of a Christian or know what Christianity is about in many ways. I consider myself a Christian but I cannot judge myself as being a good one or a so- so one, but make the claim of being one anyhow. But, that does not give ME the right to speak for all Christians, just because I think I am one and what I think at that time.

Decency in expression

Another thing, I read articles in the Huffington Post, for instance, and then comments by other readers. Some of the comments are so VILE, so GROSS, so everything that is not nice, decent or at times even makes sense.  I end up ignoring them, but, at times, wonder what those people are really like. I would think they may be very negative thinking and hard to live with today. I know of some like that, personally, and they are not really great to meet, talk to, or have around on a regular basis due to their stance on life……

I think that many people, including myself, should take the time and rethink their thinking about certain statements they make, that give insight as to what they believe in. Again, that includes me, and what I put down in writing, it would be best at times that I take the time to re-read what I wrote and consider changing, perhaps, what I state I believe in. Others could do the same.

I could rant on and on about this subject, but will stop for now and regroup and reconsider some of the things I believe in. Whether it will do any good to do so will remain to be seen.  Peace be with you!!!!!

Den Betts