Thomas W. Devine's Blog, page 12
January 29, 2017
An Issue of Rights
I woke this morning thinking about abortion, a subject I post and tweet about occasionally. For some reason I cannot fathom, I went back into the heightened feelings about the subject that I experienced while writing my novel “A Halo of Strawberries” (2012).
This time, what got be going, was the human rights aspects.
Wikipedia defines human rights as follows:
‘Human rights are moral principles or norms, which describe certain standards of human behaviour, and are regularly protected as legal rights in municipal and international law. They are commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights "to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being," and which are "inherent in all human beings" regardless of their nation, location, language, religion, ethnic origin or any other status. They are applicable everywhere and at every time in the sense of being universal, and they are egalitarian in the sense of being the same for everyone.’
Women’s rights are, on the otherhand, described by Wikipedia as:
‘...rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls of many societies worldwide, and formed the basis to the women's rights movement in the nineteenth century and feminist movement during the 20th century.’
The summarised case for abortion as a women’s right is made at this web page: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%2...
I understand the arguement. I researched it thoroughly as the author of “Halo of Strawberries”.
To me, it’s the human cost of the women’s right that makes it unacceptable. For every exercise of it a human life is forfeit. Mothers-to-be are parties to the legalised genocide of millions of unborn children annually; an appalling moral crime.
People can blind themselves to it. Societies can condone it by majority rule.
I’m all for women having reproductive rights (including birth control and abstinence). I can’t condone women who get pregnant by consensual sex (in general) making up for their mistakes at the cost of the lives of their unborn children. They use abortion as the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
I had to again post about this out of shame for mankind’s worst legalised crime.
This time, what got be going, was the human rights aspects.
Wikipedia defines human rights as follows:
‘Human rights are moral principles or norms, which describe certain standards of human behaviour, and are regularly protected as legal rights in municipal and international law. They are commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights "to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being," and which are "inherent in all human beings" regardless of their nation, location, language, religion, ethnic origin or any other status. They are applicable everywhere and at every time in the sense of being universal, and they are egalitarian in the sense of being the same for everyone.’
Women’s rights are, on the otherhand, described by Wikipedia as:
‘...rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls of many societies worldwide, and formed the basis to the women's rights movement in the nineteenth century and feminist movement during the 20th century.’
The summarised case for abortion as a women’s right is made at this web page: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%2...
I understand the arguement. I researched it thoroughly as the author of “Halo of Strawberries”.
To me, it’s the human cost of the women’s right that makes it unacceptable. For every exercise of it a human life is forfeit. Mothers-to-be are parties to the legalised genocide of millions of unborn children annually; an appalling moral crime.
People can blind themselves to it. Societies can condone it by majority rule.
I’m all for women having reproductive rights (including birth control and abstinence). I can’t condone women who get pregnant by consensual sex (in general) making up for their mistakes at the cost of the lives of their unborn children. They use abortion as the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.
I had to again post about this out of shame for mankind’s worst legalised crime.
January 20, 2017
Pop Music
Yes. Pop music. For parents of teenagers back in the 1950’s it was a shock-horror experience as they tried to protect their children from its ‘depravity’.
With my teenage children, in the 1970’s and 1980’s, I enjoyed their choice of music (mostly), determined not to be as close-minded as my parents.
Since then, to while away a rare gap in my day, I’ve occasionally checked in with MTV (or its equivalent in NZ) to watch a few songs being performed, much to my wife’s disapproval of such ‘teenage activity’. I often found the viewing ‘adgy’ but never ‘depraved’.
Just recently though, either because of my increasing age or a change in the nature of music videos, I’m starting to feel sorry for today’s teenagers. In the 1950’s, many of the songs were about young love. Today, the equivalent songs are becoming more and more overtly sexual both in lyrics and images.
It creates an emptiness – sex for sex sake – divorced from any concept of love. I won’t moralise beyond saying that I do think to-days teens are being deprived of values-laden music about human relationships (as compared to those in the 1950s).
Without love, sex, and singing about it, are an empty shell hanging in a void.
With my teenage children, in the 1970’s and 1980’s, I enjoyed their choice of music (mostly), determined not to be as close-minded as my parents.
Since then, to while away a rare gap in my day, I’ve occasionally checked in with MTV (or its equivalent in NZ) to watch a few songs being performed, much to my wife’s disapproval of such ‘teenage activity’. I often found the viewing ‘adgy’ but never ‘depraved’.
Just recently though, either because of my increasing age or a change in the nature of music videos, I’m starting to feel sorry for today’s teenagers. In the 1950’s, many of the songs were about young love. Today, the equivalent songs are becoming more and more overtly sexual both in lyrics and images.
It creates an emptiness – sex for sex sake – divorced from any concept of love. I won’t moralise beyond saying that I do think to-days teens are being deprived of values-laden music about human relationships (as compared to those in the 1950s).
Without love, sex, and singing about it, are an empty shell hanging in a void.
January 6, 2017
A Minnow’s Viewpoint
‘Blackest Africa’ is a term most people would have heard, but ‘blackest America’?
It’s used in an editorial in the Dominion Post (January 2, 2017). The editor wrote:
“Trump represents the American plutocracy, the people who did well during the great recession and the deepening swamp of inequality. These people think the poor have only themselves to blame. That’s why voters in darkest America picked Trump. They think they are going to rise, or that they live in a world where rising is possible.”
I’ve posted in my blog, before, expressing my fears about the harm a Trump presidency could do in the world. Trump has done nothing since becoming President-elect of the USA (that I've heard in this part of the world) to dispel my concern. Only his acceptance speech on election night showed any promise.
Before the election, I urged American voters, 'Don't support Trump'. Too late now. So I’m saying, do uphold democracy during his term of office, and beyond. It needs defending by all.
It’s used in an editorial in the Dominion Post (January 2, 2017). The editor wrote:
“Trump represents the American plutocracy, the people who did well during the great recession and the deepening swamp of inequality. These people think the poor have only themselves to blame. That’s why voters in darkest America picked Trump. They think they are going to rise, or that they live in a world where rising is possible.”
I’ve posted in my blog, before, expressing my fears about the harm a Trump presidency could do in the world. Trump has done nothing since becoming President-elect of the USA (that I've heard in this part of the world) to dispel my concern. Only his acceptance speech on election night showed any promise.
Before the election, I urged American voters, 'Don't support Trump'. Too late now. So I’m saying, do uphold democracy during his term of office, and beyond. It needs defending by all.
December 31, 2016
Absence
No blog again this week - still recovering from a back injury & can't sit for long. Happy New Year.
December 16, 2016
In Memorium
Frank Devine
1931-2009
Author of “Older & Wiser”.
The inspiration in my youth for my setting out to write novels.
“Frank Devine was a brilliant writer who brought a world-wide view to editing, and happily disrespected all the pieties of Australian public life” - Chris Mitchell, Editor-in-Chief, The Australian.
Frank spent most of his life out of New Zealand but every moment with him on visits left me with treasured memories.
It would have been your birthday to-day, brother, if you’d still been with us. My thoughts are with your three talented daughters and your wife, Jacqueline.
Fondly remembered.
1931-2009
Author of “Older & Wiser”.
The inspiration in my youth for my setting out to write novels.
“Frank Devine was a brilliant writer who brought a world-wide view to editing, and happily disrespected all the pieties of Australian public life” - Chris Mitchell, Editor-in-Chief, The Australian.
Frank spent most of his life out of New Zealand but every moment with him on visits left me with treasured memories.
It would have been your birthday to-day, brother, if you’d still been with us. My thoughts are with your three talented daughters and your wife, Jacqueline.
Fondly remembered.
December 9, 2016
Dreaming
I woke from a dream in which I was a tiger helping a lion with an unruly class of zoo animals taking an exam. Now you’d think a lion wouldn’t need help but, I found out, she’d already eaten her annual quota of cheetahs.
The next day, I woke from a dream about being a curator in a museum who had a penchant for finding missing people.
Another day, and I was a shaman in a native village explaining to an outsider how evil spirits are drawn up from the ground and sent back down into it.
In another waking dream I was a police detective questioning a beautiful woman who’d had liaisons with numerous men. She qoted Voltaire as saying that a woman should always know why she was in a relationship, though I doubted Voltaire ever said any such thing.
A writer’s fantasy sometimes comes with the dawn.
The next day, I woke from a dream about being a curator in a museum who had a penchant for finding missing people.
Another day, and I was a shaman in a native village explaining to an outsider how evil spirits are drawn up from the ground and sent back down into it.
In another waking dream I was a police detective questioning a beautiful woman who’d had liaisons with numerous men. She qoted Voltaire as saying that a woman should always know why she was in a relationship, though I doubted Voltaire ever said any such thing.
A writer’s fantasy sometimes comes with the dawn.
December 2, 2016
Losing & Winning
Sharing a commentary (just out) by judge, 24th Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards:
In Losing and Winning, author Thomas W. Devine shows how most people's dream-come-true can turn into the worst nightmare. Readers are in for a treat with this character driven, suspense filled romp around the world.
The product quality is good. The front cover is attractive and gives readers a feel for the international settings in the story. The colours are nice and pleasant. The back cover blurb will intrigue prospective readers enough to make them want to see what the book is all about.
Devine does a nice job of deeply immersed, limited third person point of view. It reads almost as though it's written in first person. This is a feat that not many writers can handle, so great job!
I like the way the main character's insecurities come through, starting with the first page, because it makes him relatable to most people. However, the opening scene goes on for so long that it almost makes him seem too anxious (neurotic?) and not heroic. Cutting about half of his worrying about whether or not he has the actual numbers and what will happen next should take care of this issue.
The dialogue is well written. However, some of the narrative tends to ramble to the point of becoming repetitive. Read aloud some of the paragraphs that follow segments of conversation, and you'll hear it.
This isn't something that would keep someone from enjoying the book, but fixing it will quicken the pacing and make it more of a page-turner.
Anyone who enjoys character driven stories filled with what-ifs will love Losing & Winning. The satisfying ending will send readers back to the store for more books by Devine (go to www.wtdevine.com )
In Losing and Winning, author Thomas W. Devine shows how most people's dream-come-true can turn into the worst nightmare. Readers are in for a treat with this character driven, suspense filled romp around the world.
The product quality is good. The front cover is attractive and gives readers a feel for the international settings in the story. The colours are nice and pleasant. The back cover blurb will intrigue prospective readers enough to make them want to see what the book is all about.
Devine does a nice job of deeply immersed, limited third person point of view. It reads almost as though it's written in first person. This is a feat that not many writers can handle, so great job!
I like the way the main character's insecurities come through, starting with the first page, because it makes him relatable to most people. However, the opening scene goes on for so long that it almost makes him seem too anxious (neurotic?) and not heroic. Cutting about half of his worrying about whether or not he has the actual numbers and what will happen next should take care of this issue.
The dialogue is well written. However, some of the narrative tends to ramble to the point of becoming repetitive. Read aloud some of the paragraphs that follow segments of conversation, and you'll hear it.
This isn't something that would keep someone from enjoying the book, but fixing it will quicken the pacing and make it more of a page-turner.
Anyone who enjoys character driven stories filled with what-ifs will love Losing & Winning. The satisfying ending will send readers back to the store for more books by Devine (go to www.wtdevine.com )
November 30, 2016
From Another Author
Extracts from “The Book of Thomas the Doubter” by George Tyrrell:
“Then and there I realized Jesus had truly resurrected in the most imperishable and everlasting way. He has come to life again in the hearts and souls of the living, who can spread his word to generations beyond his earthly existence. And even if my hopes soared so high that this was but a figment of my mind – it was still Jesus’ spirit and God’s Spirit in me and the others. And the Spirit needs to dwell in no body of its own.”
“We are so intent on the Kingdom from above, we neglect the Kingdom waiting in ourselves and spread before us. We expect this world’s end, and forget our own brief lives will end beforehand. We foresee the world’s final judgment, but forget we are even now being judged.”
Worthwhile messages, I thought, when I was reviewing this biblically-based novel.
“Then and there I realized Jesus had truly resurrected in the most imperishable and everlasting way. He has come to life again in the hearts and souls of the living, who can spread his word to generations beyond his earthly existence. And even if my hopes soared so high that this was but a figment of my mind – it was still Jesus’ spirit and God’s Spirit in me and the others. And the Spirit needs to dwell in no body of its own.”
“We are so intent on the Kingdom from above, we neglect the Kingdom waiting in ourselves and spread before us. We expect this world’s end, and forget our own brief lives will end beforehand. We foresee the world’s final judgment, but forget we are even now being judged.”
Worthwhile messages, I thought, when I was reviewing this biblically-based novel.
November 18, 2016
Live for Tomorrow
Stay young at heart.
"Think not of children, Thomas, but of those who have grown old. For the old ones look back on their lives while the young ones still look forward. And those who keep looking back become petrified no less than the wife of Lot” – extract from “The Book of Thomas the Doubter” by George Tyrrell.
"Think not of children, Thomas, but of those who have grown old. For the old ones look back on their lives while the young ones still look forward. And those who keep looking back become petrified no less than the wife of Lot” – extract from “The Book of Thomas the Doubter” by George Tyrrell.
November 11, 2016
Cleavage
Cleavage is going out of fashion, says Vogue Magazine (The Dominion Post, November 4, 2016). At least it’s true of fashionistas, the magazine claims.
The stereotype of “women as eye-candy” is over, asserts a Vogue writer.
Pigs will fly! Female beauty will always be sweet to the heterosexual male eye. That doesn't make it the be-all or end-all.
As an old reprobate, the predicted fashion change won’t bother me. Women, like men, are more than their displayed parts, after all.
I always felt it was calculatedly unfair, however, that feminists should choose to expose their cleavage then claim they didn’t like men looking down it.
They say they should be able to wear what they like. Good enough. But haven’t men got the equal right to turn their eyes to what they choose?
I say to women, if you don’t want it admired, don’t show it off. That ’s how I feel, anyhow.
The stereotype of “women as eye-candy” is over, asserts a Vogue writer.
Pigs will fly! Female beauty will always be sweet to the heterosexual male eye. That doesn't make it the be-all or end-all.
As an old reprobate, the predicted fashion change won’t bother me. Women, like men, are more than their displayed parts, after all.
I always felt it was calculatedly unfair, however, that feminists should choose to expose their cleavage then claim they didn’t like men looking down it.
They say they should be able to wear what they like. Good enough. But haven’t men got the equal right to turn their eyes to what they choose?
I say to women, if you don’t want it admired, don’t show it off. That ’s how I feel, anyhow.
