What do you thinkof this short poem by Robbie Burns?

Question

It relates to all religeous nutcases around the world includind Bush annd Blair.

Ye hypocrotes are these your pranks
to murder men and give god thanks
desist ,for shame proceed no further
god does ne want your thanks for murder

Answer 1

Since I am American I will say it is excellent (=brilliant.) I am sending it to lots of my friends. Thank you. Please have Robbie write some more.....

Answer 2

YE hypocrites! are these your pranks?
To murder men and give God thanks!
Desist, for shame!—proceed no further;
God won’t accept your thanks for MURTHER!

It's his epigram on Thanks for a National Victory. So it was writen to attack the idea of holding religious services to celebrate a victory in war. Rabbie was out of step with the religion of his day and saw things with a clearer, more modern eye. But this, being narrowly focussed on that issue, skirts round the problem of pacifism, for example. Burns himself was not a pacifist. He sent guns to the revolutionary forces in France, for example. And it makes no attempt to deal with the concept of a just war. Would Rabbie have disapproved of the war against Nazism? I doubt it. Nothing could have been more disgusting to a man of his principles than Nazism. it's like all epigrams, a little bit of sparkle that doesn't stand up to too much examination but he makes a good point well, as only a real poet can.

Answer 3

Just for cherylyoung, I've asked Robbie to write some more - he says he'll get round to it eventually.....
In the meantime, here's something I think is rather apt from Alexander Pope......

'Let Sporus tremble---"What? that thing of silk,
"Sporus, that mere white curd of ***'s milk?
"Satire or sense alas! can Sporus feel?
"Who breaks a butterfly upon a wheel?"
Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings,
This painted child of dirt, that stinks and stings,
Whose buzz the witty and the fair annoys,
Yet wit ne'er tastes, and beauty ne'er enjoys:
So well-bred spaniels civilly delight
In mumbling of the game they dare not bite.
Eternal smiles his emptiness betray,
As shallow streams run dimpling all the way.
Whether in florid impotence he speaks,
And, as the prompter breathes, the puppet squeaks;
Or at the ear of Eve, familiar toad,
Half froth, half venom, spits himself abroad,
In puns, or politicks, or tales, or lyes,
Or spite, or smut, or rymes, or blasphemies.
His wit all see-saw between that and this,
Now high, now low, now master up, now miss,
And he himself one vile Antithesis.
Amphibious thing! that acting either part,
The trifling head, or the corrupted heart,
Fop at the toilet, flat'trer at the board,
Now trips a Lady, and now struts a Lord.
Eve's tempter thus the Rabbins have exprest,
A Cherub's face, a reptile all the rest,
Beauty that shocks you, parts that none can trust,
Wit that can creep, and Pride that licks the dust.'

Answer 4

I like it--I think it's a lot more applicable to the idiot terrorists and extremists that brought about all the dyin, though...remember, Bush didn't "War Monger" until AFTER they took out a whole buncha ours...

And hey, joker kid---cut the Burns some slack--he was Scottish and writing a REALLY long time ago.

Answer 5

I like the poem. I dont feel Bush nor Blair would fall into the category of religous nutcases though.

Answer 6

I like Robbie Burns very much. I do not like you calling my President a nutcase,nor do I think that either of the gentlemen could give a rat's ### what you think of them. They are too busy trying to save your sorry ### along with the rest of us.

Answer 7

Fantastic. All men should read this verse and do their best Sean Connery.
The best question of the day.

Answer 8

I prefer this one:
Grant me, indulgent Heaven, that I may live,
To see the miscreants feel the pains they give;
Deal Freedom's sacred treasures free as air,
Till Slave and Despot be but things that were.

Answer 9

Scotts twaddle!

Answer 10

Brilliant - great foresight

Wilfred Owen - also great