Battle Hymn of the Republic

Having read a post at the Blogger of Jared on The War Prayer by Mark Twain, I decided to look the story up online to learn a little more about it. What I found was another commentary by Mark Twain on war. This time in the form of a parody of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. I think that his commentary is just as valid today as it was when he wrote this piece which was most likely about the Philippine-American War from 1899-1902.

Battle Hymn of the Republic
(Brought Down to Date)
Mark Twain(1900?)


Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the Sword;
He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored;
He hath loosed his fateful lightnings, and with woe and death has scored;
His lust is marching on.

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded him an altar in the Eastern dews and damps;
I have read his doomful mission by the dim and flaring lamps --
His night is marching on.

I have read his bandit gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my pretensions, so with you my wrath shall deal;
Let the faithless son of Freedom crush the patriot with his heel;
Lo, Greed is marching on!"

We have legalized the strumpet and are guarding her retreat;*
Greed is seeking out commercial souls before his judgement seat;
O, be swift, ye clods, to answer him! be jubilant my feet!
Our god is marching on!

In a sordid slime harmonious Greed was born in yonder ditch,
With a longing in his bosom -- and for others' goods an itch.
As Christ died to make men holy, let men die to make us rich --
Our god is marching on.

Snark Wars: The Snarker Menace, or the Empsnarker Strikes Back

Has anyone been following the snark wars here at the Bloggernackle? I have only caught bits and pieces of it. Apparently the Snarker is being too snarky and got kicked off the 'nackle.

So, if they make a movie about it, who will play the snarker? Jim Carrey?

AAAA (American Association Against Acronyms)

I (for the most part) hate acronyms!

Recently, in the bloggernacle, have come across several acronyms that I couldn't figure out. One I have yet to figure out is DH. In context, the H is probably for Husband. What is the D for? In baseball the DH is designated hitter, so is DH the Designated Husband? As I write this I am guessing that the D stands for "dear", but I could be wrong.

Some acronyms are understandable, like LDS. I'm pretty sure that most people in the 'nacle know what that is.

Acronyms are supposed to save time, but I have found that they don't always. They may save time for the writer, but not necessarily for the reader. Just today I was reading a blog and this handy acronym showed up. It was four letters. The sentence that it referenced was not in the post but was in a reply. When I read the acronym, I wasn't sure what it meant. I decided to go up the replies (there were many replies) to find out what it meant. I never did find out what the heck it meant.

So, perhaps I am wondering if we need to post a page with different acronyms that are commonly used so that Acronym Challenged (AC) people can be able to understand some posts better.