A poem for all (I think that you have never got, A poem as lovely as this zot)

me | 09/24/2005 | Creeper, as told to Joyce Killmore-Trolles

[creeperdavis]

A poem

[NicknamedBob]

"... of the various forms of classical and modern Hippocratic Oaths I have read, not one includes the famous line "first, do no harm"

Good point.

" ... the Hippocratic Oath does not and never did contain those words. It expresses a sentiment similar in general meaning, but never employs the words "First, do no harm."

It is the opinion of many scholars that Hippocrates did, in fact, originate the phrase, but in another of his writings, Epidemics, Bk. I, Sect. XI. One translation reads: "Declare the past, diagnose the present, foretell the future; practice these acts. As to diseases, make a habit of two things—to help, or at least to do no harm."

It is true that "First, do no harm" is expressed "Primum non nocere" in Latin, but Hippocrates wrote in his native Greek. The Latin, then, is not the origin of the phrase, and no one seems to know for sure who coined the Latin. It is a translation of the original Greek, perhaps, but some sources attribute "Primum non nocere" to the Roman physician, Galen."

I have not tried to create an historical lineage for my belief systems. Perhaps in that I am remiss, but I am simply being practical. If the shoe fits, I wear it.

[NicknamedBob]

"That was nuanced, Bob."

I channel him sometimes.

NuancedBob. (Put your mouse cursor over my name!)

[fanfan]

Keep in mind -- it's for your own good.

Thanks.

;-)

[NicknamedBob]

"... it's for your own good. -- Thanks."

Well, it's not intimidating like, "I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help you."

It's more like, "I'm from the Church of Bob, and ... um ... preaching is kinda thirsty work, you got any beer?"

[fanfan]

LOL.

[fanfan]

Check out the sunset picture I took tonight.

Fall rules!

[Tax-chick]

Very clever.

[Tax-chick]

Beautiful picture. I'd really like fall to arrive here.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

That's a pretty nifty talent.

;-)

[Tax-chick]

It upsets people sometimes. They think they're fooling someone, but they're not.

[Tennessee_Bob]

From whence shall the beer come?

I lift mine eyes unto the mountains of the Rockies, and lo, beer comes.

I lift mine eyes unto the city of the Arch, and lo, the beer comes.

I lift mine eyes unto the country across the Sea, and lo, the beer comes.

Open thy cooler, and pass me one.

[Tax-chick]

You're drinking Japanese beer? Ick.

[Tennessee_Bob]

It's good stuff - but I was thinking the other direction.

[Tax-chick]

Ah. I get my directions backwards sometimes. Australia?

[Tennessee_Bob]

England - I'm waiting for someone to bring/send me some John Smith's Best Bitters.

[Tax-chick]

Sounds interesting. My brother lives in England; he probably drinks that.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Ummm....well...how close are you two? I mean - could you have him send you some? Nothing much, a small truckload would be fine.

[Tax-chick]

My parents were there a couple of weeks ago - I'd have asked them to bring it if I'd known there was a demand. Russ is supposed to be coming back to the U.S. next summer, but I don't know how much stuff the A.F. will ship.

[NicknamedBob]

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

Now, clearly, we are supposed to eat bread, and beer is liquid bread. Not only that, but all that talk about dust kinda makes you thirsty, doesn't it?

Ben Franklin has got to be right.

[King Prout]

if, in snatching the ingrate away from his plummet, you damage the kid in any way, you have in fact done exactly as much "harm" as you caused damage.
on the scales, however, when one factors in the harm you prevented from occurring, you have in fact inflicted what amounts to "negative" harm.

but the point you make is clear: pain does not equate to damage, hurt does not equate to harm.