You probably know that “shooting the albatross” is the main theme in Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel T. Coleridge. Many would describe this particular work as an English student’s worst nightmare.
The symbolism and use of allegory in the poem is way beyond where I am going in this blog. But suffice it to say that a ship’s captain shoots an albatross with a crossbow. The albatross is seen as a symbol of good fortune (or a good omen) by seamen for the voyage ahead. To shoot one was to invite destruction.
The crew could not believe what the captain did. They hang the dead albatross around the captain’s neck in hopes that Providence will understand that the fault was not with the crew, and perhaps any vengeance or punishment for the act will fall upon the captain – the one who shot the albatross.
As you may have guessed, I am wondering if our Congress under Captain Obama indeed shot the albatross when they passed the healthcare bill. Of course many say it is not a done deal because both the House and Senate will each have to vote again. Does this mean that the legislators are cocking the crossbow again to either finish off fair albatross or are they going after his kin folk?
If they did indeed shoot the albatross, I wonder if it will be hung around the necks of our President and members of Congress who voted for it. Do you think they might try to hang it around the necks of the American people – surely not!
Is it a coincidence in regards to the length of both the healthcare bill and our Rime? Generally it is said the bill has about 2074 pages and our Rime has 144 stanzas. If you do not believe they are about the same, try reading those 144 stanzas!
I can almost guarantee that by the time you finish reading each one you will not be happy. Remember though, the Rime generally just tortures English students. The healthcare bill if passed will torture … (you can fill that in).
I understand that there are numerous no-fly zones around important governmental areas in DC. Please email this information to any albatross you may know. Better safe than sorry!
Note the Quote:
"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion...Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
--- John Adams
