The Problem of Human Shields in Combatant Situations and the Morality of Possible Solutions

Human shields is a term that describes civilians present in or around combat targets to deter an enemy from attacking those targets.  It also describes civilians in a combat situation being forced to walk or march in front of soldiers literately being used as a shield.  Killing civilians always causes problems for whoever shot them, whether it be by accident or on purpose.  An enemy's own people can be used as human shields to deter an enemy.  International humanitarian law forbids using civilians as human shields by placing them next to soldiers, or next to military facilities, with the intention of gaining immunity from attack, or by forcing the civilians to carry out dangerous military assignments.  The very basic concept of the human shields is immoral because it reduces a human being to nothing more than an object to be used.  Human shields also gives the impression that the person is not worth keeping alive, which is true because the person using human shields only cares about his own life.  He does not care who he uses, women, children or the elderly, anybody as long as he escapes.


Captain Daniel P. Schoenekase of the Air Force gives many examples of how human shields have been used in recent military history.  The most recent and most notable violator of international law against the use of human shields has been Iraq in every major conflict they have had since the 1980s.  Cambodia, during the Vietnam War, used ethnic Vietnamese civilians as human shields against their own government.  During the civil war of Sierra Leone in the 1990s people of the Revolutionary United Front would regularly kidnap children and used them as human shields against the government forces.  In these few examples one can see the moral repulsiveness of forcibly using civilians as shields against attack of any form.

There are several types of human shields -- proximity, involuntary or hostages, and and finally willing human shields.  The first kind, the proximity shields, are near military target, and the presence of these people present a great likeliness of high civilian causalities.  The civilians causalities could then be used by the opposing force in propaganda to put their enemy in a more bitter opinion of their people, thus preventing the enemy from gaining allies within their borders.  Most of the time the proximity human shields do not even know that they are being used as shields.  Usually they are people who are in a neighborhood or even hopitals.  For example, during the Gulf War Saddam Hussein would station his weapons near hospitals, knowing that the American forces would not fire so close to civilians, especially the sick and injured.  At the time nothing could be done effectively to get at the weapons.  Aiming with the missiles at the time was pointing in the general direction and hope that it would hit close enough to the target to cause some damage.  Today targeting systems are much better, so the military can fire a drone guided missile and direct the missile to hit the target, and the surrounding areas take minimal damage.

The next type of human shield are the involuntary, also known as hostages.  a hostage is defined as "a person given as a pledge or taken prisoner as by an enemy or terrorist, until certain conditions are met."  Any civilian in a combat situation are at risk of being taken and used b soldiers of either side.  However, the taking and using of hostages is strictly forbidden by the fourth Geneva Convention.

Finally there are the voluntary shields, who are a recent development in the war with Iraq.  A voluntary human shield is someone who is usually a foreign peace activist who comes and stand in the way of military in peaceful protest of the war.  Captain Schoenekase explains in his article  that in recent years debates have arisen on "whether voluntary human shields have become a form of quasi-combatant by their active participation."  The Human Rights Watch says that since that these voluntary shields are not actively engaged in hostile behavior towards either sides, they should be treated as non-combatants and retain civilian status. Some scholars say that voluntary human shields have forfeited their immunity of being civilians.  This argument states that anyone who has willing taken positions at the location of a military target has acted knowing the risk they were taking and they have little right to be considered as a non-combatant

When dealing with a situation involving human shields, there are several options that are available.  The easiest option is to kick down the door and go in guns blazing and shoot everyone in sight.  Both shields, willing or not, and the bad guys are dead, but the problem is solved.  It is similar to surgery when the doctor has to remove a tumor.  The healthy cells are removed for the greater good of the whole.  But one cell and a complete human being has a great deal of difference in importance.  The option of guns blazing is mostly condemned by international law and by most people in the world.  it is immoral because it violates the persons' dignity; no care is given to the non-combatants who most likely did not want to be in a fighting situation.  Killing everyone in sight also is a failure of a soldier to fulfill his purpose which would be fighting for the good of the citizens of that country.

Then there is the option of negotiation, which is used in situations with hostages, especially when the situation is not a full-out combat.  This option's morality can go either way.  There is a risk of the enemy getting away in the process of negotiation, and they might kill the hostages even if they get all they demanded.  But one must also consider what to do if the enemy demands and entirety of several large banks for the lives of a few hostages.  It is a hard choice between bankrupting the city, affecting thousands of people's lives, or saving the life of a handful of people.

Another option is the use of mob control weapons that police have used in the United States.  The police use things like rubber bullets and tear gas to subdue and disperse a crowd without needing to pull out a gun that uses bullets to kill.  The most damage that rubber bullets do is give anyone that it strikes a big and painful bruise, but they are alive, and tear gas mostly likely leaves stinging eyes and a bad tastes in one's mouth,  Also, in the confusion of the tear gas, a soldier can get closer to the enemy to get a clearer hit.  Captain Schoenekase also explains that "soldiers can be trained to deal with human-shields tactics through advance marksmanship training that emphasizes target detection, acquisition, discrimination, and engagement."  The morality in these options is actually positive, the dignity and lives of the people used as human shields is preserved.

Human shields are an ugly thing that has arise because of war.  Innocent women, children, and elderly are forced into combat situations in which they do not know if they are going to live or die.  The immorality of human shields is unquestionable with the way human shields are treated.  The dignity of the lives of the non-combatants becomes worthless when used as a shield -- they become nothing more than a tool.  Soldiers, when they fight, try to minimize the amount of collateral damage to protect civilians as much as they can and is a requirement set before they by their commanding officers.  The solutions presented above each have something to offer when dealing with human shields and each have a different degree of morality.

Random Fun Quotes

"A woman uses her intelligence to find reasons to support her intuition."
--G. K. Chesterton

"Fun is good."
-- Dr. Seuss

"I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun."
-- Katharine Hepburn

Lady Egad!!

Give me the allowance to indulge myself in a small rant.  I have often verbally ranted and I have found it to be very therapeutic.  I'm sure many of you girls know what I mean.  Well, here it is!!

I very strongly with a passion, dislike, yes dislike for hate is too strong of a word, dislike Lady Gaga.

I now duck for a moment as some readers will most likely throw something at their computers.  If everyone has calm down, I shall proceed.

When she debut on radio she was singing techno and has gone on to join the collective 80s throwback.  Neither genres of music I particular clamor to listen to.  But when she first appeared everyone fell head over heels infatuated with her.  Which meant more songs for me to suffer through.  Truth be told Lady Gaga is one of the man reasons I stopped listening to the radio altogether, but that is a story for another time.

The more songs I heard of hers the more I realized that I did not like her style of music.  Just a personal touch.  Than I saw her . . . a little part of my artistic soul was hung, drawn and quartered, twice, than buried in unconsecrated ground.

Do not get me wrong, I support people who express themselves through their manner of dress.  I applaud the man who can pull off a kilt or waist coat.  I cheer the woman who can carry a parasol down the street without a second thought.

At first I thought the outfits were for her music videos, but I was sadly mistaken.  She wears the over the top and, quiet frankly, unflattering clothes all the time.


A moment of silence please for another part of my artistic soul that has been tortured to death.

**Moment of Silence**

Moving on.

Despite all this I was willing to just not really care about along with a bunch of other 'singers' out there.  Not actively seeking out or outright ignoring them.  Oddly enough when a song of hers came on and I did not know it was Lady Gaga I still did not like it (proof I have taste).  It was not until I saw one of her music videos for one of her more recent songs (I now use that term loosely in regards to her) that took her to my 'strongly dislike' category.


I won't say which one, but I will say that the imagery was confusing and pornographic.  Yes, I accuse Lady Gaga of making readily available porn.  Defend yourself!!!!!  In that same music video you can see her holding what looks like a rosary or something close enough to it, dressed similar to a nun of some sort, puts the pseudo-rosary in her mouth and makes mockery of the symbol of the cross.  Yeah, be surprise that I still have a computer to update this blog on.  It took all that I had not to burst out into tears because, to be perfectly honest, that music video felt like it was slapping me in the face, stabbing me in the gut, twisting my arm, mocking my faith, and all around doing everything it possibly could to make me hurt.

Now many of you may think that's over reacting to an artistic vision of a music video.  Well, see it from my side for a moment:  Imagine that something that is very essential to you and is part of who you are is taken to the public square and everyone in town  throws knifes at it and insults it for everything it's worth reducing it down to rubble.  After that everyone proceeds to stamp it into dust as they drunkenly dance on the remains, desecrating it and then throw all sorts of trash and muck on it.  All for the sake of art.

That, my readers, is not art, it's bullying plain and simple.

Nostalgia

Found this on Youtube.  Now I'm filled with nostalgia. 

Don't Worry, Be Psycho

This made me smile.  I hope it does the same for you.

By the ever fantastic Piano Guys!

Enjoy!!

Is That What You Think?

Even after living in the Bible Belt for over a decade I am always surprised about the misconceptions of non-Catholics of Catholic beliefs.  Granted there is about 500 years of rumors developing and confusion becomes a blaze that spreads quickly on dry grass.

Growing up I always knew that I would go to college and major in Theology, even though I never really knew what I would do with that degree.  I wanted to know everything about my faith and was tired of my religion class teachers giving me wishy-washy answers that did not clarify anything.  I grew up with a strong example of the faith from my parents, who made sure we learned our Hail Marys and Our Fathers like all good Catholic boys and girls.  At some point I became interested in the meaning behind the traditions and rituals that had developed in the Church and from that, my fascination with relics.  All the tradition we have in the Church there is a meaning behind it, ranging from the types of vestments the priest wears during the Mass (and outside the Mass as well) to the simple act of crossing ourselves before prayer.  As I entered my young adult life I had studied beyond what was required for class to feed the hunger I had to know more about my faith.  My parents even started asking me questions of something or other concerning the faith (even a few upperclassmen too).


I could not see myself studying anything else.  But now I have a degree in Theology - what to do?  Why, teach it of course!  The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) program at my church was a good way to get my feelers out to see if I would make a half-way decent teacher.  And thus a journey of discovery began.

Remember I'm in the Bible Belt, so a lot of out inquirers are from very Protestant backgrounds, many of which still hold the Catholic Church in contempt.  There are things that I always thought simple and basic to understand that many of the Inquirers have a hard time wrapping their heads around it.  Many of them do not understand at first that being Catholic is a lifestyle and joining the Catholic Church is not like moving to a new house up the street.  Oh no, it's more along the lines of becoming a citizen of a different country whose culture is similar but different in so many ways.  It's out of the comfort zone of many people and it scares them, sometimes it can be too much.

For those who the change is too much for, they sometimes lash out at us who teach them.  This reaction, however, is not limited to people in the RCIA program. I am in no means saying that this is a one way street.  Catholics also have some misconjectures when is comes to their Protestant brethren. 

The goal in life is to find the truth, no matter what our situation in life is we have to find it.  For as they say Christ is the Way, the Life and the Truth.

Ode to Bob

(A Freestyle Poem)

Bob was a very dear friend,
He gave me joy when no one else could.

Listening to me spill out my woes
Without judgement or scorn, what a dear.
He said nothing as I took the knife to his head,
And cracked his neck, he understood.

His guts spilled on the floor,
But there was little blood
He was always so considerate that way.

I shall always remember Bob
Especially as I puree his remains, which stain my hands,
And add the puree to soups and breads - how delicious!

So rest in peace my dead Bob, you make such delightful bread.
I hope others will enjoy you as much as I,
For you are now homemade and really yummy.

R.I.P.  Robert 'Bob' Pumpkin

Cello Wars

This must be shared!
Enjoy!

A Morbid Connection to Heaven:

An Investigation of Relics & The Modern Need for Them

Chapter One: History (Part Two)

  There were several reasons used to justify the stealing of relics. First was the basic need of relics for new churches and religious organizations that were being established; the churches had to possess a relic before they could be properly consecrated. When there was a strong devotion to a particular saint, the physical remains of that saint tended to appear to act as a focal point for the devotion. Relics were also used as a form of spiritual protection against the injustice of secular authority. This, in turn, lead to competition amongst the religious communities of whom had who of the holy dead, spurring translations. Relics were also a source of income for monasteries from the donations that pilgrims would give in hope of intercessions from the saint. So in a sense relics of a saint became a form of a fund raiser for a community and even collectible items, and owning them became a symbol of prestige for cities, kingdoms, and monarchs.

It is hard to overstate the importance of the cult of the relics during the Middle Ages. They were used in the dedication of churches where they were integrated into the altar; they were used in law courts for swearing oaths; relics were found on the battlefield as suggested by the description of Roland's sword in the Song of Roland. In short, relics were an integral part of daily life and were accepted unquestioningly. The cult of the relics played a critical role in the missionary activities. The missionaries who converted northern Europe were dealing with people whose religion was fundamentally animistic. To them, it seemed that the entire world was inhabited and controlled by unseen powers; every tree had its own spirit, every pool its devil, every mountain its god. There was no distinction between the laws of nature and the laws of God. In accepting Christianity, pagans believed Christ's powers to be more potent than those of their former gods. The converts expected the new God to intervene as often and as powerfully in nature as the old, and if He failed to do so, they would frequently revert to their old beliefs. Gregory the Great recommended to Augustine of Canterbury that the cult of the saints and martyrs be presented to the English as the rival to pagan animism.

As the Medieval Age wore on, “relics came to be displayed more prominently in the churches” more so than before; even the reliquaries and altar tombs became more ornate to draw attention to the strange treasure. This brought a greater demand unto the relic market; so when the Crusades allowed access to the Holy Land for Western Europe and the saints that rested there, it was a welcome conflict. When Constantinople was sacked in 1204, a great number of relics were found and sent back, including those of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. But for some reason, when the relics were sent back, they were not sent in their original reliquaries. Since the relics were not in their reliquaries, there was only the word of the relic-monger that the bones were those of a saint. With the lack of identification, the relic market was flooded by false relics, and it became hard to distinguish between the true saint relic and bones of an animal. The Council of Lyon forbade anyone to venerate any relic new on the scene without proper approbation by the Pope.  But once the relic was discovered, authenticated and enshrined in a church, pilgrims came flocking. Setting out on a pilgrimage to visit shrines that housed a relic became a way to be blessed and forgiven of sins. Often pilgrimages were prescribed by confessors as a form of penance.

The veneration of relics had a strong following until the sixteenth century, when the Protestant Reformation occurred. The Protestants had a rather violent reaction against the cult of relics and the saints to whom they belong, particularly the idea of saintly intercession. Martin Luther opposed the use of relics since many had no apparent proof of historic authenticity or any biblical support; it also “constitute[d] a reliance on works rather than on faith.”  Luther saw the cult of relics as an invention of the Roman Church. John Calvin rejected relics based on theology; and his followers, particularly in Northern Europe, destroyed many reliquaries, melting them and taking the precious gems that adorned them.  Calvin himself, though, confined his attacks to relics that appeared to be improbable, such as the multiple heads of Saint John the Baptist and even claimed that if one took all the pieces of the True Cross and put them together it would make a large ship. The Huguenots in France were probably the most violent when destroying reliquaries.  Some of the French churches still bear the marks of their attacks.  In England, many relics were destroyed, especially the relics of Saint Thomas à Becket, which were taken from their reliquary, burned, and the ashes spread to the winds, though some say that Becket's bones were hidden elsewhere in the Cathedral.

The Council of Trent convened in 1545 in response to the criticisms of the Protestants. The Council, in its twenty-fifth session, stressed that, despite the lack of Biblical support, the veneration of relics was a legitimate devotion basing on the Apostolic tradition and the constant practices of the Church. There was also an affirmation of what earlier councils (such as Council of Lyon) and synods had said, especially the condemnation of anyone who denied the cult of relics as false or unholy. It also stressed the need for the cult of relics to be under the direct supervision of the Holy See and not the local bishops. Much of what Trent did to reorganize the veneration of relics still holds true today.

After Trent, however, the devotion to relics never returned to the level of fervor it had before the Protestant Reformation. Not much attention was given to them until the theologian F. Suarez collected the teachings concerning relics and commented upon them. He built his argument on top of Saint Augustine's saying that “the relation between the saint and his relics is not to be sought in physical continuity … but in the reason on which the moral dignity of the relics is based.”  Around the age of so-called Enlightenment, theologians had differing views of the cult of relics. Some viewed the cult of relics on a different, even a lower, level then that of the cult of saints, but others viewed the cult on the same level. Saint Robert Bellarmine, in his De Ecclesia trimphanti distinguished the respect and honor given to relics here on Earth and the honor given to the saints in Heaven. Cardinal Billuart explains that relics as materiel objects have absolutely no right to be venerated, and that this right comes in the formal aspect in which they are worthy of the same veneration as the saint.

The cult of relics has never been a foreign idea in the Catholic Church; it has been there since the beginning and is by no means an invention of the Medieval Church. It has been an integral part the the Church's development and has aided in the strengthening of the resolve of the faithful. This veneration of the holy dead still plays a role today in the Church and should not be discontinued.

End of Part Two.

End of Chapter One.
To Be Continued............
(Copyright: Belongs to the Wanderer)
(If interested in research please contact me.)

Christmas Songs

"Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year ….."
            - 'Christmas Time is Here', Charlie Brown Christmas

Yes it's that time of year in which I hide as much as I can from the secular Christmas. I was shocked to find that some radio stations that play the non-stop Christmas music for the season did not even have the decency to wait until after Thanksgiving (US) to start playing 'Jingle Bell Rock'. I shudder (a lot).

This year is especially hard to enjoy the overly joyous occasion considering the year I had to content with ( the loss of my nephew and of a job to name of few). But I fully intent to have a good Christmas – when December 25^th comes around.

I will confess that I do listen to the radio stations that have non-stop Christmas music, mostly because most stations in my area play music that I do not really enjoy. One song has caught my attention, and I don't really remember it being played on the radio in years past. Namely this one: Prayer of St. Francis, (sometimes mistakenly called 'Make Me a Channel of Your Peace').  A nice, simplistic, beautiful hymn when done right.  Thing that I do not get is why is this considered a Christmas song?  My Church has often sang this song for one reason or another, but never for Christmas and I, myself, have never really considered it a Christmas song.  A head scratcher this one.

Which leads me to another point that has plagued my (sometimes) thinking mind for some years.  I find it interesting that the only time God can be mentioned in any causal conversation that won't lead to arguments or death threats is during the month of December.  Just about little more than half of the Christmas songs deal with the Incarnation and God the Father.  It's probably the safest time to be Catholic when so much Catholic Theology is being sung on the radio.  Don't believe me! Well let's take a look, shall we (please note I will focus on songs that are oft played on the radio):

Silent Night:  This German carol basically recites what occurs in the Gospel in a sweet, simple tune.  It sings of the Virgin Mother, the shepherds the angels speak to, and there's even a subtle reference to Easter.

Twelve Days of Christmas: Even though I think it's neat, I really don't believe that this song was written by English Catholics during the days of heavy persecution in Great Britain to teach the faith in secret.  For one thing, partridges are not native to Great Britain and I believe that they weren't on the island as of yet when the song was written.  But that's not the point!!  The point is it got you thinking about English Catholics and different aspects of the faith.  So ha!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman: An oldie but goodie English carol that, like Silent Night,

recites the events of the Gospel.  Here we are told that this event brings us 'comfort and joy', also harkening to Easter.

The First Noel/Nowell: This carol sings of the Announcement of the birth of Christ, both of the Christmas Star for the Magi and the Angels speaking to the shepherds.  This is not played as often as the other carols aforementioned, but it is heard and I have yet heard a version that has made my ears bleed. :)

Ave Maria:  This one actual surprises me with the frequency I hear it on the radio.  I am referring to the Franz Schubert version of the song.  Though not originally intended for the Latin prayer, Ave Maria, (original lyrics Ellens dritter Gesang) the prayer slipped into the melody with moving and uplifting results.

These are just a few examples of songs that I have found, and I am sure there are more out there that I have not mentioned.  But this is just to get you thinking.

I must be going now, the clink and the clank I hear is the notice that my parents have begun pulling out Christmas decorations from the attic and my cue to hide before I'm overwhelmed with merriment!!

Happy Advent!

Oh boy...

I have quite a hectic past few weeks.  Between losing my job and job hunting I've little time to devote to this blog. For that I do apologize to the few people who actually read this.  I do have an interview lined up at a place where I really do want to work - so cross your fingers and say a prayer for me.

Any who.... please do check out my jewelry through this cleverly crafted link to my other blog.  If there is anything you like or would like to see please feel free to email me!

Pax!

Random Fun Quotes

"Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere."

          --- G. K. Chesterton

"If there were no God, there would be no Atheists."

        --- G. K. Chesterton

"I dislike allegory wherever I smell it."
      --- J.R.R. Tolkien

"Charge 'em and they scatter!" 
      ---J.R.R. Tolkien, on driving a car among other vehicles

Where Art Thou, O Muse?

I find my self in the most disheartening of situations an artist can find herself in - lack of inspiration.  In terms of my creative side I have several projects going on at once.  This is because sometimes if one thing does not strike my fancy to do I go on to another project, do a little here, a little there - that sort of thing.  But for the past month nothing, absolutely nothing. My Muse has been deathly silent, or lost and confused.

Death and despair, I cry into the wind!!!Not even day dreaming!!!! And that's just sad. :(  

I hope in the next few days my Muse will find a voice and hit me with something fantastic!  Especially now since Doctor Who is over til the fall.  Curse you Steven Moffat for ending with a cliff hanger! Maybe when Psych come back I will think of something.

The several projects I have going on are my jewelry, my writing, and my drawing.  For my jewelry I have been trying to put together my own website so I don't have to depend on etsy or ebay to do any transactions. The program is simply enough but when I sat down to do it - nothing zlich zip nada. I could not figure out how I wanted to design the website to display my jewelry properly.  I also have not been inspired to created any new wearable art.

My writing has been the worst victim.  I haven't written anything of significance since last summer ended.  I go back to my notes and tweak here and there with characterizations, but plot has not been dealt with. I have a vague understanding of how it will all play out so I just need to bit the proverbial bullet as it were, sit down and write.

Drawing -- I feel like I have to start all over again when it comes to drawing.  I have not picked up a pencil to do anything other than to scribble notes and a scrap of paper for work. I heave a heavy sigh for my art.  I cannot even remember the last time I drew a picture of any sort.

So if any of you see a mute Muse or a confused Muse it's mine and could you please be so kind as to send the Muse in my direction.  The reward: my eternal gratitude!  :)

Surprise

Hot and windy have to be one of the worst combinations found in nature.  One would think that the wind would cool things down, but no, it's simply more hot air coming through making the day even more hot.

I just had to get that out, so anyway . . .

For those of you who know me personally I have started my own small jewelry business called Theatre Phoenix Jewelry.  For those of you who wish to see some of my work click on this cleverly crafted link.  Presently there's not much on there mostly for the reason that I've been interrupted by Life. Curse you Responsibility!!!  But I will soon put items on the site and revamp it to look nicer.  I also display my work in an art gallery in the town where I live.  The owner is an absolute sweetheart and loves to chat.  She loves getting different types of artisans together so they can share their work.  I have already met some interesting people there and have had loads of fun.

Well I walked into the gallery one day and she told me she sold one of my necklaces!!  My reaction was one mixed with giddiness and surprise.  Giddy because one of my pieces was sold and surprised because one of my pieces was sold.  I am glad that there are some people who like my work well enough to buy it and willingly wear it in public!!  I can tell you that just made my week.:)

So that is my big surprise!  I am now so psyched to make more items! Watch out world, here comes my art!

A Random Post for a Random Day

A house with all four sides facing north, a bear walks by -- What color is the bear?

What's the answer?

:)

Do You Know What Your Shirt is Saying?

T-shirts -- the epitome of casualness, no fuss nor muss of clothing.  It says 'Today is one of comfort and ease.'  I have my share of t-shirts, ranging from the solid colour tee to ones sporting sayings (I especially love my 'Hello Sweetie' shirt - River Song is awesome!)  It is my ultimate stay-at-home wear!  I have developed the need to spruce up my appearance whenever I have to go out into public, even for errands.  This does not mean I put on a dress when I need to run out and get bread.  I usually put on a blouse over my t-shirt or put on a polo shirt, then go out.

I know not everyone shares this same fashion sensibility as I do and as long as people are modestly and respectfully dressed I really don't mind what you have on.  Which brings me to the question stated above: Do you know what your shirt is saying?

With my weekend job I see a lot of t-shirts and I entertain myself by looking for very clever designs.  I am not ashamed to say I am partial to geeky shirts concerning Doctor Who, Star Wars, etc.  I get giddy when I see a shirt bearing an joke or phrase that only fans would understand and it brightens my day when the customer geeks out with me! :)  (Say it with me people: Don't Blink!)

Then there are those designs that make me scratch my head and wonder 'How did that get past good taste?'  This category includes crude phrases to suggestive images.  Most of these tend to be focus on sexual conquest and objectifying woman (many times both).  I have often run out of brain bleach with the frequency in which I see these shirts.  I am also very surprise when women are wearing t-shirts that demean their personhood into an object of sex to be use and then thrown away.  Can someone explain why woman do that do themselves?  What really gets my goat is when I see a suggestive comment on a child's, (yes you read that correctly, a child's) shirt.  (I want my goat back!)  I have often wanted to ask the wearer of these shirts 'Do you know what your shirt is saying?' but due to my position of customer service and mostly it is not my place to remark to a stranger, I say nothing.  

I guess in a way this relates back to my post on swearing, both being very similar.  I hope that someday people will remember that being funny doesn't have to be crude and that a lot of these t-shirts are very insulting and hurtful. 

So I ask again: Do you know what your shirt is saying?

I end this post with a toast to good humor and taste!

Prost!

The Power of Words

I think it's been just over a month since my last post.  Life got in the way and there was nothing I could do about it.

Anyway...... On to the next post!

"Words, words - they're all we have to go on."



This quote is from a play I recently did working as an assistant director from 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead' by Tom Stoppard.  It is an absurdist, existentialist tragicomedy, one I would recommend seeing it about two or three times to understand all the subtle humour that is in it.

The above quote was the one of the few that stuck with me when I first read the script because it is so true.  The English language in particular has so many words in it that many people who take up English as a second language consider it one of, it not the most expressive language on the planet.  This makes sense when one thinks about the many influences other languages have had on it.

When one knows the English language well, one is able to create anything from expressive poetry to thinly or heavily veiled threats.  It's all in the words!

With that said it sadden me when I have talk with people who have been raised in an English speaking nation and the words coming out of their mouths sound nothing like the language.  For one of the many jobs that I hold I have to deal with a lot of young people, who, for some reason or another, speak, what I understand people call, Ebonics.

I have tried my best to understand it, but to me it sounds as though the person is too lazy to pronounce the  word and thus makes his speech sound like he is talking through mush.  At this point I would like to point out that I have little to no problem when is comes to accents or slang (i.e. That's so wicked! Dude! or even Yo!).  Accents and slang reflect a local area's culture; England has the Cockney accent, New York City has the Brooklyn accent, Texas has the Cowboy-like accent (I have no idea what the official name of it is).  Within these accents and slangs there is still some sense of grammar, none of which I can find in Ebonics no matter how hard I try.

Which brings me to the point that got this whole post started: 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead'.  This show has so much word play and subtle humour that is unfortunately went over the heads of many people in the audience.  When I work purely backstage for a show I enjoy listening to the audience's reaction.  For this show I was at least hoping for good heartfelt chuckles, but instead I should have brought a recording of crickets for most of the performances.  We did, thank goodness, have two good audiences (I cannot tell you how draining it is when you are on stage and you get no reaction from the audience).

The playwright, Tom Stoppard, said that this show had to been seen rather than read, I agree.  Reading a play and seeing a play are two completely different experiences.  But I have to say that when I first read the script I was laughing hysterically over the seemingly nonsensical syllogisms and explanations of actions.  It's all there in the words! 

Words are a powerfully thing that is no longer utilized by the common people.  We have been reduced down to cursing for anything ranging from a stubbed toe to getting frustrated at people.  Even using curses and swears to describe good things (that I can't wrap my head around).  I say it is time to reclaim the English language and use it the fullest potential!!

Find a word, use it, add it to your arsenal of words!!

Keep English alive!

Let us not be reduced down to '1984' simple speech!

Pray for Fr. John Corapi and All Priests 

Dulce Et Decorum Est

By Wilfred Owen

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of disappointed shells that dropped behind.

GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And floundering like a man in fire or lime.--
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.

Inception - Done in 60 seconds

I thought this was neat.

Enjoy!