@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
On The ballot this November will be two issues concerning smoking in public places in Ohio. One is a meaningful ban on smoking, and we are for that. The other is a “smoke screen” confusing deal sponsored by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. that looks like a smoke reduction measure, but really would be the reverse. I am o pposed to that. No on 4, but “Aye” on Five.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
“Is identification required in order to vote?
Yes. You must provide proof of your identity in the form of either a current, valid photo ID or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and current address.
If you do not have identification, you can provide the last four digits of your social security number and cast a provisional ballot.
If you do not wish to provide your social security number, you may swear an affidavit and cast a provisional ballot. However, you must provide identification to the board of elections within ten days of casting the provisional ballot for it to be counted.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
For the most part, the Dem. ticket
Governor of Ohio: Ted Strickland
Lt. Governor: Lee Fisher
Sec’y of State: Jennifer Brunner
Att’y General: Marc Dann
Treasurer of State: Richard Cordray
Auditor of State: Barbara Sykes
State Senator District 7: Rick Smith
State Senator district 9: Eric Kearney
28th district State Rep:Connie Pillich
29th District State Rep: Brent Gray (I met Brent at a picnic for Todd Portune. Black guy. Handsome. Seemed nice.)
31st District State Rep: Steve Driehaus
32nd District: Kim Hale (she is a Republican. Gerry Kraus personally witnessed her opponent Dale Mallory as then pres. Of the West End Community Council refuse to allow about 250 people
The chance to talk at a public meeting, they had come to discuss the City Link proposal and h e said “it isn’t on the agenda” and wouldn’t let them air their views. Very bad. Maybe those nasty things said about him defaulting and under prosecution etc. are true.)
33rd District: Tyrone Yates (everyone says, a great guy. Smart. African-American.)
34th Dist. Steve Silver
35th Dist: Karen Adams
U.S. Senate: Sherrod Brown
U.S. Congress: 1st District (W. Of vine St.to the Ind. border): John Cranley
2nd Dist (East of vine and into the rural areas): Victoria Wulsin
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
JUDGES
Ohio Supreme Court: Vote for two according to Firooz Namei, salonista and attorney (although the League of Women Voters says vote for one. Then they list four candidates. Must be a typo.)
Firooz recommends William Michael O’Neill and Ben E. Espy.
He says Espy is a nice guy and he would be the first African American on the Supreme Court of Ohio. O'Neil is a good guy. And, Firooz says the New York Times did a big article on Terrence O’Donnell, the incumbent. Over all the years of his being on the court he has always voted for the cause of those who have contributed to his campaigns, 100% of the time. Looks l ike a bad case of Justice for Sale.
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
G.R. Schloemer ... Endorsed by democrats, republicans, AND one of the teachers’ Unions. Also by Susan Glas, a long time Cincinnati public school teacher: who writes:
I am voting for Sam Schloemer for State Board of Education. He is a sitting member of the Board. He voted against the insertion of intelligent design in to the state's secondary science curriculum. He has been critical of the state's charter schools because of the woeful lack of oversight. My father works on a school funding committee that regularly meets in Columbus, and he supports Schloemer. The Cincinnati Federation of Teachers also endorses him.
Hritz (the opponent) is in favor of "creative inquiry." On an October airing of Channel 12 Newsmakers, he failed to answer direct questions about intelligent design. He repeatedly referred to his support of "creative inquiry." He is a supporter of charter schools, and one of his backers is Phil Heimlich, who has a financial interest in a Cincinnati charter school.
Susan
JUDGE HAMILTON COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
No democrats running. All are unopposed. Is t his a disgrace or what?
JUDGE, 1ST DISTRICT OHIO COURT OF APPEALS
James T. O’Reilly: a great guy; came to the salon last year. U.C. Law professor. Was very active In the effort to free innocent people on death row whose DNA test proved them not guilty. A liberal.
Other candidates for Ohio supreme court running unopposed. O’Reilly is running against Dinkelacker.
HAMILTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER
David Pepper
COUNTY AUDITOR: Dusty Rhodes
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Issues Issues Issues Issues
Issue 1 (about Worker’s compensation) was removed from the ballot.
Issue 2: Ohio Fair Minimum Wage Amendment: FOR the Amendment
Sets min. wage from $5.15 up to 6.85 per hour.
This would benefit our poorest Ohioans. We are for it.
Issue 3: gambling: AGAINST
It’s ugly, it amounts on a tax against the poor, and it works like a regressive tax. However, Todd Portune is for it. Sigh.
Issue 4: “Smoke Less” Ohio Constitution Amendment: AGAINST
Don’t be fooled. This would allow more smoking in public places than the current Cinti. City smoking ordinance, and would as a constitutional deal, trump the local ordinance. If it passes, no local governmental body could pass its own ordinances or laws pertaining to smoking in public places. Second hand smoke has been found to be a cause of illness and death (surgeon general). Plus, this issue does not belong at the constitutional level. Vote against this amendment, but
Issue 5: Smoke Free Workplace Act: FOR
Vote For this. ...”Prohibits smoking in enclosed areas of public places and enclosed areas in places of employment, exempting most private residences, family businesses, tobacco stores, some hotel rooms, some private clubs, smoking areas for residents of nursing homes, some patios and incense at religious ceremonies. The Ohio Dept. of Health would educate citizens and enforce the law.”
NOTE: if both 4 AND 5 pass, 5 would be cancelled out by 4.
Issue 12: THE JAIL TAX ISSUE
We are against the tax to build new jail facilities. The hype makes it sound like dangerous criminals are loose because we have inadequate jails. Not true. Those in the county jail are almost entirely petty crime offenders, and a huge number of them are there for drug related offenses. Something like 80 or 90% are people awaiting hearing for arraignment so they can post bail and go home. If we had a night court it would empty out a vast number, as people could be arraigned immediately. We are in favor of that; also in favor of measures to counteract the drug problem i.e. Education and social services. It is a shocking disgrace that America has 7% of its population locked u p behind bars. This is more than the Soviet Union had (6% ) at it’s highest levels during Communism. It is six times the number of other developed countries in the world. Are we a police state? Come on. Jails are big business. Like the drug trade, prisons ... Don’t get me started.
ISSUE 13: Renew tax levy for children’s services: We are FOR.
Issue 14: Renew Health and Hospitalization Levy: We are FOR. Pays for Children's’ and University Hospitals to serve the poor.
Issues 20 – 24: to allow places like supermarkets to sell alcohol on Sundays. We are for.
Come to the WEDNESDAY night salon. Now permanently on Wednesdays. ellen
Salon Weekly
~ In 4 Color-Coded Sections:
- Table Notes
- Announcements
- Articles
- Books, Reviews, Films, Magazines
A Weekly Email Publication of The Lloyd House: Circulation: 575. Growing out
of the Wednesday Night Salon For info about the Salon, see the bottom of
this email Join us at the Lloyd House every week of the year at 5:45 for pot
luck and discussion. 3901 Clifton Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio to Submit events
for the Weekly, send (not attachment) me email, subject line
"Weekly-Events:(description)", in Times New Roman font, Maroon color to
submit articles, send (not attachment) email, subject line:
"Weekly-Articles-(description)", in Times New Roman, Navy color. Saves me a
lot of work that way. Send submissions by Thursday evening.
To: Friends on our Pot Luck Salon list (575 as of July 8, 2006... Now in our
sixth year),
(to unsubscribe see below, bottom of page).
................................................... Section One: Table Notes
............................................................................
(Note: these notes were taken at
the table and have NOT been approved or corrected by the speakers. Reader
Beware of inevitable misunderstandings and misrepresentations. E.B.)
Table notes 11.1.06 At the Table:
Himavat Ishaya, Judy Cirillo, Mary Biehn, Linda Gruber, Bill Messer, Mr. G., David Rosenberg, Steve Sunderland, Ellen Bierhorst, Neil Anderson, Gerry Kraus, Marvin Kraus. Spencer Konicov.
Judy read the preamble.
GOOD NEWS Shared at the table
Ellen: Anna saw the heartbeat.
Himavat: people are waking up all over the place…more infinite wisdom flowing , truly.
Marvin: the pop. Of Cinti. Has increased 22,000 in the last five years. This was discovered by a volunteer underling working for the city. Previously believed to be a loss of population, due to an error. More people are moving into the city.
Gerry: I had two of my grandchildren come all the way from Amberly to trick or treat at my house .
Mr. G: when I came in tonight I had a $50 U.C. parking ticket; but just got a call from my office at UC and they are waiving it. … Also me and my partner won prize at a Halloween costume prize: I was Mary had a little lamb, with blond wig etc. My partner, Mary, was the lamb. (We want Mary at the salon!)
Judy: I am going soon to Portland to visit kids. Going to the School of the Americas* watch event. Nov 16-19. *(The School of the Americas has trained CIA stooges who go in to overthrow elected governments in Latin America. Salon lurker Joyce Kahle has gone many times to t his action. The School is a way bad endeavor by our government. Ellen)
David: December 18, getting married.
Steve: this Thursday at St. John’s we are going to have a parent of a soldier who refuses to go back to Iraq and is in jail. The father will talk, and a film will be shown about resistance in the military. Free. 7 pm. ( P.S. From Ellen: I went to this on Thursday, saw salonista Julie Murray , saw Peter Bloch. Both said watch Keith Olberman program “Countdown”, on MSNBC on cable or on internet. Moving film about G.I. War resisters during the Vietnam war. Saw t-shirt: “Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam”.
Also will be celebrating the 25 years of Winton Place Youth Center.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Judy: Women’s City Club, Community conversations with youth. Join us Nov 15 Wed at West End YMCA on Linn st, 5:00 food, 6:00 meeting.
Bill : I want to apologize to anybody who went to Junior Gallery when they were not open during the hours they were supposed to be open. Images Against War photography show.
Show goes now to Chicago Peace Museum in Garfield Park until March.
Mr. G. : I saw “the Boy’s Room”. Salonista Alan Scheidt is one of two lead characters. Very seductive. Intertwines cultural contradictions… Older man pursuing younger man.
Alludes to the Greeks; Mentor + Sexual relationship. Twelve steps program. Chews on all the issues in a unique, artistic way. (see link to Review, below in teal section.)
Marvin: we saw “a string of pearls” at Ensemble Theater. Very powerful, empowering, especially for women. Four wonderful women. Dale Hodges. … twenty seven parts played by four actresses. They were fantastic. Standing ovation. Will be there another couple of weeks. Also funny. Sensitive too.
Ellen: (read at the table Swami Beyondananda talk printed on the Weekly last week.)
David: any answers to our questions from last week?
Ellen: no, nobody responded to the plea in the Weekly that folks send in answers. Maybe no one knew. In the past readers have sent in responses. The questions were about the Banks project, about Fountain Square, and % of African-American profs.
Steve: there are 4000 profs at UC and 80 African American professors. Mighty low.
14% of the student body are Afr-Amer. Students.
Mr. G: when I was a grad student in U. of Michigan, there were demonstrations for more black students admitted. I heard a professor. say they were trying hard to get Blacks and it was hard to get them, because everyone in t he country was looking for Blacks who were qualified.
Bill: but it is ten cycles of undergrads. Since then.
Spencer my reason for asking the question is simple. You can’t get profs. If there are not people climbing that ladder, if that is not a goal they want to achieve.
David it is always very expensive to go to college and grad school.
Steve we have the highest rate of Blacks going to college and grad school that ever we have had. … we are a racist institution. At OSU the numbers of Blacks are much better. … We at UC are feeling embarrassed by the low numbers.
Gerry the NAACP is having their national convention here in a couple years. In 2008.
I think the business community, Mallory, Eric Kearney all worked hard to attract them.
Bill: On the question about free speech on the new Fountain Square. About ten years ago there was a big fight; resolved that it is a public forum and all speech is allowed. Apparently it doesn’t matter that 3CDC manages it.
David well no body knows for sure what the procedure is and who decides… Our two huge expenditures, the Banks and Fountain Square, and nobody knows what the effect will be.
Marvin and the government square project…millions of dollars. We heard it was 40 million, spent on reconfiguring gov’t square for busses.
Steve: the important thing is that nobody among the 600 readers is really responding to the questions in the Weekly.
(p.s. By Ellen: on reflection I t hink it is more likely that readers didn’t know the answers. Would readers please send me a quick email, no body message, just subject line: <I saw the questions.> I will then print how many readers got this message. It is an important gauge of how wide is our actual reach. 600 on the mailing list but, how many readers are there really on a typical week?)
MUSLIM TRADITIONAL GARB FOR WOMEN: ALLOW IT?
Steve Karen Dabdoub was on Diane Rheem today. On Sun. she will talk at St. John’s at 11 am. The radio show was about whether people should have to wear or be allowed to wear garments that cover the whole face. In England some teacher’s assistant got a job in a public school without the face covering, and the ed. System said she couldn’t then wear it in the school to teach.
Gerry Karen said she herself wears a head scarf, but feels anyone who wishes to should be allowed to wear the full face covered.
Linda I think there is something legitimate in objecting to a teacher of young children having the eyes and mouth covered. …I can imagine other workplaces where it would be a problem not to be able to have facial clues.
\Bill consider the poker game…a person with their head covered would have an advantage. (doesn’t that mean that facial cues are important in our social intercourse? Inference inserted by ellen.)
Gerry …women in a dorm told they had to take it off to enter the dorm, because men were disguising themselves in burkhas to get into the dorm.
Linda I like being able to look around the room and see faces…
Marvin imagine a man comes in with a ski mask to your bank teller window. How would you feel? There is a lot to be said for seeing a person’s space. Consider your preferences to do business on the phone.
Gerry remember the laws passed against KKK hoods.
Bill there is something comfortable about wearing dark glasses; you can see, they can’t see your eyes.
Steve … you feel it is an advantage to her not to have to show her face. … emotional response.
Gerry one columnist said the Muslim men must be so animalistic that they can’t control themselves if they see a woman’s face …
David funny true story. Was visiting Rabbi Barr today. He downloaded this article; a woman from Turkey being tried because she has been reading the Sumerian clay tablets and she discovered the burkhas was a Turkish invention ancient days, for women who were initiating young men in sexual practices. She published this research. Now on trial for blaspheming.
This was pre Judaism. The religions were mainly goddess worshiping.
Steve I think this is an interesting topic and we ought to invite Karen back to discuss it. … they claim that they do not intend to offend … is it true? The Muslims are more marginalized than any other g roup including gays.
NUMBERS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN PROFS. AND STUDENTS AT U.C.
Spencer: Afr. American students at UC by dept. and major?
Steve the university does not have that information, to their embarrassment.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Mr. G: it may be true that there are no blacks in my department. How do you get them? It takes money. It always starts with money. … suppose you gave one 20,000 to come. What would that do to the morale of the other students in that dept.
Marvin sounds like the concern is that blacks are being deprived of the o pportunity to get grad school education. Why care where they go, Harvard or UC?
Mr. G you can’t find money for a small department that traditionally doesn’t have much money.
David Steve is talking about what is needed; Mr. G. is saying what IS.
Spencer a new grad in sociology gets maybe 23k, first job. What does a grad mathematician get? 60k. A new grad in engineering: 50,000.
The rewards are there… why don’t the blacks pursue those areas?
David mainly we are not training people to get jobs, just to get a degree. If you get a degree in sociology there are probably no jobs. If a job in social work, you might get a job.
Steve masters level social workers get jobs.
Mr. G this is a hot topic. Is the university educational or vocational? The university is full of people on both sides of this divide, at each other’s throats. I am the general ed. Side. If the whole university goes to where the jobs are, some important fields will die. Just because they are not hot at the moment. Consider computer science; it is no longer hot. Should we kill that? I don’t think so.
David as a college student I resented being educated with no job prospects. Now I think it was good; I learned to learn. …most people learn what they use on the job once they get the job anyway.
Steve … there are many students leaving our university because they are not getting help with vocational choices.
Mr. G: I want to safeguard quality of the graduates in my dept. that’s the priority. Don’t want to bend the standards too much for racial inclusion.
Steve we are not asking you to bend the standards for inclusion.
Mr. G. I once had a conversation with a Black mother who threatened my life.
Steve all that affirmative action says is that we will increase the enrollment; does not say anything about the standards once the students are in.
Bill at U of MI there were (affirmative action admitted) people who were lost, totally at sea because they could not keep up.
Mr. G. Today we have many students who believe they are paying you for success, and if they don’t have success they blame you!
Spencer: I believe UC is missing a great opportunity. Charter schools…incompetents, who are not teaching basic knowledge. The University could get into that field. … I think about the education I got; a lot of those teachers were brilliant women. They couldn’t go into industry because of prejudice against women so they went into schools.
… in the 1920’s, high school and university profs were paid the same …
Ellen I believe that today Cinti. Public School teachers with some seniority and a masters degree make more than U.C. Entry level professors.
David we are trying to use the ed. System to rectify the inequalities of our economic system. It sets up an inherent conflict
TALKING STICK sent around the table for everyone to speak on t his important topic
Gerry this week or last one of the local major companies set up a foundation to help public schools to concentrate in the sciences because they needed employees and they were not getting qualified people. … when I went to visit Cinti State, 50% of the pop there were African. Amer. Because they were looking for jobs, not gen’l ed.
Linda: think our whole conscious level in a state of denial in this country as to what we attend to. C Span book review: “we are all building new brains each day by what we pay attention to”. TV watching… no respect for learnedness, any kind of education. Total cynicism, making fun of everything.
Mary thinking of that kid’s movie, Johnny Neutron, “first they came for the intellectuals”.
“first they came for the Communists, and I didn’t stand up to them because I wasn’t a comm..
then they came for the homosexuals and I didn’t stand up to them because I wasn’t a homosexual….
Then they came for me and no one stood up to them because there was no one left.”
Himavat What are we going to do about it.? All about consciousness. … making equality show up… what are we going to do when the NAACP comes and discovers that we don’t have interaction with the Muslims in town …
What we focus on grows.
If we want a better world. A better UNIV. of Cinti… a better world. For me, focus on the solution, not the problem. It means taking my passion and focusing on what I can do to make it better tonight or next week.
I don’t have any way of changing the ratio of African. American students…
No wonder that Cinti State has more African. American students; they want the vocational opportunities. We are privileged here at this table.
Woman with a veil over her face… It’s all a bout consciousness. We have to somehow com together and respect each other.
Find a way to get to the respect. Both sides to see the value brought by the o ther. Then Bush wouldn’t exist any more. Bring that consciousness to every day.
The trick is to make a different choice; take your passion … I get really frustrated when we go around in circles, instead of focusing on creating the solution.
That’s hard for me.
So I keep coming back…\
Bill at one point you said something about going back to our worlds. I don’t feel that segregation between this table and my “world”. But consciousness makes a lot of sense. We are raising our consciousness when we are talking like t his. As a result we will have a whole new set of thoughts when we do confront a person in a veil. By discussing these things, our next encounter is going to be different. Makes something change. I am not expecting this to be a UN think tank. What we do do is fine, I t hink. And it could happen that wonderful solutions gush up from the center of the table…
I’ve been away a couple weeks… I know I’ve changed my sense of what I want from this. I am very glad that you remind us of consciousness; that is how change happens.
Steve Gratitude to everyone for sharing tonight. We have given voice to our different shades of different colors. The solution is being compassionate enough to listen to each other; to let out the disagreements as well as the agreement. I am glad people have the chance to air their…
David WE LOOKED a lot at education… I am always suspicious of captains of industry who say “we can’t get ahead because we don’t have enough bright people”. That is wrong. Education is a by product of a society being able to survive, to create basic necessities of life to have education. That’s why the poor are going to Cinti. State because the first step is to have a roof over your head and food and clothes for the rest of your life. We have not as a society been able to have that. We have let a few people do well and controlled the rest of the pop. To underachieve. A sad state of affairs. The biggest problem is not ed. But the inequalities in our society and the consciousness we need to change to live in a finite world with finite resources. The people in charge are still treating the world as infinite pool of resources and manpower and it just ain’t so.
Mr. G I can’t get my mind off the similarity between UC and the placid acceptance I think this group has about our total white make up (no non caucasian people at the table tonight. Ellen). Do we call it a problem that Blacks don’t want to be with us? I have never solved the problem. We have had occasional blacks here, but they don’t come back much. We are somewhat diverse I think in terms of personalities and interests. The strong p oint of the g roup. But I don’t see any Arabs here either. Why? Part of me accepts it, part is sad about it. I would like Arabs here to discuss my stereotypes, and the messages f rom the media. It’s hard to resist that.
Marvin: I live in a very simple world. I t hink everybody is somebody, everybody has something to offer, something I can learn from. Bothers me no end when I have to deal with people who feel that they have been given this little box within which they operate and can’t do anything else accept what they have been trained. Like someone who works in the bank and can only do the one job. I thank God I went to college and said “I want the most liberal arts education” and I realize it really helped me to think beyond … Each of us needs to encourage anybody to think. Everybody has a brain and they don’t even realize sometimes how much they are capable of doing, but who is around to encourage them? Encourage technical schools AND liberal arts. I can’t repair my car… encourage people to be themselves and go do things.
~ End of Table Notes~
Hugs to everyone, Ellen
Section Two: Announcements
...................................................................................“The boys room” [Sunday-Tuesday Nov 5,6, & 7 @ 8 PM]: A 40-year-old advertising executive develops a relationship with a 15-year-old boy he meets on the Internet. Told in the structure of a business seminar 12-step program seminar. By Kevin Barry, featuring (salonista) Alan Scheidt & Ben Newell,(a U.C. Undergraduate) directed by Michael Burnham. At the Underground (an intimate cabaret space on the building’s 1st floor), Know Theatre of Cincinnati, 1120 Jackson Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.300.KNOW, info@knowtheatre.com, & www.knowtheatre.com. See Review link below in Teal section
Heard this morning that tomorrow there will be published simulatneous editorials in all the newspapers of the several branches of the armed services calling for the dismissal of Sec. of Defense Rumsfeld. It is an unprecedented consensus of all the papers. E.
Also heard from salonista Richard Blumberg that today’s program on This American Life (radio) is about Iraqi civilian casualties, and features his son Alex blumberg. You can catch it online as well.
From Salonista Julie Murray:
Ellen,
Here is the link to the video-clip I spoke to you about. This is the quality
of what Keith Olberman is doing every night on his show on MSNBC from 8-9 pm.
(I think it may be on later also) He is amazing in his clarity and articulate
courage in confronting the current administration.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1985322778346849934&hl=en
Also, be sure to have everyoine see "The USA against John Lennon" playing
this week only at the Mariemont Theater. Hopefully it will come to the Esquire
soon, but I saw it yesterday and it is fabulous!!!! Our kids all need to see
this documentary - it is such a beautiful testimony to the power of art and
genius and commitment.
Julie
.
Tri-State Treasures
Tri-State Treasures is a compilation of unique local people, places, and events that may enrich your lives. These treasures have been submitted by you and others who value supporting quality community offerings. Please consider supporting these treasures, and distributing the information for others to enjoy. And please continue to forward your Tri-State Treasures ideas to jkesner@nuvox.net.
Information about Tri-State Treasures and how to submit Tri-State Treasures are at the bottom of this email. Please help me by providing all basic information and formatting your submissions as described below.
Sincerely, Jim
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vote! [Tuesday 7 November @ 6:30 AM - 7:30 PM]: One of our greatest treasures is the opportunity & responsibility to vote for local, state, & national leaders & issues. So much is at stake this year. Encourage & remind friends & family. More info @ www.smartvoter.org/2006/11/07/oh/hm/.
Sports Fans & Non-Sports Fans - Click for Free Soup for Cinti. Freestore Foodbank: We need your clicks. The Bengal are neck-&-neck with the Steelers & Packers to win free soup for the homeless. Bengals fan & those indifferent to the Bengals can support quality life in Cincinnati simply by clicking online for the Bengals at www.chunky.com/clickforcans.aspx. If the Bengals get the most votes, Campbell's will donate Chunky soup to the Cincinnati Free Food store: 1 can for every pound of the team's roster. Based on the Bengals web site, that's 13,039 cans of Chunky soup! Plus, the team that improves the most in the number of clicks from last year will receive 2,006 cans of soup. The Bengals are currently 2nd in a close race with the Pittsburg Steelers & Green Bay Packers; they're currently the Most Improved Clicks team. This is a great cause, free, easy, & takes only seconds of your time. Bookmark the site & vote everyday. Please support the local freestore foodbank by voting for the Bengals, & passing this on to all who would support Cincinnati, whether they are Bengals fans or not.
Celebrating 20 Years of the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Program [thru Thursday 30 November]: Named for Robert S. Duncanson (1821–1872), the internationally renown painter of the 8 landscape murals at the Taft Museum of Art, the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence program recognizes outstanding African American artists. This year's celebration brings 17 of 19 past artists for 20 days of programs, school outreach, events, workshops, performances, & an exhibition. Programs are free & take place at Taft Museum of Art (TMA, 316 Pike Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202) unless otherwise indicated. RSVP indicates reservations are required. More info & RSVP @ 513.241.0343 ext 39, ythomas@taftmuseum.org & www.taftmuseum.org/duncanson_society.htm.
— Opening: 20 Years & Evolving [Friday 3 Nov @ 6-8 PM, thru 30 Nov]: Exhibit features works by visual artists Tyrone Geter, Tarleton Blackwell, Melvin Grier, & Thom Shaw. Free to TMA members; $10 general public. Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center, 1028 Scott Boulevard, Covington, KY 41011.
— Spoken-Word Performance [Thursday 9 Nov @ 6 PM]: Performer Dhana Bradley-Donaldson, author & educator Sharon Draper, & spokenword artist Annie Ruth present Three Voices: An Elegant Evening of Wisdom & Wit. At Fath Auditorium, Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati,OH 45202.
— Youth Studio-Digital Photography [Saturday 11 Nov @ 10 AM - Noon]: Youth ages 11–15 will work with photojournalist Melvin Grier to sharpen their vision & capture an image that tells a story. Bring a digital camera. RSVP. At TMA.
— Twenty Men & a Tabletop [Sunday 12 Nov @ 5-9 PM]: Twenty men of distinction display thematic tabletops, while guests enjoy dinner by the bite & great music during this fundraising event. $75. RSVP. At TMA.
— Adult Studio-Digital Photography [Saturday 18 Nov @ 10 AM - Noon]: Photographer Melvin Grier explores the difference between a picture & a photograph as participants take photographs around Lytle Park. Bring a digital camera. RSVP. At TMA.
Religion in Crisis: Putting the Pieces Back Together - A Kristallnacht Commemoration [Monday 6 November @ 7:30 PM]: Rabbi Gottschalk, Chancellor at Hebrew Union College, & Father Graham, President of Xavier University, engage in dialogue to commemorate the 68th anniversary of Kristallnacht & discuss the state of Jewish-Christian relations. Presented by The Center for Holocaust & Humanity Education & the Edward B Brueggeman Center for Dialogue of Xavier University. Free & open to the public. At Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Mayerson Hall, 3101 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220. More info @ 513.487.3055 & chhe@huc.edu.
Le Trivia [Wednesday 8 November @ 6:15 PM]: Those marvelous folks from Alliance Française de Cincinnati are back with marvelous Franco-American fun, food, & trivia. While dinner is being served, teams will answer questions projected on a video screen. Le Trivia includes categories of entertainment, culture, sports, plus blind cheese & wine tasting. The entire game is bilingual: English & French. Create your own team of 8 with the best possible cultural mix of people, or register to join an existing table. Download & fill out the form at www.france-cincinnati.com/af/pdf_files/trivia06form.pdf, mail it in with your check, and voilà! At the Archway Ballroom, the Phoenix, 812 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. More info @ 513.389.9100, eric.vespierre@unisys.com, & www.france-cincinnati.com/af/.
Day of Dialogue on Iraq [Friday 10 November @ 7-9:30 PM]: Listen & then dialogue about the personal stories & perspectives offered by 4 Iraq veterans. Not all veterans think alike. Move beyond rhetoric & debate to engage in deep conversation, dialogue, a place where new possibilities can emerge. Significant outreach is being made to people who hold all different viewpoints. This is the event to bring your conservative & liberal family & friends. Everyone's point of view is welcome & needed to help deepen the dialogue. After the initial dialogue, participants will break into small groups to engage in facilitated, respectful dialogue. Program: Refreshments @ 6:45 PM; welcome @ 7 PM; panel of 4 Iraq veterans share varying points of view @ 7:05 PM; small breakout dialogue sessions @ 8:15 PM. Free, reservations encouraged. Sponsored by Xavier University Army ROTC & the Intercommunity Justice & Peace Center. At Bellarmine Chapel, Xavier University, 3801 Ledgewood Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45207. More info & RSVP @ 513.579.8547, kristen@ijpc-cincinnati.org, & www.ijpc-cincinnati.org.
Pamela Means - Folk Artist House Concert [Friday 10 November; meet artist @ 7 PM; concert @ 8-10 PM]: OUTmusic award winner who has shared the stage with Janis Ian, Pete Seeger, Neil Young, Holy Near, & Shawn Colvin among others. $12 in advance @ www.womenoutfront.com. In a private home in Western Colerain Township, address supplied upon ticket purchase. More info @ events@womenoutfront.com & www.pamelameans.com.
Association for Rational Thought [Saturday 11 November @ 10 AM]: Stephen Benoit, PhD, University of Cincinnati Center for Obesity Study, discusses if obesity a learning disorder. Free. Molly Malone's Restaurant (formerly the Dubliner), Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, Cincinnati, OH. More info: www.cincinnatiskeptics.org.
The Movies That Changed Us with Nick Clooney [Wednesday 15 November @ 6-8 PM]: Broadcast journalist Nick Clooney discusses his book "The Movies that Changed Us: Reflections on the Screen" by showing film clips & discussing the movies that have impacted our lives, include Saving Private Ryan, Star Wars, & The Birth of a Nation. Free; RSVP @ 877.672.9965. At the Harriet Tubman Theater, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati OH 45202. More info @ 513.333.7500, ETurner@nurfc.org, & www.freedomcenter.org.
Community Conversation: Courageous Listening [Wednesday 15 November; light refreshments @ 5:30 PM; conversation @ 6-8 PM]: Making connections. Join our gathering to consider youth, community, & violence. What gifts can we bring to address these issues? Is youth violence a public health issue? What’s possible? Let’s move from isolated concern to networks of action. Please join us. Youth and adults together. Wednesday 13 December will be a follow-up gathering to work on building action networks. Sponsored by Woman’s City Club with National Conference of Community & Justice, & First Unitarian Church. At Carl H. Lindner Family YMCA, 1425 Linn Street (1 block south of Linn & Liberty), West End, Cincinnati, OH 45214. More info @ 513.751.0100 or wcc@womanscityclub.org.
New School Open House [Wednesday 15 November @ 7-8:30 PM]: The New School is the area's oldest full-day Montessori serving children ages 3-12, with full & half-day programs available, located in the historic Mitchell mansion. Children & parents are welcome to come & meet the staff, tour the school, & enjoy refreshments while learning about Montessori. At the New School, 3 Burton Woods Lane, North Avondale, Cincinnati, OH 45229. More info @ 513.281.7999, barbara.gray@thenewschool.cc, & www.thenewschool.cc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tri-State Treasures is compiled by James Kesner.
You are invited to the Citizens for Civic Renewal Working Together Works Roundatble
Find more details below and in the attached newsletter.
note: we are using an expanded distribution list to get the word out about this meeting. If you receive more than one notice please let me know your preferred address. Thanks!
What: Citizens for Civic Renewal Annual Meeting - Working Together Works
Who: Councilman Chris Bortz, City of Cincinnati
Commissioner Pat DeWine, Hamilton County
Roxanne Qualls, Director of Public Leadership Initiatives, Northern Kentucky University
Councilman Frank Sommerkamp, City of Crestview Hills
Its been said that Greater Cincinnati’s strength is its diversity and its weakness is its fragmentation. Our myriad governments may be the most obvious example of our region’s fragmentation. Four of the region’s leaders of efforts to work together while maintaining jurisdictional autonomy outline their current work and their future visions for local government collaboration in Greater Cincinnati. This is your opportunity to hear about the positive efforts of our local governments and to join in the discussion about how to build on these wins.
When: Saturday, November 11th from 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Rookwood Tower (5th floor)
3805 Edwards Road
Steve Johns
Citizens for Civic Renewal
Rookwood Tower, Suite 549
3805 Edwards Road
Cincinnati, OH 45209-1948
513-458-6736
513-458-6610 (f)
www.citizenscivicrenewal.org <http://www.citizenscivicrenewal.org>
MLK chorale now morphed into Voices of Freedom chorus
Still under the
direction and inspiration of Cathy Roma (of Muse, of St. John’s, etc.) and
Bp. Todd O’Neal of House of Joy church in College Hill. Rehearsals : 2nd and 4th Tuesday of Nov, Dec,
plus Jan 2 and 9
at 6:30
(Nov 14, 28, Dec 12, 26, Jan 2, 9)
Rehearsals in the Tubman theater at the Freedom Center. Go down Walnut street, cross over third. Freedom Center is on your right. Park on Walnut...there are spaces at that hour. Free. Put “Freedom Chorus” sign on your dashboard.
It’s beautiful down there. A blast singing together.
Singers needed! No audition! Men
singers especially needed.
This is a fantastic opportunity to build
interracial healing bridges in our city AND have a marvelous time as well.
I have sung in the chorale for many years. The group will perform at the
MLK Day celebration at Music Hall, of course, and also will sing in
March at the Freedom Center on Internat’l Women’s Day, March 8. Then off for the spring and summer. Parking: at the very foot of Walnut street. Carpooling is great. Cincinnati has
historically been a city of singing, thanks to those old Germans and to the
Black folks and the Appalachians. And the hispanics and the Italians and...
It is one of our strengths as a city. Cathy and Todd are wonderful to sing
for and with, and the spirituals music will lift your heart. Come give it a
try. Great fun, important piece of civic activism. Ellen.
Get this: The FREEDOM CENTER (NURFC) is FREE on the second Tuesday of every month f rom 2 to 5. This means you can pack your bag dinner, go down at 4 on the second Tues., get in free and see the Center, eat dinner, and be right there for the chorus rehearsal. Is what I’m going to do on Nov. 14. ellen
Section Three: Articles
Contents:
- Flu Season Again: Shirley Reischman recommends homeopathic approach
- Muslims and Jews come together for Peace, by Steve Sunderland
- George Orwell: Politics and Language (important short essay, forwarded by Steve Sunderland.)
Protect against Flu
I thought it’s that time of year when I should resend last year’s information on how to respond to the flu.
Yours,
Shirley
-----Original Message-----
From: Shirley Reischman [mailto:jereisch@fuse.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 11:12 AM
Subject: Common sense response to a possible flu pandemic
Hello Everyone,
Flu is a lot earthquakes. We know that every so many years a bad one is going to come around and every so many years a really, really bad one is going to come around. We’re overdue for a really, really bad one. It could come this year or it could come anytime in the next ten years or so, but come it will.
The problem with the avian flu is when it crosses species. We all some immunity to human flu viruses. We have no immunity to other species viruses. Flu viruses mutate easily. If someone with a touch of the human flu comes in contact with another species that has the flu virus (like pigs or birds), the viruses commingle and mutate into a completely new virus that humans have never met before and therefore have no immunity to. Someone compared it to the Europeans coming in contact with a native tribe that had never been exposed to measles. The entire tribe was wiped out from what to us would be a minor childhood illness.
There is no point in panicking and nothing is to be gained by labeling the people who try to predict such things as fear mongers. There is every advantage to being prepared.
There are several things to do.
1. The first step is to increase the ability of your immune system to fight off any invading virus.
a. This is the function of the homeopathic flu prevention remedy that I e-mailed everyone about last week. (You can get some from Shirley: Shirley Reischman <jereisch@fuse.net> ellen)2. Prevention
b. Get plenty of sleep, exercise and good diet, including the healthy omega 3 fats and no denatured foods.
c. Take Sambucol (black elderberry syrup) on a weekly basis.
a. Stay out of crowds and if you are with people who might be fluey, were a mask.i. If the ear drops bubble, use them every 2-3 hours until the bubbling subsides.
b. Wash your hands frequently and keep your hands away from your ears, nose, eyes and mouth.
c. Use a Neti cup daily with warm salt water.
d. Throughout the flu season, gargle daily with hydrogen peroxide and use hydrogen peroxide ear drops weekly.
3. If you get sick
a. Start the homeopathic flu remedy, either Influenzinum 200C or Oscillococcinum 200C (or alternate) at the first sign of not feeling well. Gelsimium and Bryonia are also two of the most frequently indicated homeopathic remedies for flu. Make sure you have a supply of all four available in case you get sick. ( Shirley Reischman <jereisch@fuse.net>)Yours,
b. Increase frequency of H2O2 gargle, ear drops and also the Neti cup usage. Also increase Sambucol to every two hours.
c. Go to bed and stay there – get plenty of rest and do not spread it to others.
d. Drink LOTS of fluids
e. DO NOT take fever reducers.
i. The fever kills viruses and increases production of interferon, which also kills viruses. The JAMA published a study about five years ago which showed that when you reduce the fever, you prolong the illness.
ii. Bundle up and try to increase the fever. You can use a cool cloth on your head if the heat is too uncomfortable.
f. Have a vaporizer available. Use steam to help keep the airways clear. People die from the flu because their airways clog up. If you are having trouble breathing, seek emergency help immediately.
Shirley
Steve Sunderland on Peace Village Update... Muslims and Jews come together for Peace
Remember ...what was it, “double t hink” or “double speak” from Orwell’s 1984? Lots of folks are dusting that off and reading it again together with Brave New World. ellenDear Friends:
The fears about inter-faith dialogue are mounting at the same time as war, prejudice and religious fanaticism increases: October has been the bloodiest month for the killing of American soldiers; a research report indicates over 600,000 Iraqi civilians are dead; and, a ghostly silence covers Israel and Lebanon since their war ended. As the American political campaign shifts to name calling, the result is drowning out complexity, compassion and clarity. Can dialogue emerge on the vital questions of war and peace? Are discussions hopeless? Even basic civility is open to question. Speakers in universities have been interrupted and silenced.
These questions were in our minds as we prepared to bring Muslims and Jews to the first meetings of the Peace Village series on inter-faith dialogue. The Peace Village and Muslim Mothers Against Violence met with the congregation of Temple Beth Or for a 90 minute discussion. Temple Beth Or is a beautiful synagogue in Kettering, Ohio. Ms. Shakila Ahmed and Dr. Aliya Kahn, Muslim Mothers Against Violence, joined me for an open-ended review of how Islam works as a faith and how politicians have misused key element of the religion. Over 60 members of the congregation joined us, including about 30 children and the senior Rabbi, Judy Chessian, Cantor, Joyce Dumtschin, and educational director, Rabbi David Burstein.
We started with recognition of how difficult it may be to discuss Islam when feelings about terrorism's connection to Islam is so much a part of people's thoughts since September 11, 2001. This meeting was the first Temple Beth Or has had with Muslims and the first time that the Peace Village and Muslim Mothers Against Violence had been invited to meet with a Jewish community. Thanks to the work of the temple's adult educator, Dr. Martha Moody, we were welcomed with great warmth and affection. The Temple's sanctuary filled up quickly with many children, their parents and other adult members. A feeling of excitement was in the air as we acknowledged we were entering a new space for peace making. The children, coming from Sunday School classes, had arrived with many questions about Islam. And, it turned out that several members of the congregation came with attitudes hardened by what they had heard about Islam's treatment of the Jews.
Islam, it was acknowledged, is known more as a political concept manipulated by the media and political leaders rather than as a religion. "How can we discuss Islam's religious core and political meanings?," was our challenge. Many Jews are not ignorant of the recent misrepresentations of their faith. The attack on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon was alleged to be the work of the Israelis. The Jewish Lobby, AIPAC, has been the subject of vicious analysis, especially following a review of its influence on American foreign policy. Mel Gibson's film, "The Passion of the Christ," was believed to be anti-Semetic by many who saw it. These views received support following Gibson's recent remarks blaming Jews for wars. Finally, the reported embarrassment of Virginia Senator George Allen upon discovering his "Jewish roots," continues to roil the Senator's campaign and add to confusion about Judaism.
American Jews are also caught in hateful messages about Islam or from fear inspiring attitudes that connect Islam to recent "end of Israel" statements by the Iranian president. Could we find a way through the maze of confusing, distracting and erroneous ideas put forth about Muslims and Jews, the relationship of Islam to terror acts toward the U.S. and Israel, and the role and freedom of women? Quickly, it was acknowledged that one main picture had been presented to the American public: "Islam is a religion of terror, violence and enslavement of women." Or, was this a lie?
Shakila presented a thoughtful review of the diversity within Islam's 1.6 billion members, both in the countries that have the most Muslims (Indonesia and India) and the mistaken ways in which Middle Eastern Muslims have been portrayed as the majority. Shakila ably reviewed the ways in which Muslim women are honored and the freedom of Muslim women to choose how to express their faith. The realization that only 1/10th of 1% of Muslim women wear the body covering garment, the burqa, opened eyes to one example of how the mind of non-Muslims have been shaped. A review of the many ways that cultures influence attitudes and customs toward women deepened our perspective and offered a contrast with what is a "too common" impression of enslavement.
Shakila examined the central tenets of the Muslim faith and the place of caring, charity, and devotion in the practices of many Muslims. She emphasized the rejection of violence in Islam's heart and the explicit disavowal of suicide, the killing of innocents, and the false use of the term, "jihad." What was described seemed to be the first time anyone had heard these concepts described in detail. The Islamic respect for people of the Book, Jews and Christians, was shared along with the differences.
Very quickly, questions began to flow about what people had seen in the media about women and violence. All of these questions revealed just how one-sided the images had been. The questions suggested that people wanted to get beneath the surface, to an appreciation of the many cultures in the world within which Islam is practiced. We had a good hour for such questions about so many of the rumors about Islamic practice.
The toughest questions were directed to interpretations about certain passages in the Qu'ran about unflattering terminology for Christians and Jews, as well as concerns that the Islamic holy book calls for a war, a "jihad," against Christians and Jews. Both Shakila and Aliya made attempts to discuss the many interpretations of sentences and words that may convey something totally different than the way it is portrayed in the media. One questioner refused to believe that a passage could have fundamentally different meanings until a 10 year old boy stood up and said: "We've learned that any one statement in the Torah can be seen in lots of ways, even one word. So, isn't it possible that there could also be different interpretations of the sentences?" He sat down to a great feeling of understanding and compassion.
Very quickly, our 90 minutes ended. We left Temple Beth Or with lots of good feelings and a request to return. We also left with feeling that understanding between the faiths needs to include much of what this meeting had provided. People have a good and important curiosity about other faiths, especially in times of crisis, war and terror. The segregation of people of different faiths, along with the absence of opportunities to explore the meaning of practices different from one faith to another, raises the possibility of fearful misunderstanding and righteous indignation about which faith is "right." Temple Beth Or displayed a great willingness to be cordial, respectful of people from other faiths even when there was critical questions needing to be asked. We watched as people listened with open minds and hearts and then asked questions reflecting these attitudes plus concerns about terror and violence. What made this event so special was the trust the congregation put in its children and teachers to hear and question people of another faith. The children were prepared to be friendly and trusting, perhaps reflecting the depth of knowledge and respect in the overall congregation. We are eager to return and continue our dialogue, to change our world through friendship and understanding.
In peace,
Steve Sunderland, Ph.D., Director
Peace Village
513.919.2538
professor of educational foundations and peace studies
University of Cincinnati
College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0002
Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will be in our troubled world.
Etty Hillesum
George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946 (emphasis added. e.b.)
Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent and our language -- so the argument runs -- must inevitably share in the general collapse. It follows that any struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes. Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that language is a natural growth and not an instrument which we shape for our own purposes.
Now, it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because out thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts. The point is that the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step toward political regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional writers. I will come back to this presently, and I hope that by that time the meaning of what I have said here will have become clearer. Meanwhile, here are five specimens of the English language as it is now habitually written.
These five passages have not been picked out because they are especially bad -- I could have quoted far worse if I had chosen -- but because they illustrate various of the mental vices from which we now suffer. They are a little below the average, but are fairly representative examples. I number them so that i can refer back to them when necessary:
1. I am not, indeed, sure whether it is not true to say that the Milton who once seemed not unlike a seventeenth-century Shelley had not become, out of an experience ever more bitter in each year, more alien [sic] to the founder of that Jesuit sect which nothing could induce him to tolerate.
Professor Harold Laski (Essay in Freedom of Expression)
2. Above all, we cannot play ducks and drakes with a native battery of idioms which prescribes egregious collocations of vocables as the Basic put up with for tolerate, or put at a loss for bewilder .
Professor Lancelot Hogben (Interglossa)
3. On the one side we have the free personality: by definition it is not neurotic, for it has neither conflict nor dream. Its desires, such as they are, are transparent, for they are just what institutional approval keeps in the forefront of consciousness; another institutional pattern would alter their number and intensity; there is little in them that is natural, irreducible, or culturally dangerous. But on the other side, the social bond itself is nothing but the mutual reflection of these self-secure integrities. Recall the definition of love. Is not this the very picture of a small academic? Where is there a place in this hall of mirrors for either personality or fraternity?
Essay on psychology in Politics (New York)
4. All the "best people" from the gentlemen's clubs, and all the frantic fascist captains, united in common hatred of Socialism and bestial horror at the rising tide of the mass revolutionary movement, have turned to acts of provocation, to foul incendiarism, to medieval legends of poisoned wells, to legalize their own destruction of proletarian organizations, and rouse the agitated petty-bourgeoise to chauvinistic fervor on behalf of the fight against the revolutionary way out of the crisis.
Communist pamphlet
5. If a new spirit is to be infused into this old country, there is one thorny and contentious reform which must be tackled, and that is the humanization and galvanization of the B.B.C. Timidity here will bespeak canker and atrophy of the soul. The heart of Britain may be sound and of strong beat, for instance, but the British lion's roar at present is like that of Bottom in Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream -- as gentle as any sucking dove. A virile new Britain cannot continue indefinitely to be traduced in the eyes or rather ears, of the world by the effete languors of Langham Place, brazenly masquerading as "standard English." When the Voice of Britain is heard at nine o'clock, better far and infinitely less ludicrous to hear aitches honestly dropped than the present priggish, inflated, inhibited, school-ma'amish arch braying of blameless bashful mewing maidens!
Letter in Tribune
Each of these passages has faults of its own, but, quite apart from avoidable ugliness, two qualities are common to all of them. The first is staleness of imagery; the other is lack of precision. The writer either has a meaning and cannot express it, or he inadvertently says something else, or he is almost indifferent as to whether his words mean anything or not. This mixture of vagueness and sheer incompetence is the most marked characteristic of modern English prose, and especially of any kind of political writing. As soon as certain topics are raised, the concrete melts into the abstract and no one seems able to think of turns of speech that are not hackneyed: prose consists less and less of words chosen for the sake of their meaning, and more and more of phrases tacked together like the sections of a prefabricated henhouse. I list below, with notes and examples, various of the tricks by means of which the work of prose construction is habitually dodged:
Dying metaphors. A newly invented metaphor assists thought by evoking a visual image, while on the other hand a metaphor which is technically "dead" (e.g. iron resolution) has in effect reverted to being an ordinary word and can generally be used without loss of vividness. But in between these two classes there is a huge dump of worn-out metaphors which have lost all evocative power and are merely used because they save people the trouble of inventing phrases for themselves. Examples are: Ring the changes on, take up the cudgel for, toe the line, ride roughshod over, stand shoulder to shoulder with, play into the hands of, no axe to grind, grist to the mill, fishing in troubled waters, on the order of the day, Achilles' heel, swan song, hotbed. Many of these are used without knowledge of their meaning (what is a "rift," for instance?), and incompatible metaphors are frequently mixed, a sure sign that the writer is not interested in what he is saying. Some metaphors now current have been twisted out of their original meaning withouth those who use them even being aware of the fact. For example, toe the line is sometimes written as tow the line. Another example is the hammer and the anvil, now always used with the implication that the anvil gets the worst of it. In real life it is always the anvil that breaks the hammer, never the other way about: a writer who stopped to think what he was saying would avoid perverting the original phrase.
Operators or verbal false limbs. These save the trouble of picking out appropriate verbs and nouns, and at the same time pad each sentence with extra syllables which give it an appearance of symmetry. Characteristic phrases are render inoperative, militate against, make contact with, be subjected to, give rise to, give grounds for, have the effect of, play a leading part (role) in, make itself felt, take effect, exhibit a tendency to, serve the purpose of, etc., etc. The keynote is the elimination of simple verbs. Instead of being a single word, such as break, stop, spoil, mend, kill, a verb becomes a phrase, made up of a noun or adjective tacked on to some general-purpose verb such as prove, serve, form, play, render. In addition, the passive voice is wherever possible used in preference to the active, and noun constructions are used instead of gerunds (by examination of instead of by examining). The range of verbs is further cut down by means of the -ize and de- formations, and the banal statements are given an appearance of profundity by means of the not un- formation. Simple conjunctions and prepositions are replaced by such phrases as with respect to, having regard to, the fact that, by dint of, in view of, in the interests of, on the hypothesis that; and the ends of sentences are saved by anticlimax by such resounding commonplaces as greatly to be desired, cannot be left out of account, a development to be expected in the near future, deserving of serious consideration, brought to a satisfactory conclusion, and so on and so forth.
Pretentious diction. Words like phenomenon, element, individual (as noun), objective, categorical, effective, virtual, basic, primary, promote, constitute, exhibit, exploit, utilize, eliminate, liquidate, are used to dress up a simple statement and give an air of scientific impartiality to biased judgements. Adjectives like epoch-making, epic, historic, unforgettable, triumphant, age-old, inevitable, inexorable, veritable, are used to dignify the sordid process of international politics, while writing that aims at glorifying war usually takes on an archaic color, its characteristic words being: realm, throne, chariot, mailed fist, trident, sword, shield, buckler, banner, jackboot, clarion. Foreign words and expressions such as cul de sac, ancien regime, deus ex machina, mutatis mutandis, status quo, gleichschaltung, weltanschauung, are used to give an air of culture and elegance. Except for the useful abbreviations i.e., e.g., and etc., there is no real need for any of the hundreds of foreign phrases now current in the English language. Bad writers, and especially scientific, political, and sociological writers, are nearly always haunted by the notion that Latin or Greek words are grander than Saxon ones, and unnecessary words like expedite, ameliorate, predict, extraneous, deracinated, clandestine, subaqueous, and hundreds of others constantly gain ground from their Anglo-Saxon numbers.* The jargon peculiar to
*An interesting illustration of this is the way in which English flower names were in use till very recently are being ousted by Greek ones, Snapdragon becoming antirrhinum, forget-me-not becoming myosotis, etc. It is hard to see any practical reason for this change of fashion: it is probably due to an instinctive turning away from the more homely word and a vague feeling that the Greek word is scientific.
Marxist writing (hyena, hangman, cannibal, petty bourgeois, these gentry, lackey, flunkey, mad dog, White Guard, etc.) consists largely of words translated from Russian, German, or French; but the normal way of coining a new word is to use Latin or Greek root with the appropriate affix and, where necessary, the size formation. It is often easier to make up words of this kind (deregionalize, impermissible, extramarital, non-fragmentary and so forth) than to think up the English words that will cover one's meaning. The result, in general, is an increase in slovenliness and vagueness.
Meaningless words. In certain kinds of writing, particularly in art criticism and literary criticism, it is normal to come across long passages which are almost completely lacking in meaning.Ý Words like romantic, plastic, values, human, dead, sentimental, natural, vitality, as used in art criticism, are strictly meaningless, in
Ý Example: Comfort's catholicity of perception and image, strangely Whitmanesque in range, almost the exact opposite in aesthetic compulsion, continues to evoke that trembling atmospheric accumulative hinting at a cruel, an inexorably serene timelessness . . .Wrey Gardiner scores by aiming at simple bull's-eyes with precision. Only they are not so simple, and through this contented sadness runs more than the surface bittersweet of resignation." (Poetry Quarterly)
the sense that they not only do not point to any discoverable object, but are hardly ever expected to do so by the reader. When one critic writes, "The outstanding feature of Mr. X's work is its living quality," while another writes, "The immediately striking thing about Mr. X's work is its peculiar deadness," the reader accepts this as a simple difference opinion. If words like black and white were involved, instead of the jargon words dead and living, he would see at once that language was being used in an improper way. Many political words are similarly abused. The word Fascism has now no meaning except in so far as it signifies "something not desirable." The words democracy, socialism, freedom, patriotic, realistic, justice have each of them several different meanings which cannot be reconciled with one another. In the case of a word like democracy, not only is there no agreed definition, but the attempt to make one is resisted from all sides. It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it: consequently the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using that word if it were tied down to any one meaning. Words of this kind are often used in a consciously dishonest way. That is, the person who uses them has his own private definition, but allows his hearer to think he means something quite different. Statements like Marshal Pétain was a true patriot, The Soviet press is the freest in the world, The Catholic Church is opposed to persecution, are almost always made with intent to deceive. Other words used in variable meanings, in most cases more or less dishonestly, are: class, totalitarian, science, progressive, reactionary, bourgeois, equality.
Now that I have made this catalogue of swindles and perversions, let me give another example of the kind of writing that they lead to. This time it must of its nature be an imaginary one. I am going to translate a passage of good English into modern English of the worst sort. Here is a well-known verse from Ecclesiastes:
I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Here it is in modern English:
Objective considerations of contemporary phenomena compel the conclusion that success or failure in competitive activities exhibits no tendency to be commensurate with innate capacity, but that a considerable element of the unpredictable must invariably be taken into account.
This is a parody, but not a very gross one. Exhibit (3) above, for instance, contains several patches of the same kind of English. It will be seen that I have not made a full translation. The beginning and ending of the sentence follow the original meaning fairly closely, but in the middle the concrete illustrations -- race, battle, bread -- dissolve into the vague phrases "success or failure in competitive activities." This had to be so, because no modern writer of the kind I am discussing -- no one capable of using phrases like "objective considerations of contemporary phenomena" -- would ever tabulate his thoughts in that precise and detailed way. The whole tendency of modern prose is away from concreteness. Now analyze these two sentences a little more closely. The first contains forty-nine words but only sixty syllables, and all its words are those of everyday life. The second contains thirty-eight words of ninety syllables: eighteen of those words are from Latin roots, and one from Greek. The first sentence contains six vivid images, and only one phrase ("time and chance") that could be called vague. The second contains not a single fresh, arresting phrase, and in spite of its ninety syllables it gives only a shortened version of the meaning contained in the first. Yet without a doubt it is the second kind of sentence that is gaining ground in modern English. I do not want to exaggerate. This kind of writing is not yet universal, and outcrops of simplicity will occur here and there in the worst-written page. Still, if you or I were told to write a few lines on the uncertainty of human fortunes, we should probably come much nearer to my imaginary sentence than to the one from Ecclesiastes.
As I have tried to show, modern writing at its worst does not consist in picking out words for the sake of their meaning and inventing images in order to make the meaning clearer. It consists in gumming together long strips of words which have already been set in order by someone else, and making the results presentable by sheer humbug. The attraction of this way of writing is that it is easy. It is easier -- even quicker, once you have the habit -- to say In my opinion it is not an unjustifiable assumption that than to say I think. If you use ready-made phrases, you not only don't have to hunt about for the words; you also don't have to bother with the rhythms of your sentences since these phrases are generally so arranged as to be more or less euphonious. When you are composing in a hurry -- when you are dictating to a stenographer, for instance, or making a public speech -- it is natural to fall into a pretentious, Latinized style. Tags like a consideration which we should do well to bear in mind or a conclusion to which all of us would readily assent will save many a sentence from coming down with a bump. By using stale metaphors, similes, and idioms, you save much mental effort, at the cost of leaving your meaning vague, not only for your reader but for yourself. This is the significance of mixed metaphors. The sole aim of a metaphor is to call up a visual image. When these images clash -- as in The Fascist octopus has sung its swan song, the jackboot is thrown into the melting pot -- it can be taken as certain that the writer is not seeing a mental image of the objects he is naming; in other words he is not really thinking. Look again at the examples I gave at the beginning of this essay. Professor Laski (1) uses five negatives in fifty three words. One of these is superfluous, making nonsense of the whole passage, and in addition there is the slip -- alien for akin -- making further nonsense, and several avoidable pieces of clumsiness which increase the general vagueness. Professor Hogben (2) plays ducks and drakes with a battery which is able to write prescriptions, and, while disapproving of the everyday phrase put up with, is unwilling to look egregious up in the dictionary and see what it means; (3), if one takes an uncharitable attitude towards it, is simply meaningless: probably one could work out its intended meaning by reading the whole of the article in which it occurs. In (4), the writer knows more or less what he wants to say, but an accumulation of stale phrases chokes him like tea leaves blocking a sink. In (5), words and meaning have almost parted company. People who write in this manner usually have a general emotional meaning -- they dislike one thing and want to express solidarity with another -- but they are not interested in the detail of what they are saying. A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect? And he will probably ask himself two more: 1. Could I put it more shortly? 2. Have I said anything that is avoidably ugly? But you are not obliged to go to all this trouble. You can shirk it by simply throwing your mind open and letting the ready-made phrases come crowding in. The will construct your sentences for you -- even think your thoughts for you, to a certain extent -- and at need they will perform the important service of partially concealing your meaning even from yourself. It is at this point that the special connection between politics and the debasement of language becomes clear.
In our time it is broadly true that political writing is bad writing. Where it is not true, it will generally be found that the writer is some kind of rebel, expressing his private opinions and not a "party line." Orthodoxy, of whatever color, seems to demand a lifeless, imitative style. The political dialects to be found in pamphlets, leading articles, manifestoes, White papers and the speeches of undersecretaries do, of course, vary from party to party, but they are all alike in that one almost never finds in them a fresh, vivid, homemade turn of speech. When one watches some tired hack on the platform mechanically repeating the familiar phrases -- bestial atrocities, iron heel, bloodstained tyranny, free peoples of the world, stand shoulder to shoulder -- one often has a curious feeling that one is not watching a live human being but some kind of dummy: a feeling which suddenly becomes stronger at moments when the light catches the speaker's spectacles and turns them into blank discs which seem to have no eyes behind them. And this is not altogether fanciful. A speaker who uses that kind of phraseology has gone some distance toward turning himself into a machine. The appropriate noises are coming out of his larynx, but his brain is not involved as it would be if he were choosing his words for himself. If the speech he is making is one that he is accustomed to make over and over again, he may be almost unconscious of what he is saying, as one is when one utters the responses in church. And this reduced state of consciousness, if not indispensable, is at any rate favorable to political conformity.
In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible. Things like the continuance of British rule in India, the Russian purges and deportations, the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan, can indeed be defended, but only by arguments which are too brutal for most people to face, and which do not square with the professed aims of the political parties. Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism., question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness. Defenseless villages are bombarded from the air, the inhabitants driven out into the countryside, the cattle machine-gunned, the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets: this is called pacification. Millions of peasants are robbed of their farms and sent trudging along the roads with no more than they can carry: this is called transfer of population or rectification of frontiers. People are imprisoned for years without trial, or shot in the back of the neck or sent to die of scurvy in Arctic lumber camps: this is called elimination of unreliable elements. Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them. Consider for instance some comfortable English professor defending Russian totalitarianism. He cannot say outright, "I believe in killing off your opponents when you can get good results by doing so." Probably, therefore, he will say something like this:
"While freely conceding that the Soviet regime exhibits certain features which the humanitarian may be inclined to deplore, we must, I think, agree that a certain curtailment of the right to political opposition is an unavoidable concomitant of transitional periods, and that the rigors which the Russian people have been called upon to undergo have been amply justified in the sphere of concrete achievement."
The inflated style itself is a kind of euphemism. A mass of Latin words falls upon the facts like soft snow, blurring the outline and covering up all the details. The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one's real and one's declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like a cuttlefish spurting out ink. In our age there is no such thing as "keeping out of politics." All issues are political issues, and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred, and schizophrenia. When the general atmosphere is bad, language must suffer. I should expect to find -- this is a guess which I have not sufficient knowledge to verify -- that the German, Russian and Italian languages have all deteriorated in the last ten or fifteen years, as a result of dictatorship.
But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation even among people who should and do know better. The debased language that I have been discussing is in some ways very convenient. Phrases like a not unjustifiable assumption, leaves much to be desired, would serve no good purpose, a consideration which we should do well to bear in mind, are a continuous temptation, a packet of aspirins always at one's elbow. Look back through this essay, and for certain you will find that I have again and again committed the very faults I am protesting against. By this morning's post I have received a pamphlet dealing with conditions in Germany. The author tells me that he "felt impelled" to write it. I open it at random, and here is almost the first sentence I see: "[The Allies] have an opportunity not only of achieving a radical transformation of Germany's social and political structure in such a way as to avoid a nationalistic reaction in Germany itself, but at the same time of laying the foundations of a co-operative and unified Europe." You see, he "feels impelled" to write -- feels, presumably, that he has something new to say -- and yet his words, like cavalry horses answering the bugle, group themselves automatically into the familiar dreary pattern. This invasion of one's mind by ready-made phrases (lay the foundations, achieve a radical transformation) can only be prevented if one is constantly on guard against them, and every such phrase anaesthetizes a portion of one's brain.
I said earlier that the decadence of our language is probably curable. Those who deny this would argue, if they produced an argument at all, that language merely reflects existing social conditions, and that we cannot influence its development by any direct tinkering with words and constructions. So far as the general tone or spirit of a language goes, this may be true, but it is not true in detail. Silly words and expressions have often disappeared, not through any evolutionary process but owing to the conscious action of a minority. Two recent examples were explore every avenue and leave no stone unturned, which were killed by the jeers of a few journalists. There is a long list of flyblown metaphors which could similarly be got rid of if enough people would interest themselves in the job; and it should also be possible to laugh the not un- formation out of existence*, to reduce the amount of Latin and Greek in the average sentence, to drive out foreign phrases
*One can cure oneself of the not un- formation by memorizing this sentence: A not unblack dog was chasing a not unsmall rabbit across a not ungreen field.
and strayed scientific words, and, in general, to make pretentiousness unfashionable. But all these are minor points. The defense of the English language implies more than this, and perhaps it is best to start by saying what it does not imply.
To begin with it has nothing to do with archaism, with the salvaging of obsolete words and turns of speech, or with the setting up of a "standard English" which must never be departed from. On the contrary, it is especially concerned with the scrapping of every word or idiom which has outworn its usefulness. It has nothing to do with correct grammar and syntax, which are of no importance so long as one makes one's meaning clear, or with the avoidance of Americanisms, or with having what is called a "good prose style." On the other hand, it is not concerned with fake simplicity and the attempt to make written English colloquial. Nor does it even imply in every case preferring the Saxon word to the Latin one, though it does imply using the fewest and shortest words that will cover one's meaning. What is above all needed is to let the meaning choose the word, and not the other way around. In prose, the worst thing one can do with words is surrender to them. When yo think of a concrete object, you think wordlessly, and then, if you want to describe the thing you have been visualizing you probably hunt about until you find the exact words that seem to fit it. When you think of something abstract you are more inclined to use words from the start, and unless you make a conscious effort to prevent it, the existing dialect will come rushing in and do the job for you, at the expense of blurring or even changing your meaning. Probably it is better to put off using words as long as possible and get one's meaning as clear as one can through pictures and sensations. Afterward one can choose -- not simply accept -- the phrases that will best cover the meaning, and then switch round and decide what impressions one's words are likely to mak on another person. This last effort of the mind cuts out all stale or mixed images, all prefabricated phrases, needless repetitions, and humbug and vagueness generally. But one can often be in doubt about the effect of a word or a phrase, and one needs rules that one can rely on when instinct fails. I think the following rules will cover most cases:
(i) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
(ii) Never us a long word where a short one will do.
(iii) If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
(iv) Never use the passive where you can use the active.
(v) Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
(vi) Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
These rules sound elementary, and so they are, but they demand a deep change of attitude in anyone who has grown used to writing in the style now fashionable. One could keep all of them and still write bad English, but one could not write the kind of stuff that I quoted in those five specimens at the beginning of this article.
I have not here been considering the literary use of language, but merely language as an instrument for expressing and not for concealing or preventing thought. Stuart Chase and others have come near to claiming that all abstract words are meaningless, and have used this as a pretext for advocating a kind of political quietism. Since you don't know what Fascism is, how can you struggle against Fascism? One need not swallow such absurdities as this, but one ought to recognize that the present political chaos is connected with the decay of language, and that one can probably bring about some improvement by starting at the verbal end. If you simplify your English, you are freed from the worst follies of orthodoxy. You cannot speak any of the necessary dialects, and when you make a stupid remark its stupidity will be obvious, even to yourself. Political language -- and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists -- is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. One cannot change this all in a moment, but one can at least change one's own habits, and from time to time one can even, if one jeers loudly enough, send some worn-out and useless phrase -- some jackboot, Achilles' heel, hotbed, melting pot, acid test, veritable inferno, or other lump of verbal refuse -- into the dustbin, where it belongs.
Section Four: Books/Magazines/Reviews
...................................
theboysroom
a dialogue by kevin barry
featuring alan scheidt & benjamin newell
directed by michael burnham
adults only please
sunday-monday-tuesday
november 5-6-7
8:00pm $10.00
know theatre of cincinnati 1120 jackson street (513) 300-KNOW
seductively simple. horrifyingly hilarious. on the surface "theboysroom" is a cautionary tale about on-line pedophiles, a seminar-like "self-help" presentation by a 40-year-old ex-advertising executive recounting his sexual involvement with a 15-year-old boy he encounters on-line. but this compact, complex play--reminiscent somewhat of the early works of gus van sant, larry clark and todd solondz--is many other things as well. it is, by turns, a mock platonic dialogue on pederasty, a lecture on greek classicism, a dance of denial, the 12 Steps by way of lewis arroll, death in venice as a text message, lolita for the internet generation. and in the multi-addicted world of 2006 it dramatizes that most insidious of tactics...the rationalization.
to hear michael burnham, alan scheidt & wvxu's rick pender discuss "theboysroom" click the link below:
http://198.234.121.108/aroundcincinnati/102206_KnowTheatre.mp3
...................................
So, Nu? What are you reading? Watching? Seeing? Send it to me. ellen.
The Lloyd House Salon (usually about 12 people) Meets on WEDNESDAYS at 5:45,
EVERY Wednesday, 52 WEEKS/YEAR come hell or high water, as my mother used to say.
We of the Lloyd House Salon gather in a spirit of
respect, sympathy and compassion for one another
in order to exchange ideas for our mutual pleasure and enlightenment.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Our Salon blog is a promising interactive site: http:lloydhouse.blogspot.com
Also, we have an Interactive Yahoo Salon group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LloydHouseSalon
For Pot Luck procedures including food suggestions, mission and history visit
http://home.fuse.net/ellenbierhorst/Potluck.html .
You are invited also to visit the Lloyd House website: http://www.lloydhouse.com
> To unsubscribe from the Lloyd House Potluck Salon list, send a REPLY message
> to me and in the SUBJECT line type in "unsub potluck #". In the place of #
> type in the numeral that follows the subject line of my Weekly email. It
> will be 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7. This tells me which sub-list your name is on so I can
> delete it. Thanks! ellen bierhorst
No comments:
Post a Comment