Silence is Golden

            The Hand Maids Tale by Margaret Atwood along with the extract Talking Back by Bell Hooks, and Sins of Silence by Mai Kao Thao, deals with a similar theme: women from childhood onwards live in a male dominated world and are trained into silent submission, thereby allowing complete control by their male counterparts.

           

            Speech in itself whether it is verbal or written is a powerful tool. In fact this is coined by the popular phrase, “the pen is mightier than the sword.”  Speeches from history to the present day have inspired nations into war or peace, such as Hitlers’ prolific words that instigated. hatred or Gandhi’s’ words that inspired peace. In fact, it is not just politics where the word is potent, but religions often have their humble beginnings in words that have such prophetic life changing meanings, that millions of followers abandon their way of life for their new belief system. Where would Christianity be without the verbal teachings of Christ or the Bible. But it is interesting to note that while it is evident that speech is such a powerful tool, just how much of history takes into accounts the profound words of women. Very little in fact and barring a few examples men seem to dominate the sphere of using words to move a nation. So why are women so traditionally suppressed into not submitting their thoughts? We need to begin with values and traditions some of which are derived from nature while others are created by mankind. Women are the baby making machines and this aspect is highlighted in the Hand Maids’ Tale. Therefore, women’s role and usefulness is considered to be the nurturer where silence is golden. It was not considered necessary for women to express an opinion as most of their time was spent in the confines of the home. This suits men as a support system for their needs both physical and mental are fulfilled without condition or question. By allowing women to speak, work out of the house, express an opinion or question things, be educated, men are in real danger of losing their comfort zone. This is a risk they are not prepared to take so from early on in childhood women are groomed and trained to be silent. Women submit as they are normally physically weaker species who look at the examples of their mothers and fear the repercussions of rebelling. It is ironical that despite many landmarks improvements and change, still today in modern day society women still face a glass ceiling, and backlashes from being too opinionated. Modern day examples of the Hand Maids Tale exists in the form of the Burka society ruled by the chauvinistic Taliban, who convinces women that control is for their welfare and protection. I wonder how many generations need to pass by until real equality is reached? But that depends on women voicing an opinion and setting their demands. Change is scary and the path to enlightenment is often long and weary.

Blogging Portfolio - A Reflection of Thoughts

The new age art of communicating with the world at large, courtesy of modern technology-welcome to the world of blogging.  The quote by Robert Niles says it all, “Anytime you post online, you publish.” How apt, as each entry I have made floats in cyber space for eternity for infinite number of people today and tomorrow to chew on. Each blog I have made is actually a voyeuristic view into my innermost, private thoughts. The beauty of my blogs is that no planning is involved as in an essay or research project. No, just as I write this introduction, my blogs are an instant knee jerk reaction to writings that affect my psyche in some way. Each thought expressed starts in the deepest most folds of cerebral hemisphere as a nerve signal that extends to my fingers that move to keep up with my tandem physiological and psychological thought process. It is not a written piece of work in the true sense of the word, like an article or novel but is a conversation that invites debate, and discussion. It is not easy to choose what is termed as my best blogs, as honestly as each blog takes shape in my mind, I feel an attachment to it. Would a mother be able to choose among her children?  Each blog is more than just a creation born of a seed in my brain, it is a glimpse into my soul. Each blog says, I have a voice, I matter, and I have spoken.

Coverage

Politically Correct Speech

As a child of controversy, I hope I have not been politically correct in writing this post. My idea was to give my own ideas strongly and without apology to give an opinion that gives an open invitation to debate and discussion. While covering the many pointers of this highly in depth article and covering its many nuances, I have gone beyond a simple reaction to an opinion. In effect the blog demonstrates my understanding of this complex article but I have not just made a simple summary to show this understanding. I have been able to respond by agreeing or disagreeing with points made but have also managed to link these thoughts with my book readings, such as Orwell’s 1984 and with modern day links such as speeches made by J.F Kennedy in recent history, to present day commentary on President Obama’s speeches.

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2010/09/politically-correct-speech.html

Depth

Inconvenient Truth

While my title may have been inspired by Al Gore’s Oscar winning documentary, it holds true for this post. Often truth is stranger than fiction, and often the truth is inconvenient to us as it is hard to accept or face the cold harsh reality of life. While this posting examines how truth is manipulated in the novel, 1984, it goes beyond and above this. My posting shows an in depth analysis that researches and reflects on present day dealings as reported in the media. And while no specific articles are referenced, I felt this was un-necessary as an overall general comment on the state of affairs was required rather than endless examples that would simply confuse my message. My musings also show my own thoughts based on life’s experiences such as children being taught to believe in the tooth fairy.

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2010/09/truth-hurts.html

Interaction

Truth…does it exist?

It was interesting to comment on Adrienne blog as her thoughts were well conceived and developed, and this lead to my extended train of thoughts making me compelled to discuss and debate her viewpoints. While I agreed with her musings in general, I commented on some disagreements I had such as her insanity claims and that science is never objective truth. A strong, headstrong and definitive entry is always a pleasure to respond to rather than a vague vision of ideas. No apology should ever be made for ones opinion and this format as followed by Adrienne gives an open invitation to post an equally well thought out counter argument where no punches are with held.

http://adrienne-hlenglish.blogspot.com/2010/09/truth-does-it-exist.html

Discussion

The Write and Wrong of Writing

As stated above my strong well defined ideas did allow an open invitation to Adrienne to comment and discuss on my reflections. Her questions were thought provoking and I enjoyed responding to them. I felt my answers were definitive but open ended which always leaves room for further table tennis comments, which I welcome with open arms. Discussions are a healthy way of sharing opinions, and comments lead to extended interactions with visitors that may not have expressed their views otherwise. If only this form of communication existed in earlier times. Oh how I would love to blog with the likes Shakespeare or Dickens!After all in the world of blogging, there are no write or wrongs! 

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2010/09/write-and-wrong-of-writing.html

Xenoblogging

Born and Raised in a  North Korean Gulag

Monique’s general question, “What Is human ?” allowed me to demonstrate the comment informative. Of course being human myself was a strong criteria for me to show my own in depth analysis of this topic, but more than this the question was so thought provoking, that I was compelled to respond.

http://hlenglishmonique.blogspot.com/2010/09/born-and-raised-in-north-korean-gulag.html

Born and Raised in a  North Korean Gulag

Again, using Monique’s blog I offered the comment primo as her thoughts were so well constructed that it invited debate. The article on freedom was of great interest to me as I felt that being free is a very subjective state of mind and not just body. I felt that my own spin on things would definitely start the ball rolling on a very lively discussion.

http://hlenglishmonique.blogspot.com/2010/09/born-and-raised-in-north-korean-gulag.html

Truth…does it exist?

Adrienne’s entry invited by its very nature inspired the comment grande on my part. While I could have written reams, my words though precise and to the point spoke volumes not in quantity but on quality. My comments were open ended as I welcomed and definitely compelled others to keep the fires of debate well alive and kicking.

http://adrienne-hlenglish.blogspot.com/2010/09/truth-does-it-exist.html

Wildcard

Poem: Confession

Though not a typical blog in the true sense of the word, this poem does as my other blogs do, allow a sneak peak into my innermost thoughts. Though short and sweet (pun intended), I feel my reflections of guilt will strike a chord among many who have succumbed to temptation of any kind. After all, who among us are not guilty? I feel bloggers will smile and share their own experiences after reading this blog.

http://sabrina117english.blogspot.com/2010/10/poem-confession.html

Poem: Confession

The lure of temptation is so hard to resist,

That even strong men unclench their fist,

And reach out to taste what is heaven sent,

A sugary delight made by the devil to tempt.

Forbidden fruit, suddenly becomes even sweeter,

When the thief finds thrill in being the cheater.

But who can blame, at the sight of delicious cake?

As smells fill your senses and urge you to take.

Now caught, I hang my head down in shame,

But secretly know my hand, you can never tame.

Freedom is a State of Mind

            The New York Times article Born and Raised in a North Korean Gulag deals with a little boy, Shin, who grows up in a prison camp, facing hardship and torture until his escape. Due to his conditioning from birth he feels the life he leads is the norm, and therefore does not question his existence until he hears of the outside world. However, once on the outside he feels alienated and a misfit, and often misses his old torturous life as freedom and independence comes with a price.

            This modern day true life story has many parallels with the theme and general storyline of Orwell’s 1984. Here the protagonist Winston holds no family bonds and has even betrayed his parents and sister, and turned his back on his father. This also holds true in the article. Again through the brainwashing by a totalitarian state, Winston and Shin get through their mundane controlled routine of the drudgery of daily life, without question or complaining about their pathetic excuse for a life without a soul. Until, that is a chance meeting with a person that changes their outlook and entire perspective. They go through a journey of self discovery and awakening which involves human emotions and frailties, such as love and hate, fear and joy. Both are imprisoned and shackled and are watched and monitored both physically and mentally and offer little resistance. The hold that this state of being has on both is so strong that they can never be free, even when freedom is reached. Strangely when Shin finds his way to the outside world he is unable to adjust to normal life and at times wants to return back. Psychologists tell us that this is not uncommon. Even kidnapped victims develop a bond with their tormentor and want to return. They feel as Shin would have felt strangely safe and protected in their bubble where life’s choices are simple. In the real world there are hardships of other kinds such as choices, decision making, competition, financial burdens, peer pressure. Prison life for the accustomed involves a life where you are told what to do, and is simplistic. This transition then becomes hard for the concerned person to make as they feel loyalty and a comfort level for their old life.

            Happiness is a state of being and is a neither black nor white. In the same way freedom is a subjective state of mind which does not involve shackles of the body but the shackles of the mind. No man is truly free until he has reached a state of peace, and this both Winston and Shin discover the hard way.

Inconvenient Truth

Truth is often stranger than fiction. In fact truth is often subjective and depends on your view point. While facts can often remain the same, opinions can vary. A famous US divorce lawyer so rightly once said, “There are three versions of each story, his, hers and the truth.” Often we distort the truth to make our version of events suit our immediate needs, thereby consciously or subconsciously manipulating the listener for self gain. This idea of manipulation of the truth to gain control over someone by playing psychological mind games with a person’s memory is the cornerstone of George Orwell’s 1984.

            In 1984 Big Brother would change past events to show the regime in a good light, thereby maintaining the unquestioning faith and support of the people he controlled. In one instance while chocolate rations were reduced to 20g and reported correctly, just as quickly news reports blatantly lied by false claims that chocolate rations had in fact been increased to 20g. Either way the people were receiving 20g rations of chocolate but through manipulation their disappointment quickly changed to euphoria. This manipulation was caused by poor short term memory, and belief and trust that whatever they are being told verbally by people in authority has to be true. Further, the changing of the written word in newspapers, or other forms of media and communications in 1984 becomes objective truth. It was reported for example that Oceania was at war with East Asia and allies with Euro Asia and vice versa to the whims of Big Brother. People believe their eyes far more than their ears, and believe that if it is written as so then it must be so. However, this is not always the case as we see even today there is much false reporting from the media to sell papers. A trivial case in point are the reported alliances and break ups of movie stars as reported without concrete proof in the popular press.

            One of the greatest manipulators of the truth as shown in 1984 is governments, and this continues even today. False claims of victory over enemies or showing the economy in a better light than reality are happening in present day leaderships. This occurs often to buy vote of confidence that will win elections and retain power for the current administration. And as people we often believe, as it is a far easier pill to swallow, as yes indeed, the truth warts and all, often hurts, and we cannot handle the truth. This subtle manipulation often starts at an early age, when parents protect children by creating a candy floss perfect world. For example we are eager to believe in Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy and that our pet dog has not died but gone to a retirement farm. In this same vein the citizens of Oceania want to believe that Big Brother is their Santa Clause, there to protect them. So people do not die or disappear from Oceania, they simply never existed. This helps to maintain the smooth natural order without any ripples in the ocean of everyday life.

            Between the white of the truth and the black of the lie is a great chasm of grey that one can manipulate. And if indeed the truth does in fact hurt, or is inconvenient then why not believe the lie.

Politically Correct Speech

In Politics and the English Language George Orwell stated that the written word has become elaborate without basis. He particularly used the example of political speeches of his day to drive home his point. He preached, that we all need to utilize some rules to make speech more user friendly for the listener without clouding real messages or meanings with sugar frosting that does not add to the narrative, but simply confuses him. He wants us to stop using ready made metaphors, long words, passive language, foreign phrases, scientific words or jargon. Further, he argues that political writings tend to justify bad deeds while failures of the current administration are misconstrued as victories or at least work in progress. The type of language used misleads the common man into unquestioning support for the government who they falsely believe can be trusted on faith and fancy rhetoric alone.

While Martin Luther King’s famous I Have a Dream speech and John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address keeps in most part to Orwell’s rules, the two Georges, Wallace and Bush speeches blatantly break these rules. King’s speech while powerful, emotive and provocative is still simple in approach and makes its point visually without compromising on factual information or truths. On the other hand George Bush’s State Of the Union Address in the aftermath of the September 11, attacks is full of half truths and distortions and false bravado of victories of the war on terror. The truth was the US troops were not winning the war in Afghanistan, and conditions for the locals were far from the picture perfect impression his speech gave. Further, in  his speech the language used is longwinded, “across oceans and continents, across mountaintops and caves” showcasing unnecessary word usage where simplicity would have sufficed. Bush in fact was often admonished and even mocked as having very little command of the English language in spite of his Anglo Saxon heritage. The media coined his many gaffes as Bushisms which has now been accepted in Webster dictionary as a new word.

New words and phrases parallels Orwell’s novel 1984 where Newspeak and entries into revised dictionaries were an intricate part of his plot. In his novel Orwell showed that by simplification of the current language and the deletion of many words, this would allow the government of his futuristic city to control the people who would simply not have the vocabulary to protest. Therefore, I am a little surprised by his article as it is as if he has become ‘Big Brother’ himself and is taking away our right to express ourselves freely without constraints or rules. Again as I stated earlier in my last blog, metaphors and the like add colorful imagery to our words and are emotive and capture the readers or listeners attention. While political speeches need to be clear and concise there is always a little room for artistic flair to bring life as well as meaning to our words. Just look at the brilliant speech writing of Obama whose words alone allowed him to create history by becoming the first Black American President “Yes We Can”, will go down in the annals of history as a much copied and used phrase to much effect. Are you listening Mr. Orwell?

The Write and Wrong of Writing

George Orwell’s article Politics and the English Language states there is a general decline in English language usage in the way we express our ideas and thoughts in written form. Orwell feels the main culprits are our politicians who sabotage the English language for their own gain. This is done to cloud the truth and fool the masses in the righteousness of their actions by being vague and ambiguous. He states that this is done by over usage or incorrect use of metaphors, phrases, foreign and scientific words, and long or difficult words.

I do support his theories on political misleading writings. After all, politicians are trained never to answer a difficult question directly, but beat about the bush until you forget what the original question was. This holds true of all our political world leaders today who need to sell their ideas like a used car salesman. A striking example would be the charismatic musings of Obama, who captivated the world with his mesmerizing speeches and gave us all hope without actually giving the logistics of his plans. His words spoke volumes and a willing nation lapped it up. Perhaps religious books are political speeches in disguise. While his article is thought provoking, I do not fully agree with his opinions on general expression by prose, primarily because I am guilty of the crimes he speaks of. Yes, when you need to make a point in business like terms then language should be simple, concise and to the point. I hate the way the legal profession dupes the public into believing they are stupid by using senseless jargon that has no place in modern day society. However, I enjoy in being colorful and using phrases ETC in my writings and this is not done to confuse but to express in an educated way my thoughts, and I want the poetic license to continue to do so without derision. So I make no apologies for my ramblings as I want to celebrate the richness of the English language.

After all, Shakespeare was a literary master in inventing words and phrases that we commonly adopt today, and he is lauded for this. Today, we have new words and phrases such as “Google” that respected dictionaries are adding to their new word list, some of which I must admit appall me as this does represent the real destruction of the English language I so revere. I am also outraged by modern day slangs and Americanisms that have filtered into the modern day mainstream English language and are accepted as the norm. The modern day media who should covet the written word are often so guilty of glamorizing or coining incorrect or new words and making them the norm. An example of this is when they highlight George Bush’s errors in word usage as Bushism and in doing so condones his faults. However, language will inevitably change with time and new words will be used and many old words forgotten as our society changes. After all we no longer speak or write in the tone of “ how art thou”. Language evolves with time and will continue to do so. While George Orwell gives some good advice on how to improve our writings I feel this advice is limited to scholars, students, politicians ETC.  Language is in fact decreasing as we text or twitter our messages within a confined space but obviously this was before George Orwells’ time. If George Orwell witnessed modern day writings of the public at large today, he would beg for more metaphors as he turns in his grave.