I obviously haven't finished this. Such a big subject on such a big space.
Like most of these important words they have a lot of bad press ( in your language too no doubt) My challenge to you and to me is to rediscover the powerful and often hidden "magic" in them .
This is No1 of a series of 4 words critical to a good education and a sound personal growth strategy. Each word is chosen from a different language to demonstrate the value of the idea behind it and the danger of lumbering logomachists abusing the words.
If you are really keen perhaps you can start here ( here )
Monday, March 26, 2012
The language of truth - repéré
If you ever become a parent the french word "repéré" will become very real to you . " Son 'repéré' thyself " you will say. Mothers unfortunately seem to get the job mostly in our modern woosy West .Not good , because it usually takes a lot of resistance to get repéré to happen ( the word repair and repentance are derivatives ) . Most importantly, if kids don't get the idea to repéré ( Be honest you lied and you are kidding yourself now go back and do it properly , get it RIGHT ) at home it's much harder for the teacher of 20 to ensure it happens. " Go back and do it again till you get it right. There are enough con artists out there without U trying to compete "
" No you did not do what you said you would do . Now go and do it!" repéré. You didn't get it right
And now the paid PCorrect want the Oxford dictionary to remove the words "repent" and "sin". Well remove them they well might, but new again they will be because even denial or distortion can't hide the proper description of a real problem and a real solution (Good teachers keep you in class till you get it right rather than lumber you with the legacy of failure)
What happens if repéré doesn't happen? Handicaps of the mind no less - lifelong if they are not addressed . Condemnation of the person . Thus repéré is one of the most important words we can use and learn and learn to use well.
(This is No1 of a series of 4 words critical to a good education and a sound personal growth strategy. Each word is chosen from a different language to demonstrate the value of the idea behind it and the danger of lumbering logomachists abusing the words. The next word is the Hebrew word "radah")
What has all this got to do with sussing the substance? Well , however much
" No you did not do what you said you would do . Now go and do it!" repéré. You didn't get it right
And now the paid PCorrect want the Oxford dictionary to remove the words "repent" and "sin". Well remove them they well might, but new again they will be because even denial or distortion can't hide the proper description of a real problem and a real solution (Good teachers keep you in class till you get it right rather than lumber you with the legacy of failure)
What happens if repéré doesn't happen? Handicaps of the mind no less - lifelong if they are not addressed . Condemnation of the person . Thus repéré is one of the most important words we can use and learn and learn to use well.
(This is No1 of a series of 4 words critical to a good education and a sound personal growth strategy. Each word is chosen from a different language to demonstrate the value of the idea behind it and the danger of lumbering logomachists abusing the words. The next word is the Hebrew word "radah")
What has all this got to do with sussing the substance? Well , however much
the moral reactionarieswant to deny the need for talk of repéré and sin , similar words are already becoming part of the language . Even non believers are calling for "remorse , apology and restitution " . Far better to use the word that properly targets the problem - ie repéré. Talk of sin and repéré avoids the worst kind of result --condemnation of the person .To talk of sin is to talk straight to the problem ( Sin -means missing the mark) and avoids the personal jibe .The reactionaries answer is not really an answer at all
Monday, December 15, 2008
Australia - A wonderful fantasy spoilt by a few words
Was a truly great movie fantasy. I was truly moved, and so were most who were there. For me too , as the owner of old trucks on a trek , i know it's every drovers dream to have the gorgeous girl learn to appreciate the vehicle, and what comes with it. The gods indeed make us crazy! It was great to go out adventuring with Baz Lerhmann. Thanks !
So why did Baz have to go out and spoil it all by saying something stupid like "we stole you". Or even "we're sorry". Using some controversial real world words at the start and finish took absolute heaps out of the enjoyment and relaxed atmosphere of was a great fantasy . I was happy to stay / be and move in nevernever land . Fantasy helps us deal with reality by staying fantasy. To add to the story is to take away from the story - and a few words took a lot away!
What moved Baz to ruin a good fantasy with a dump of PC? To put a stamp of politically correct spin on a dilemma that is not solved and , more importantly .is to NOT helped in the ongoing great challenges of the future -by being conveniently labelled stolen and filed away ?
After all, if you need to use words in a fantasy, why use slogan words. The debate about whether assimulation or apartheid is better has not finished . Its hardly begun .Thats the worst part of the story -the slogans become yet another distraction. The nature /nurture dilemma could have become more part of the fantasy too instead of being stuck clearly on one horn !
When will we get a film maker to help modern societies "move on" here? - the real issue of dealing effectively with land ( and ownership) stress is the great test of the future for modern societies whether in the middle east, Africa or here .Help Why pretend this greatest of great modren challenges is solved by granting ownership and imputing righteouness to one or other party- the sort of stuff emperor hito , hitler, polpot ,ammin and many other salesman used to make the land ownership questions the half baked solutions they ALWAYS WERE .
There are not 10 ten millenuem goals as far as i am concerned - only one - taking ownership and custody of land issues at the same time. see ecomia
So strange to this great genre is the moral message that I wondered whether some film and censorship board had instructed Baz to put the words on the screen . Appears not .
Do we really want reconciliation and ownership and custody to work? - well then, put some resources into research and action here .
That's the worst part of the Australia story? -we wanted relief so much we are prepared to pour into concrete some rigid OLD template of self determination without looking at how and why it doesn't work that simply. Comm on mate No furphy please - Let's have fantasy and lets have reality therapy on land rights, but don't mix em - otherwise we will get more children lost in the hopelessness that the rigid political recipes and fantasies create. Whose kidding who about where the real boundaries are ,and what the real furphy is !
Symbolically the fantasy, while allowing us a lot of enjoyment and speculation ( "Should the child go with the elder or the woman") reminds us that, as the new Australians, the fantasy families (the single englishwoman , the single missionary , the single drover, the single aboriginal aboriginal woman, the single child) the characters are isolated entities , and in total ,are no final resting place for the dreaming .( maybe that helps explain the lack of real romance in the film- I did enjoy though the thought of tin men, straw men and judy garland adding to the great adventure that the show was ).
Finding a place at the bar ( or even on a piece of land) is no solution to the individual isolation because "the territory" , like all good ecosystems and families will always have some closed loops and some open loops - they go with the territory of good places and spaces for families.
So why did Baz have to go out and spoil it all by saying something stupid like "we stole you". Or even "we're sorry". Using some controversial real world words at the start and finish took absolute heaps out of the enjoyment and relaxed atmosphere of was a great fantasy . I was happy to stay / be and move in nevernever land . Fantasy helps us deal with reality by staying fantasy. To add to the story is to take away from the story - and a few words took a lot away!
What moved Baz to ruin a good fantasy with a dump of PC? To put a stamp of politically correct spin on a dilemma that is not solved and , more importantly .is to NOT helped in the ongoing great challenges of the future -by being conveniently labelled stolen and filed away ?
After all, if you need to use words in a fantasy, why use slogan words. The debate about whether assimulation or apartheid is better has not finished . Its hardly begun .Thats the worst part of the story -the slogans become yet another distraction. The nature /nurture dilemma could have become more part of the fantasy too instead of being stuck clearly on one horn !
When will we get a film maker to help modern societies "move on" here? - the real issue of dealing effectively with land ( and ownership) stress is the great test of the future for modern societies whether in the middle east, Africa or here .Help Why pretend this greatest of great modren challenges is solved by granting ownership and imputing righteouness to one or other party- the sort of stuff emperor hito , hitler, polpot ,ammin and many other salesman used to make the land ownership questions the half baked solutions they ALWAYS WERE .
There are not 10 ten millenuem goals as far as i am concerned - only one - taking ownership and custody of land issues at the same time. see ecomia
So strange to this great genre is the moral message that I wondered whether some film and censorship board had instructed Baz to put the words on the screen . Appears not .
Do we really want reconciliation and ownership and custody to work? - well then, put some resources into research and action here .
That's the worst part of the Australia story? -we wanted relief so much we are prepared to pour into concrete some rigid OLD template of self determination without looking at how and why it doesn't work that simply. Comm on mate No furphy please - Let's have fantasy and lets have reality therapy on land rights, but don't mix em - otherwise we will get more children lost in the hopelessness that the rigid political recipes and fantasies create. Whose kidding who about where the real boundaries are ,and what the real furphy is !
Symbolically the fantasy, while allowing us a lot of enjoyment and speculation ( "Should the child go with the elder or the woman") reminds us that, as the new Australians, the fantasy families (the single englishwoman , the single missionary , the single drover, the single aboriginal aboriginal woman, the single child) the characters are isolated entities , and in total ,are no final resting place for the dreaming .( maybe that helps explain the lack of real romance in the film- I did enjoy though the thought of tin men, straw men and judy garland adding to the great adventure that the show was ).
Finding a place at the bar ( or even on a piece of land) is no solution to the individual isolation because "the territory" , like all good ecosystems and families will always have some closed loops and some open loops - they go with the territory of good places and spaces for families.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
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