I have control issues. I mean CONTROL issues. I am a woman who demands little of others but demands perfection and a specific expectable timetable of actions. Now this may come across as a little frightening to the weak of heart (you know who you are) but to me this makes complete and rational sense.
Busy is the key word of life. I have a career (I use the term loosely) that never stops. Volunteer commitments that never end and a family with the ability to suck the emotional life out of me… IE I must have control of something… anything. Things I cannot control well honestly that is everything. This allusion of control that I have is like a warm blanket it gives me comfort but will not give me serenity.
Control can mean many things. First and foremost is my control of others (nonexistent). This is done not through my personal action but through others ability to communicate. If you like me say so. If you hate me say so. If you don’t like my opinion say so. If you think you want to ask me out say so (if you want more lets start negotiations). If you don’t like my religion, politics, looks, choice of words get over it and find some one else who you might wish to associate. Yes, control….
Now this may come across as harsh. After rereading the above it sounds harsh BUT it isn’t. I think before I speak. I look at the ramifications of my actions. Hell, I am just plain paranoid. In this PC world it is better to be thought intolerant then to speak and prove it? I am no longer sure if the words I use are correct. Words convey power. If I answer that “upsets” me. Is that the same as using angry livid or furious? No it isn’t. What about love, passion, longing and adore? When you look at your lover do you see love or deep seated mind blowing passion?
Today in the day of the 10 second sound clip and USA Today words have lost their value. I know that Dickens was a little verbose but you could picture an entire world from his use and combination of words. Hemmingway could write you to the point of thirst or longing. Now that is control. Novel idea isn’t it (no pun intended). Control through the power of words. A little spin here a change of words there. You could rewrite world history with the change of a couple of adjectives and a colorful metaphor or two.
Let’s try it…a subject… slavery!
An accepted historical meaning
Slavery: a condition in which one human being was owned by another. A slave was considered by law as property, or chattel, and was deprived of most of the rights ordinarily held by free persons.
The new and improved spin…
Slavery: a great individual opportunity for those without direction to use the ability of others to make choices to improve the overall effectiveness and profitability of the current economy. Work with serenity of mind and never worry about tomorrow.
Hmmm, interesting… now that is control. Maybe we should all read a little more and ask one or two questions before accepting the printed word as fact?
2 comments:
When did you start blogging?
Anyway, I think the point is that we take for granted the power of words. We used to not. Jefferson, Madison, etc...certainly undertood their value (it's all they had) and at least used them truthfully.
To a certain extent.
I guess what's missing is that many people don't evaluate they words they hear or read against any other standard (the least being their own value system). But what standard do we have any more?
History, I suppose. But that, of coure, requires more of that damn "reading" thing.
ARGH! I posted a comment and it deleted it!
Anyway, it was long.
In summary:
-we take for granted the power of words
-using our own value system to evaluate the meaning of words can be pretty dangerous
-really the best measure of truth is history and its outcome
-and even that is writen by the victor.
Nice to see you are blogging.
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